ACS
Legendary Member
- Location
- Just below the snow line
Downhill stretch on a dark rural road, no street lighting, sweeping round an easy left hand bend, with a vehicle behind me I become aware of a set of head lights. Having used the route many times I know there is a bus stop and a road junction on the RHS just as the road straightens out so I sit up and start to freewheel.
See a bus with passengers alighting on my RHS and two vehicles stationary behind. No problem, I've got lots of white light out front, set of AyUps on high and 2x3 watt torches announcing my presence, I'm wearing a reflective / hi-viz waistcoat and the car behind me must had lit me up as well.
Suddenly the first vehicle behind the bus pulls out and starts to overtake. Screaming I grab the brakes hard, lock up and the white van keeps coming. Still screaming I slither to a halt about 6 inches from the front of the van which was now level with the front of the bus.
I am shaking, really shaking, I want to be sick. Driver leans out of his window “Sorry mate I didn’t see you, I saw the car turning right and thought the road was clear, no damage done eh!”
Bus pulls away, van follows and I’m left in the middle of the road, wide-eyed, sweating despite the cold wind and dumfounded. Think the entire incident took less than 2 minutes.
Didn’t get any details of the van I am going to speak to the bus company tomorrow but don’t hold out a great deal of hope, CCTV is always forward facing.
I am sitting here wondering what additional steps I have to take to ensure my safety. I'm lit up like Christmas tree front and back , I have that much reflective material on I look like an extra from Tron and still it's not enough. I am riding more defensively, taking extra care by moderating my speed on the down hills bits and only using routes I know very well.
See a bus with passengers alighting on my RHS and two vehicles stationary behind. No problem, I've got lots of white light out front, set of AyUps on high and 2x3 watt torches announcing my presence, I'm wearing a reflective / hi-viz waistcoat and the car behind me must had lit me up as well.
Suddenly the first vehicle behind the bus pulls out and starts to overtake. Screaming I grab the brakes hard, lock up and the white van keeps coming. Still screaming I slither to a halt about 6 inches from the front of the van which was now level with the front of the bus.
I am shaking, really shaking, I want to be sick. Driver leans out of his window “Sorry mate I didn’t see you, I saw the car turning right and thought the road was clear, no damage done eh!”
Bus pulls away, van follows and I’m left in the middle of the road, wide-eyed, sweating despite the cold wind and dumfounded. Think the entire incident took less than 2 minutes.
Didn’t get any details of the van I am going to speak to the bus company tomorrow but don’t hold out a great deal of hope, CCTV is always forward facing.
I am sitting here wondering what additional steps I have to take to ensure my safety. I'm lit up like Christmas tree front and back , I have that much reflective material on I look like an extra from Tron and still it's not enough. I am riding more defensively, taking extra care by moderating my speed on the down hills bits and only using routes I know very well.
