Thoughts on this video

[benb]

Hi all

CyclingMikey made a comment on this video which made me think I might not be in the right (unusual, I know)
So I'd like you to have a look and see what you think, so I can gather some more opinions.
My perspective is that he wouldn't have barged through like that if I had been a car, and made me swerve into the door zone. The other side of the coin is that I was on "his" side of the road (although he wasn't in view when I pulled out). I'm quite happy to be called wrong, so don't be shy.

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6E8QDB1HsU[/media]

 

[CopperCyclist]

Bloody hell, watched this one loads, and I make this point first: I'm being massively picky here, but here's my 2p worth.

When you first see the car, you have a blank space to your side, and you could safely stop prior to the van to let the other car come through as he has right of way (ok, I'll keep Gaz happy) I mean priority, as you encroach into his lane. So, if you really don't want to enter that door zone, I'd it's your responsibility to stop in that situation.

However, this wouldn't excuse the other driver hitting you (which he didn't) of course, I'm not saying that. But to be fair to him, he's just driving fairly calmly and reasonably in his own lane.

Even taking this stance, I don't particulary think you're in the wrong either. There's enough space for you to pass the van, but it does put you into the danger of the door zone, and closer to the oncoming car that is advisable - but that's talking safety rather than what you HAVE to do.

 

[benb]

I personally think (and maybe it's not clear on the video) that there was not time to stop in that gap.
I also don't think he was "driving fairly calmly and reasonably in his own lane" - he was going too fast to stop in the distance he could see was clear, and he had no intention of stopping.

But I'll put that down to just one of those things - I certainly won't lose any sleep over it.

 

[GFamily]

I personally think (and maybe it's not clear on the video) that there was not time to stop in that gap.
I also don't think he was "driving fairly calmly and reasonably in his own lane" - he was going too fast to stop in the distance he could see was clear, and he had no intention of stopping.

But I'll put that down to just one of those things - I certainly won't lose any sleep over it.

I'm not sure you had any intention of stopping either - so you encroached into his stopping distance.

It was a very minor thing though IMV.

 

[rich p]

You're in the wrong for posting such an innocuous incident

 

[BSRU]

With hindsight I would suggest going slower, allowing you to take the gap when the car appears. I think in that situation I would have been looking out for someone coming round the bend.

Saying that the car driver has a brake and an accelerator which require little effort, they could have stopped only loosing a couple of so "precious" seconds.

They certainly would not have risked damaging their car if you had been in a car.

 

[rsvdaz]

[QUOTE 1571990"]
Both as bad as each other for exactly the same thing - you are both going to fast for the conditions, this being a blind turn.
[/quote]

sums it up

 

[gaz]

[QUOTE 1571990"]
Both as bad as each other for exactly the same thing - you are both going to fast for the conditions, this being a blind turn.
[/quote]


I agree, the driver wasn't perfect and neither was benb.

I would personally take this one on the chin, learn from it and move on. We all make 'mistakes' and you are in a great position to learn from it. I've personally had things picked up on from other riders and looking back on them, i was in the wrong.

 

[growingvegetables]

I certainly won't lose any sleep over it.

[edit]Ah - the joys of crossposting. I must learn to type with more than two fingers[/edit]


Tricky one.

Just a tuppenyworth on complacency - it's sometimes the bits I'm most used to, and where I've never had a problem, that suddenly, out of the blue, throw up something out of the ordinary.

Wondering if it's 2 guys (the car and you) both well used to their commute, and a bit ... dunno, perplexed at an unfortunate combination of timing and circumstance? "Oh, **** - this is something new"?

Both of you could/should have stopped before the white van - but both took that fraction of a second too long to think about it?


A bit of complacency from both of you?

Dunno - but I sure as **** regret not switching on my camera on bits of my route because "I've never had a problem here"

 

[Chutzpah]

I think it's "just one of those things" where you have to take it as a learning experience............

............or...........

............you could argue that if you were going FASTER you would have cleared the hazard before you met him

 

[xpc316e]

It was entirely reasonable to expect a vehicle to be coming in the opposite direction; this applies to both you and the car driver. One's driving and riding plans ought to take account of what can reasonably be expected to occur; neither of you did this, and therefore you are both at fault.


Q.E.D.

 

[ianrauk]

[QUOTE 1571990"]
Both as bad as each other for exactly the same thing - you are both going to fast for the conditions, this being a blind turn.
[/quote]

This ^^^^

You're in the wrong for posting such an innocuous incident

& this ^^^^

 

[addictfreak]

I would say, that as your on the wrong side of the road (just) and approaching the bend you should have been prepared for a car coming round the bend and given your self time to re-act.

However, the driver could have showed a little sense and given way which would have cost him seconds.

As my dear old mam would say 'six of one and half a dozen of the other'

 

[hennbell]

I would say that if you were in a car the driver would have reacted in a different manner. If you drove a car in a similar manner to the way you rode your bicycle you would have approached the pinch point before the other driver and he/she would have had no other option but to stop and wait for you to clear.

Bicycle runs on fat and makes you money
motor runs on money and makes you fat

 

[doog]

At 0.25 you haven't entered the hazard (overtaking the van) but he appears in view ahead. You actually enter the hazard before he does which may have been slightly cheeky yet he still doesn't slow. His limit point ie his view of the nearside kerb as it meets with offside kerb as he looks ahead, would be tiny, indicating a very sharp bend so he was going too fast, likewise for you

I guess you saw him but your speed meant that you couldnt react. It looked like he didnt give a toss and was going through anyway.

I agree with the general perception as posted by most in the thread but also admire your verbal restraint at the same time. (I tend to follow every remark with some sort of expletive!)