Lesson learned: Don't scare the sheep

[BalkanExpress]

Cycling into work this morning, I'm on a down hill section leading into a mini-roundabout. A couple of pedestrians step off the cross to the middle of the roundabout - no there is no pedestrian crossing. I yell "get out the road", one keeps going, I'm guessing ipod in use, the other stops dead. The target area has now grown in size and I'm grabbing as big a handful of brake as I can. Problem is I'm on a "villo": Brussels cycle scheme yellow monster and the brakes are not so hot...

End result, a collision with one of the pedestrians: nothing too hard we both stay upright and are shaken but nothing worse.

lessons learned: never assume the brakes will work in an emergency even if they had been fine until then and, more importantly, I should bite my tongue as a startled sheep is unpredictable.

 

[Theseus]

there is no pedestrian crossing. I yell "get out the road"

So what if there is no crossing!

They are perfectly entitled to be there and you were in the wrong to yell at them like that. The whole incident was your fault. Particularly if you display the attitude that people walking are no more than mindless sheep.

ETA: The above was written assuming you are in the UK. As I now realise you are not, this could be very well the way people treat each other in the Balkans.

 

[roadrunner20]

as the above said its the stupid rule of you can cross where you like and its legal.

other countrys have laws against it we dont, so just have to deal with it.

End of the day if someone walks into middle of the road without looking and you need to take action then you can shout at them for sure, i seen a lot worse.

end of the day depends when and where,

 

[BalkanExpress]

ETA: The above was written assuming you are in the UK.

Nope, Sunny Belgium where jaywalking is, last time I checked, an offense.



As I now realise you are not, this could be very well the way people treat each other in the Balkans.

I can assure you the Balkans are a much happier place now that people only shout at each other

I will however give up on the yelling......the bikes already have a nice loud bell

 

[Jezston]

as the above said its the stupid rule of you can cross where you like and its legal.

Strongly disagree. I don't want backwards 'jaywalking' laws like in the US which perpetuate notions that car drivers are superior human beings and that they don't have to pay attention to whats in front of them, everyone should just get out of the way.

 

[Friz]

I can assure you the Balkans are a much happier place now that people only shout at each other

I will however give up on the yelling......the bikes already have a nice loud bell

I'm with ya. You'd think that recent memories of snipers would still have the locals in a "look both ways before crossing the road" mindset.