Motorist takes the mick

[Matthames]

Pity I don't have a camera or anything, but I nearly got taken out by a motorist taking the piss by taking a left hook on me.

Picture this, riding down a residential street which has speed humps against a head wind. This road runs parallel to a usually very busy A road so is sometimes used as a rat run, hence why the traffic calming measures were put in place to discourage all but the most determine. After the speed hump a pull over to the secondary position to allow a car to pass which I mistakenly made the assumption would go up the road instead of turning into the junction ahead.

I had a few choice words to say about this particular driver's lack intelligence. He was a complete idiot for not thinking about what he was doing. This particular incident was partially my fault as I had moved from primary to secondary road position, where as I should of remained in primary until after the junction. This allowed the driver room to enter my own safety bubble and let their stupidity dictate the scenario instead of me controlling the situation.

 

[Trevrev]

Get used to that happening !!!

 

[Bristol Dave]

The price of cycling freedom is eternal vigilance.

I'm glad it wasn't worse for you.

BD

 

[Trevrev]

To be honest, i just accept the things that happen to me on my commute. Too long in the tooth to react.
But bus drivers that squeeze past you only to pull in at the bus stop a few feet away does make me chuckle. When i'm on my early shift, i cycle down a nice wide duel carriageway. And every morning the bus goes past then pulls in to stop right in front of me.......I go around it, then further down the road he does the same.
I'm sure he plays a game with me !!! But it's only a matter of time before he has me off..........LOL.

 

[Matthames]

Thanks, this was one of those things which serve to demonstrate if you give an idiot an inch they will try to take a mile.

The standard of driving I have witness where I live is shocking Just wish I had a video camera to record it all.

 

[upsidedown]

Just wish I had a video camera to record it all.

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[I am Spartacus]

I may have the wrong end of the stick here but arent being slightly naive in your own road behaviour about allowing the motorist to pass who then thinks that you are going to stay well behind so ( he may or may not have checked mirrors) thoughtlessly perhaps made a manoevre not expecting you to be anywhere in the vicinity?
Please dont tell us that you allowed him to pass and then was up his backside drafting him?

 

[Trevrev]

I think what he's saying, is the car driver passed him then turned left directly in front of him.
Up his backside drafting him !!!!! Please !!!....LOL.

 

[BentMikey]

To be honest, i just accept the things that happen to me on my commute. Too long in the tooth to react.
But bus drivers that squeeze past you only to pull in at the bus stop a few feet away does make me chuckle. When i'm on my early shift, i cycle down a nice wide duel carriageway. And every morning the bus goes past then pulls in to stop right in front of me.......I go around it, then further down the road he does the same.
I'm sure he plays a game with me !!! But it's only a matter of time before he has me off..........LOL.

That one's worth reporting, IMO. I did that here in London earlier in the year, and since then buses make exceptional efforts not to leapfrog me on the bike. Oops!

 

[I am Spartacus]

sorry .. forgot all 'commuters' on here are little angels arent they?

 

[jonny jeez]

This particular incident was partially my fault as I had moved from primary to secondary road position, .

Hard to tell for sure what happened here. But is sounds like an overtake with an immediate left across your bows!!

Nasty, could have been worse...best to put it down to experience and keep that Primary as you approach junctions if you get a "tingling" feeling (spidey sense I heard it referred to here) that the guy behind is itching to turn left


Take care

Jonny

 

[Matthames]

I may have the wrong end of the stick here but arent being slightly naive in your own road behaviour about allowing the motorist to pass who then thinks that you are going to stay well behind so ( he may or may not have checked mirrors) thoughtlessly perhaps made a manoevre not expecting you to be anywhere in the vicinity?
Please dont tell us that you allowed him to pass and then was up his backside drafting him?

The distance from that speed bump to the junction is about 35 Meters which is roughly 75 yards in old money. At the speed I was going it would take me 7 seconds to cover that distance. I let him through based on the assumption that he was going to carry straight on, although that assumption was made on the back of a quick rear observation in which the driver showed no intention of turning left. It was only when he started indicating left when he passed me that I realised what was going on and got ready to stop.

 

[BentMikey]

35m = +- 39 yards, surely?

You may have ridden less defensively than you could have, but Sparty is wrong - the driver is the only one actually at fault. That's taking your account at face value, of course.

 

[I am Spartacus]

It was only when he started indicating left when he passed me that I realised what was going on and got ready to stop.

I am not berating you but you have to do the thinking of the other user 75% of the time out there... it is just the standard of driving.. assume it to be poor and ride acccordingly.. assertively (as has been mentioned) but also as you proved to be, defensively ..cos you're here to tell the tale.

As an aside you can develop a rapport with others on the road.. I was able to draft an HGV at 30 mph on a section of road which had a 30mph limit.. he was fully aware of me in his mirrors .. he didnt mind at all.. and I was travelling at 30mph and probably wattage expenditure was below 100

 

[mark i]

The post above reminds me of last winter. I was on the brompton and overtaken at the top of a steepish hill by a gritter, that thankfully was not gritting. I put my head down and stayed behind him (3ft, maybe a bit close) at a cracking speed (for a brompton!). The car behind me tried to overtake me twice (??). Both times had to pull in for refuges in the centre of the road. Their failed overtaking manoeuvres were then my fault judging by the horn?? Not quite sure what they were going to do once they had overtaken me....