Confession. I nearly knocked over a cyclist yesterday.
DonDaddyD
Posts: 12,689
My girlfriend had some terrible new yesterday, which resulted in me leaving work and driving (bike spokes still ropey) home rather assertively.
I got stuck in traffic at the top of Balham hill and decided to turn left onto a side road. I took the turn wide, but I indicated well in advance of the move. As I turned a cyclist (no helmet) came from nowhere and swerved around me I reckon I was inches from knocking him over and if not for a slam on the brakes, I'd have taken him down. He must have seen me turning and decided to chance it given his speed. But I felt terrible because my manouver was rushed.
I stopped apologised asked if he was ok. He swore, I carried on my journey to my girlfriend a little shaken.
I got stuck in traffic at the top of Balham hill and decided to turn left onto a side road. I took the turn wide, but I indicated well in advance of the move. As I turned a cyclist (no helmet) came from nowhere and swerved around me I reckon I was inches from knocking him over and if not for a slam on the brakes, I'd have taken him down. He must have seen me turning and decided to chance it given his speed. But I felt terrible because my manouver was rushed.
I stopped apologised asked if he was ok. He swore, I carried on my journey to my girlfriend a little shaken.
Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
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what is it with you and knocking cyclist over, tut tut :P
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
You sure you're a cyclist?
So was he coming up on your left or right?
You say you moved wide and he had to swerve to avoid you....so was he on your right? :?
It sucks when you see the world from the other side of the fence, and you realise you've been an numpty driver. One reason why I'm quite forgiving on my bike. Everyone makes mistakes....just put yourself in the cyclists position...Inpatient driver almost takes him out...It's not nice to think of what could have happened, but no one was hurt, you'll become a better driver because of it, so learn from your mistakes.....
Just don't do it again...for "it" see
driving assertively "driving home rather assertively"
rushing manouvers "I felt terrible because my manouver was rushed"
Not keeping a good enough look out "came from nowhere"
ps whether they are wearing a hat (which may or may not protect them in the event of an accident) is no indication of their cycling ability
If I'm not riding I'm shooting http://grahamsnook.com
THE Game
Watch out for HGVs
This is true. Wasn't trying to use the helmet as an excuse was actually thinking sh*t had I hit him.... which would have been my fault.
I'm beating myself up because (i) I hate making mistakes (that don't do justice to my actual ability) (ii) I know what mistakes I was making and I was in a panic/rushing to get back home to my GF. To think that my flustered state could have impacted on someone elses life so dramatically bothers me from an internal ethical standpoint (I hate doing things at others expense).
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
Just lucky no one was hurt and hopefully everyone will learn to check more carefully.
Have a great Christmas and don't beat yourself up too much.
Felt F55 - 2007
Specialized Singlecross - 2008
Marin Rift Zone - 1998
Peugeot Tourmalet - 1983 - taken more hits than Mohammed Ali
The majority of the time Lady Luck is smiling on us and we get away with it. Others we're not so lucky.
Like I said, learn from it, remember it, but don't beat yourself up. He should have taken note of your indication, you should have seen him, two wrongs don't make a right....Could have been worse, could have been you on the bike and the driver could have hit you!
Hope everything was alright with Mz DDD
If I'm not riding I'm shooting http://grahamsnook.com
THE Game
Watch out for HGVs
I was stuck in traffic at the top of Balham hill.
I indicated to turn left and took the turn late.
As I was a quarter of the way through my turn a cyclists swerves around the front of my car from the left (He is actually well into the side road).
Had I not taken the turn so wide he'd have (i)gone over my bonnet (ii) been knocked over.
As much as it is my fault I'm thinking the cyclists could have been more careful because he would have seen me turning and tried to nip around me anyway.
I feel bad because had I been more careful and checked blind spots more carefully, took the turn slower and earlier - not been in a rush - I wouldn't have had such a fright.
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
You can't change the past only the future. Learn from it and try not to do it again.
You are only human, the fact that you are thinking about what happened makes you a good person. Don't let it ruin your Xmas.
Regards
Salmon
Thanks
Ms DDD is good and fine. Still you worry most about those you care and love.
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
1. You signalled in plenty of time
2. He was overtaking on the inside and not watching for a/ignoring your indicator flashing
3. It is for the overtaker to watch for signalled manoeuvres of vehicles ahead
4. You had right of way
Stop beating yourself up.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/eastbradfordcyclingclub/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/eastbradfordcyclingclub/
From the highway code:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070332
Turning left
182
Use your mirrors and give a left-turn signal well before you turn left. Do not overtake just before you turn left and watch out for traffic coming up on your left before you make the turn, especially if driving a large vehicle. Cyclists, motorcyclists and other road users in particular may be hidden from your view.
183
When turning
• keep as close to the left as is safe and practicable
• give way to any vehicles using a bus lane, cycle lane or tramway from either direction
Yes the cyclist should have seen DDD, and slowed (dunno whether there is a cycle lane there), but the driver should not have turned in - Think of it as if the cycle was another car. They are both at fault, not just the cyclist.
At what point does the car have right of way? An indication is just that, a signal of intent not an acquisition of right
If I'm not riding I'm shooting http://grahamsnook.com
THE Game
Watch out for HGVs
Just to be clear on my position - although there is a responsibility for an undertaking cyclist to be careful of left turning drivers, there is also a responsibility of all users not to do things very suddenly or erratically.
But since DDD is already ritually slamming his testicles in his car door as punishment, this seems to be clear enough.
No, what's puzzleing me is the "formumania" that sometimes seems to arbitrarily come down one side or another, regardless of the available evidence.
Okay, that's enough now DDD, you'll do permanent damage.....
As I a cyclist - I'd blame the cyclist, I know I shouldn't go up the left of the traffic in that situation, even though there's a bike lane - but I did. Going up the left is a stupid thing to do.
However from my friends (not a cyclist) point of view a cycle lane IS a lane and so another vehicle shouldn't move into that lane without insuring first that there was not another vehicle in that lane.
Was it a cycle lane DDD?
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At the end of the day, you can't turn round a corner whilst simultaneously looking in front of you AND looking in your mirrors for cyclists who should not be undertaking.
Also from the Highway code (the section specifically for cyclists):
Road junctions
72
On the left. When approaching a junction on the left, watch out for vehicles turning in front of you, out of or into the side road. Just before you turn, check for undertaking cyclists or motorcyclists. Do not ride on the inside of vehicles signalling or slowing down to turn left.
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Pay particular attention to long vehicles which need a lot of room to manoeuvre at corners. Be aware that drivers may not see you. They may have to move over to the right before turning left. Wait until they have completed the manoeuvre because the rear wheels come very close to the kerb while turning. Do not be tempted to ride in the space between them and the kerb.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069837