My bad

[Blackandblue]

Travelling down outside of line of vehicles, then pulled in to move into bus lane. Having passed bus further back, assumed it would be clear. Looked anyway but later than I should have done and was surprised to see bus much closer than I expected. In my surprise I didn't react quickly enough and carried on into the bus lane. In front of the bus.

I suspect it all could have been much worse if the bus driver wasn't paying attention - I imagine he was watching me and was ready for my manoeuvre. He didn't beep his horn, flash lights or gesticulate at me - which would have been understandable if he had done so.

I held up a hand by way of apology/thanks.

A blunt reminder that I was becoming too complacent on the road.

 

[mattybain]

Good on you for holidng your hand up, many people (me including) are often slow to admit they are wrong.

I often find myself becoming complancent / taking unecessary risks especially when I am hunting down a PB!!

 

[jonny jeez]

Good on you for holidng your hand up, many people (me including) are often slow to admit they are wrong.

I often find myself becoming complancent / taking unecessary risks especially when I am hunting down a PB!!

Well fessed up.

Being sensible and apologising will generally diffuse any anger or road rage (from my experience).

You did just the right thing in the end. A good lesson leanrt with no nasty outcome

Good on the bus driver too.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

There's a roundabout right near to where I work which I approach downhill in a 30 limit. Due to the hill, it's easy to be up near the limit, even on an MTB. It's quite a small but busy roundabout, serving lots of new build houses and two industrial estates.

On my approach, visibility to my right is a bit limited so it's a compromise between carrying enough speed to not have to accelerate too hard to get clear of the roundabout, and making sure I have enough time to respond to vehicles on the roundabout.

A while ago, I'd gradually been getting more and more complacent because I had quite a long run with nothing coming that I had to give way to, so I'd gradually got faster and faster and more confident that I could just go straight across the roundabout.

On this one day, there was a tipper lorry coming from my right who was going to be on the roundabout just before me. His priority. Besides, he was big and going fast - probably too fast considering he was approaching a roundabout, but ..

So I spotted him at the last minute and split-second decided that if I carried on I'd probably end up as a rather unattractive ornament on his front grille. So I hit the brakes, locked both wheels and did a nice little tuck and roll down the road. Luckily not going under his wheels. Equally luckily, the nice lady in the car behind me had been giving me plenty of room and waited patiently as I gathered myself back up out of the road. No harm done, just some bruising.

I'm a lot more careful on that roundabout now, approach slower and do the accelerating thing.

 

[jonny jeez]

So I hit the brakes, locked both wheels and did a nice little tuck and roll down the road. Luckily not going under his wheels.

Bloody hell!

that was too close. I'm glad your still here to tell the tale.

Complacency is a massive issue...or bad habits as some would say.

I’ve picked up one that I MUST stop, Sometimes I move out into the middle lane through gaps between standing cars (after joining roads etc) and I always feel that I never give a long enough look behind to ensure that Motorcycles and bikes aren’t approaching down the middle.

I’ve not had a close shave but I know its not right, but often, as the cars start to move , I don't give myself long enough to look properly as everything is suddenly in flux

Must hang back and filter.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Bloody hell!

that was too close. I'm glad your still here to tell the tale.

Complacency is a massive issue...or bad habits as some would say.

I’ve picked up one that I MUST stop, Sometimes I move out into the middle lane through gaps between standing cars (after joining roads etc) and I always feel that I never give a long enough look behind to ensure that Motorcycles and bikes aren’t approaching down the middle.

I’ve not had a close shave but I know its not right, but often, as the cars start to move , I don't give myself long enough to look properly as everything is suddenly in flux

Must hang back and filter.

Me too !!

Many people that I tell that story to say "the lorry was going too fast". That's as maybe, but the point is that I was too: in that I wasn't ready to stop if needed. Besides, I had more to lose!! I doubt that the driver of the lorry even noticed me .. he certainly didn't stop - or even seem to slow down - from what I could see as I bounced down the road.

With any luck, we'll soon move offices at work and that roundabout will be out of my life. I've had incidents there in the past even in the car and some months prior to becoming complacent about it, somebody tried to park their car under my front wheel when I was on the bike.

 

[thomas]

A while ago, I'd gradually been getting more and more complacent because I had quite a long run with nothing coming that I had to give way to, so I'd gradually got faster and faster and more confident that I could just go straight across the roundabout.

I'm usually pretty good, but roundabouts are the one thing that (though I know how to do properly) I seem to have problems with. It's really just impatience and not wanting to slow down, similar to you I guess.

I was once coming to one, know it well, looked right, it was clear, kept my speed up...got closer too it. shoot. It wasn't clear. I was sure I couldn't stop in time and was quickly contemplating my options of, ditching, turning left (hopefully narrowly missing the car from the right) or going the wrong way around the roundabout to avoid the car.

However, I can be soo greatful as the driver obviously saw me and stopped. I managed to go past with my hand up mouthing 'sorry'.

I held up a hand by way of apology/thanks.

I really think that is all it takes. So much can be diffused just by apologising and it doesn't take anything to do.