So...who was in the wrong here?

[Sheffield_Tiger]

This morning, I was cycling at around 20 on a normal 2-way street, cars parked either side, so I'm cycling just to the left of the centre white line.

There is a car behind me - not right on my wheel though

For no apparent reason and without warning I braked quite hard, not to a standstill, but to walking speed. There was a screech behind me, a horn blasted and a load of expletives.

So who was in the wrong? Who would have been responsible if the car had hit me?































Okay..it's a question of perspectives..I've told this with the car driver's perspective in mind.


What ACTUALLY happened was that through a gap in the parked cars I saw a quick flash of movement and slowed right down. Whilst Mr Toad was pre-occupied with poop-pooping and swearing a lot, the cat that I had spotted darted out from the parked car immediately in front and across the road. Car driver had no idea - never even saw it as it did cross the road. No anticipation, just plain old tunnel vision. Cat was lucky I was in front of the car...1 down 8 to go

 

[BlackPanther]

If a car hits you from behind of course it's his fault.

Mind you, in some countries, it's always the motorists fault http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-cyclists-fault--says-Government-advisor.html

 

[Brommie77]

Car driver should have been looking and not following so close to you end of.

(mind you I do seem to remember doing my cycling profficiency thatone had to give a flapping wing signal to warn others of a slowing movement, of course you did do that didn't you....)

 

[gaz]

(mind you I do seem to remember doing my cycling profficiency thatone had to give a flapping wing signal to warn others of a slowing movement, of course you did do that didn't you....)

That would involve removing your hands from the brakes. How would you stop?

 

[ComedyPilot]

Always travel at a speed in which you can safely bring your vehicle to a halt in the distance you can see to be clear in front of it.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Also, cars have far greater braking capacity that motorcycles or cycles, so there's that excuse out of the window.

 

[eddiemee]

Yep, car driver in the wrong here. You reacted to a hazard and slowed as you should have. Car driver was too close and gave you abuse for his mistake.

He would probably have a different perspective if you had maintained your speed and the hazard had been a small child running under your wheels. I'm pretty sure he would then have taken great pleasure in telling the police how the irresponsible cyclist was going too fast and failed to react to the hazard.

 

[gb155]

Also, cars have far greater braking capacity that motorcycles or cycles, so there's that excuse out of the window.

ONLY If they are paying attention

 

[subaqua]

actually the capacity is the same regardless of the attention span. the facility to use the capacity is reduced by inattention.


but i knew what you menat

 

[ThePainInSpain]

Car driver's fault..period.

If someone is tailgating me when I'm in the car I will touch my brakes with my left foot (just so my brake lights come on), then accelerate, leaving Mr Nob Head looking even more like a Nob Head. Because he has had to brake sharply to react to what he thinks is me braking.

Here in Spain it is law to give cyclists 2m of space when overtaking, this came about around 6 or 7 years ago when one of Spains top pro cyclists was killed on a training run near to where I now live.

 

[nightoff]

Car drivers fault for being too close. It doesn't help that bikes have no brake lights though. Could be a bit of the looming effect going on before the driver realised you were braking.

Brown trousers all round, even the cat.

 

[Jim_Noir]

Has it stopped close passes with the change in the law?

And it would have been the drivers fault. anyone tried the brake light app for iphone? Does anyone make break lights for cycles?

 

[ComedyPilot]

No offence, but having a brake light for a cycle is (IMO) abdicating part (if not all of) the responsibility for the person followng (be they on a bike, car lorry bus etc) to be watching where they are going, reading the road and keeping a safe stopping distance from the vehicle in front.

Purely reacting to a vehicle's brake lights isnot good enough IMO.

 

[nightoff]

No offence, but having a brake light for a cycle is (IMO) abdicating part (if not all of) the responsibility for the person followng (be they on a bike, car lorry bus etc) to be watching where they are going, reading the road and keeping a safe stopping distance from the vehicle in front.

Purely reacting to a vehicle's brake lights isnot good enough IMO.

None taken.

I said it was the car drivers fault.

I don't think brake lights on a bike are a bad idea. It would give drivers following more of a chance to notice an emergency stop.

Cars have brake lights and it doesn't abdicate any responsibility for the person following them.

I personally don't have brake lights on my bike but that is because they all seem like such a faff to use and maintain. If more R&D was done to improve the look and function of them I would probably install some on my commuter bike.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Tried one of the old fashioned brake lights back in the early 90s that had a springy wire contact that touched the pinch bolt of your brakes to complete the circuit. I think they were made by Varta IIRC

They were a pile of poo