Your rants here.

dilemna

Surprise surprise it's Cambs police again. They are the absolute pits when it comes to pursuing any incident that involves a cyclist being knocked off or being put at risk of being knocked off.

Last march I was cycling in a newly designated cycling lane loads of pics of cycles on the red tarmac and signs that it was a cycle lane. Said cycle lane was on the road not on the pavement in Huntingdon. A group of teenage school kids on way back from school feeling rebellious were walking 4 abreast toward me two on the pavement two in the cycle lane/road. As I approached I rang my bell slowed and looked behind to pull out into the road out of the cycle lane to pass as cars were also passing me from behind. This was in the town. The teenagers 16-17yrs old could quite clearly see me approaching as I was wearing high viz yellow jacket. The kids refused to move so to pass them I had to swerve to go around them and avoid also risk getting knocked down by cars coming from behind as it was in a narrow street in Huntingdon. The next thing I know I'm lying flat out in the middle of the road as the outermost kid has shouldered me barging me off my bike. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view a pig car comes around the corner about 1 minute later. I flag them down, one of them went after the kids one stayed with me. He apparently finds them and but comes back to me saying that kid said it was an accident and that I rode into him. I say it wasn't as the kid deliberately obstructed the cycle lane and barged me off and I am now injured. But pigs refused to take any further action. My right arm and side were killing me. I later had a huge bruise on my right thigh which hit the road first when I came off. I insisted the pigs do something arrest him they refused and then the big fat piggy said that if I continued he would charge me with assault for riding without due care and attention riding into the kid!! There was a CCTV camera nearby. I made them aware of this and that I would be wanting to see what it showed. I spent two/three weeks trying to get Cambs. police to get access to the footage and let me see it but they were bloody useless, so I applied to the local council to view it myself. At first they refused then I reminded them of s.7 of the Data Protection Act. I had to pay £15. They still complained that it was still a lot of work to sift through all footage and £15 did not reflect their costs, but when I finally got to see the CCTV it showed nothing as they said the camera was pointing in a different direction.
Also when I was knocked off one of the fat pigs that attended I told them that my arm was hurting really badly so it squeezed my arm vigorously which was excruciating as he told he was first aid trained. He told me my arm wasn't broken so I didn't need an ambulance. However they did offer to take me a home in a police van. I declined.

After this a period of about 3 weeks went by where I exchanged phone calls and messages with Cambs police, basically this ended with some no mark wpc who had no idea full stop of the highway code criminal or civil law screaming at me down the phone to stop calling as they weren't taking any further action.

It took about 6 weeks for all my bruising to go down and it was rather painful. :oops:

What I can't understand is why some one who deliberately knocks off a cyclist in a clearly designated cycle lane marked on the road can get away with it? But that's Cambs police for you....................So I sympathise with this cyclist he has been terribly wronged. I occasionally cycle in Cambridge and do exactly as that old boy did so I too would get knocked off. Taxi drivers in Cambridge are maniacs. I have had a run in with a few as they try to force their way past you in the narrow and congested streets.

Soul Boy

The only reason any of us cycle is because we’re too stupid to pass a test or too poor afford a car. Come on, really, who’d cycle if they could drive?!? We don’t pay any money whatsoever towards the upkeep of the roads, none, not a penny and should be eternally grateful that drivers pity us enough to allow some of their taxes to be used to get us out of their way and into the gutter. Seeing as though we’ve paid no money in road tax, if we do happen into the path of a driver, we should get out of the way immediately, or be prepared to deal with the consequences, surely that’s fair. Also, if the children of said drivers wish to use a bit of the road to walk along, regardless of what colour it’s painted, well fine, their road funding parents paid for it. Now get out of the way!!!

To the young lady who pulled out on me, from being parked, without a glance in the mirrors, causing me to swerve across the road, yes I should learn to drive, thanks for the shouting it at me as you passed by, obviously the 1st time I passed wasn’t enough…..

Animal100

quote:
The only reason any of us cycle is because we’re too stupid to pass a test or too poor afford a car

Sorry you are wrong there, I am sure i'm not in a minority when I say this, I ride to work because I dont want to drive if i can help it, only using the car or motorbike if I have to go any real distance. if I choose to use the MTB I can avoid riding on any busy roads, or road bike starts the day with a 17 mile loop on lanes and very few busy roads. Not forgetting of course I really do enjoy riding a bike. Whether you pay road tax or not we are all entitled to use the roads. There are after all rules for us in the highway code.

antfly

I think soul boy was being sarsactic or ironic.

graeme_s-2

I was cycling up a hill to the back of a queue of traffic waiting at a red light this morning. A car behind me pulled out to over take me when I was meters away from joining the back of the queue.

I thought this was an odd maneuver and was likely to leave the driver stranded on the wrong side of the road. Luckily for the driver, she had planned for just such an eventuality and proceeded to pull in on me, clipping my right hand with her passenger side wing mirror. I stopped, and shouted "What the hell do you think you're doing?" at her, and she raised her hands and mouthed "sorry" at me. Which obviously made everything all right :roll:

iain_j

Happens to me regularly Graeme... I think people overtake cyclists not because they're going slower (the usual reason for overtaking anything) but because "cars are meant to go past bikes" - a car being stuck behind a bike does not compute :?

It explains why people force their way past me when I'm doing the same speed as the car a few metres in front. This has happened more than once on fast descents too with loud, expletive-laden consequences

Soul Boy

I was, sorry, couldn't help the rant, but I do believe thats what a lot of drivers out there think.... cheers antfly.

Oh yes, overtaking into a queue at a red light, a real favourite. Must get ahead, must get ahead :evil:

iain_j

It certainly is the attitude of a fair few drivers out there. We pay tax and insurance therefore it's our road, not yours.

There's something strange about those metal boxes on wheels that makes some people very childish and illogical when they get in one...

Animal100

- forgiven -

Going home the other night turning left at a roundabout (the turning appears as straight on), 2 cars come past on the roundabout no problem. As I am coming off the roundabout I want to be in the middle of the road because 60 meters down the road I want to turn right, so I look behind and no one is there, so I take up position. Mr Goon in his 4 x 4 x twat comes hooning round the roundabout. I had 2 cars in front and a bus which had stopped at a bus stop, I am slowing because my turn up ahead is obscured by a bus and a blind corner bearing in mind all traffic has to stop it cannot go around the bus because of the strategically placed bus stop is on the blind corner. Mr Goon toots me as I am stopping. I stop behind stationary car turn round and ask whats up. He says you are in the middle of the fugin road, I say but you cant go anywhere (pointing at the vehicles ahead) and I want to turn right. He says I'll just ram your fugin bike then you c&*%$, I say what an intelligent thing to do. By now the traffic has started moving so I pull away still holding position but he then goes around on the wrong side of the road on a blind bend, calls me a few more names in doing so. What a pleasant chap. What an absolute goon.

nation

iain_j wrote:

I think people overtake cyclists not because they're going slower (the usual reason for overtaking anything) but because "cars are meant to go past bikes" - a car being stuck behind a bike does not compute

I've always heard this referred to as "Rule Number One" (got to get past the cyclist).

Usually in the context of reminding people that cars are almost always going to try to force their way past given a sliver of opportunity. Can somewhat be overcome with judicious use of primary position.

Animal100

This is a good one.

Left work one Friday evening on the MTB about a month ago now, important bit this – lights: one 2.5w and one 10w halogen and one flashing Cateye EL410, not forgetting bright blue Altura jacket, bright enough er yeah I think so I want to see where I am going so you would think people can see you coming towards them, er no, read on.

Had a great 20 mile ride on a few single tracks. Not far from home just coming up to pass approx 6 parked cars on my right so I should have right of way. A car is coming towards me and bloody fast on my side of the road and there aint going to be enough space for him to get between the parked cars and me, so I stop. Fortunately there is a large grass area to my left so I stand on the kerb with the bike still in the road thinking he’ll get through. I would guess his speed to be about 40+mph in a 30mph limit. About 20 feet away he then sees me and this was his mistake, he stood on the brakes and locked up. The road is on a very slight bend and he has locked up and I am on the outside of the bend he is now heading straight for me and out of control. So I have to take a dive on the grass, as he goes past the front wheel of my bike hits the car. That’s now left me in a heap on the grass, I jump up expecting to have a confrontation with the driver, but he drives off. Just manage to get a glimpse of the number plate didn’t see all the number but I recognised the car. Normally I would not have hesitated but call the police, but as I knew who it was I could deal with it myself. The little oik lives but 2 doors away from me. So I went round and saw his father, told him what had happened, his dad said I wondered why he was acting a little strange. I said that’s because he left the scene of an accident and that’s classed as a hit and run. His dad was absolutely fuming and said he has only passed his test a week ago and in typical dad style he said I’ll bloody throttle him. He told me he would bring the boy round to my place in the morning and I was to try and sh1t him up. The bike was ok just suffered a few scratches where I had to drag it over the kerb, I did bang my knee on something but it only resulted in a small bruise and didn’t hurt.

The next morning he came round with his boy as promised. I came to the door with my knee bandaged up and told them it’s got worse over night. I went on to tell them I have been advised to call the police and have him done for driving without due care and attention. He left the scene of an accident which is classed as a hit and run, this is endorse able by 6 points on his licence which in the first 2 years of passing your test is a driving ban. This would result in him having to retake his test now I am guessing its cost a fair bit to pass your test in the first place, so how does that sound to you? The picture on his face was brilliant. I eventually told him that I would not take it any further but he did owe me big time. His dad told him that if ever I came round and wanted help with anything he was to drop what ever he was doing and help me. That’s a favour still owing because I have not found anything disgusting for him to do yet!

antfly

At least the father did the right thing,many would have just told you to fcuk off!

MrChuck

antfly wrote:

At least the father did the right thing,many would have just told you to fcuk off!

Yeah, I was expecting a very different outcome to that one!

iain_j

Animal - that's brightened my day, there's hope yet for the human race

Makes a change from "I didn't see him do it so he's done nothing wrong".

CiB

Another numpty this morning who believes that cyclists need nothing more than a good loud blast of a car hooter as they trundle past. Gits, every one of them.

What's with these morons? I'm 19.82 miles into the commute, the last three or four hundred yards are on the Bicester bypass, it's a wide and newish road with 50 limit in readiness for when we go metric (50mph = 80kph, lots of Oxfordshire's roads have this strange limit - remember where you heard it first) and there's a thick white line a yard or so in from the verge marking the edge of the carriageway, and I'm on the safe side of it cruising at 23mph, straight as an arrow in hi-viz full kit, no wobbling, bright sunny crisp morning, doing no-one any harm. And some halfwit in a stupid black Japanese thing decides I need a blast of his hooter as he comes past. Why? What's he saying? Get off the road? Well I am if you care to look more closely..You look like a tw@t? Maybe I do, but so what?

It's a regular thing, being hooted at for no obvious reason. And it makes me mad, as well making me jump out of my skin sometimes.

iain_j

Beware... I was hooted at once like that and gave the car the two-fingered salute as it went by, making sure the driver would be able to see it in his/her mirror.

She sure did see it. It was a girl from work who I saw the next day, she was merely being sociable :oops:

CiB

I did exactly that once to one of m'colleagues who was dropping her husband off somewhere, We had a larf about it in the office later, but she did say that her man had sided with yours truly and had told her that she was wrong to give me a blast on the hooter. Couldn't agree more, obviously.

Eau Rouge

ChrisInBicester wrote:

with 50 limit in readiness for when we go metric (50mph = 80kph, lots of Oxfordshire's roads have this strange limit - remember where you heard it first)

Back in Ireland, about 12 years ago, they introduced a policy of using Km rather than miles on distance road signs as and when they needed replacing. 10 years of the mixed signs got people used to the idea of kilometres slowly without much fuss.
Of course, after 10 years, all the signs are now in kilometres, so they take a long weekend and change over all the speed limits too.

But 50mph is a normal limit on roads like bypasses with junctions on them.

nielsamd

Giving a toot. Maybe they are middle-aged Canadians working in the UK. When I learned to drive in Canada as a teenager, it was part of `driver's ed' that you were supposed to give a warning to any cyclist as you were about to pass. Having already been well into cycling I always resisted my driving instructor's direction to do this. Luckily, when I did my test, it was a howling blizzard-in-progress so I didn't have to have points deducted for not blasting any cyclists.

roger_merriman

Car about to turn left bike shoots down left side on to main road for such little time he risked his life.........

CiB

The lanes & back roads are an absolute picture these crisp sunny mornings, so who are these people who find it necessary to dump a pile of tyres on a grass verge, or a no-longer-needed mattress? Grrrr.

robmanic1

ChrisInBicester wrote:

The lanes & back roads are an absolute picture these crisp sunny mornings, so who are these people who find it necessary to dump a pile of tyres on a grass verge, or a no-longer-needed mattress? Grrrr.

Yeh, or Mc-fudding-Donalds wrappers, those things are everywhere, often miles away from the nearest Mcd's in the middle of the countryside. I 'd love to catch whoever's doing this! :evil:

Poacher

If you ask Matthew Parris, he'll tell you cyclists are responsible for discarding fast-food wrappers/fizzy-drink cans, etc., etc.
:evil:

Soul Boy

Ok it was some time ago, but the old horn blasting reminded me.

I was about 14 and cycling from school, a car behind, in traffic is repeatedly honking his horn. Without turning I raise my middle finger, feeling a bit triumphant. This was pretty short lived as the car passed, white paintwork, dayglow stripe down the side, blues (but NOT two's) going. The bugger parked his car across the road in front of me, wound down the window and said "I see you doing that again, I'll break your f-ing finger off!", then continued on his very important mission (suspect his dinner was getting cold).

No way to talk to a child, b@stard.

The Chingford Skinhead

Right, I've checked the RNIB website and the Moorfield's Eye Hospital website. I'd like to register an unrecorded but serious sight defect. I'm going to call it TCSopia. It's "common name" will be "one cycle blindness". The condition is common - very cooomon - and manifests itself in the following way. The "sufferer" is in their car, they look and see "a" cyclist so they don't pull out but wait until "the" cyclist has passed and then pull out straight afterwards. Unfortunately they have failed to see that there was more than one cyclist.

As a cyclist I'm on the receiving end of this all the fricking time - esp as the guy I usually cycle with is fastr and therefore out in front. The driver (and even on tow-paths the walker with dog) will give him right of way and then simply move straight into my path. Now, I'm 6ft, 15st and in a florescent jacket so just what part of me didn't they see. Grrr

To the woman in the silver micra that turned right and wondered just what that was that swerved all over the front of her car before shouting a very loud and rude expletive, let me tell you - I really wish karma was instant.

The Chingford Skinhead

OK, a rant iwth a difference. As it is a rant against me :shock: :roll:

Note to self - shopping trollys have a much bigger capacity than bike panniers and a bit of bungie cord! It isn't as if I haven't noticed this before. I do it every time. Maybe the subdued lighting in the aisles makes me think "another packet of x won't hurt - I can squeeze it in..."

If my bike could talk I wouldn't know because it wouldn't be talking to me today. Having taken it up some pretty steep hills all morning I then took it shopping. I'm sure it shook its head in disgust as I approached the bike rack struggling under the weight of two full panniers, and four fullish bags which I then loaded on the back.

It's when you have to hook your leg over the handlebars because the back is so high that you know you're in real trouble

Top marks to the bike though, carried them and me home without a wimper. I just had to take the longer route to avoid the pot holes as that really would have been pushing my luck too far

downfader

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

OK, a rant iwth a difference. As it is a rant against me :shock: :roll:

Note to self - shopping trollys have a much bigger capacity than bike panniers and a bit of bungie cord! It isn't as if I haven't noticed this before. I do it every time. Maybe the subdued lighting in the aisles makes me think "another packet of x won't hurt - I can squeeze it in..."

If my bike could talk I wouldn't know because it wouldn't be talking to me today. Having taken it up some pretty steep hills all morning I then took it shopping. I'm sure it shook its head in disgust as I approached the bike rack struggling under the weight of two full panniers, and four fullish bags which I then loaded on the back.

It's when you have to hook your leg over the handlebars because the back is so high that you know you're in real trouble

Top marks to the bike though, carried them and me home without a wimper. I just had to take the longer route to avoid the pot holes as that really would have been pushing my luck too far

Vaude do some proper good pannier bags for front and back. Aint cheap though but are pretty indestructable and waterproof. 24 litres for each back one and 15 for the front ones. That'll do an average shop.. if you can get the pannier in the shopping trolley with you.

The Chingford Skinhead

downfader wrote:

Vaude do some proper good pannier bags for front and back. Aint cheap though but are pretty indestructable and waterproof. 24 litres for each back one and 15 for the front ones. That'll do an average shop.. if you can get the pannier in the shopping trolley with you.

Cheers mate - probably do need to invest in some bigger panniers but a bit strapped for cash at the mo. Still bet I'd overfill the trolly though

The Chingford Skinhead

downfader wrote:

Vaude do some proper good pannier bags for front and back. Aint cheap though but are pretty indestructable and waterproof. 24 litres for each back one and 15 for the front ones. That'll do an average shop.. if you can get the pannier in the shopping trolley with you.

Cheers mate - probably do need to invest in some bigger panniers but a bit strapped for cash at the mo. Still bet I'd overfill the trolly though

Rockbuddy

Ok, so I've been viewing the forums for a while now and thought I'd join in. This is my first post and it's a bit of a rant...

I usually ride my bike to work as it's only 3 miles from home but this morning I took the car. Coming up to traffic lights the lane splits into 2 but only after a traffic calming narrow bit. I wanted to turn left so pulled to the left but the gap between the calming bit and the van in front was not quite big enough for me to get through, however it would have been for the cyclist who was attempting to filter on my left. The first I new about it was a screech of brakes...the van blocking me then moved off, so I pulled up to the lights. Of course the cyclist pulled in front of me, I tried to say sorry but got a right scowl back for my troubles. I'm definately not saying I was in the right (as I am used to not been seen, maybe I should have been more aware) but having said that I do think if you are filtering you can't always expect cars to see you. You should take responsibility for your actions.