I'm just back from a 30 miler and have pondered over what to do. Had it happened in the last five miles, I would have reported him already but now I would like the input of the revered members of this forum.
It was on a steep downhill in my first five miles. It was a narrow lane and a post-office van was parked, back-end into the driveway of a farmhouse. He must have seen me descend and conclude he had enough time to nose out and go in the direction I was heading. He did have sufficient time, just about, but then of course, I was riding behind him. I rode out wide on his right and could clearly see his entire face in his wing mirror so he must have been able to see me. Then, without warning or indicating, he pulled out to his right, right into where I was unavoidably headed. I shouted out loud enough for him to hear and he braked, leaving me the teensiest of spaces to get through without hitting the van or the wall on my right. Had it been someone less experienced, they'd have hit one or the other.
So now I was mightily annoyed. I stopped, dismounted and went back to ask him what he thought he was doing. Now he stated straight away that he was sorry (he kept repeating that) but there can only be two conclusions;
1) He had two obvious opportunities to see me and must have known I was there but deliberately pulled in front of me or,
2) He didn't see me, in which case, he shouldn't be driving.
I then took out my mobile phone and took a picture of his registration number informing him i was definitely going to report him to his employer. I was adamant I was going to do that but since then I've thought well either he didn't like cyclists before his dangerous move or he certainly won't like cyclists now if one reports him. It is this that makes me ponder the future repercussions; this will automatically produce an anti-cyclist who may well (probably will) see me on my bike in the future and if he feels resentment boiling over, who knows what he might do? He won't want to get into a fist fight, he backed down immediately he realised I wasn't going to let this incident go away as easily as he'd have liked.
So I don't like to let things ride, I am either going to report him this morning or let the whole thing drop in the hope my, let's say 'forthright', appraisal of the situation is sufficient an admonishment.
It's now 11.55 am Monday so I will make my decision at 1pm Monday so I'd appreciate any comments/advice on this before 1, please.
It was on a steep downhill in my first five miles. It was a narrow lane and a post-office van was parked, back-end into the driveway of a farmhouse. He must have seen me descend and conclude he had enough time to nose out and go in the direction I was heading. He did have sufficient time, just about, but then of course, I was riding behind him. I rode out wide on his right and could clearly see his entire face in his wing mirror so he must have been able to see me. Then, without warning or indicating, he pulled out to his right, right into where I was unavoidably headed. I shouted out loud enough for him to hear and he braked, leaving me the teensiest of spaces to get through without hitting the van or the wall on my right. Had it been someone less experienced, they'd have hit one or the other.
So now I was mightily annoyed. I stopped, dismounted and went back to ask him what he thought he was doing. Now he stated straight away that he was sorry (he kept repeating that) but there can only be two conclusions;
1) He had two obvious opportunities to see me and must have known I was there but deliberately pulled in front of me or,
2) He didn't see me, in which case, he shouldn't be driving.
I then took out my mobile phone and took a picture of his registration number informing him i was definitely going to report him to his employer. I was adamant I was going to do that but since then I've thought well either he didn't like cyclists before his dangerous move or he certainly won't like cyclists now if one reports him. It is this that makes me ponder the future repercussions; this will automatically produce an anti-cyclist who may well (probably will) see me on my bike in the future and if he feels resentment boiling over, who knows what he might do? He won't want to get into a fist fight, he backed down immediately he realised I wasn't going to let this incident go away as easily as he'd have liked.
So I don't like to let things ride, I am either going to report him this morning or let the whole thing drop in the hope my, let's say 'forthright', appraisal of the situation is sufficient an admonishment.
It's now 11.55 am Monday so I will make my decision at 1pm Monday so I'd appreciate any comments/advice on this before 1, please.