Forum menu
Yep, some tool with no front brake decided to ride on the wrong side of the road, skid one way when he saw a car coming, then the other way into my lane. It would have been darwin at work if he'd gone under someones wheels.
Equaly I've cycled into cars and it's been my fault, thankfully the driver was too appologetic rather than apoplectic too realise I was definately in the wrong, and I don't want to know how much his wing mirror proabably cost!
captain_bastard - Member
recently had a near miss; driving on twisty b roads, i was going considerably less than the speed limit and paying full attention, just as i came round a bend there was a cyclist on my side and a lorry coming the opposite way - very close. Really made me think, it's a stretch of road i don't like riding on, and other than driving at 20mph (it's a 60 speed limit, but i wasn't going much over 30) not much else i could of done different.but it's not all bad, if i'd of been driving like the majority of cars i see on that road, the cyclist wouldn't of stood a chance
Would you normally pile round a corner unable to stop on the road you can see ahead? Think the highway code will tell you that you should be able to stop in the distance you can see, if you can't then it is probably dangerous driving. the speed LIMIT is simply just that, the maximum for that road, it does not mean it is the speed you should aspire to be travelling at!
Just last night, in the dark, about to pull out onto a roundabout when I spotted the cyclist I would have hit. Might have been easier to see him if the light that was mounted to his handlebars had been switched on. His rear light was flashing away merrily so I'm assuming an unplanned battery outage was involved, so there's a reminder for y'all as the evenings get darker - don't get caught out by your batteries!!
DezB: it's from the Highway code on Direct.gov, my point was, whether you agree with it or not, according to the highway code, less than a car width is too little room to leave.
Tbh I think a car's width is excessive but even this morning coming in, I barely got 50cm far more often than I'd have liked.
Think the highway code will tell you that you should be able to stop in the distance you can see, if you can't then it is probably dangerous driving.
Ever driven on a bendy single lane country road with high hedges? You'd have to go at about 2mph to be able to stop in the distance you can see.
I've had a couple of close shaves while driving, some my fault, some the cyclists - but I think as a driver you do have more responsibility. IIRC in France if there is an accident with a car and cyclist/pedestrian the driver is automatically considered at fault unless they can prove otherwise?
Read it again.GaryLake - Member
DezB: it's from the Highway code on Direct.gov, my point was, whether you agree with it or not, according to the highway code, less than a car width is too little room to leave.
GlitterGary, trolling
No question mark required. Should be a sticky.
cyclists are guests on the road no matter how much people dress up their rights in the Highway Code.
😀
Not in the car but i have almost hit a couple on my bike when riding in the dark and they haven't had lights on or any kind of reflectors. The worst had to be a runner who just ran out of the hedge in front of me whilst listening to his MP3, this was also in the dark.
I have had a few close ones with cars of which a couple have been my fault but an appology seems to work every time including when given to me by a lorry driver.
couple of times now - both with fixie bike riders riding like idiots/ignoring any sense of highway code. 2 idiots ran red lights and popped out from behind a large van straight in front of me at a controlled T junction as i was pulling out onto the main road. luckily managed to stop just shy of one of them who sh@t himself and fell off his bike. his mate then decided to hurl abuse at us as if we were at fault! also a guy who ran red lights and rode across traffic on a busy roundabout, he popped out from behind a van luckily i saw him in time before i turned him into paste...
Read it again.
To be honest, the highway code says similar but different things in 3 different places alone so yeah, it's all conflicting. But at the end of the day, if the guy on the bike thinks you passed too close, the opinion of the guy in the 1 ton box doesn't really count IMO.
To be honest, the highway code says similar but different things in 3 different places alone so yeah, it's all conflicting.
IIRC, the Highway Code says "leave as much room as you would when overtaking a car". It does not say "leave a cars width when overtaking a bicycle".
Because, being a cyclist, he would [i]always[/i] be correct?But at the end of the day, if the guy on the bike thinks you passed too close, the opinion of the guy in the 1 ton box doesn't really count IMO.
Once I got clost when I pulled to a T junction in the car, I wanted to turn left but there was a van parked just round the junction so I couldn't see beyond it so was concentrating on what was happening there and not to my right which I just glanced at, seeing nothing. A second later there was a screatching of brakes and and I could see the cyclist just stopping in time. After passing the van I let him pull alongside so I could apologise, I felt pretty sick afterwards.
I normally very careful on the open road but in the city there is sometime so much going on to het your attention. If I'm a passenger I often warn the driver of cyclists and leaving enough space as most don't.
I drove through Bristol city centre for 6 years as part of my 30 mile commute and before that 2 years cycle commuting I could see so much bad driving and cyling. I really do think that all drivers should be forced to take cycling proficiency in a city centre to give awareness. And those cycling without lights and across pedestrian crossing at 20mpg are just Darwin candidates.
IIRC, the Highway Code says "leave as much room as you would when overtaking a car". It does not say "leave a cars width when overtaking a bicycle"
Ah but that image I posted is actually from Direct.gov, whether that's what it actually says or not in the code, they're still implying it in their literature. Again conflicting stuff.
Because, being a cyclist, he would always be correct?
Or perhaps because he's the vulnerable one in this situation and has a better view of the situation.
Not done it in a car, thank God. Done it a few times on the trail, mind!
One mortifyingly embarassing collision where I sent a woman on her aris at Innerliethen. No serious injuries, profuse apologies, but I still slunk down the trail feeling like a cahnt.
I did when I was 18 - pulling up to a junction with two lanes, pulled over to the left and hadn't noticed the cyclist moving up the inside. Almost had her off which she was quite vocal about telling me about.
Learnt my lesson, not done it since.
Two days ago,
Had to stop suddenly, when a group of mountainbikers decided to cross a roundabout off a dual carriagway going the wrong way against the traffic, I was looking right as they cycled past me from the left.
My Mrs gave me that knowing look from the passanger seat 😉
[edit] played chicken as a kid cycling to school & lost when a roadie plowed me well and proper on my bmx into a ditch 😉
I've seen some regulars off here go the wrong way around a mini-roundabout 🙄
Very near miss in a car park, but as it was dark and he had dark clothes and no lights I count that as his fault.
Had a very near miss with a motorbike which was my fault, I pulled out to overtake something as he was in my blind spot already overtaking me, I should have checked.
Nearly got run over by my own mother once, I was on the bike, she was cutting a corner at a fast junction (don't think it was deliberate...)
I bumped a cyclist who I wasn't even aware of - it was poor light, he was wearing dark clothing and hadn't got reflectors or lights on his bike. Saw him at the last possible second when he swerved away from the hedge - I was only doing 30 so fortunately when I clipped him it was quite low speed.
Got out to check he was OK, he said he was fine, apologised profusely and asked if he'd damanged my car. He stank of weed and was quite pleased he hadn't spilled all of his can of Stella! I miss my hometown...
Only other time I've nearly hit a cyclist was on the Parade in Leamington, but as a pedestrian. Strolled out in front of him like a complete lemming, bizarrely I just registered the road as clear. Not sure what happened there.
I don't think he was in any state to be riding a bike, but I still felt massively guilty.
GaryLake yes, you're right I brushed his handlebars as I went past 🙄
Don't drive so no incidents with cars, but i have almost collided with a kid on a bike once. Dark night, on way home from work, lights blazing on my bike etc when a kid on a bmx in dark clothing and no lights popped out from behind a parked car without even looking to his right to see if anything was there.
He had a little surprise when i cycled up alongside him and clipped his ear for being so stupid, if i'd been in a car he'd have been under it no question, only the fact that i was a bike and therefore moving slower saved him from injury. I reckon i was only 10ft or so away when he popped out without looking, if i had been moving faster (tired after work) i'd have gone right into him. Gave him a little rollocking and told him to A) get some lights & B) get some road sense!
Never quite managed to hit one yet but seen a few silent screams on faces
No but seen plenty of numpty riders crossing from one pavement to another without looking!
Very nearly once.
Guy cycling on the pavement at night , no lights. Decides to ride off the pavement just as I'm drawing level with him.
I'd half predicted it and managed to swerve around him. Gave me a fright I'm not sure if the guy on the bike noticed I was even there
Ah but that image I posted is actually from Direct.gov, whether that's what it actually says or not in the code, they're still implying it in their literature. Again conflicting stuff.
[img] 
[/img]
There are two ways you can interpret what's in the Highway Code. Either you have to imagine the bike's the size of a car and overtake that 'car' (as in that image) or you have to leave the same gap between the bike and your car as you would when overtaking a car.
There may be two ways [i]you[/i] can interpret what's in the Highway Code, but the words are absolutely clear.There are two ways you can interpret what's in the Highway Code. Either you have to imagine the bike's the size of a car and overtake that 'car' or you have to leave the same gap between the bike and your car as you would when overtaking a car.
There may be two ways you can interpret what's in the Highway Code, but [i]the words are absolutely clear[/i].
They really aren't.
Does it mean move as far across the road as you would when overtaking a car or, leave the same space between yourself and the cyclist as you would when overtaking a car?
[img] 
[/img]
3 cars trying to overtake at once? - that's just plain stupid, they'll never all fit
DezB - so as long as you don't brush a cyclist's bars, you've left enough room? 🙄
Give vulnerable road users as least as much [b]SPACE[/b] as you would a car
miketually - Member
leave the same [b]SPACE [/b]between yourself and the cyclist as you would when overtaking a car?
By jove, I think he's got it.
What it does omit, is to always completely forget that the cyclist existed as soon as your rear wheels are past him.
(Christ. Gary, I hit him. Knocked him off. Reversed over him, opened the door, spat and said "ha that'll teach you scumbag". He then said sorry and shook my hand. Bye then)
By jove, I think he's got it.
And yet the official photo on the official site seems to interpret it differently...
[img] [/img]
That car is leaving an awfully big [b]space[/b] between itself and the bike. If it was overtaking a car leaving that much [b]space[/b], it'd be off the road.
When overtaking parked cars, often a negative amount of space is left resulting in missing wing mirrors. Lots of drivers seem to think this space is adequate when overtaking cyclists.
Sorry DezB consider this me dropping it. I guess I've got a chip on my shoulder as in my five mile commute I get more cars give me what I consider to be too little space than I do cars that actually give me enough space.
Personally for me, if I could put my hand out and touch the car, it's too little (if I signaled you'd take my arm off). Sadly, I could put my hand out and touch the car most of the time.
Do you understand the concept of [i]at least[/i]????miketually - Member
By jove, I think he's got it.
And yet the official photo on the official site seems to interpret it differently...That car is leaving an awfully big space between itself and the bike. If it was overtaking a car leaving that much space, it'd be off the road.
GaryLake - Member
Sorry DezB consider this me dropping it. I guess I've got a chip on my shoulder as in my five mile commute I get more cars give me what I consider to be too little space than I do cars that actually give me enough space.Personally for me, if I could put my hand out and touch the car, it's too little (if I signaled you'd take my arm off). Sadly, I could put my hand out and touch the car most of the time.
My commute is 15 miles and that means I probably get it 3 times as much. Which is why, when I'm driving, I respect cyclists and give them enough room 🙂
I apparently had a near miss recently. Was driving down a hill I'm very familiar with. At the t-junction at the bottom of the hill I turned left- another car was parked on the corner so I had to go onto the other side to get round him. I stopped at the nearby set of lights some fella is tapping my window. I wound it down and he announces "you almost knocked me of my bike!" and told me he had had to brake to avoid a collision. I apologised and that was the end of it, but tbh it $hit me up a bit 'cause even though it was raining the fella was in a hi-vis.
My only thought was that he was obscured by the cars parked along the road he was on and as I'd had to go out onto the wrong side of the road to make the turn I'd managed to miss him. Also wondered whether there was a bit of exaggeration there as he was cycling on an slight, but long upward gradient where you cant get up much speed at all.
It brought back memories of one incident where on a long stretch of road I'd overtaken a cyclist. As a cyclist myself I gave the guy lots of room, so I was a bit surprised when having slowed in traffic he passed me making all sorts of gestures and obscenities. No idea what that was about?
I've also been on the flip side and been hit pretty much head on by a van whilst waiting to turn right at a T-junction. The junction is one of those stupidly wide ones and at the time had very worn markings so drivers coming off the nearby a-road routinely cut the corner. I had the sun behind me and the guy just careered into me.
A couple of clips caught on my phones 'blackbox' recording app;
The first clip, a mountain biker on the pavement causes a ped to jump out the way and then nearly takes off my wing mirror, whilst I'm distracted and trying to straighten up the van the lorry in front stops sharpish and I have to stand on the brakes.
Second and third clips, the same car in the space of 3 minutes, overtakes a moped into oncoming traffic, then having got her confidence up, passes a cylist with less than 6 inches to spare, on a blind bend. On both overtakes, almost immediately afterwards were nice long stretches with plenty of visibility. 50mph road.
I admit they aren't going to take your breath away, but you forget how many instances of poor driving you've seen when you suddenly realise you have 25 clips of near misses over just a few months. Its only a matter of time before I find I've video'd a smash.
I've hit a car driver due to their error. Once or twice.
[url= http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp271/repackrider/avatar235.jp g" target="_blank">http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp271/repackrider/avatar235.jp g"/> [/IMG][/url]
[url= http://sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/mtbwelcome.htm ][b]2retro4u[/b][/url]
Marin County, Cali
Although I am a cyclist myself, last year I endangered a cyclist while driving on a narrow road. I still think about the consequences had I not missed him, and I swore then and there that in the future I would hold up traffic until it was safe to pass, no matter how many impatient drivers were behind me.