My encounter, as a pedestrian, with a cyclist

always_tyred

doog442 wrote:

you originally posted 'she was standing by her OPEN car door'

now you say 'she opened her door into traffic without looking'

It isn't. If a car pulls out of a junction and traffic on the road they pulled onto has to slow, to my mind, that's pulling out into traffic. Similarly, I would regard stepping into the road when there is insufficient time for you to get to the other side without traffic waiting for you is stepping out into traffic. Similarly, opening a door and getting out when there is no possibility of completing the process before the approaching traffic gets to you is opening a door into traffic. It doesn't imply, necessarily, a Holywood moment where the door is ripped clean off by a passing semi in a shower of sparks.

Occam's Razor. You have imagined a woman tending to a child in the back seat of a car, whereas I clearly descirbed an adult stepping from the driver's seat of a vehicle. You have also imagined a near miss, whereas I clearly described this happening as I approached a vehicle, causing me to slow, stop and express mild dismay.

DonDaddyD

Looking back at the situation, the thing that got on my nerves the most was the fact that he screamed in an attempt to startle me then I was in the middle of the road. He then cyced around me inches away from my persons.

Yes, I accept that my actions weren't the best example of crossing the road, but it was his contempt to keep on a continual path until he was inches from me that bothers me. That's pure aggressive riding. Had his scream made me react in shock, if I had swung an arm out or jumped backwards because of it I would have collided with him.

Yes I could have waited, but considering I didn't (which I was at fault for) it doesn't justify his actions. There was a number of people crossing, he should have slowed down or stopped instead of riding straight through a group of crossing pedestrians. Its the same logic as a car with a hazard ahead of them, the motorist should slow down, cover the clutch and be prepared to stop not attempt to plough through.

Conclusion:

As a cyclist and being faced with this nearly everyday, nothing anyone can tell me will make me think otherwise. When on a moving vehicle if I see a hazard ahead of me I slow down. End of story.

Yes I will be more mindful when I cross the road in future.

robmanic1

DonDaddyD wrote:

Yes I will be more mindful when I cross the road in future.

Good chap, you can have your Tufty badge now.