DaveTetlow
New Member
Hello,
I'm relatively new to cycling, and I have recently started cycling to work as a way to keep fit as I have a new son and my time for other sport activities has been reduced. I make sure I cycle as safely as possible wearing a helmet and high visibility top, and I don't cycle very fast (I use a hybrid)
This morning I was knocked off my bike by a motorist and received a minor injury for the event (a bruised and bloody elbow), in addition to this the motorist and her friend accused me of being in the wrong after I promptly asked them 'just what the hell were they thinking?' This left me a little in shock and very exasperated.
I'm not a violent person although I am very large (6ft 7in, 100kg) but rarely get angry , so I chose to remove myself from the situation pretty sharply to avoid any trouble. However, I have reflected on it afterwards and have realized I do not fully understand the rights of cyclist on the road (compared to motorist). I would therefore appreciate it if anyone could give me some feedback on my explanation of the event, and give me their third party opinion. The following occurred close to the forest park and ride in Nottingham:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...K!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x156bf6f5ebcb6cf9
I was cycling down Gregory boulevard in Nottingham with the park on my left side, and traffic was reasonably busy although moving and overtaking me along the stretch of road. As I approached the Forest Park and ride, there were two cars, a silver Astra and a black BMW X5 to my right and I was cycling along side the X5. The Silver Astra started to indicate into the Park and ride, I noticed this and slowed to let it commit. The BMX X5 which I was cycling along side then moved into me and took me out. I slowed as much as possible, however I hit the side of the car and landed on my elbow on the road. There was busy traffic behind me at this point which had to stop because of the incident.
After shouting a lot of obscenities (that I'm now not proud of), I immediately walked up to the two cars. The lady from the Astra was out of her car asking the X5 Driver if she was OK and was stating the incident was my fault and at this point I assumed they were likely friends (they looked a similar age and dressed similar) and assumed the X5 was following the Astra into the park and ride without thinking and didn't look.
Their argument at this point was 'I was indicating, you should have stopped, so its your fault'. So she was inferring she knew I was there and committed to turn into me anyway. What I cannot recall is if they overtook me to get to the turn, or if I had cycled up to and alongside the X5 prior the event. I also do not remember seeing the X5 indicating but cannot be sure on this as it happened so quickly. Finally, I had plenty of witnesses and a pedestrian ran up to me after to check if I was OK, however I ignored this to go shouting at the motorist (something I now regret).
Having reviewed the advice online about incidents like this, in future I'll go strait to the witnesses. However, I wanted to ask some other cyclist what the rules are on motorists rights to do such a move, particularly when we were moving alongside each other for at least 5-10 seconds, and while I was clearly visible and in her turning zone? Do they have to let you pass on if they are in front of you when they want to turn? or are they permitted to cut you up like this?
To be honest I am not sure whether the incident was in fact my fault of the X5, however I will be very careful in future when something similar happens
Dave
I'm relatively new to cycling, and I have recently started cycling to work as a way to keep fit as I have a new son and my time for other sport activities has been reduced. I make sure I cycle as safely as possible wearing a helmet and high visibility top, and I don't cycle very fast (I use a hybrid)
This morning I was knocked off my bike by a motorist and received a minor injury for the event (a bruised and bloody elbow), in addition to this the motorist and her friend accused me of being in the wrong after I promptly asked them 'just what the hell were they thinking?' This left me a little in shock and very exasperated.
I'm not a violent person although I am very large (6ft 7in, 100kg) but rarely get angry , so I chose to remove myself from the situation pretty sharply to avoid any trouble. However, I have reflected on it afterwards and have realized I do not fully understand the rights of cyclist on the road (compared to motorist). I would therefore appreciate it if anyone could give me some feedback on my explanation of the event, and give me their third party opinion. The following occurred close to the forest park and ride in Nottingham:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...K!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x156bf6f5ebcb6cf9
I was cycling down Gregory boulevard in Nottingham with the park on my left side, and traffic was reasonably busy although moving and overtaking me along the stretch of road. As I approached the Forest Park and ride, there were two cars, a silver Astra and a black BMW X5 to my right and I was cycling along side the X5. The Silver Astra started to indicate into the Park and ride, I noticed this and slowed to let it commit. The BMX X5 which I was cycling along side then moved into me and took me out. I slowed as much as possible, however I hit the side of the car and landed on my elbow on the road. There was busy traffic behind me at this point which had to stop because of the incident.
After shouting a lot of obscenities (that I'm now not proud of), I immediately walked up to the two cars. The lady from the Astra was out of her car asking the X5 Driver if she was OK and was stating the incident was my fault and at this point I assumed they were likely friends (they looked a similar age and dressed similar) and assumed the X5 was following the Astra into the park and ride without thinking and didn't look.
Their argument at this point was 'I was indicating, you should have stopped, so its your fault'. So she was inferring she knew I was there and committed to turn into me anyway. What I cannot recall is if they overtook me to get to the turn, or if I had cycled up to and alongside the X5 prior the event. I also do not remember seeing the X5 indicating but cannot be sure on this as it happened so quickly. Finally, I had plenty of witnesses and a pedestrian ran up to me after to check if I was OK, however I ignored this to go shouting at the motorist (something I now regret).
Having reviewed the advice online about incidents like this, in future I'll go strait to the witnesses. However, I wanted to ask some other cyclist what the rules are on motorists rights to do such a move, particularly when we were moving alongside each other for at least 5-10 seconds, and while I was clearly visible and in her turning zone? Do they have to let you pass on if they are in front of you when they want to turn? or are they permitted to cut you up like this?
To be honest I am not sure whether the incident was in fact my fault of the X5, however I will be very careful in future when something similar happens
Dave