Two bad SMIDSY's, did I do okay?

[rich p]

Save up all your pocket money for a while, buy a gun and take the bastards out. It's a jungle out there.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Unfortunately you seem to be having a bit of a run on smidsys.

I'm with the others on the defensive riding - take the space and own it wherever you can.

Tony

 

[Matthew_T]

I should be getting a helmet camera on Monday or Tuesday so you will then be able to see where I am looking and my position on the road.

 

[400bhp]

Just to clear things up: I do not want this to become another "Tell Matthew what he did wrong" thread. All I want is criticism on how I was actually riding and whether better positioning at these junctions would have changed anything.
I do not want people commenting on what I said and me 'pursuing' the driver. This is not what this thread is for.

Well, without video or being there, how are we supposed to comment on your riding and positioning

 

[Slaav]

Matthew T, I have not commented on many of your posts or threads for a while but a couple of points on this:

" As I had right of way, I made my way onto the roundabout but a car coming from the left failed to even bother to look, and nearly took me out. It was only my awareness of him that stopped me going under the wheels. I did yell "WTF are you doing?" but he just gave me a blank 'I don't give a f*ck' look.
I did pursue him but failed to catch up."

Mistake Number 1: 'As I had right of way' - this insuates - note my use of that word - that you are going as it is your 'right'? Personally, I never assume that a car is going to stop or not drive into me from the left, regardless of the 'right of way'. I may hope he will stop but that is just life....

Mistake No 2: 'WTF are you doing?' - I think we all know the answer to this - he/she wasn't thinking/didnt give a damn/couldn't be bothered/numpty - take your pick? Shouting at someone in a car who either doesn't care or doesn't realise what has just happened is heading down a path you don't want or need to go down. Trust me!

Mistake No 3: 'I did pursue him but failed to catch up' - What in all that is mighty were you thinking? Especially with what you say has just happened? Pursuing a driver (see above) is heading down a path you don't want to go down. Trust me!

Any kind of road rage is unpleasant - no matter how warranted. I will only ask this of you; shake your head, ride carefully, rise above everything as best you can and chalk it down to experience. Learn from others mistakes and don't make your own! Please.

 

[Belfastox]

Sometimes drivers do need shouted at and sometimes they need their windows/wings politely 'tapped'. I agree with the defensive riding stuff but I honestly think there is a time for assertive, bordering on aggressive, riding too. I don't know what it's like anywhere else but here in Belfast it's sometimes the only thing that gets me through the day.

 

[Belfastox]

Actually, sorry about that, I was just having a bit of a grump. Shouting very rarely helps, swearing never does and 'aggressive' is just silly. There.

 

[col]

The pattern seems to be the more aggressive we are, the more confrontations there are for us. Then the worse your day becomes. We've all been there, but Ill bet the more experienced amongst us chill rather than boil. It has a knock on effect, and things can escalate. Then again there are some people who cant stop themselves being aggressive and confrontational, and there are some who can cause a nun to explode and they love this reaction, these types are the worse type, as they kid themselves that it wasnt there fault, they are sneaky and cowardly yet cause probably the more dangerous situations. But most of us can stop ourselves if we want to. You need to stop yourself, as your heading for a fall the way your going. You probably dont see what Im trying to say, and will dissagree with me, but you will eventually. Hopefully without recieving an injury of some sort first.There are loads of bad drivers out there, close passes, cut ups, didnt see you ect. Its going to happen. Expect it and adjust for it, dont be awkward on purpose just to make a point, you will be a happier person for it. Chill out

 

[caimg]

I do worry that at 18 (or 19 is it?) years old, a camera isn't going to do anything other than encourage you to demonstrate bad driving. I'm not having a personal dig at you per se - just that when I think back to when I was 18 (I'm 25 now), I'd also like to have done something like have a camera and be seen to 'make a difference' within a community. Don't go seeking it - like I said before from my personal experience and as others have said - you can acknowledge stupid twat drivers with a shake of the head and avoidance tactics without deciding to go up against a lethal machine just to try and make a point...

I should point out that there are a few people who post videos who are much older than you that also seem to revel in being pedantic and anal just to feel part of policing supposedly bad drivers. Here's the deal - people make mistakes. Some people, who make them consistently and deliberately, deserve to have action taken against them but being out on a bicycle and being 'wronged' spontaneously does not mean you should plaster these (sometimes) one off mistakes publicly on the internet. You don't see drivers doing it about other drivers so let's stop acting so inferior, precious and thoughtless and maybe we'll command more respect on the road! /semi-drunken-rant-over

 

[Hip Priest]

Rarely will someone look back on a confrontation and think 'Yeah, I'm glad I got involved'. The only times I've ever got into an argument on the road, it has ruined my day. Whenever I get the urge to lose my rag nowadays, I try to remember that and remain calm.

 

[semislickstick]

being 'wronged' spontaneously does not mean you should plaster these (sometimes) one off mistakes publicly on the internet. You don't see drivers doing it about other drivers so let's stop acting so inferior, precious and thoughtless and maybe we'll command more respect on the road! /semi-drunken-rant-over

There are plenty of drivers posting videos on youtube too(on poor cycling & other driver on driver action!!). There is a general drop in driving standards and courtesy on the road in this country, it's not just anti-cyclist.

 

[tincaman]

You need to stop cycling, I see a short life

 

[Belfastox]

At the risk of upsetting the harmony here; in my view there is a significant difference between not 'seeking out confrontation' and quietly acquiescing to the discourtesy and dangerous driving of other road users. I completely agree that it is always better to deal with issues calmly and without aggression (in life,not just in cycling) but that doesn't mean simply rolling over. I honestly think that one of the great problems with so many aspects of our society is that people don't make a stand when others behave badly, either because they are afraid to (often with good reason), or because 'it isn't their job'. It is all of our responsibility to help make the roads safer for ourselves and others and, if that means pointing out , in an appropriate manner, that a driver has behaved badly then so be it. I would say that it is really important to only take action that helps the situation and to avoid anything that inflames it - and that takes practice and consideration. We also need to be aware that some of us, sometimes, ride like prats and make mistakes and generally add to the chaos! Just to be clear, I agree wholeheartedly that good defensive riding is key and that getting into an altercation at the side of the road is unhelpful, potentially dangerous and will certainly spoil your day. But, and here's the thing for me, I don't think simply having a bit of chuckle and riding on is always the answer either.

 

[col]

At the risk of upsetting the harmony here; in my view there is a significant difference between not 'seeking out confrontation' and quietly acquiescing to the discourtesy and dangerous driving of other road users. I completely agree that it is always better to deal with issues calmly and without aggression (in life,not just in cycling) but that doesn't mean simply rolling over. I honestly think that one of the great problems with so many aspects of our society is that people don't make a stand when others behave badly, either because they are afraid to (often with good reason), or because 'it isn't their job'. It is all of our responsibility to help make the roads safer for ourselves and others and, if that means pointing out , in an appropriate manner, that a driver has behaved badly then so be it. I would say that it is really important to only take action that helps the situation and to avoid anything that inflames it - and that takes practice and consideration. We also need to be aware that some of us, sometimes, ride like prats and make mistakes and generally add to the chaos! Just to be clear, I agree wholeheartedly that good defensive riding is key and that getting into an altercation at the side of the road is unhelpful, potentially dangerous and will certainly spoil your day. But, and here's the thing for me, I don't think simply having a bit of chuckle and riding on is always the answer either.

I agree with your reasoning, but the simple fact of pointing a mistake out to someone in what ever method you choose, in itself enflames an already embarrassed or annoyed driver, more so when you invade their personnal space (tapping on windows, putting hand on door while leaning in) The only time I feel this kind of pointing out is called for, is if there has been a blatent and purposeful action by someone which has seriously endagered others. Which is rare in comparison to the large numbers of normal activity on the roads. So no, dont roll over, but dont be pedantic to mistakes either. They were after all mistakes. I find a wave and smile, so letting the person know you understand whats happened, always ends in smiles and even apologies all round.

 

[caimg]

I agree with your reasoning, but the simple fact of pointing a mistake out to someone in what ever method you choose, in itself enflames an already embarrassed or annoyed driver, more so when you invade their personnal space (tapping on windows, putting hand on door while leaning in) The only time I feel this kind of pointing out is called for, is if there has been a blatent and purposeful action by someone which has seriously endagered others. Which is rare in comparison to the large numbers of normal activity on the roads. So no, dont roll over, but dont be pedantic to mistakes either. They were after all mistakes. I find a wave and smile, so letting the person know you understand whats happened, always ends in smiles and even apologies all round.

Exactly. Since when was it cool to tap on peoples' cars anyway? If I make a mistake on the road, a driver leans out of his window and slaps my bike to get my attention and have a go at me I'd be furious!