Last night's ride - Lost my Cool

[thomas]

How come you didn't have your Airzound?

I reckon he was close enough for you to have leant on his wing mirror .

I took my Airzound off when I got back to UNI. It's a great device, but only really used it when commuting. I decided that I wouldn't really need it for mainly pleasure riding. The other day was the first time in a while that I've cycled to UNI, or cycled during rush hour.

I've had to yell 'wait' a couple of times, but never anything quite like the other day. However, even if I had the Airzound, I don't think it would have done much.

Not sure I could of leant on his wing mirror without falling over, but if his car was a person it would of had a red cheek in the morning for my slap .

 

[thomas]

okay, brief update. I went into town to the police station with the video. The guy checked the numberplate and though it matched the car, the different variations matched a blue or red version and not the silver car in the video. These cars weren't local either. Not much you can do without the numberplate, so unless I spot the car again and can note it down there is little I can do.

Never mind.

 

[HobbesChoice]

okay, brief update. I went into town to the police station with the video. The guy checked the numberplate and though it matched the car, the different variations matched a blue or red version and not the silver car in the video. These cars weren't local either. Not much you can do without the numberplate, so unless I spot the car again and can note it down there is little I can do.

Never mind.

That's a shame Thomas, but you did what you could and didn't just accept the driver's behaviour. At least you left the driver with a squeaky flea in his ear too so hopefully he'll have thought back over what he did at some point and will be a little more considerate in future.

 

[magnatom]

To those who suggest that Thomas could have slowed down and pulled in. In theory, yes he could have. However, that would involve braking fairly sharply. Not a problem in itself, but you have to remember that at that point, Thomas' attention is fully focussed on the idiot driver moving his car towards him. Therefore, the reality is that he cannot be certain what is happening behind him and the idiot drivers car. Therefore, braking sharply has its own risks associated with it.

Therefore, IMO sitting keeping a constant speed and direction is the best thing to do, i.e. to remain predictable, until an escape route appears or the driver corrects his idiocy.

Also with hindsight.....

 

[Woz!]

Had someone come alongside me like this just this morning. We were at lights and he naturally thought he'd push past me despite the traffic moving slowly.
I got in front of him and moved into primary until it was safe for him to pass.
Happens a lot round here - aggressive drivers in the South-East

 

[thomas]

Had someone come alongside me like this just this morning. We were at lights and he naturally thought he'd push past me despite the traffic moving slowly.
I got in front of him and moved into primary until it was safe for him to pass.
Happens a lot round here - aggressive drivers in the South-East

If I have something like this again, if possible I'll get back in front and move into primary. As Mag's said, I don't think braking would have been sensible.

 

[Archie_tect]

If I have something like this again, if possible I'll get back in front and move into primary. As Mag's said, I don't think braking would have been sensible.

Driver probably hasn't forgiven you yet for driving all the way around a roundabout to turn left at that busy junction going to school...

 

[thomas]

Driver probably hasn't forgiven you yet for driving all the way around a roundabout to turn left at that busy junction going to school...

haha...I thought I said it was a bloke in the car....only a women driver could hold a grudge like that for a few years

 

[BentMikey]

Perhaps you might give some of us a little more credit, Magnatom:

Don't take the criticism about dropping back too hard, btw. As you say, it's easy to think about what to do when you have all the time in the world to decide. Instead think of the discussion more as preparation to lay the groundwork for what you'll do in a future example. That way you (and I) have a much better chance to do the right thing without having to consider options.

And not being safe to brake? I'm not sure I can agree with that, especially when being squeezed at such speed (impressive, Thomas!) and having another car turn left just in front. Just a light touch on the brakes would have seen all the badness disappear up the road and away from Thomas. And let's face it, not knowing what's behind you? That's a clear sign of not looking back nearly enough.

Still not excusing the driver though. As above, this is a discussion on what I or anyone else could do next time I find myself in a similar situation. Be prepared is the motto...

 

[thomas]

And not being safe to brake? I'm not sure I can agree with that, especially when being squeezed at such speed (impressive, Thomas!) and having another car turn left just in front. Just a light touch on the brakes would have seen all the badness disappear up the road and away from Thomas. And let's face it, not knowing what's behind you? That's a clear sign of not looking back nearly enough.

Still not excusing the driver though. As above, this is a discussion on what I or anyone else could do next time I find myself in a similar situation. Be prepared is the motto...

When did I say I didn't know what was behind me? You can see from the video when I checked behind to make sure pulling out/in was safe.

For all anyone knows, I could of slowed down just for the driver to pull into the kerb and side swipe me before I was past the back of the car.

 

[BentMikey]

Magnatom suggested that, not you. And the car is already alongside you - you're already at considerable risk of being sideswiped. Dropping back reduces that risk sharply, it doesn't increase it.

 

[benborp]

I actually have a preference for being sideswiped while the car is firmly alongside. I've pushed myself off several in the past as they've squeezed me. Recently I was in a situation similar to thomas where I dropped back only for the driver to brake and then pull left. I didn't have the car along side me to absorb the blow with my body and he took out my front wheel.

It's also interesting what you say about getting people out of your safety bubble BM as when someone is well and truly in it an awful lot of your attention is focused on avoiding that threat over any other developments around you. Risk increases on two fronts in these situations.

 

[magnatom]

Magnatom suggested that, not you. And the car is already alongside you - you're already at considerable risk of being sideswiped. Dropping back reduces that risk sharply, it doesn't increase it.

I'm just suggesting that I could understand that in that situation where your focus is on the car next to you and what is coming in the other direction, you could loose track of what is behind. Remember, if one car pulls beside you, it is entirely possible that a following car is following close behind.

I have been in similar situations and I have held my speed and direction. I've done this because I could see the road ahead and I and I could see exactly what the car was doing. I felt safer to stay where I was and let the car pull back.

BM don't you agree that when a car comes close to you lke that, drawing your full attention that it is possible for your attention of other surrounding vehicles etc to be reduced?

 

[BentMikey]

Oh, no, I'm saying that ideally you'd already know what was behind the car as you'd have looked behind often before the incident even began. I don't think I'd expect anyone to be able to pay attention to much other than the idiot driver during the actual incident.

Even if you hadn't known what was behind, slowing down a little has got to be better than being alongside a fcukwit like this driver. You're not ordinarily bothered by slowing down and stopping for traffic lights with following traffic, why would you be bothered about slowing down here?

 

[thomas]

]BM don't you agree that when a car comes close to you lke that, drawing your full attention that it is possible for your attention of other surrounding vehicles etc to be reduced?

Definitly. At the time I thought I was going to end up going over the back of the car in front as I reacted late, due to being distracted.

As for what is knowing what is behind. The incident happened very quickly after the traffic lights, so last I would of seen is that the cars were there but stationary. I would of been aware that there was traffic behind the car, but not of their exact location and position on the road (eg. if I stop will they be driving in the gutter and drive up my backside?)

I can honestly say that stopping/slowing down didn't come as a reaction. Initially I sped up and made gestures hoping the driver would back off. This didn't work so I thumped the car. I then had to slow down as the car in front turned off and I then intentionally made sure that the car got in front of me. This was mainly because I was worried that after hitting their car they might decide to mow me down to teach me a lesson.

When I first watched the video I realised how quickly it all happened. When it was happening it definitly felt longer than it did when watching it back.