My Closest Near Miss - WTF!

[the reluctant cyclist]

That also applies to walking anywhere, which has a roughly similar risk, but I doubt very many of us would class that as dangerous.

.... but when you walk everywhere you are only mingling with other pedestrians aren't you? You can bump into one another all the time and you are unlikely to be seriously injured.

On your bike you have to share the road with people who:-

a) are bigger and harder than you.
don't like sharing the road with you.
c) are likely to injure you in some serious way if they do hit you... even just a "little knock" is a serious injury half the time isn't it - at the very least it bloody hurts!

I do try and put thoughts like this out of my mind though becuase I don't want to give up cycling altogether.

 

[Bollo]

E-tea for you snapper.

A taxi-driver did this to me a few years ago only to pull in twenty yards up the road. We 'discussed' the issue.

It's one of those where you KNOW it's total disregard for your life, rather than a SMIDSY. Fully deserving of some verbal.

 

[magnatom]

I was doing a similar maneuver on Friday night, signaled to turn right with a car behind me. As I pulled into the road end the guy in the car shouted "ar*ehole" I shouted back "c*ck" his face was a picture.

Actually, I've just remembered someone was about to try and overtake me in a similar situation as well yesterday. Luckily I noticed what he was about to do and looked back at him and glowered! It did the job and he stopped behind me, although he did look a little annoyed.

Of course this doesn't always work and sometimes it is hard to anticipate.

 

[Origamist]

.... but when you walk everywhere you are only mingling with other pedestrians aren't you? You can bump into one another all the time and you are unlikely to be seriously injured.

On your bike you have to share the road with people who:-

a) are bigger and harder than you.
don't like sharing the road with you.
c) are likely to injure you in some serious way if they do hit you... even just a "little knock" is a serious injury half the time isn't it - at the very least it bloody hurts!

Most ped injuries are the result of falls: sprains, broken bones, grazes, head injuries etc - not disimilar to cycling injuries. As a ped you also have to negotiate roads that are primarily designed for vehicular use. Don't underestimate the dangers of walking and overestimate the dangers of cycling!

 

[BentMikey]

How on earth do you get to that!? I didn't say that people should not cycle any more than I said they shouldn't go shopping!

What you actually said is that cycling is dangerous, and it isn't. At least it's no different to other activities in life we don't consider as dangerous.

.... but when you walk everywhere you are only mingling with other pedestrians aren't you? You can bump into one another all the time and you are unlikely to be seriously injured.

Look at the KSI (killed and seriously injured) and the truth is rather different from what you imagine. ISTR that 700 odd people per year get KSId on the pavement by motor vehicles, for example. Someone posted on here that something like 500,000 people a year go to hospital for injuries sustained by tripping over street furniture whilst on the mobile phone.

 

[Bollo]

Actually, I've just remembered someone was about to try and overtake me in a similar situation as well yesterday. Luckily I noticed what he was about to do and looked back at him and glowered! It did the job and he stopped behind me, although he did look a little annoyed.

Of course this doesn't always work and sometimes it is hard to anticipate.

That's where the 'lifesaver' look over the shoulder (or peek in the mirror for BM) really earns its keep. Also, its the reason I would never wear headphones while riding, as the change in engine tone as somebody decides to 'go for it' can be a good early warning.

 

[snapper_37]

That's where the 'lifesaver' look over the shoulder (or peek in the mirror for BM) really earns its keep.

That's a good point Bollo. I think I just didn't expect it since the first car had undertaken.

Expect the unexpected is the moral of the story, I guess.

 

[BentMikey]

That's where the 'lifesaver' look over the shoulder (or peek in the mirror for BM) really earns its keep. Also, its the reason I would never wear headphones while riding, as the change in engine tone as somebody decides to 'go for it' can be a good early warning.

Both really - a mirror is only an aide to looking back, not a replacement. Mirrors have the significant disadvantage of a blind spot, too. I wouldn't have a mirror except that it's rather hard to look back properly on a really laid back recumbent.

p.s. the headphones thing is a bit of an urban myth. It's quite possible to hear traffic over music, to the level that you can still hear stuff that motons can't with just their windows wound up and no stereo on in the car. Of course it's also possible to have loud music and sealed earplug style earphones and not be able to hear anything else, which I wouldn't like and wouldn't consider sensible.

I suppose the correct answer is that if you actually *need* your hearing, then you're not looking around enough. Bit like pedestrians who cross the road by relying on hearing cars coming, and then step in front of a cyclist.

 

[beanzontoast]

What you actually said is that cycling is dangerous, and it isn't. At least it's no different to other activities in life we don't consider as dangerous.

What I actually said is -

I take exception with people who say cycling isn't dangerous. By comparison with other forms of transport it may be safer than some, but to say flatly that cycling isn't dangerous is to run the risk of lulling people into a false sense of security.

 

[BentMikey]

No change in meaning by me there, and you're still this: WRONG.

Cycling is a very safe activity.

 

[Bollo]

p.s. the headphones thing is a bit of an urban myth. It's quite possible to hear traffic over music, to the level that you can still hear stuff that motons can't with just their windows wound up and no stereo on in the car. Of course it's also possible to have loud music and sealed earplug style earphones and not be able to hear anything else, which I wouldn't like and wouldn't consider sensible.

I suppose the correct answer is that if you actually *need* your hearing, then you're not looking around enough. Bit like pedestrians who cross the road by relying on hearing cars coming, and then step in front of a cyclist.

Don't get me wrong - the hearing is no substitute for good obs, and that's why I didn't start pontificating about "you shouldn't wear 'phones". Just for me I like that extra bit of info.

BM - a serious mirror question. Do you find that the vibration from the road makes the mirror wobble so much that it's difficult to see back?

 

[magnatom]

I suppose the correct answer is that if you actually *need* your hearing, then you're not looking around enough. Bit like pedestrians who cross the road by relying on hearing cars coming, and then step in front of a cyclist.

You are correct in that you shouldn't need your hearing (how does a deaf person ride safely otherwise!). However, I think it is wrong to dull a sense that you have, that can provide supplementary information about what is going on around you. Yes you can still hear cars etc if you keep your music quiet enough, but IMO it is a distraction and can have an effect on the frequencies that you hear and your perception of them. It is the changes in pitch etc that provide the useful information.

Personally I would never wear headphones when riding in traffic for these reasons.

 

[BentMikey]

BM - a serious mirror question. Do you find that the vibration from the road makes the mirror wobble so much that it's difficult to see back?

Nope, it's steady and quiet. Either I'm lucky with the resonance frequency, or it's just a bent thing. I think I've ridden an upright with a mirror, and had serious visual buzz. I don't want or need a mirror on my upright.

 

[BentMikey]

You are correct in that you shouldn't need your hearing (how does a deaf person ride safely otherwise!). However, I think it is wrong to dull a sense that you have, that can provide supplementary information about what is going on around you. Yes you can still hear cars etc if you keep your music quiet enough, but IMO it is a distraction and can have an effect on the frequencies that you hear and your perception of them. It is the changes in pitch etc that provide the useful information.

Personally I would never wear headphones when riding in traffic for these reasons.

Nope, it's easy to hear car engines to judge a driver's aggression, people talking, etc, which is far more than most drivers can hear. By your logic cars shouldn't be allowed either stereos or windows.

 

[magnatom]

Nope, it's easy to hear car engines to judge a driver's aggression, people talking, etc, which is far more than most drivers can hear. By your logic cars shouldn't be allowed either stereos or windows.

Nope. You are this: WRONG (You always do this and it is a little irritating! )

Seriously though, as a cyclist you are more vulnerable than a driver of a car, and it is more important to be in control of the space around you. To do that you need to be that little more alert as the consequences of mistakes can be that bit more serious. So having an 'extra sense' is in my opinion sensible. It really is a wrong to say that wearing headphones in no way dulls your auditory perception (I know you didn't directly say this, but it is implied). Of course it does. Headphones have their own sound attenuation which will vary with frequency, i.e. some frequencies will be dulled more than others. On top of that with music playing (variable frequency) at different points in the music different frequencies will be dulled at different times, and so the function of frequency attenuation will vary with time.

The sounds of cars, pedestrians, other bikes, trams, milk floats etc are very variable, and so it is certainly feasible that situations could arise where headphones plus music could dull an important sound.

I'd rather not take that chance. Anyway, I like listening to music when I can concentrate on it. With two kids I don't get much chance for that these days!