<rant> of cycling to work with so many ignorant/idiot drivers about. ended up on the floor tonight when a silver pug estate pulled out on me and i took evasive action. he drove off without even realising what he had done. he even stopped at the give way line, looked both ways and then pulled out still. obviously i was difficult to see what with my helmet light, two handlebar mounted lights and hi vis vest on. idiot. </rant>
I have given up riding to/from work until its light again. Its just not worth the risk(to me).
I had an 18 mile ride home tonight, on roads through the fells, and only 3 cars passed me (one being a lady from work who tooted and gave me a wave).
Sorry, doesn't help does it?
no! my "commute" is only 2.5 miles and in a city...
Were you riding a fixie in your hi vis vest?
deserved to be knocked off then.
😉
WorldClassAccident - MemberWere you riding a fixie in your hi vis vest?
deserved to be knocked off then.
[;-)]
nice try!
Had something fairly similar happen to me tonight, although I escaped without harm. Riding along a cyclepath towards a garage, car waiting for traffic slightly across the line into the pavement/cyclepath. I approach, make eye contact, no gap in traffic, ****ing tool pulls forward to try and block my path! what the **** is that all about? Anyway, hope you and your bike are ok. Just keep riding, but maybe get an air horn 🙂
Today I had my first bike commute for a few months, through the centre of Edinburgh at peak rush hour.
It was as mental as I remember it but strangely exciting. I think it's best to rise above it if you can. Tell yourself that they are the cocks and don't rise to it. Expect the worst driving and you won't be surprised.
It a Shame your considering giving up. Its difficult if you have an incident. You must ride like you are invisible.
Are your lights permanent or are they flashing. My experience is that drivers consider bikes as slow moving and regularly misjudge the speed that can be travelled at. Flashing light - at about 1 second per flash - provide a good indication of how fast you are traveling.
Stick with it!
Hit some ice on a roundabout bout 4 weeks ago and either cracked or broke some ribs. Silver hyundai 3 days ago turned into a side road, didn't see me till last minute n we both had full brakes on. Missed me by centimetres, not inches and luckily i swerved onto path at same time( road bike brakes are sh*t). Had numerous cars go round corners cutting me up, going into Glasgow you can end up going quicker than them though they hate giving you room so you end up nearly crashing. Touch wood i've not crashed because of a car............yet!! I do a 40 mile commute a day ( the wind is killing me just now) and cant wait till its lighter. I leave mainly about 5am when roads are quiet but potentially lethal with ice/water, and get home about 7:30pm so i'm counting down the weeks till it gets light ( and warm)
I have given up my cycle/train commute in the winter.
Too many idiots on the road
too many near misses
cost more than driving
easier to drive
I am sooo much more stressed though!
Dont live in glasgow do you? (Just checking, as the driver of a silver pug estate!)
Flashing light - at about 1 second per flash - provide a good indication of how fast you are traveling.
No, I disagree. Flashing lights are a bad idea in traffic because if it's only half the time, drivers only have half the time in which to gague your speed. Plus, they might just glance over to you at a time when the light's off.
On the other hand, drivers recognise flashing lights as cyclists. The solution therefore is to have one bright steady and a less bright flasher that flashes fast, not slow like once a second.
Precisely what knottie8 said!
Gave up road riding 20 years ago after landing on the bonnet of a car, sticked to the trails since 8)
Wait for them tomorrow night. With a bat!