downfader
extimus uero philosophus
- Location
- 'ampsheeeer
Just spend 15 minutes typing the message and the forum has logged me out - complete pain in the ****. I've now lost the whole thing I'd written.
F***ing technology.
Right. This morning, first ride since the chest infection everything fine and hunky dory. I get to a junction of Central Bridge in Southampton and take the right of the two lanes as it allows me easy and safe approach to the middle lane on Bernard St. I had to wait for a fair amount of traffic to clear from my right, its a oneway system I'm attempting to get on and finally theres one last car coming but his mainbeams are on and I cant see if he's indicating to turn onto the bridge or heading my way. Sure enough he turns onto the bridge and I'm just about to pull off when - "POP!"
I look down and I'm standing over my pannier bag and rack. Looked behind me and the driver of the car behind has gone over my rear wheel and shunted me forward. I get off the bike and he's shouting in a thick African accent "WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE!!? YOU SHOULD BE OVER THERE!!" and he appears to be gesturing at the pavement.
This just p***es me off, he could have said sorry atleast, but no he thinks I'm to blame because I'm in his way. "What the **** are you on about you *****!? I need this lane to get to the ****ing middle lane!"
I'm over at his window by this point and he's shrinking back into his seat. I look over at the bike and its standing on its own, stuck under his plates and bumper. "Switch your engine off, son!" He refuses and mumbles something I cant understand and I tell him this. "Switch you're engine off!" I walk back around to the front and try the pry the bike free. Looking up I see a great long queue of traffic behind him, so I direct it around. The driver mean while stays seated, he wont even switch on his hazards.
I then decide to try and get the camera/phone out to photo him and his car, plus what he's done but cant find it. "I'm taking your details!"
"No, please!!"
I couldnt find the damn thing, it had dissappeared somewhere in the pannier bag so I say "Atleast put it in f***ing reverse, so I can get it out and check it over!"
"How is my car?"
"How should I f***ing know? Get out of the f***ing car and look." He stays seated. "Put the car in reverse!" Finally he crunches the gears and moves back a foot. I remain in front blocking his exit and checkover the wheel. Not a scratch: tyre is fine, rim, spokes and hub all working perfectly. A real escape. I can only presume his bumper and plate got pushed up and the weight of the car just pinched it in.
I walk up to him after proping the bike by a lamp post and have calmed down a fair bit as a result, say "Look, you're lucky. Theres no damage, I'm prepared to leave it," and we shake hands, but as we're doing so he says something about me making him late for work.
!
"So your time is more important than my safety or property. A year a go I was hit by a driver who was in a rush, so slow down, take a couple of breaths. Open your ****ing eyes and drive CAREFULLY! Now get the **** out of my sight!"
And that was that. Could have been so easily avoided had he been apologetic, recognised his mistake and not tried to immediately throw the blame. I filled this out on STOP SMIDSY too. In the heat of the moment I could only remember the first 4 letters of the plate "KY08" I think, it was a dark modeo type car, looked a state, and the guy had a "pencil" 'tash.
End rant. Ride safe people!
F***ing technology.
Right. This morning, first ride since the chest infection everything fine and hunky dory. I get to a junction of Central Bridge in Southampton and take the right of the two lanes as it allows me easy and safe approach to the middle lane on Bernard St. I had to wait for a fair amount of traffic to clear from my right, its a oneway system I'm attempting to get on and finally theres one last car coming but his mainbeams are on and I cant see if he's indicating to turn onto the bridge or heading my way. Sure enough he turns onto the bridge and I'm just about to pull off when - "POP!"
I look down and I'm standing over my pannier bag and rack. Looked behind me and the driver of the car behind has gone over my rear wheel and shunted me forward. I get off the bike and he's shouting in a thick African accent "WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE!!? YOU SHOULD BE OVER THERE!!" and he appears to be gesturing at the pavement.
This just p***es me off, he could have said sorry atleast, but no he thinks I'm to blame because I'm in his way. "What the **** are you on about you *****!? I need this lane to get to the ****ing middle lane!"
I'm over at his window by this point and he's shrinking back into his seat. I look over at the bike and its standing on its own, stuck under his plates and bumper. "Switch your engine off, son!" He refuses and mumbles something I cant understand and I tell him this. "Switch you're engine off!" I walk back around to the front and try the pry the bike free. Looking up I see a great long queue of traffic behind him, so I direct it around. The driver mean while stays seated, he wont even switch on his hazards.
I then decide to try and get the camera/phone out to photo him and his car, plus what he's done but cant find it. "I'm taking your details!"
"No, please!!"
I couldnt find the damn thing, it had dissappeared somewhere in the pannier bag so I say "Atleast put it in f***ing reverse, so I can get it out and check it over!"
"How is my car?"
"How should I f***ing know? Get out of the f***ing car and look." He stays seated. "Put the car in reverse!" Finally he crunches the gears and moves back a foot. I remain in front blocking his exit and checkover the wheel. Not a scratch: tyre is fine, rim, spokes and hub all working perfectly. A real escape. I can only presume his bumper and plate got pushed up and the weight of the car just pinched it in.
I walk up to him after proping the bike by a lamp post and have calmed down a fair bit as a result, say "Look, you're lucky. Theres no damage, I'm prepared to leave it," and we shake hands, but as we're doing so he says something about me making him late for work.
!"So your time is more important than my safety or property. A year a go I was hit by a driver who was in a rush, so slow down, take a couple of breaths. Open your ****ing eyes and drive CAREFULLY! Now get the **** out of my sight!"
And that was that. Could have been so easily avoided had he been apologetic, recognised his mistake and not tried to immediately throw the blame. I filled this out on STOP SMIDSY too. In the heat of the moment I could only remember the first 4 letters of the plate "KY08" I think, it was a dark modeo type car, looked a state, and the guy had a "pencil" 'tash.
End rant. Ride safe people!
