Nasty driver gets more than he bargained for

richardspooner

AGNI wrote:

Porgy wrote:

AGNI - I find your avatar extremely disturbing. :?

Sorry. Was when i had a nasty bout of swine flu.

Will change it soon

I thinks it's sexy as hell!

Garz

Bugly wrote:

sorry for the typographical error for qould = would. one space apart on a QWERTY keyboard.

:shock:

Sorry sport but if your going to hammer someone's grammar (hehe), then at least have the decency to spell right! There is an edit button for a reason..

8)

turbo_hamster

zz

dilemna

turbo hamster wrote:

Since we are dissing Travel West Midlands, I have a non-cycling story that depresses me to this day.

Dark winter evening, traffic very congested along Broad Street (Birmingham). Huge queues built up at bus stops. Every so often a bus stops, but often has no room for all the waiting passengers.

One bus stops about 10 yards short of the bus stop. Everyone walks towards it to board, but an elderly man on crutches can't keep up. The driver (who has a friend standing chatting to him on the platform) refuses to let him on because there is no more room.

The old man protests that he was at the front of the queue, and was only last to try and board because the bus didn't halt by the bus stop.

The driver still wouldn't let him on and drove off. Then the driver and his pal started sniggering and I heard them say "He should have f*cking run faster, innit?".

The most depressing thing about this story is that I did nothing about it. I should have intervened and got off the bus so the guy on crutches could have my place. I think I was too astonished by such outrageously callous behavious by Bus Driver and Pal. No prizes to me for compassion or quick thinking, but at least I know I would not stand by again.

So its little surprise to read the other stories on this thread.

Start your own thread this is not related to my OP :evil: .

amaferanga

Porgy wrote:

1981. wrote:

When the fark did smacking someone around the head with a hoop of steel become acceptable?

So far - merely by threats and waving of D Lock - I've warded off a number of loonies who otherwise might have pummeled me into the ground.

In other words - use of D Lock prevented violence.

I have no idea whether I could actually do it if someone called my bluff - I only hope I never have to find out.

It was two occurences a few years ago that have changed my atttitude on this - one time when a black cabbie got out of his cab and kicked the sh*t out of me just after he went over my back wheel when I was stopped at a red light - and the other was a pasenger who jumped off a routemaster in front of me - me narrowly avoiding hitting him - him punching me in the face for my trouble causing me to spend the whole morning in casualty having my faced stitched back together.

so far - use of D Lock has prevented a repeat of such violence. And that's good enough for me.

Attitude usually gets you a beating and it sounds like you have plenty of that

Also, from what you wrote above it sounds like you were undertaking a bus. If you almost hit me as I stepped off a bus and you were undertaking it I'd be pretty mad. I'd expect you to apologise. Did you?

Porgy

amaferanga wrote:

Attitude usually gets you a beating and it sounds like you have plenty of that

I'm glad you think that I deserved a beating. Luckily my wife, the police, my employer, the gilr I was trying to help when the taxi driver wrecked my bike, and the hospital staff all thought differently

Also, from what you wrote above it sounds like you were undertaking a bus. If you almost hit me as I stepped off a bus and you were undertaking it I'd be pretty mad. I'd expect you to apologise. Did you?

No - bus was overtaking me. Bus didn;t stop - and bloke jumped off without even looking wthout any indication that he was about to do so.

astnishing the assumptions people make if they don't like what you're saying! :roll:

amaferanga

I'm afraid that someone that goes around brandishing a D-lock to defend themselves is no different in my eyes to thugs going around with knives 'for protection'.

As for the bus incident, well yes, obviously not your fault - should have been the bus driver that got the D-lock treatment then?

Porgy

amaferanga wrote:

I'm afraid that someone that goes around brandishing a D-lock to defend themselves is no different in my eyes to thugs going around with knives 'for protection'.

As for the bus incident, well yes, obviously not your fault - should have been the bus driver that got the D-lock treatment then?

listen mate - I've used my D lock three times in 30 years - I do not carry it as a weapon - but it was handy at the time. The alternative is that some tw@t kicks the sh.it out of me and I end up in hospital.

I've decided I'm too old to fight in the street like a loser - I just want to be left alone to ride my bike.

also - I don't see why the bus driver was to blame for that incident?!? Do you know what a routemaster is? And if I'd have thought to defend myself at the time I suspect the guy wouldn't have punched me in the face and then run off leaving me bleeding in the street. I was actually more concerned for his safety at the time. Naive, stupid me eh?

richardspooner

dilemna wrote:

turbo hamster wrote:

Since we are dissing Travel West Midlands, I have a non-cycling story that depresses me to this day.

Dark winter evening, traffic very congested along Broad Street (Birmingham). Huge queues built up at bus stops. Every so often a bus stops, but often has no room for all the waiting passengers.

One bus stops about 10 yards short of the bus stop. Everyone walks towards it to board, but an elderly man on crutches can't keep up. The driver (who has a friend standing chatting to him on the platform) refuses to let him on because there is no more room.

The old man protests that he was at the front of the queue, and was only last to try and board because the bus didn't halt by the bus stop.

The driver still wouldn't let him on and drove off. Then the driver and his pal started sniggering and I heard them say "He should have f*cking run faster, innit?".

The most depressing thing about this story is that I did nothing about it. I should have intervened and got off the bus so the guy on crutches could have my place. I think I was too astonished by such outrageously callous behavious by Bus Driver and Pal. No prizes to me for compassion or quick thinking, but at least I know I would not stand by again.

So its little surprise to read the other stories on this thread.

Start your own thread this is not related to my OP :evil: .

That's a bit mean! You can't post something like that and not expect people to wheel out their own horror stories and start comparing 'battle wounds'. Whilst we're on the subject(s) of correctly apportioning blame you should probably have a go at me as well for bringing up TWM in the first place.

After all that wasn't related to your original post either...

simon_e

dilemna - glad you're OK, I'm sure that wasn't at all nice.

Bristol Exile wrote:

My fight or flight reflex is defaulted to fight

Experience on the roads has made me the same. I'm calm when required and certainly don't let off steam at old biddies, kids and so on. But bullies pick on cowards, so I don't ride in the gutter, I try to indicate that I'm not afraid and that it would be a brave or foolish tosser that picks on me after they've cut me up.

1981. - thanks for the link. Porgy has got me thinking about whether to carry my D-lock more often. Of course I wouldn't want to hurt anyone, violence isn't the answer... but I really don't want them to hurt me either!

dilemna

Simon E wrote:

dilemna - glad you're OK, I'm sure that wasn't at all nice.

Bristol Exile wrote:

My fight or flight reflex is defaulted to fight

Experience on the roads has made me the same. I'm calm when required and certainly don't let off steam at old biddies, kids and so on. But bullies pick on cowards, so I don't ride in the gutter, I try to indicate that I'm not afraid and that it would be a brave or foolish tosser that picks on me after they've cut me up.

1981. - thanks for the link. Porgy has got me thinking about whether to carry my D-lock more often. Of course I wouldn't want to hurt anyone, violence isn't the answer... but I really don't want them to hurt me either!

I've cycled a few thousand miles on the roads over 20 years and know how to handle situations and ride so you don't invite drivers to knock you down. But occasionally there are some that are crazed loons and the one that nearly hit me on a sunny monday evening as his car braked violently toward my rear wheel was one of them. I don't cycle in the gutter and I eyeball all cars I hear approaching from behind except when the wind is blowing in your face and you sometimes can't hear them.

I found this incident troubling as I haven't had one for some considerable time. 99.9% of drivers give me space as I know exactly where they are as I have heard, seen and made eye contact with them. This driver however was an exception to the rule as well as a loon. I was on my road bike so no facility or wish to carry a heavy D-lock. A camera I do carry though fastened to the front brake and gear cables in front of the head set. I was about to get it out when the situation changed where exiting left so to speak was the better course of action. Fortunately some one I knew was close at hand which loons don't anticipate and certainly not people who drive an old army style/Mad Max V8 Range Rover with big beach tyres, search lights on the roof and no front bumper with a driver who looks well mean and a young son egging him on. I just felt the score sheet had been pleasantly re-balanced in cyclists’ favours.

On my commuting bike I carry two heavy Abus Granit X Plus D-locks one in each pannier. I've had to use them, other than for locking up my bike, twice both early last year. One against a psychopathic thug driving a huge double wheeler tipper truck, whom incidentally I have written about several times on here KERRY PLANT HIRE near Peterborough is the company, who ran me off the road got down from his cab and came for me managing to grab me by the neck as a prelude to hitting me. While he struggled to keep hold of me I managed to get a D-lock out of one of my panniers raising it above his head to say the famous words "Are you feeling lucky punk!......Well......Are you?" He looked long and hard into my eyes………..and thought better of it. Had he so much as moved a further muscle to hit me I would have brought it down hard on his head I was that scared. Self defence.

The other time was in Peterborough itself when I was walking in the central pedestrian area with my bike and I was hit from behind by a thug steaming by weaving in and out of people on a tiny BMX. Unfortunately, the thug came off as a result of the impact and then came straight for me. He was about 25 muscle bound and scars up his arms from steroid injections no doubt. I got my bike up on the back wheel sharpish between him and me. He tried to grab me but simply couldn't reach so grabbed my front wheel and tried to wrench my bike from me which I was holding onto via the handle bar ends. He wouldn't let go of my bike and the strain that must have been on my front fork must have been immense, so I turned aggressor. The balance of power reversed as I was livid he wouldn’t let go and he was damaging my bike. I was ready to pummel him. Spectators had gathered and I was sure the police or security would be along soon but no one appeared plus there was CCTV. Anyway my bike some how got back on the ground back on two wheels but he was still threatening from a distance so I got my pannier open and my D-lock ready just in case as he looked like he might have another go at me. Whilst I was right in that he did come for me again, he grabbed very quickly and forcefully my D-lock tearing it out of my hand but threw it about 50 feet away which made a massive crash as it hit the paving stones. Bugger him I had just bought another as my previous one had got broken whilst hitting a deep and large pothole cycling home at night when a pannier came off and hit the ground causing the casing to crack so now it’s no longer weather proof. Had he used it on me then I might have been seriously hurt. D-locks are fairly easy for attackers to grab so be careful trying to use them they might just as much end up being used against you as by you which would be a disaster. It is also debatable whether they would be an item of self defence or a weapon. Anyway he shot off on his BMX bike when an elderly couple picked up my lock and some on else shouted at him. A mum with young kids said she thouhght he was going to kill me. She thought of calling the police but didn't as she thought they would come automatically :roll: .

But most of the time I have a happy uneventful ride. I give drivers a wave of thanks who have been extra patient or courteous. After the incident with Mondeo Man on monday evening I caught up with two 12-13 year old lads on fairly decent mountain bikes. The road is a bit narrow and twisty and the light traffic was tanking along it despite the 40mph limit so I thought I’m a lot more visible and traffic aware than them, they can’t be going far so I’ll stay just behind them until they get safely off the road. They were as youngsters do cycling too close to the edge, no hi viz clothing or helmets. About ½ mile up the road they turned off into the cricket ground. I wished them safe cycling. They were grateful. A nice thanks m8. I continued on my way to the start of my training route feeling good that I had been able to return a favour where previously Range Rover man had looked out for me.

Cafewanda

1981. wrote:

We're all aware on the Theory of Big I take it?

http://www.tibsnjoan.co.uk/Big.html

Always works for me, I ride in the road position of car's nearside wheels - they physically have to make a mental note to overtake, rather than slide past inches from my right elbow with my wheel in the gutter.

I liked that article I try to 'claim my space' most of the time, although it tends to be when I'm fedup being nice cycle lady. Wobbling I had down to a fine art when I first started cycling to work so I can vouch for it. I might revist it on occasion :evil:

Somehow my score was a 9 - road warrior :shock:


PS: Yes, I know I'm not on a roadie, but I will be by the year end hopefully!

Bugly

Garz wrote:

Bugly wrote:

sorry for the typographical error for qould = would. one space apart on a QWERTY keyboard.

:shock:

Sorry sport but if your going to hammer someone's grammar (hehe), then at least have the decency to spell right! There is an edit button for a reason..

8)

:roll: actually no hammer for grammar intended. I find that a lack of white space makes posts very hard to read irrespective of spelling

Garz

Bugly, some people are able to post on mobile phones or other devices and white space can get confusing. Whilst I too would like a perfect layout of posts with matching spelling to boot, it's easier to maybe pm the guy and ask him to edit it (9/10 they will just ignore but oh well).

If its too hard to digest or annoying then simply dont read the post. Most posts containing wall-of-text(s) will go unread.

Bugly wrote:

UMM PUNCTUCTATION and PARAGRAPHS would have made it a lot more readable

Your original reply with added capital letters is considered rude in some peoples eyes, and your lack of spelling is hypocritical of the man's white space argument. :roll: :roll:

flyer

wow that's better than Spooks!!!!

I never give any back, I am 49 years old and last time I had a fight was when I was 16.

Lifes too short, but there are lots of nutters out there.

Good to see justice was done

Flyer

jedster

dilemna,

I almost posted earlier but you've raised my point yourself in a way - If you start waving a d-lock around you risk escalating the situation. Either the assailant might grab the d-lock as you say or they might walk back to the=ir car and get a knife/baseball bat. Some idiots do carry this kind of stuff.

J

johnnyiphone60

Hi, i too had a similar experience with a young nutter,but my solution was too keep calm & talk in non-condesending manner & . Young nutter (about 20ish), got out to have a go, had a good look at me & decided maybe that was a bad move (I am 46, very short hair, 15 stone ex powerlifter).
So moral to my story is... keep calm , explain your grievance (there are allways 2 points of view) & walk/cycle away.I understand that this will not work all of the time, so in a previous post, keep a bl00dy big d-lock handy... :twisted: :twisted:

Porgy

jedster wrote:

dilemna,

I almost posted earlier but you've raised my point yourself in a way - If you start waving a d-lock around you risk escalating the situation. Either the assailant might grab the d-lock as you say or they might walk back to the=ir car and get a knife/baseball bat. Some idiots do carry this kind of stuff.

J

sad but true - it's a judgement call isn't it? and it certainly wouldn't be the first thing i did - the D-lock thing is someway down the path. and tbh - i only thought of using it a couple of years ago before that i just used the fact that i'm quite big to put them off having a go - but the biggest bloke in the world is no match when they use their vehicle to attack you.

Luckily I'm quite a big bloke so that puts most people off right away.

I've been threatened with a knife a few times but so far - either it was a bluff - or my bluff worked sufficiently well to make them think twice.

And if that fails - well I'm really quick on the bike when i need to be - and with near encyclopedic knowledge of back streets, off road cycle paths, footpaths etc. where hopefully they can't or won't follow.

The times I have had to resort to the D lock have all so far been drivers not getting out of their vehicle and engaged in actively trying to run me down. So the D lock was not aimed at the driver but the vehicle. i figure criminal damage is a lesser crime than gbh, and add to that the mitigation of self defence.

Funny that the threat of a dent or a broken window makes drivers think twice, but the fact that they might kill someone doesn't.

Porgy

johnnyiphone60 wrote:

So moral to my story is... keep calm , explain your grievance (there are allways 2 points of view) & walk/cycle away.I understand that this will not work all of the time, so in a previous post, keep a bl00dy big d-lock handy... :twisted: :twisted:

i couldn't have put it better myself

johnnyiphone60

thanks porgy

joolsburger

I have no qualms about speaking to bullies in the language they understand. I was beeped up climbing Holmbury hill from Peaslake and the arse tried to run me off the road I was very rude to him and he thought he'd stop and get out out of his car, his face as I unfolded 6 feet and 16 stone of very cross me was a picture. I fully accept that one day it will all backfire and I expect I'll take a pasting in the meantime I'm happy to give what I receive.

He backtracked, got in his car and left by the way, no violence needed.

Flasheart

I've only had one run in since I started road cycling and that was about 3 months ago.
I was out on my own and on the return leg of my trip about 5 miles from any civilisation and a car full of tosspots drove up along side of me at all started yelling and screaming abuse loudly, so in my usual casual manner I flipped them the bird with a big smile on my face. That tripped ther switch and they pulled over about 50 yards ahead and 3 of them got out. I reached into my back pocket and got my phone out and pulled over. As they apporached me I said "smile ladies" as I took a photo. I took my helmet and riding glasses off as they approaded me and said " now I have just sent a lovelly snapshot of the 3 of you and your mates number plate and sent it to my Mrs, who wants to go first?"
They hesitated, one of them grabbed the arm of another and said something to his mate and they went back and got in their piece of sh*te Fiesta and drove off in a blue haze of oily smoke. I think that the fact that they could be identified for their actions put them off.
I've never ever runfrom a confrontation but I will use my head for something other than a cycle helmet carrier. I know that winding them up wasn't the smartest thing looking back a it. :roll:

dilemna

Flasheart wrote:

I've only had one run in since I started road cycling and that was about 3 months ago.
I was out on my own and on the return leg of my trip about 5 miles from any civilisation and a car full of tosspots drove up along side of me at all started yelling and screaming abuse loudly, so in my usual casual manner I flipped them the bird with a big smile on my face. That tripped ther switch and they pulled over about 50 yards ahead and 3 of them got out. I reached into my back pocket and got my phone out and pulled over. As they apporached me I said "smile ladies" as I took a photo. I took my helmet and riding glasses off as they approaded me and said " now I have just sent a lovelly snapshot of the 3 of you and your mates number plate and sent it to my Mrs, who wants to go first?"
They hesitated, one of them grabbed the arm of another and said something to his mate and they went back and got in their piece of sh*te Fiesta and drove off in a blue haze of oily smoke. I think that the fact that they could be identified for their actions put them off.
I've never ever runfrom a confrontation but I will use my head for something other than a cycle helmet carrier. I know that winding them up wasn't the smartest thing looking back a it. :roll:

Especially like this bit. Hehehehehhehehehe

But oily smoke bad for your lungs .

dilemna

Have re-posted this from another thread. Blimey :shock: ! It has some relevance here I feel.

Posted by zedders 18.05.09:

zedders wrote:

true story - me and a couple of mates were merrierly riding along a country lane in Sunny Leics when a car approached from behind. He had to brake because there was bind bend approaching. He was not happy and honked his horn! My mate was not happy either and as he past (being so close) he slapped the side window with his hand as the car overtook!
What happened next was not to be expected. 150 yrds up he pulled a 180 (he held it well to be fair) come straight back towards us and stopped blocking us. He then got out swinging a BASSBALL BAT (which he just happened to have with him - in the passenge footwell for u/k reasons), with a bottle of bud in the other hand! He calmly said " touch my car again and i'll take your fkin ed off!"
Unfortunately being at the front I ended up face to face. (being astraddle the bike with cleats I was a bit vulnerable) so couldn't really do anything. I said something cowardly like "i got your reg mate you won't get away with it" to which he got in his car and speed off, after shouting a round of f***s.
What happened next was not to be expected. Once the dust had settled we carried on and 3 miles later entered a village. There was c0ckend waiting for us outside the chippy! We were doing about 24mph and he ran into the road swinging and kicking!! Somehow I managed to duck and swerve at the same time. We carried on thinking that would be the end of it. But he proceeded to get back in his car and chase us. No word of a lie I swear red mist had set in and he was trying to run me of the road. This time me being newie and not as fast as the others I was stuck at the back. I could here his engine revving up behind me and as we darted into a side street, and into a dead end I really thought I was history. I just managed to get between some bollards into a cut through with inches to spare! We re-groupped and decided to wait in a quiet residential street. I was out of breathe and fuming by now. First I got threatened with the bat, then he tried to punch and kick me off my bike, and then he tried to run me off the road! AND I HADN'T DONE ANYTHING!
What happened next was not to be expected. c0ckend came round the corner. This time we all got off are bikes and confronted the n0b. Him + two mates got out. Am pretty sure it was about to kick off - especailly knowing one of my mates as I do (ex army and all) fists were clenched and my mate gave the nod!
What happened next was not to be expected - Police came round the corner! They must have been in the right place at the right time!
After alot of shouting the Police seperated us, and being the more sensible type I explained what happened and the baseball bat and bottle of bud were found by the Police. The cop said ''its friday we can't deal with him now'' and fobbed us off!
To conclude I complained and statements were taken. The c0ck was prosecuted.

Moral of the story as far as I'm concerned, unless your prepared for a fight - do nothing!

And then there's this horrific incident :shock:

Cyclist killed by driver for damaging wing mirror, court told

Apr 21 2009, Coventry Telegraph

By Duncan Gibbons

A CYCLIST was knocked down and killed in a suspected revenge attack after he damaged a motorist's wing mirror, a court has heard.
The car driver, Sean Fitzgerald, aged 35, of Bennetts Road North, Keresley, Coventry, is charged with murder.
He is alleged to have deliberately mounted the pavement and driven at warehouseman Paul Webb on Thursday afternoon.
The 42-year-old victim suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene in Bennetts Road South, Keresley, as he cycled home from work at the Co-op distribution centre at PrologisPark.
Coventry magistrates court was told Fitzgerald reacted after his nearside mirror was knocked off by a cyclist moments earlier, but it is not clear if the victim was the man responsible.

Emma Garnett, prosecuting, said: “He was angry that his wing mirror was knocked off.
“This defendant followed the cyclist for 300 yards from the first point of contact and mounted the kerb while he [Mr Webb] was on the pavement.”
She said the cyclist suffered a fatal combination of broken ribs, a shattered pelvis and internal bleeding in the crash, which left debris scattered up to 15 metres away.
The court heard Fitzgerald handed himself in to police the following day where he was arrested and charged.
Andrew Mithie, defending, said: “This gentleman was driving from Bennetts Road North into the city centre along Bennetts Road South when there was contact by a cyclist with his nearside wing mirror.
“He was upset about the damage and started to remonstrate with the cyclist who made off.
“This gentleman accepts that some distance away there was contact and it seems that it probably was the same individual, but he’s not sure if it was or not.”
Dad of two Fitzgerald was denied bail and was remanded in custody for a hearing at Coventry Crown Court on Monday April 27.
Police are still seeking witnesses to the accident.
Detective Inspector Wendy Bailey from CID at Little Park Street police station said: “The victim was wearing a red jacket and the car he collided with was silver in colour.
"It is believed the car involved was behind a refuse collection lorry.
"We would appeal for anyone who saw the pedal cyclist or the silver car behind the refuse lorry to come forward.”
Anyone who witnessed the collision or anyone with information is urged to call Little Park Street police station on 0845 113 5000.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/c ... -23432533/

Porgy

:shock:
I might get the bus in to work for a few days.

I feel a bit shakey now....

cougie

Was there any conviction of that last cyclist murder case ? I cant see anything on google ?

NWLondoner

I had a right w*nker last night. Coming down scrubs lane towards to westway. The t*at has (Audi driver IIRC)parked in the ASL box so I pull up in front of him ( I can still see the traffic lights). I pull away at normal speed but didn't go at breakneck speed due to the conditions and I know the road will soon narrow due to parked cars and roadwork's. Sadly for the driver the 15 seconds that he is being delayed by is too much and he thinks that by keeping his horn on constant I will suddenly go 30-mph faster :roll:

I did turn round to look at him and was going to gesture and see red but suddenly thought. It is dark and wet and if he hits me he can just disappear up the westway and leave me for dead :shock:

I just pulled over slightly to let him overtake and disappear up his own ass.

Chicane-UK

Insane story and glad you got through it all OK.

I just don't understand how delusional some motorists are when they do things which are, clearly their fault and proceed to give you a hard time for it! I admit that your story is on the extreme end of the spectrum but still!

I had a near off at a roundabout probably 6 months or so ago... guy in a 4x4 waiting to pull out onto the roundabout and I'm watching him as I approach him and as I get about 20ft from his door and as he's LOOKING at me, he just pulls out. I slam on the brakes as does he, and I gesture rudely at him - he does the fricking same despite being ENTIRELY to blame and then roars off! What the hell is wrong with some people! Accept you made a sodding mistake, apologise for it, and go on your way. Sheesh.

rolf_f

I had a minor incident yesterday. Cycling along in the roadside cycle lane passing queued cars on my right. There is a junction and left filter approaching and a white van nearing the junction as the traffic crawls forward. I was a bit suspicious of the van and, sure enough, as I draw alongside (myself aiming to turn left), without any indication the van turns left as well cutting straight across the bike lane to the extent the van hits my handlebars (even though I was right on the kerb).

Survived enough to clout the passenger side window with my fist which probably scared the passenger a bit. When he caught me up further along, the passenger just shouted something incomprehensible (could have been "I do apologise for the incompetence of my mates driving - he is an idiot" but I doubt it!) and disappeared into the distance.

Ultimately, his fault but I didn't need to put myself in that position. I knew it would be badly driven even when stationary! Furthermore, I knew that when he passed me I'd be heading for a 2km long ascent so if he'd been out for trouble I'd be vulnerable. In future, I'll only clout cars I know can't catch me!

pinno

Phew!

Sorry that your thread has been hijacked dilemna - but look at the can of worms you have opened up.

Whilst commuting on my bike through Cheltenham along a busy part of the ringroad, some coach driver (with a coach load of passengers) cut me up as he turned round a left hand fork into London Rd. I was squeezed into the kerb and only avoided being hit because I managed to bunny hop onto the pavement. I smacked my hand against the side of the bus as I passed him stationary at the next set of traffic lights.
I could have sworn he then attempted to run me over as he then re-passed me because (having since driven HGV's) there was stationary cars dotted along the left hand side of the road which would make a large vehicle drive a straigh line and not go zig-zagging in and out of the gaps between them.

At the next junction (Keynsham Stores, London Rd - if you know it) he was stationary. As there is white marks on the road to allow people out of Keynsham cul-de-sac (forgotten its name) whilst the lights are red, he was at the first white line. I occupied this gap whilst shouting at him and giving him some abuse thinking that a bus load of tourists would prevent him from retalliating. Instead he drove the bus gently but menaceingly against my bike; pushing it along the road to amazed and bewildered looks from the passangers.

I quickly left the scene having taken the number plate down. To be fair the police listened intently (I even included the slapping of the bus) and actualy called around to my digs to say that they had spoken to him and warned him of his behaviour.

Yes 'Porgy' - I am sorry, I have to agree with you, keep yourself armed with a D lock. Being on a bike is damn vulnerable. Fu4k knows how you cycle in London.

Well Chalmonderley Warner-Bottom, I sincerely hope that I have included paragraph breaks, good punctuation and have no spelling errors, god forbid and...
If I have'nt - b0llox anyway.