Last time I amber-gamble!

[goo_mason]

I never jump red lights, ever. Get really angry by people who do. I always stop when I see the lights going to amber as I approach too (even though this can sometimes infuriate drivers behind me who think I should have kept going). Until, that is, this morning....

Not far from work, there's a last set of lights on the way up Bankhead Drive. This morning was a slog into the wind, and just as I approached the lights they went amber, so I put the foot down to get through before they got to red rather than skidding to a halt on a wet road. Well, coming down Bankhead Avenue was a guy who was in a hurry - fair flying, but I was out of his way before he got to the junction. However, he gave it plenty with the horn as the light was green from his way now, so he'd assumed I'd ridden through a red light.

I thought that was it, as he went off in the other direction. But oh no - he screeched round in a U-turn and came after me, attempting to side-swipe me before getting in front and slamming on his brakes. I simply cycled round him and kept going, desperately looking for an escape route. Because of the tramworks, there are no streetlights working at this point and there's no-one else around. It's very dark. He repeated this close, swiping pass & sudden braking in front of me three times, before cottoning on and taking off as I overtook, so he was driving up my inside and screaming abuse out the window. Knowing that my 'it was on amber' excuse would cut no ice, and with a dropped kerb coming up ahead on the right side of the road that would get me safely onto the cyclepath at speed, I played for time by turning and explaining that I was sorry, I'd made a mistake but that there was nothing more I could do about it at that point, no matter how many more times he attempted to assault me. With another torrent of abuse, he then slowed and dropped behind me and I was sure he was about to try and ram me from behind. I was trying to figure out if I could swerve out of his way in time when, with a screech of tyres, he u-turned again and headed back off in the direction he was originally going.

First really, really scary situation in a long, long time. I've never seen someone in such a rage - the man was utterly livid.

Never, ever going to amber-gamble again, I can tell you.

 

[DrSquirrel]

He isn't in that much of a rush if he has time to "chase" you.

And neither does he have any right to sound the horn, or causing you to slow down.

Don't overtake them if they're like that - if they stop call the Police.

I never push through lights, I do slow and if I don't slow in time then at least im not gambling I just know that I couldn't safely stop in time.

Sounds like they were speeding anyway.

 

[Tynan]

Sometime i do sometimes I don;t but it's important to remember that a bike is usually slower across a junction than other vehicles so will take longer to clear the junction and may even still be there when light change

but unless it was a big junction it sounds like the other party must have been a bit early too, that and they sound like a bloody idiot

 

[S_t_e_v_e]

That's one way to get to maximum heart rate... Glad you got through unscathed... Are you going to report it?

 

[magnatom]

You probably know what I am going to say goo, but did you get the reg? and REPORT IT!

Sure you might have made a mistake (minor) but there is no call for a reaction like that. Trying to swipe you with his car is assualt!!

Report it. You have to. This guy sounds like a complete nutter and he is likely to offend again. Next time the cyclist might not be so lucky.

Is there any CCTV in the area? If so you need to report it quickly, stressing how he tried to side swipe you etc. This is a serious act of road rage and needs to be dealt with.

Even if there is no CCTV, report it. A visit from the police might at least make him think twice.

 

[Coco]

Don't feel guilty about the amber gambling. We all make mistakes, but that's no excuse for his behaviour. Sounds like a lunatic and if you've got the reg report it. But don't beat yourself up about the amber.

 

[upsidedown]

I reckon half of these nut-jobs are on cocaine or something, the amount of anger and agression they have is completely out of proportion to what 's upset them.

 

[phaedrus]

Forget about whether you went through on amber or not. Report this incident to the police. Next time (and there *will* be a next time) this psycho might actually deliberately kill or seriously injure someone.

 

[Ravenbait]

Yeah, report him if you have the relevant information.

It could be me, next time .

Sam

 

[HLaB]

What a pr@t, all users of traffic lights face the amber dilemna but that is no reason to fly off the handle!

 

[Cush]

I can understand what you did and how you felt, it is just a pity that you did not get his number and report him, because as others have said he will do the same again and the next time some one may get hurt.

 

[avsd]

Sorry to hear about your experience and glad you are OK. I agree with the other posts - you should report the incident to the police. That driver is dangerous to other road users.

 

[goo_mason]

Didn't get the reg and I couldn't even tell you what the car was or what colour it was - I was too busy avoiding him and looking for an escape route if things really kicked off.

If I had something to go on, I'd take it to the police but since i can't give them any details at all it's not worth it. I'll keep my eyes peeled next week though as he may travel the same route at the same time as me every day.

 

[Vikeonabike]

Didn't get the reg and I couldn't even tell you what the car was or what colour it was - I was too busy avoiding him and looking for an escape route if things really kicked off.

If I had something to go on, I'd take it to the police but since i can't give them any details at all it's not worth it. I'll keep my eyes peeled next week though as he may travel the same route at the same time as me every day.

Goo, report it anyway....times and locations..There may well be CCTV that shows the incident!

 

[Gerry Attrick]

If your apply for a shotgun certificate or firearms ticket, you have to answer questions about your mental health, with a doctor's reference in some circumstances. That's because firearms are dangerous in the hands of the mentally unstable.

When you apply for a driving licence you are asked for no such information. That's because cars are not dang...........

Anyway, glad you are unscathed, Goo.