Taking off the door mirror...

[subaqua]

Not me but someone who may be older than me and closely related ripped of the mirrors on a London bus many years ago with the immortal words

" you don't fecking use them so you don't fecking need them "

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Was it left hanging by the wires? I've seen the odd car driving around like that, and usually there is an arc-shaped area of knackered paint where the mirror has been dangling and rubbing against the door and the front wing!

Thus proving said driver doesn't need/use/miss it.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Apropo of nothing much the door mirror on TLH's car got smashed last night by a passing car. AGAIN!

Odd but no note was left by the offending driver. Perhaps they are all selfish nobber-twunts after all?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

True but, along with the empty shell version, the folded in against the door version etc it stands as a useful warning to be very careful near that vehicle.

Defective lights always suggests to me that I'm in the presence of a nobber-twunt. And defective lights on cars are waaay more common than ninja cyclists yet drivers rarely complain.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If the opportunity arises I tell drivers that they have a defective light. Most thank, some though reply in terms that show they already knew and really don't care.

In these parts ime that split is about 20:70 with 10% seeming to have comprehension problems. But I only converse with the executive classes. Baffles me when lots of modern cars have nag dashes that tell you have a bulb gone.

How very dare that pleb on a pushbike speak to me state of mind prevails in co car driving hive.

Yet more reason not to speak to Sussex/Surrey drivera

 

[lejogger]

such as....?

Well such as the example in my post... I assumed that was implied.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Well such as the example in my post... I assumed that was implied.

Opening someone's boot whilst the vehicle is in use is legal and appropriate

Oh. Right. I see.

 

[lejogger]

Opening someone's boot whilst the vehicle is in use is legal and appropriate

Oh. Right. I see.

In my own humble opinion it's more appropriate than causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to someone's property.

From the view of a witnessing policeman, what do you think the action would be in each case?

I concede that strictly speaking it's probably not advisable to open a car boot when someone is stopped at the lights but you're not likely to end up in the nick.

Smashing someone's wing mirror on purpose, in my view is along the same lines as a mindless vandal smashing a phone box or a shop window.

I'm sure most of us have made errors in judgement both as cyclists and indeed motorists. Who are you to say that the suitable punishment for such an offence is the expense and inconvenience of a vehicle repair? If I make a mistake while cycling and offend a motorist, should I allow him to slash my tyres as suitable recompense?

 

[Mugshot]

If I make a mistake while cycling and offend a motorist, should I allow him to slash my tyres as suitable recompense?

Would your mistake be likely to kill, maim or injure said motorist? What if it wasn't a mistake by the motorist but a delibrate act of calculated bullying and intimidation?

 

[Brandane]

Apropo of nothing much the door mirror on TLH's car got smashed last night by a passing car. AGAIN!

Odd but no note was left by the offending driver. Perhaps they are all selfish nobber-twunts after all?

You sure it was a passing car? Maybe a passing cyclist, who remembered the car as having been responsible for something punishable, in their mind, by a broken mirror.

Or perhaps just kids walking past looking for a quick thrill, which is what happened to mine a few months ago. I know because I saw the little brat doing it. Luckily when SHE kicked it, it just swivelled towards the front of the car and I stopped her second attempt in its tracks. Serves me right for parking it in a public road though, eh?

 

[lejogger]

Would your mistake be likely to kill, maim or injury said motorist?

It's irrelevant really. As cyclists our mistakes may harm just as much as any other road user. If we hit a pedestrian at 20mph+ or caused a vehicle to swerve and crash.
Our choice of travel is not a defence to act as vigilantes.

What if it wasn't a mistake by the motorist but a delibrate act of calculated bullying and intimidation?

Then I certainly wouldn't be looking to aggravate an unbalanced character even further.

 

[Mugshot]

It's irrelevant really. As cyclists our mistakes may harm just as much as any other road user. If we hit a pedestrian at 20mph+ or caused a vehicle to swerve and crash.
Our choice of travel is not a defence to act as vigilantes.

But it's not irrelevant, you're trying to compare two things which are just not the same. As cyclists our mistakes are not as likely to harm as much as any other road user, to suggest so is nonsense.
It may also be worth pointing out that the vast majority of the people here are not talking about a reaction to a mistake they are talking about a reaction to very real or perceived threat.

 

[Brandane]

I witnessed an incident last week where a motorist honked their horn repeatedly and then got involved in loud and angry verbals with a cyclist who had the cheek to cycle down a cycle lane and enter the ASL zone in front of them.
It continued to the next set of lights whereby the cyclist calmly pulled up behind them, opened their boot and cycled off into the distance.

A little childish, but probably hugely satisfying to the cyclist, infuriating to the motorist, yet no damage to either party or their belongings.

A cyclist has no right to damage someone else's property, no matter how wronged they may feel, and certainly not out of anger or frustration. There are better, more legal, and more appropriate ways to show your feelings than criminal damage.

Quite an amusing story on this occasion, but could have had a different outcome if the driver had had his wits about him and was watching the cyclist in his mirror. A quick selection of reverse gear and moving back just a few feet and the outcome could have been frightening, if not sore!

 

[lejogger]

But it's not irrelevant, you're trying to compare two things which are just not the same. As cyclists our mistakes are not as likely to harm as much as any other road user, to suggest so is nonsense.
It may also be worth pointing out that the vast majority of the people here are not talking about a reaction to a mistake they are talking about a reaction to very real or perceived threat.

We are more vulnerable and we are less likely to harm others, but I don't agree that that should give us carte blanche to behave as we like, particularly if it involves dishing out our own interpretation of justice.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You sure it was a passing car? Maybe a passing cyclist, who remembered the car as having been responsible for something punishable, in their mind, by a broken mirror.

Or perhaps just kids walking past looking for a quick thrill, which is what happened to mine a few months ago. I know because I saw the little brat doing it. Luckily when SHE kicked it, it just swivelled towards the front of the car and I stopped her second attempt in its tracks. Serves me right for parking it in a public road though, eh?

TLH was sat in it when it happened. THUNK! So yes. I'm sure.

But thanks for checking.