downfader
extimus uero philosophus
- Location
- 'ampsheeeer
There are some daft people about down here. Half term doesnt stop the pillocks coming out and playing. Ended up being road raged this week - all because I took the correct road position due to a blind bend and potholes. The idiot nearly took out my rear wheel as he swerved to avoid the oncoming car and fumbled in a rage for the horn.
As I turned around realising this car was an inch from taking me out I realise he's threatening me, screaming about the pavement, shaking his fists, pointing and the "middle of the road" slogan screamed. Considering how he'd nearly had me off and nearly taken another driver with him I shouted back calling him an idiot - it where I was supposed to be! WHY was he overtaking on a blind bend towards another driver?!
"Middle of the road!!!! Middle of THE ROAD!!!" he screamed and shot past me.
I shouted out "PULL OVER!" I wasnt going to let this one lie. He did. I'll admit I did have a flash of a thought of pulling the pillock from his car but when I saw that he was about 5 foot tall the fantasy didnt seem as clever. He was still raving at me as I pulled up to his drivers window
"WHY WERE YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD YOU F888ING C888!!"
"So? I'm allowed to be. Thats how we're trained, get yourself on bikeability you idiot!" Didnt get the chance to explain about the potholes as he wasnt listening...
"MIDDLE OF THE ROAD YOU ****!!" (Its all he had, he certainly didnt have a braincell to calibrate why this might be)
"Why did you try to overtake on a blind bend when you couldnt see whats coming?"
"****!"
"Idiot!!"
With that he screeched off with a shred of the tyres and nearly went into the back of a flatbed that had slowed for some reason. Perhaps put of curiosity, I dont know. Got on the twitter and suggested to the Police that they might actually do something more proactive about these people before someone gets killed. They could do a great deal if they went onto the media and said "a cyclist has a right, and here is why..."
Its frustrating. In fact its criminal. Yet its ignored.
So I tweeted this and have started making a number of awareness poster ideas.
Yesterday afternoon,riding home down the Itchen Bridge, pushing 30mph in the big ring... 30mph zone and drivers overtaking and as I draw parallel with a lad of about 15 waiting to cross I hear him shout "For **** sake mate slow down!" right at me in my face.
As I rode on I wondered why he chose me rather than all the drivers breaking the speed limit.
Then this morning,pull up to some temporary traffic lights. About a minute later this car comes past me, the driver looking at me in a "why have you stopped there?" way. I presumed he didnt see the light and shout out "Hey mate, red light!"
Bloke walking his dog is laughing. I laughed back "I bet he'd go ballistic if a cyclist rode past him if he was waiting at a light." Odd thing is this is another blind bend due to road works. This one will be a liability.
As I turned around realising this car was an inch from taking me out I realise he's threatening me, screaming about the pavement, shaking his fists, pointing and the "middle of the road" slogan screamed. Considering how he'd nearly had me off and nearly taken another driver with him I shouted back calling him an idiot - it where I was supposed to be! WHY was he overtaking on a blind bend towards another driver?!
"Middle of the road!!!! Middle of THE ROAD!!!" he screamed and shot past me.
I shouted out "PULL OVER!" I wasnt going to let this one lie. He did. I'll admit I did have a flash of a thought of pulling the pillock from his car but when I saw that he was about 5 foot tall the fantasy didnt seem as clever. He was still raving at me as I pulled up to his drivers window
"WHY WERE YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD YOU F888ING C888!!"
"So? I'm allowed to be. Thats how we're trained, get yourself on bikeability you idiot!" Didnt get the chance to explain about the potholes as he wasnt listening...
"MIDDLE OF THE ROAD YOU ****!!" (Its all he had, he certainly didnt have a braincell to calibrate why this might be)
"Why did you try to overtake on a blind bend when you couldnt see whats coming?"
"****!"
"Idiot!!"
With that he screeched off with a shred of the tyres and nearly went into the back of a flatbed that had slowed for some reason. Perhaps put of curiosity, I dont know. Got on the twitter and suggested to the Police that they might actually do something more proactive about these people before someone gets killed. They could do a great deal if they went onto the media and said "a cyclist has a right, and here is why..."
Its frustrating. In fact its criminal. Yet its ignored.
So I tweeted this and have started making a number of awareness poster ideas.
Yesterday afternoon,riding home down the Itchen Bridge, pushing 30mph in the big ring... 30mph zone and drivers overtaking and as I draw parallel with a lad of about 15 waiting to cross I hear him shout "For **** sake mate slow down!" right at me in my face.
As I rode on I wondered why he chose me rather than all the drivers breaking the speed limit.
Then this morning,pull up to some temporary traffic lights. About a minute later this car comes past me, the driver looking at me in a "why have you stopped there?" way. I presumed he didnt see the light and shout out "Hey mate, red light!"
Bloke walking his dog is laughing. I laughed back "I bet he'd go ballistic if a cyclist rode past him if he was waiting at a light." Odd thing is this is another blind bend due to road works. This one will be a liability.
Chill, its just society on the streets... Getting involved with them ruins my experience of cycling.
. Southampton isn't great by any stretch of the imagination and the roads are in shocking condition right now, but I've had quite a few drivers give way to me, pass me with plenty of room and be quite pleasant in general.
