f*ckwits, the entire roads system is full of f*ckwits pt 2
attica
Posts: 2,362
Approaching the suspension bridge this morning at somewhere over 30mph in a 30mph zone (naughty me, that's why I don't have a computer on my bike!)
I adopted the primary position on the road.
J Reg BMW overtakes me but has to swerve in to avoid oncoming traffic before she'd got past me, resulting in me being missed by about 2".
She got lucky in that there was nobody at the tollgates at the bridge 200-300 yds further down the street so was able to avoid my wrath in the short term.
I caught her again at the students union, tapped on her window and watched amused as she flustered about in her car, got the window open by an inch then floored it to get away from me as the traffic had cleared.
caught her again at the lights on the Triangle, asked her if she realised how scary the move was "tell me about it she said as she floored it again.
I continued to follow her down Park Street and when she signalled into a side street I was so angry that I detoured to follow her.
She parked and ignored me for about 2 minutes looking for lord knows what in her handbag (I admit this was probably a touch intimidating but I had at no point shouted or shown undue aggression, by this time I was constructing a rational argument in my head)
Finally she emerged from the car, I asked her if she realised how close she'd been to me, initially she said she hadn't seen me, then said something along the lines of "Oh yes the one who was hogging the road"
"As is my right"
"Just keep out of my way, blither blither blither"
I couldn't get a word in edge ways, so I shouted "Read the highway code....
... ya wizened old crone"
Sorry folks, I tried to educate her as to how she had put my life in danger but she was in no way going to stand and have a rational conversation about it. All I can hope is that she realised that a bike can keep up with her over 2+ miles of city driving at least, meaning that we're not slow and maybe she should drive a bit more considerately....
Who am I trying to kid
<Rant end>
I adopted the primary position on the road.
J Reg BMW overtakes me but has to swerve in to avoid oncoming traffic before she'd got past me, resulting in me being missed by about 2".
She got lucky in that there was nobody at the tollgates at the bridge 200-300 yds further down the street so was able to avoid my wrath in the short term.
I caught her again at the students union, tapped on her window and watched amused as she flustered about in her car, got the window open by an inch then floored it to get away from me as the traffic had cleared.
caught her again at the lights on the Triangle, asked her if she realised how scary the move was "tell me about it she said as she floored it again.
I continued to follow her down Park Street and when she signalled into a side street I was so angry that I detoured to follow her.
She parked and ignored me for about 2 minutes looking for lord knows what in her handbag (I admit this was probably a touch intimidating but I had at no point shouted or shown undue aggression, by this time I was constructing a rational argument in my head)
Finally she emerged from the car, I asked her if she realised how close she'd been to me, initially she said she hadn't seen me, then said something along the lines of "Oh yes the one who was hogging the road"
"As is my right"
"Just keep out of my way, blither blither blither"
I couldn't get a word in edge ways, so I shouted "Read the highway code....
... ya wizened old crone"
Sorry folks, I tried to educate her as to how she had put my life in danger but she was in no way going to stand and have a rational conversation about it. All I can hope is that she realised that a bike can keep up with her over 2+ miles of city driving at least, meaning that we're not slow and maybe she should drive a bit more considerately....
Who am I trying to kid
<Rant end>
"Impressive break"
"Thanks...
...I can taste blood"
"Thanks...
...I can taste blood"
0
Comments
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Firstly, kudos on being ok and on being (obviously) very, very fast!
If the police had the whole thing on video, you'd probably both go to court and end up being sentenced. She drove dangerously, but the way you behaved probably did appear threatening, despite your efforts. If she'd panicked, you or she - or a bystander - could have been killed. And any accident during the "pursuit" would probably have been legally your responsibility.
Next time, get her registration and report her, and let her have a chat with the police. Don't forget to complain that she drove away from the scene of an accident if you lose control, even to the point of having to do an emergency stop where you wobble harmlessly off your bike.
The last thing you should do with a dangerous driver is involve them in a situation which demands calmness and good judgment. Fear adrenalin is damned dangerous if you're not used to it - a situation like the one you were in can turn even worse quicker than I want to think about.
Hassling an idiot in a car for several miles(?) is a fairly effective way of committing suicide. You took chances that even (in my experience) a bike messenger wouldn't have taken - and remember, the long termers have a 90% serious injury rate. What you did was MORE dangerous than that!
That isn't to say that your behaviour wasn't understandable - you'd just been dosed with "F**K, I could have been killed" adrenalin. But you'd have caused her more hassle with less risk to everyone with a phone call, whereas what you did caused her to get flooded with the same dangerous drug. It's quite possible what you did will only make her more likely to re-offend - because some people find high levels of adrenalin extremely sexy, and it's hard to get in modern life. Next time, take a deep breath, get the number, and phone.
So, thoroughly understandable, glad you're ok - but next time, chill and reach for your mobile.0 -
Meanwhile
I'm not actually that fast, it's a long shallow open descent, frankly I was freewheeling as she came past 30mph on a singlespeed means your legs are at points approaching the speed of sound!.
I didn't do anything I wouldn't normally do other than stop alongside her where I'd normally have filtered to the front of a queue of traffic until she turned into that side street and at points she was several hundred yards ahead of me, this wasn't a tailgating lungbleeder of a pursuit, more a calm "I'd like a word" pursuit. No point in getting involved in another accident trying to make a point. Whenever I tapped on her window it was with at least one foot on the ground. (Is this still as dangerous as you'd imagined?)
All told the "pursuit" was at most 2.5 miles being generous and she spent vast portions of that stationary in traffic.
But you do still make very valid points and it would probably have been far more effective and satisfying if I'd done as you say."Impressive break"
"Thanks...
...I can taste blood"0 -
So when you call the police (with zero actual evidence, just your word), tell them that a car nearly hit you and give them the reg number, do they actually go round and ring that person's doorbell for a chat?
If so, cool. I always thought they needed more to go on.0 -
She was driving a J reg BMW in Bristol.
1) She has a chip on her shoulder as do 99% of drivers of old BMWs
2) She can't drive her BMW.
3) She's a chav.
I know the exact route you took - I'd cut earlier down Constitution Hill and avoid Park Street - it's fricking lethal.0 -
Jamey wrote:So when you call the police (with zero actual evidence, just your word), tell them that a car nearly hit you and give them the reg number, do they actually go round and ring that person's doorbell for a chat?
If so, cool. I always thought they needed more to go on.
They have to investigate every report - it is cool! And if you did come off your bike, then driving away from an accident can be invoked - which is a pretty serious offense. You won't get a conviction without witnesses, but you'll give them a scare and perhaps embarass them in front of their family and neighbours.0 -
Constitution Hill is less traffic but a damn site steeper, anybody claimed to have ridden up it?I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.0
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Attica wrote:Meanwhile
I didn't do anything I wouldn't normally do other than stop alongside her where I'd normally have filtered to the front of a queue of traffic until she turned into that side street and at points she was several hundred yards ahead of me, this wasn't a tailgating lungbleeder of a pursuit, more a calm "I'd like a word" pursuit.
It's sounding as if you were careful, but you were still taking a risk - probably more of one than you realize. Give rogue drivers all the space you can - you don't what will make them freak. Don't expect them to behave like reasonable people - they might be drunk, taking coke, joyriding, emotionally unstable and on the edge.
Plus, if anything had happened, it would have sounded like it was your fault. You were the one following - she could even have called the police and said you were harrassing her. When you're dealing with someone like this, you have to start by assuming they're an asshole. Reasoning with people like this is futile. Get space, and get on the phone!0 -
redvee wrote:Constitution Hill is less traffic but a damn site steeper, anybody claimed to have ridden up it?
When it comes to hills, I'm always up for a challenge, shall I give it a go on my single speeder?
I've got my eye on a hill that a friend has identified as "the hardest hill in the Mendips", take the main road from Cheddar toward Wells and turn left following the sign for the Gliding Club.
Apparently it's steep steep steep, then again I'm the sort of pillock who contemplates a holiday in the Alps with his bike.Surf Matt wrote:I'd cut earlier down Constitution Hill and avoid Park Street - it's fricking lethal.
You're right Matt it is lethal, I recently changed my route and am still experimenting with slight variations, so far Park Row is favourite, work is at Portland Square for me (about 20 yards from redvee's route) so Constitution Hill would be a bit out of the way. Only trouble with Park Row is the hill start at the lights on the way back up, I have to slow down and time it right otherwise it's a tricky clip in in traffic, not for the faint hearted.[/quote]"Impressive break"
"Thanks...
...I can taste blood"0 -
- they might be drunk, taking coke, joyriding, emotionally unstable and on the edge.
lucky ba5tards<a>road</a>0 -
Jamey wrote:So when you call the police (with zero actual evidence, just your word), tell them that a car nearly hit you and give them the reg number, do they actually go round and ring that person's doorbell for a chat?
If so, cool. I always thought they needed more to go on.
Yes they do! Happened to me last year.The best sheep are in N.Yorks0 -
Spinner28 wrote:Jamey wrote:So when you call the police (with zero actual evidence, just your word), tell them that a car nearly hit you and give them the reg number, do they actually go round and ring that person's doorbell for a chat?
If so, cool. I always thought they needed more to go on.
Yes they do! Happened to me last year.
I hope you were suitably apologetic when they came round<a>road</a>0 -
Attica wrote:Approaching the suspension bridge this morning at somewhere over 30mph in a 30mph zone (naughty me, that's why I don't have a computer on my bike!)
I adopted the primary position on the road.
J Reg BMW overtakes me but has to swerve in to avoid oncoming traffic before she'd got past me, resulting in me being missed by about 2".
She got lucky in that there was nobody at the tollgates at the bridge 200-300 yds further down the street so was able to avoid my wrath in the short term.
I caught her again at the students union, tapped on her window and watched amused as she flustered about in her car, got the window open by an inch then floored it to get away from me as the traffic had cleared.
caught her again at the lights on the Triangle, asked her if she realised how scary the move was "tell me about it she said as she floored it again.
I continued to follow her down Park Street and when she signalled into a side street I was so angry that I detoured to follow her.
She parked and ignored me for about 2 minutes looking for lord knows what in her handbag (I admit this was probably a touch intimidating but I had at no point shouted or shown undue aggression, by this time I was constructing a rational argument in my head)
Finally she emerged from the car, I asked her if she realised how close she'd been to me, initially she said she hadn't seen me, then said something along the lines of "Oh yes the one who was hogging the road"
"As is my right"
"Just keep out of my way, blither blither blither"
I couldn't get a word in edge ways, so I shouted "Read the highway code....
... ya wizened old crone"
Sorry folks, I tried to educate her as to how she had put my life in danger but she was in no way going to stand and have a rational conversation about it. All I can hope is that she realised that a bike can keep up with her over 2+ miles of city driving at least, meaning that we're not slow and maybe she should drive a bit more considerately....
Who am I trying to kid
<Rant end>
I've done that ride, the drivers are brain dead morons, but was it really worth chasing her? There was never going to be a happy ending, along the lines of "Oh, I'm most terribly sorry, I shall repent and drive with due care and consideration now for the rest of my life. In fact, I'm so upset I shall now drive to the above mentioned bridge, and swallow dive off, landing on the road below in a large, messy splat"
It's just a hill. Get over it.0 -
Nice logical train of thought, just try following it after you've redecorated your chamois in Dulux "Fear Brown""Impressive break"
"Thanks...
...I can taste blood"0 -
I would probably be more pissed off at the fact I was no half way down park street and needed to ride back up it now
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Ah, they've got a new range out this year, you can get adrenaline brown, but fear brown is a subtle variation on the theme.
You can get a tester card at your local MFI"Impressive break"
"Thanks...
...I can taste blood"0 -
This must be a spring to summer menopause for the four wheeled friends -
Got cut up tonight (turning left)by a T reg focus driven by a middle aged tim nice but dim type, caught him up, tapped on the window (nicely mind) to ask him if he knew - he did waved me on (after he locked himself in ), thought about lifting the windscreen wiper to manual screen wipe mode, folding the wing mirrors in, but just sighed and put it all down to him being a knib.
The benefits of an escalation in fun outwieghed by the need to get home safe and sound of mind.
We cant control what they do we can only control what we doNo Babbit No, Look what Birdy doing0 -
...well I rode this very same route last night (but the other way - I was coming from Clifton and meeting up with mates in Long Ashton) and had a similar experience.
Closing on the barriers for the suspension bridge and riding on the edge of the 10 inch wide cycle lane there. Some idiot tries to pass me, leaving a gap of about 2mm between him and me. I open my hands in an 'are you touched?' kind of way. At which point he goes bananas. First of all he speeds up to cut me up but sees the barriers approaching and has to slow down. Then winds down his window and starts yelling at me to 'use the f*cking cycle lane' and 'f*cking idiots like you shouldn't be allowed on the road'.
I'm afraid I totally lost it myself and start shouting and swearing and calling him a f*cking kn*bhead - at which point he went quite and tried to ignore me. I was actually rather ashamed of myself afterwards: I have NEVER done this before in over six years of commuting on the bike. But there was something about his combination of incompetence, impatience, aggression and self-righteousness that just got to me. Not to mention the fact that he really did take a risk with me and there was a queue of traffic only 20 yards ahead.
To cap it all I got a puncture in Ashton Court 10 minutes later. And then had ANOTHER driver 'pace me' - i.e. drive at my speed half a foot from my right elbow - for a couple of minutes in Long Ashton, presumably to try and sh*t me up after I'd had the temerity to take the primary position to pass a car and slow him down for all of ooooh I don't know 10 seconds.
Anyway, here endeth the rant. But what is it about this week and idiots on the roads?0 -
Another thought... I struck by the fact that these sorts of incidents seem to happen to me when I'm riding new or unfamiliar routes. Perhaps I ride in a different kind of way then, and am less able to anticipate and pre-empt pinch points and trouble spots, leading to situations with drivers that probably wouldn't happen if I was on my everyday route...
What do you reckon? Anyone else get an unusual amount of trouble when they're on a new route in traffic?0 -
Sea Green - sounds pretty nasty!
Clifton Suspension Bridge does seem to atttract some REALLY stupid driving for some reason.0 -
I agree with both of the last two posts.
Plums abound near the Bridge, although daft a55ed cycle lanes don't exactly help, I think people approaching the bridge are probably also fumbling for change/a bridge pass, that can't help.
I also agree with the new route theory, I tend to ride a little more defensively when I'm less sure of the road layout ahead, this can (but shouldn't ) shorten peoples tolerance of us. Perhaps if I hadn't been quite as defensive in the original incident I wouldn't have been percieved to have been hogging the road and therefore wouldn't have "brought it on myself", still no excuse for what she did in response."Impressive break"
"Thanks...
...I can taste blood"0 -
i was 'paced' as described by sea green by a double decker bus last night on the way home....
I accelerateted and filtered through the traffic until i got to the bus stop and just waited for him....
Got both feet on the bus and asked nice and calmly for his driver number, which he refused to give me and then he ranted that i should have looked. What....behind me?
He then said in a know it all voice that 'its all on the cctv' i said i hoped it was and that driving like that he would end up killing someone.
Emailed the bus company today requesting both the video footage and an apology.Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.
H.G. Wells.0 -
Ahem - I lived there for a total of about 5 years...
Car was a constant target, bike never left my side. Smart but a complete ar53 of a place to live in.0 -
Indeed I'm not.
Worse actually - I'm from Surrey... :oops: :oops:
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el_presidente wrote:Spinner28 wrote:Jamey wrote:So when you call the police (with zero actual evidence, just your word), tell them that a car nearly hit you and give them the reg number, do they actually go round and ring that person's doorbell for a chat?
If so, cool. I always thought they needed more to go on.
Yes they do! Happened to me last year.
I hope you were suitably apologetic when they came round
No-I mean I was nearly knocked off & I reported the driver. The police went round & had a chat. She was very rude to the police about me!!The best sheep are in N.Yorks0
