Putting Yourself In The Firing Line . . . Why?

[paulfromthenorth]

I feel the need to share an experience my wife and I have just had in the Square at Wickham, Hampshire.

Having just had an enjoyable pootle on the Meon Trail, we loaded our bikes on the rack and set off for home via the square.

My Mrs was driving and pulled over in the square for me to recheck the bindings on the cycle rack. As I got out the car I realised a cyclist had pulled alongside the drivers side window and was trying to engage in a conversation with my Mrs, all 5' 2" of her and he hadn't realised that I was there (all 6'1" and 20 plus stone of me). My wife, sensibly, declined to open her window and gesticulated towards me.

I then walked around the car and asked this chap what was wrong. Before responding that my wife had not indicated correctly at a junction, he clearly nearly shat his cycling shorts at the sight of my considerable Geordie frame bearing down on him.

I advised him that the news that someone (my wife in this instance) had neglected to correctly provide a directional indication was "devastating" and that it might be best for all concerned if he went about his business without further delay.

Don't get me wrong I am not condoning my wife's error but that is what it was . . . . an error.

My issue is twofold:

1. This guy clearly was unaware of my presence and felt it right to approach someone who he believed to be a lone woman in order to remonstrate with her without any authority to do so . . . to what purpose?

2. The attitude demonstrated that he must never have made a mistake in his life coupled with the fact he potentially placed himself in vulnerable and dangerous situation (I could have been a mad axe man) for no other reason than to exercise his opinion on a momentary poor standard of driving.

I would venture that as he was not placed in danger or compromised by my wife's failureto indicate, means that he had no business to follow our vehicle and attempt to confront her.

I would also suggest that the speed at which he departed (in the direction from whence he had come) after I offered my advice to him indicates he is more comfortable about bullying women than engaging in meaningful debate with a grown man.

As leisure cyclists, both my wife and I are very aware of fellow cyclists and it is this sort of behaviour by these self appointed pompous, driving standard controllers that results in acts of road rage.

He is probably shouting at some poor woman in Fareham as I type!

Rant over. . . .

 

[Hip Priest]

Hard to judge the cyclist without knowing what happened. Did you pull across his path without indicating? I can see how that'd upset someone.

 

[midlife]

Did your wife nearly run him over ?

Shaun

 

[mjr]

I can understand him being agitated as the failure to indicate could have misled him to put himself in danger and OK that would have been a mistake on his part but he could easily receive a death sentance for the two errors while your wife would probably get off uninjured which would be a bit unfair. But he clearly doesn't know the Highway Code that well himself else he would not be breaking http://highwaycode.info/rule/147 by remonstrating!

I can also understand him being scared that you probably seemed to him to have exited the vehicle to defend your wife's honour in combat. Then you have come online to brag. It sounds like everyone in this story is in the wrong, including me for replying to a probable troll!

 

[mjr]

Also he probably would not have known who was in the vehicle until AFTER he approached because the rear window was obstructed by a bike rack, wasn't it? So the bit about approaching a lone woman is unfair.

 

[Markymark]

Was your wife aware of the cyclust? Maybe he was put in danger. I often tell drivers who nearly injure me to not do it again. I don't care what size/gender they are. I'm nearly knocked off I tell them.

 

[Simpleton]

I feel the need to share an experience my wife and I have just had in the Square at Wickham, Hampshire.

Having just had an enjoyable pootle on the Meon Trail, we loaded our bikes on the rack and set off for home via the square.

My Mrs was driving and pulled over in the square for me to recheck the bindings on the cycle rack. As I got out the car I realised a cyclist had pulled alongside the drivers side window and was trying to engage in a conversation with my Mrs, all 5' 2" of her and he hadn't realised that I was there (all 6'1" and 20 plus stone of me). My wife, sensibly, declined to open her window and gesticulated towards me.

I then walked around the car and asked this chap what was wrong. Before responding that my wife had not indicated correctly at a junction, he clearly nearly shat his cycling shorts at the sight of my considerable Geordie frame bearing down on him.

I advised him that the news that someone (my wife in this instance) had neglected to correctly provide a directional indication was "devastating" and that it might be best for all concerned if he went about his business without further delay.

Don't get me wrong I am not condoning my wife's error but that is what it was . . . . an error.

My issue is twofold:

1. This guy clearly was unaware of my presence and felt it right to approach someone who he believed to be a lone woman in order to remonstrate with her without any authority to do so . . . to what purpose?

2. The attitude demonstrated that he must never have made a mistake in his life coupled with the fact he potentially placed himself in vulnerable and dangerous situation (I could have been a mad axe man) for no other reason than to exercise his opinion on a momentary poor standard of driving.

I would venture that as he was not placed in danger or compromised by my wife's failureto indicate, means that he had no business to follow our vehicle and attempt to confront her.

I would also suggest that the speed at which he departed (in the direction from whence he had come) after I offered my advice to him indicates he is more comfortable about bullying women than engaging in meaningful debate with a grown man.

As leisure cyclists, both my wife and I are very aware of fellow cyclists and it is this sort of behaviour by these self appointed pompous, driving standard controllers that results in acts of road rage.

He is probably shouting at some poor woman in Fareham as I type!

Rant over. . . .

Depends on the severity of the 'error'. If it was a case of the cyclist performing an emergency stop or changing direction rapidly to avoid getting knocked off then you are being ignorant and rather blasé about the cyclist imo. He's said what's needed to be said to your wife (the driver), he may thought that you wanted to fight him so off he went.

Your wife (and all other drivers) need to realise that it's 'errors' that lead to people becoming another KSI stat.

 

[Simpleton]

I can understand him being agitated as the failure to indicate could have misled him to put himself in danger and OK that would have been a mistake on his part but he could easily receive a death sentance for the two errors while your wife would probably get off uninjured which would be a bit unfair. But he clearly doesn't know the Highway Code that well himself else he would not be breaking http://highwaycode.info/rule/147 by remonstrating!

I can also understand him being scared that you probably seemed to him to have exited the vehicle to defend your wife's honour in combat. Then you have come online to brag. It sounds like everyone in this story is in the wrong, including me for replying to a probable troll!

Yeah, let's not highlight the very basic checks needed to he carried out by a driver before pulling over to the side of the road as this is what it says in the HC.

 

[paulfromthenorth]

mjray, with respect I think you have missed my point but in fairness I ought to explained that the point where the failure to indicate took place was a t junction so the protagonist in this sorry tale would have been foolhardy to attempt an over or undertake.

For clarity there was no suggestion that an accident had or had the potential to occur. He was behind us and we had come to a stop at the junction. The only way he could have been hurt is if he had ridden into the rear of our vehicle.

My rational for raising this is not to "brag" but more to point out that this guy potentially placed himself in a dangerous situation because of his inability to keep calm. It was he, after all, who pursued our vehicle.

Also, as I thought I had made clear, though accept that I may have not, I was already out of the vehicle when the chap tapped on the car window. I had gotten out to assess the binding and not defend my wife's honour which, unless you can tell me differently remains intact

Actually the rack is roof mounted so the rear window was not obstructed and your accusation that I may be a "troll" is a little unkind under the circumstances.


MOD EDITED to remove unnecessary comments

 

[Glow worm]

I get fed up with lazy drivers who CBA to indicate but if I stopped to remonstrate with them all I'd never make any progress! The cyclist probably felt endangered by some crappy driving in some way, and if him having a word makes a crap driver think about their lack of road sense, then good for him. I wouldn't bother though.

 

[mjr]

mjray, with respect I think you have missed my point but in fairness I ought to explained that the point where the failure to indicate took place was a t junction so the protagonist in this sorry tale would have been foolhardy to attempt an over or undertake.

I don't condone it, but it is exactly the sort of foolhardy error that people make all the time at T junctions if physically possible.

For clarity there was no suggestion that an accident had or had the potential to occur. He was behind us and we had come to a stop at the junction. The only way he could have been hurt is if he had ridden into the rear of our vehicle.

Or tried to pass the vehicle based on its road position at the junction and been turned into, from the sounds of it. Foolhardy but widespread. I had two do that to me today that I remember.

My rational for raising this is not to "brag" but more to point out that this guy potentially placed himself in a dangerous situation because of his inability to keep calm. It was he, after all, who pursued our vehicle.

Yes well done, I think we agree he screwed up, but in a much less dangerous way than your wife. Would you like a prize?

Also, as I thought I had made clear, though accept that I may have not, I was already out of the vehicle when the chap tapped on the car window. I had gotten out to assess the binding and not defend my wife's honour which, unless you can tell me differently remains intact

That was clear but I was trying to suggest the approaching cyclist hadn't seen you get out and misinterpreted it.

I bet you're one of the "self righteous, camera on the helmet for proof of wrong doing" sort of cyclist aren't ya?

No helmet due to neck injury but I have used a camera since being the victim of a road rage attack years ago. Even before that, I did not deliberately put myself in the firing line but some motorists seem to believe cyclists should be abused or even attacked for daring to ride along the carriageway when necessary. We should have tons more police operated traffic cameras at junctions like the USA and others do, or random police blitzes like some European countries, but we don't, so I am happy at the growing number of dashcams, helmet cams and handlebarcams being used to raise driving standards despite the failure of various ministers and police authorities and commissioners.

 

[Hip Priest]

mjray, with respect I think you have missed my point but in fairness I ought to explained that the point where the failure to indicate took place was a t junction so the protagonist in this sorry tale would have been foolhardy to attempt an over or undertake.

For clarity there was no suggestion that an accident had or had the potential to occur. He was behind us and we had come to a stop at the junction. The only way he could have been hurt is if he had ridden into the rear of our vehicle.

From this description, I'd say he went well OTT in following you.

 

[Globalti]

Was he wearing a helmet camera? There are plenty of cyclists who provoke drivers in the hope of getting a tasty video of some idiot abusing them, to post on Youtube.

 

[paulfromthenorth]

I don't condone it, but it is exactly the sort of foolhardy error that people make all the time at T junctions if physically possible.


Or tried to pass the vehicle based on its road position at the junction and been turned into, from the sounds of it. Foolhardy but widespread. I had two do that to me today that I remember.


Yes well done, I think we agree he screwed up, but in a much less dangerous way than your wife. Would you like a prize?


That was clear but I was trying to suggest the approaching cyclist hadn't seen you get out and misinterpreted it.


No helmet due to neck injury but I have used a camera since being the victim of a road rage attack years ago. Even before that, I did not deliberately put myself in the firing line but some motorists seem to believe cyclists should be abused or even attacked for daring to ride along the carriageway when necessary. We should have tons more police operated traffic cameras at junctions like the USA and others do, or random police blitzes like some European countries, but we don't, so I am happy at the growing number of dashcams, helmet cams and handlebarcams being used to raise driving standards despite the failure of various ministers and police authorities and commissioners.

I can accept some of your points mray and no I neither seek or require a prize of any sort as exchanges such as ours are recompense enough.

A bit disappointed that you have played the "neck injury" sympathy card as early as you have but hey ho! Also it comes as little surprise to me that you were the subject of a road rage attack given your tendency to refer to people you do not know as "trolls" so readily . . .


Mod Edited

 

[winjim]

Use of signals is a should not a must so tell him to bog off.