What to you comprises a 'near miss' - ?

[Arrowfoot]

I don't think the issue is about the definition of "near miss". We should all know what a "near miss" is. I think OP's colleague probably rides in a manner where near misses are more frequent

 

[summerdays]

I don't think the issue is about the definition of "near miss". We should all know what a "near miss" is. I think OP's colleague probably rides in a manner where near misses are more frequent

I think there is an element as others have said that you become adjusted to the lower level stuff that you thought was close when you first set out, and that's not to say that it is correct, just that it becomes normal to expect/accept that you will get a certain level of poor driving.

I think everyone will have a different level of a near miss, based on where they cycle, time of day, experience, and their personality. If they feel it was a near miss then they still feel that they were potentially put at risk.

 

[Tim Hall]

Cock?
Crap?
Crivvens?

Aye. Followed with "Help ma boab"

 

[classic33]

It depends on the speed, the road and the amount of traffic for me.
A "near miss" in slow moving traffic could be considered suicidal at faster speeds and heavier traffic.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I've noticed we seem to vary wildly in how many near misses we get, some riders have loads and some have hardly any, I've often wondered is this a product of riding skills, perhaps some riders have a better technique and this leads to fewer near misses, or is it a difference in perception, what one person see's as a near miss isn't considered a near miss by someone else, and how much does the driving standard vary from place to place? I've noticed myself that driving standards are different between Coventry, the surrounding towns and villages and when I'm out in the sticks.

 

[slowmotion]

An unwanted rush of adrenaline followed by a strange sense of sadness about the random nature of my possible death. Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often but it always leaves me with more sadness than anger.

 

[Phil Fouracre]

Slowmotion - interesting, perfectly sums up how I feel when it happens to me

 

[Sandra6]

I rant on a weekly, if not daily basis, about idiots on the road and attempts on my life, but I'm rather short tempered and easily irritated.
A genuine near miss is anything that causes me to swerve or take evasive action, abruptly stopping etc. In reality I've only had a few actual near misses, inconsiderate passes however are a daily occurrence.

 

[simongt]

As a postscript to this thread, on Thursday, I was cycling home and came to a busy roundabout. Waited for a space in the traffic and duly took off. As I was negotiating said roundabout, a voice from behind yelled - 'Oi cyclist, f*****g speed up - !'. It had come from a early twentysomething boy racer in his slightly battered Corsa, complete with rainbow mirror finish wraparound shades ( him, not the Corsa ), so I did what I did; no reaction and just carried on. When I related this amusing - well in my book - tale to my cycling pal at work the next day, he admitted that if that had been him on the bike, then the 'red mist' would have probably descended and an altercation may well have ensued. So, answer to the original point of the thread - I'm just SO laid back when I'm in the saddle - !

 

[lee1980sim]

If it wakes me up from whatever I'm thinking about its a close pass, otherwise it's just cars on the road, although while "enjoying" work today I noticed people pass horses wider than they do cyclists, weird that people give more space to an animal than another human being

 

[summerdays]

If it wakes me up from whatever I'm thinking about its a close pass, otherwise it's just cars on the road, although while "enjoying" work today I noticed people pass horses wider than they do cyclists, weird that people give more space to an animal than another human being

The horse can do far more damage to their car than a mere bike and human can!

 

[glasgowcyclist]

No -the correct overtaking distance is NOT 1.5 meters it is what is appropriate. If it were 1.5 meters then most filtering by BICYCLES would be impossible

No, there is a huge difference between car passing a cyclist closely and a cyclist passing a car closely. They are not the same thing and it isn't simply a matter of a defined minimum clearance.

GC

 

[Tin Pot]

Anything that gets a rapid response from my adrenal gland but has no other impact, is a near miss.

 

[lee1980sim]

The horse can do far more damage to their car than a mere bike and human can!

Not when you consider insurance claims

 

[Phil Fouracre]

This reminds me of an 'incident' my missus had years ago. She was riding her horse with a friend, quiet country road when a car came up behind them. It was one of those 'plastic' three wheelers, a Bond Bug I think they were called, shows how long ago it was. Fine so far, until the driver made his mistake, he sounded his horn, whereupon her friends horse, fully shod, responded. Apparently plastic everywhere and a very shocked driver!