Nearly stepped into the path of cyclists

[Accy cyclist]

Last night i stopped at a busy roadside to wait for the traffic to pass. I relied on sound as much as sight to decide if it was safe to cross the road. I was about to step out when a heard a familiar to cyclists whirring sound and then felt a slight gush of wind as one bike followed by another fled past me. I've ridden on this road for 40 or so years and know they'd have been doing about 20mph at that point of passing me. This happened about 10 pm, so it was dark. I noticed that both cyclists, as they passed, were fairly well lit up and visible (Good rear lights,but not sure about front lights,as obviously they'd passed me by then),if i'd have looked to my right. My point is that i didn't. I thought the coast was clear,as i couldn't hear any car noise.
I thought about when i'm out riding and pedestrians who to me look like they could step out,with or without seeing me. If i think this is going to happen i shout out "Whooaa",hoping they'll step back. How would you react if you thought you were going to hit a wandering pedestrian and going back to my carelessness,have you ever stepped or nearly stepped into the path of an oncoming cyclist,especially when they've been doing a speed where you and the cyclist could end up with serious injuries?

 

[Milkfloat]

Blimey Accy, you nearly got two fellow cyclists locked up in chokey.

 

[johnnyb47]

While cycling down the lanes you often come across people taking an evening stroll, and when approaching I will always slow down and say hello before overtaking. Allot of times you can tell that they had absolutely no idea I was there ,before saying hello as they often look startled. It,s best to be safe than sorry though and even more so when I see children ,as they are more unpredictable by darting around, exploring and playing.
Walking against a headwind its virtuality impossible to hear a cyclist coming up from behind , and the same goes for modern electric cars nowadays.

 

[Drago]

I would react by adjusting my speed and positioning accordingly whenever I see a pedestrian (in my mind I think of ped's as mobile land mines), and not simply belting on as before, head affixed facing dead ahead, just because it's my "right of way", or some other twaddle to justify riding like a plum.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Watch, rather than listen, out for Teslas.

 

[Drago]

Watch, rather than listen, out for Teslas.

Yes, that Nikolai Tesla sneaks about causing all sorts of mischief.

 

[gavroche]

I have a little device on my bike which makes a ding sound when I activate it. It seems to work most of the time as pedestrians can hear it, turn round and see me approaching. It doesn't work when they are wired up and listening to music though.

 

[Vantage]

Sometime during last summer on my way home from a nice ride, a guy walking on the footpath just started crossing the road without warning. Between braking hard and swerving into the opposite lane, I missed him by mere inches. I do remember shouting "WHOAAA!" at the time and giving him 'the look' when I glanced back.

My own stupidity has gotten me into the very bad habit of relying only on my ears when crossing quiet road, especially on the lanes round the estate I live on. Really must break that habit before I cause an accident.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Yes, that Nikolai Tesla sneaks about causing all sorts of mischief.

One nearly did for me a couple of months ago. Didn't hear it, couldn't see it, as I started to cross, and I ended up having to steady myself on its bonnet...



...as the driver tried to run the red light of the pedestrian crossing outside my house.

This being the nth time a car has made contact (Boo ended up in minor injuries once) I now routinely press the button and then stand well downstream of the lights.

 

[gaijintendo]

To answer the question asked, yes, once when I was a school kid, and it near silently made me near soil myself.

While cycling down the lanes you often come across people taking an evening stroll, and when approaching I will always slow down and say hello before overtaking. Allot of times you can tell that they had absolutely no idea I was there ,before saying hello as they often look startled.

I have a little device on my bike which makes a ding sound when I activate it. It seems to work most of the time as pedestrians can hear it, turn round and see me approaching. It doesn't work when they are wired up and listening to music though.

I find people like the sound of bells, and assume there are nearby fairies, because I also adjust my speed, then talk to them to their surprise. I have also been given rows for not using the bell I had been ringing. It isn't just headphones.

Even more of topic:
I met some two abreast canal hogging cyclists on Saturday, who made eye contact with me on their giant vespa rear view mirrors. When I asked if I could pass by they said "not until you ring your bell". Because I enjoy adjusting my speed and being considerate, I shared all my tedious bell anecdotes. Shortly after I got a flat, and when I caught up, they had learned their lesson.

 

[Drago]

I met some two abreast canal hogging cyclists on Saturday, who made eye contact with me on their giant vespa rear view mirrors. When I asked if I could pass by they said "not until you ring your bell". Because I enjoy adjusting my speed and being considerate, I pushed them in the canal and laughed.

FTFY to reflect the true course of events

 

[Globalti]

I jaywalked twice as a scatty teenager; once in that London when I stepped off a kerb and suddenly felt a thump in the small of my back and a bike front wheel appeared between my legs, I don't know who was more startled, me or the poor cyclist. Second time I crossed a street in Newcastle, heard a zzzzzz sound and felt a bump, turned round and there was a MK1 Escort van, tyres smoking, bumper stopped against my knee and the driver and his pal looking up at me in shock. That was definitely one of my nine lives used up.

 

[gaijintendo]

a bike front wheel appeared between my legs, I don't know who was more startled, me or the poor cyclist.

I haven't read 50 Shades... but whoa

 

[nickyboy]

To slightly broaden the topic if OP doesn't mind....

I was in London last week and was on a bus. As I was about to get off the driver said "watch out for cyclists". Well, lucky he did as a cyclist came whizzing past the nearside of the bus. If he hadn't said anything I would have definitely been hit by the cyclist. Is cycling up the inside of a stationary bus stopped at a bus stop part of the cycling "infrastructure" in London? Seems rather unsafe when you've got country yokels like me stepping off without looking. I'm sure locals are fine with it, but here in bumpkin land you can't cycle up nearsides of buses

 

[Accy cyclist]

Blimey Accy, you nearly got two fellow cyclists locked up in chokey.

I thought about what would've happened to me and the two cyclists if i'd have stepped out. Probably another broken hip or leg and maybe a head injury as our heads collided and god knows what for the first cyclist. it looked like a man and wife duo. I also had my little dog with me so he'd probably have been run over.
My only explanation other than carelessness is that they approached on my blind right eye side. I'm going to have to start turning my neck a bit more to the right.

I have a little device on my bike which makes a ding sound when I activate it. It seems to work most of the time as pedestrians can hear it, turn round and see me approaching. It doesn't work when they are wired up and listening to music though.

I did think about them not having a bell,when they'd passed by. I know it's "not cool" for roadies to have bells,but i might've alerted me if they'd had one and used it. Having said that. I've been out on my bike with a bell attached and used it to warn wandering pedestrians of my presence and it's had no affect,especially as you say, if they're wired up for sound. Now the Airzound i had a few years ago DID attract pedestrians attention,but that's another subject.