Rear-ended on an eventful morning

[eddiemee]

No, it's nothing rude you dirty-minded people. Approaching a roundabout this morning, moved into primary about 75 metres out, oncoming car is indicating right and moves onto the roundabout so I stop and stand on the pedals. All well and good until I'm shunted about a foot forward by the car behind. I turned round and he made a gesture which may have been a half-hearted apology or a 'get-out-of-the-way' shake of the fist. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on that one.

Despite the rush of adrenaline I stayed calm, didn't shout, didn't smack his bonnet, just moved my bike onto the footpath, expecting him to pull over.... at which point he just drove off. Neither he nor his passenger seemed remotely interested in even opening the window to apologise or ask if I was alright. I noted his plate and inspected the bike, fortunately no damage and the back wheel is still true. I could have forgiven the shunt as a momentary lapse, but I'm furious that he didn't at least ask if I was injured. Part of me thinks I should report it, but I'm really leaning towards just letting it go. Apart from leaving the scene, he didn't cause any damage or injury so I doubt a complaint would be taken seriously and to be honest I don't have the time or energy to pursue it. Any thoughts on the above?

Then 10 minutes later I was turning right at a junction and another cyclist comes straight through the red light to my left forcing me to brake so I don't hit him. Caught up with him and suggested politely that he might like to recosider his approach to red lights if he valued his life, but he didn't hear me as he had earphones in. I think we'll let Darwin take care of him....

Finally, just booked a car for my holiday. First time in five years on four wheels, I get to be a moton again..... I feel a bit sick.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Report it.

Even if there is no chance of a prosecution, the driver can be given words of advice that might make them act a little more responsibly in future.

 

[BikeShapedObject]

Have him GASSED.

 

[XmisterIS]

You did well to keep your composure! If it was me, I would be hard pressed to stop myself from ripping his arms off ....

 

[HLaB]

A while back I was sitting 3rd in a queue with 2 cars behind me when I suddenly found my bike getting pushed forward into the van in front. I looked back to see the female driver emerging from rummaging in her glove box. My wheels were true too but I made sure of checking it right in front of her. If it hadn't been she couldn't have got away.

 

[thomas]

I'd report him. If he went in the back of a car he'd of stopped. Just because it's a bike doesn't make it acceptable not to.

 

[DJ]

Finally, just booked a car for my holiday. First time in five years on four wheels, I get to be a moton again..... I feel a bit sick.[/quote]






Ooooh you poor soul I do sympathies, when ever I drive these days I am amazed at how much of my life is wasted by sitting in traffic.

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

I would report it if I were you - you may have suffered whiplash or anything which can sometimes take a few days to come out.

Also - what a prat - like somebody else said - had he gone into a car he would no way have driven off!

How stupid do you have to be to drive into a stationary bike (although I have had this happen to me!!!!).

You did well to keep it calm - I would have been shouting at him to stop and pull over!

 

[yashicamat]

Definitely report it. Could almost be classified as hit and run . . .

 

[semislickstick]

It's worth reporting it, he made contact and didn't ask if you were ok or damage to your bike, I'd be concerned about his driving.

 

[Sysagent]

Report it, the driver might think twice next time.

 

[peanut]

I think you should report it in case he does it again. That way the next victim will have the advantage of some previous history of driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after an accident.

 

[fruitbat]

Apart from leaving the scene, he didn't cause any damage or injury so I doubt a complaint would be taken seriously and to be honest I don't have the time or energy to pursue it. Any thoughts on the above?

I think you should report it. Without speaking to you how could he know he hadn't caused any damage?

I think in such circumstances it's probably wisest to ask for insurance details regardless. I wouldn't trust myself to spot an out of true wheel or damaged frame/forks when suddenly placed into that situation - I'd want my LBS to check the bike over and make the judgement call that everything is ok. Is that mean? I don't think so, bikes are more fragile than cars and structural damage is much more likely to occur.

 

[Ben M]

Why did you lay your bike down at the side of the road? I'd have rest it directly infront of their car so they they couldn't have driven off, and gone to the driver's window.

Oh and definitely report it.

 

[eddiemee]

Thanks for the replies everyone, seems to be a clear verdict. Let's see what happens.

Why did you lay your bike down at the side of the road? I'd have rest it directly infront of their car so they they couldn't have driven off, and gone to the driver's window.

Oh and definitely report it.

In retrospect I should have stayed where I was, but since there was no injury or damage I thought it best to move off the road, expecting him to do the same so that we didn't block other traffic. I guess I put too much faith in other people being considerate/courteous/sorry.