Eeek, chased by a van driver this morning

damianmc

First time this has happened in 12 years of cycle commuting in London.

Van overtakes me as I'm trying to turn right approaching a T junction. I make my displeasure known. He's turning right too and pulls ahead of me a few metres but pulls in tight to a parked bus so I can't easily get by. He was trying to block me, he swerved into the position. So I pushed his wing mirror flat to squeeze by and use a few chosen phrases to express my displeasure.

Suddenly, shouting behind me and flippin heck the drivers bearing down on me effing and blinding, legs pumping. :shock: Needless to say I pedal for all my worth. Luckily there was room in the traffic and green lights for me to escape.

This is in the rush hour, near Oval tube for all you South Londoners. I'm surprised someone would be so minded to leave their vehicle in this situation, in the middle of a very busy road. So I think if he's doing that, he must be crazy and pretty much s**t it. I'm looking over my shoulder all the way into work.

In retrospect, I regret putting myself in danger, there are a lot of ifs. What if he caught me on foot? What if he caught me in his van?

So the lesson is, be the bigger man and suck it up, move on. I know its hard in the heat of the moment but you have to remember there are some right loons out there. I'll take this as a near miss and try to be more Zen from now on (till the next time!).

Gazzaputt

marked or unmarked van?

Clever Pun

Gazzaputt wrote:

marked or unmarked van?

police van?

hamboman

take a different route in tomorrow bud!

damianmc

Marked, Merc van in silver with the company name on the side and back in smallish black text.
Can't remember any details apart from the address was in Kent I think.

Even I wouldn't be stupid enough to manhandle a van full of coppers.

alan_sherman

What is it with people thinking it is ok to fold in wingmirrors on vehicles?

Is this the new RLJ? :?:

Gazzaputt

Yea agree folding the wing mirror isn't clever. Nor is though him getting out to chase you.

Should have stood your ground and backed up your actions.

damianmc

"Backed up my actions"?

Give me a break. If someone acts like a c**k, they should expect to be treated like a c**k.
I'm not going to take a punch in the mouth for moving someones wing mirror.
Any damage done? No.

As for the new RLJing, not sure I get the link?

Gazzaputt

Don't want a punch in the mouth don't go folding back wing mirrors and wind people up.

Unless I'm hit or someone really puts me in serious danger, which in London is a regular occurrence, I cannot be bothered to remonstrate with them. If i do though I don't give a f*ck how big I stand up to them.

damianmc

Which takes me back to the main point of my initial post, don't rise to provocation.

So I guess we're in agreement.

Gussio

He who turns and runs away, lives to fight another day

Eat My Dust

alan sherman wrote:

What is it with people thinking it is ok to fold in wingmirrors on vehicles?

Is this the new RLJ? :?:

I wasn't aware that there was a law against folding a wing mirror in! They're designed to do so, in fact many drivers do this when they park up. I want to know what's with people getting so angry about people touching there cars (I'm not talking about damaging them). I had a guy nearly blow up at me when I knocked on his window. He calmed down when he realised I was trying to tell him that his back door was open!

saveswalking

Eat My Dust wrote:

alan sherman wrote:

What is it with people thinking it is ok to fold in wingmirrors on vehicles?

Is this the new RLJ? :?:

I wasn't aware that there was a law against folding a wing mirror in! They're designed to do so, in fact many drivers do this when they park up. I want to know what's with people getting so angry about people touching there cars (I'm not talking about damaging them). I had a guy nearly blow up at me when I knocked on his window. He calmed down when he realised I was trying to tell him that his back door was open!

There are some 'motorists' out there that react as if you've just touched their private parts if you as much as look at their vehicle let alone touch it.

sw

helz

There are some 'motorists' out there that react as if you've just touched their private parts if you as much as look at their vehicle let alone touch it.

sw

I know - a few weeks ago I was overtaking a line of traffic but I was moving really slowly and somehow managed to wobble and almost topple over. I had to put my (gloved) hand on the side of someone's car to catch myself. I apologised to the driver but he just sat their glaring at me as if I was the most evil thing that ever roamed the earth. I apologised again and he said "yeah but you scratched my car!", just as the lights turned green and I rode off. There's no way I could have scratched his car, it was a ridiculous over reaction.[/quote]

helz

There are some 'motorists' out there that react as if you've just touched their private parts if you as much as look at their vehicle let alone touch it.

sw

I know - a few weeks ago I was overtaking a line of traffic but I was moving really slowly and somehow managed to wobble and almost topple over. I had to put my (gloved) hand on the side of someone's car to catch myself. I apologised to the driver but he just sat their glaring at me as if I was the most evil thing that ever roamed the earth. I apologised again and he said "yeah but you scratched my car!", just as the lights turned green and I rode off. There's no way I could have scratched his car, it was a ridiculous over reaction.[/quote]

gtvlusso

Sounds like a nasty incident - you can never tell with people. I think that being the bigger man is worth it in the long run and staying calm. Some people carry an awful lot of anger in them.....and they are probably cr*p/nervous drivers and stressed too!

I had a similiar incident with a guy in a Ferrari - something fell off it when he shot away from some lights, something major!

So I knocked on his window to let him know when I caught him in traffic - he went nuts and was quite personal in his slanderous attack on cyclist and leftie, socialist greenies.....It was only when I pointed out that his temperature guage may be quite high as he'd left most of the engine cooling half a mile back. I saw him parked up waiting for a tow truck an hour or two later when I tooled it back from town....so much for Ferrari customer service!

graeme_s-2

My girlfriend is quite protective of her car (having had it repeatedly damaged by other drivers who then drive off - the most recent causing £2,000 of damage to a 6 week old car), and would most likely not react well to someone flapping her wing mirror back, so I can sort of understand it. On the flip side I know how frightening it can be to be put in a dangerous position by a driver, and flipping a wing mirror back isn't really in the same league as kicking their body work in is it?

While cycling home on Monday evening I misjudged a gap while filtering between two lanes of stationary traffic. There were two cars whose wing mirrors lined up, leaving little room between them, I thought I could fit. I couldn't, and I clipped on car's wing mirror with my left hand. Made a bit of a bang, and I pulled in front of the car and stopped. Turned round, held up my hand and shouted "sorry". The driver held up his hand, smiled and shrugged. I said "sorry, is it damaged?" pointing at his wing mirror, and he just shook his head and held up his hand again, so I continued on.

Totally my fault, but no harm done and he didn't over react. They're not all idiots thankfully.

snooks

Eat My Dust wrote:

alan sherman wrote:

What is it with people thinking it is ok to fold in wingmirrors on vehicles?

Is this the new RLJ? :?:

I wasn't aware that there was a law against folding a wing mirror in!

Um... it might come under the: Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977

Because if you were to fold in wing mirrors you would be interfering with someones property without their permission...the only reason I'm aware of it is because, as a photographer, if someone were to confiscate my camera and film/cards it's possible for me to sue them for trespass of goods...unless it's a case of national security

I just take photos I'm not a lawyer
.

number9

Graeme_S wrote:

My girlfriend is quite protective of her car (having had it repeatedly damaged by other drivers who then drive off - the most recent causing £2,000 of damage to a 6 week old car), and would most likely not react well to someone flapping her wing mirror back, so I can sort of understand it. On the flip side I know how frightening it can be to be put in a dangerous position by a driver, and flipping a wing mirror back isn't really in the same league as kicking their body work in is it?

While cycling home on Monday evening I misjudged a gap while filtering between two lanes of stationary traffic. There were two cars whose wing mirrors lined up, leaving little room between them, I thought I could fit. I couldn't, and I clipped on car's wing mirror with my left hand. Made a bit of a bang, and I pulled in front of the car and stopped. Turned round, held up my hand and shouted "sorry". The driver held up his hand, smiled and shrugged. I said "sorry, is it damaged?" pointing at his wing mirror, and he just shook his head and held up his hand again, so I continued on.

Totally my fault, but no harm done and he didn't over react. They're not all idiots thankfully.

I did this, held a hand up to apologise, asian guy in a people carrier held a hand up and waved me on, bless.

Eat My Dust

snooks wrote:

Eat My Dust wrote:

alan sherman wrote:

What is it with people thinking it is ok to fold in wingmirrors on vehicles?

Is this the new RLJ? :?:

I wasn't aware that there was a law against folding a wing mirror in!

Um... it might come under the: Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977

Because if you were to fold in wing mirrors you would be interfering with someones property without their permission...the only reason I'm aware of it is because, as a photographer, if someone were to confiscate my camera and film/cards it's possible for me to sue them for trespass of goods...unless it's a case of national security

I just take photos I'm not a lawyer
.

Taking your equipment is surely different from moving a wing mirror. That would mean that every flyer that was placed under a window wiper would have been done illegally.

I'm afraid if someone were to chase me down the street for moving there wing mirror, I'd be very tempted to lead them on a merry chase until they were knackered, then cycle back and rip the bloody thing off. That'd give them something to be upset about!!

tardington

I've knocked at mirror a few times. Apologised the first two times, and checked for damage for the guy. But last month I was tired and late so just kept going. Was quite justifiably tooted at!

damianmc

Just to clarify, I folded the wing mirror in, not pushed it back or shoulder barged it.

Primarily, as he had tried to block my way, I needed to make space at shoulder height to get passed the van (rightly or wrongly) but admittedly, the secondary reason was to p*ss him off for being such a wally. Or maybe that was the primary reason?

Whatever, the potential consequences wouldn't have been worth "teaching him a lesson".

BentMikey

Glad you're OK mate!! I would be very tempted to write a letter of complaint to the company, because your actions sound quite reasonable to me in the circumstances. I think I wouldn't have folded in the wing mirror myself, but only because it seems to bring out rage in drivers, and not because it's illegal or wrong to do so.

Prime case for you to get a helmet camera?

http://www.londonskaters.com/cycling/ar ... ameras.htm

damianmc

I hear you about the helmet cam but don't think its quite right for me.

Yet!

DavidTQ

damianmc wrote:

I hear you about the helmet cam but don't think its quite right for me.

Yet!

They make you feel better and instead of describing an event you can show it

gtvlusso

Interesting point about helmet cams - anyone know if it is admissable as evidence in court?

Jamey

Anything filmed publicly is admissible in court, I would have thought.

The only stuff that isn't allowed as evidence is stuff filmed privately without people's prior consent. And telephone conversations count as private, while we're on the subject of recordings.

DavidTQ

There was a police officer who commented on evidential use of helmet cams here:-

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... highlight=

RufusA

damianmc wrote:

I'm surprised someone would be so minded to leave their vehicle in this situation, in the middle of a very busy road.

I imagine he had to exit his vehicle to restore his wing mirror back in it's original position. Driving a van in London with one side "blind" is too deadly.

Once out of the vehicle with the perpertrator a short skip and jump away the red mist probably descended.

No excuse for him, but IMHO you were out of order for moving his mirror. Could you not have waited a short while for the traffic to move a few feet, or if you HAD to get past him, a little bunny hop on / off the kerb may have been more prudent in retrospect!

Rufus.

snooks

Eat My Dust wrote:

Taking your equipment is surely different from moving a wing mirror. That would mean that every flyer that was placed under a window wiper would have been done illegally.

Taking my camera would be theft...handling it without my permission would be trespass of goods...Maybe all the flyers under wipers ARE put there illegally, I don't know, and it would be petty driver who tried to sue a cyclist because they flipped their mirror...If the mirror were to smash/fallout etc, they might try to claim the cost of repair back...I dunno just pure speculation on my part

The roads are risky enough without winding up numpty drivers and throwing them in the mix
.

Joshua82

Cycling rage is powerful mate! I once nearly yelled at a pregant woman stepped out in front of me. It was only the realisation that she was a gormless as a fish that stopped me!

I think it is because of the danger of it, it is always on your mind in London. It is a great way to wake you up. I bet you were buzzing all day.

Josh