Nearly Got Hit By a car yesterday - possibly my fault?

Doobz

so yesterday I went riding from hoylake to chester and back.. I was going along the main road and there was a t-junction that comes onto the main road.. As I was going along a car was about to come out of the T-Junction but saw me and halted his turn.. I then passed right in front of him and I gestured a small lift of my hand off my bar to say thanks. As I did this he pulled out and missed me by a cats wisker.. I was not that bothered about him but the traffic zooming along beside me that if this guy had hit me would probably have smacked me right into the heavy trafic.. phew

maybe a headsup for other riders..

adios
doobz

Foz72

As you describe it you were on the main road and had right of way. Why do you reckon you might have been at fault?

vermooten

Fortunately you weren't knocked off! The wyay you describe it if you had been knocked off it wouldn't have been your fault but that would have been little comfort from your hospital bed.

I always say thanks to drivers even if they haven't done very much because I have a half-formed belief that engaging with drivers and giving them positive feedback makes them more bike-friendly in the future.

Philip Davis

are you suggesting that your 'thank you' gesture was interpreted by the driver as a 'you go first' gesture?

That has happened to me, especially bike touring in other countries where there are subtleties in how little waves are interpreted. I never make any gesture, polite, rude, or otherwise, until I've safely passed the car/truck in question!

z000m

i always keep my rear light on when im on the road, traffic on that chester high road can get really busy and the new roadworks by ellesmere port doesnt help.

Doobz

are you suggesting that your 'thank you' gesture was interpreted by the driver as a 'you go first' gesture?

That has happened to me, especially bike touring in other countries where there are subtleties in how little waves are interpreted. I never make any gesture, polite, rude, or otherwise, until I've safely passed the car/truck in question!

uhm, the thank you gesture was not really a gesture like a wave. I still had my hands on the bars but lifted my left fingers kinda to say thanks..

I always say thanks to drivers even if they haven't done very much because I have a half-formed belief that engaging with drivers and giving them positive feedback makes them more bike-friendly in the future.

thats the kinda attitude I have really.. I always like to be thanked by roadies when giving them space and letting them go and protecting them etc..

it has not phased me really - will still be going out on that road.. i am now just a reluctant to give any hand gestures anymore incase it confuses people..

i always keep my rear light on when im on the road, traffic on that chester high road can get really busy and the new roadworks by ellesmere port doesnt help.

lol I had not been down that way for ages and when I got to the new road works I was thinking it was going to take me onto the motorway or something.. I then stopped in chester at some cycle shop just off the roundabout and got some SIS drinks for the ride home.. One thing I can say about that main road to and from cheser is they suck.. I have seen better roads in the townships of south africa then them.. so bloody bumpy and rough..

probably do it again tomorrow tho LOL :shock:

Mark Alexander

On Tuesday I had a quarry lorry pull out on a deserted and open, road whilst I was barrelling allong. I was forced off

pedylan

Do you think drivers see right through cyclists?

Two weeks ago I was at a crossraoads, on a B road crossing a fast A road and waiting to cross straight over. I'm waiting, noone else my side, driver is waiting on opposite side. His right indicator going. I'm positioned half way across lane. Both of us up against our give way lines. Lost of traffic on A road so lots of time for eye contact - me and him.

Traffic clears, I set off heading straight and he turns right across me. I jammed brakes and jumped of pedals. But he was looking at me all the way through the manouevre. What did he expect all cyclists have to give way? If I had been a car and going straight over he wouldn't have moved I'm sure of it.

Always assume the car is being driven by a nutcase who hasn't seen anything else on tthe road.

meagain

I "nod" thank you when drivers have behaved well - including when on my m'cycle (though leathers and cut offs and loud LOUD semi-chop does seem better at intimidating cars than a pedaller!).

And it isn't just bikes that are invisible. I was once in a large people carrier thing when an 8 wheeler tipper simply drove out of a minor road straight into the side of it. Not in front...just into it!

On US M'cycle forums generally reckoned that best form of defensive riding is to wear your weapon on show. You will be armed if riding, so LET 'EM SEE IT! That's the way to do it!

grayo59

meagain wrote:

I "nod" thank you when drivers have behaved well - including when on my m'cycle (though leathers and cut offs and loud LOUD semi-chop does seem better at intimidating cars than a pedaller!).

And it isn't just bikes that are invisible. I was once in a large people carrier thing when an 8 wheeler tipper simply drove out of a minor road straight into the side of it. Not in front...just into it!

On US M'cycle forums generally reckoned that best form of defensive riding is to wear your weapon on show. You will be armed if riding, so LET 'EM SEE IT! That's the way to do it!

But won't they be more likely to be armed as well? :roll:

cougie

Cant see that it was your fault, but I'd not really bother thanking any driver for just doing what he should. I wouldnt do it in my car either.

If I was let out in a traffic jam, then yeah, fair enough, but not when I'm on the main road.

Have you tried the bike path down the wirral way ? Maybe thats too rough for you though. I cant say that I've noticed the Chester road being that bad ?