[Closed] Nearly hit a cyclist last night

Hora to the thread please!

You'd think if he was compromised (no power for front light - or no front light) he'd be riding defensively and not putting himself in risky positions, but then again he obviously wasn't prepared for that eventuality or chose to ride like that.
Not really much you can do other than being vigilant.

Now i think the guy was just an idiot.
Why on earth would you ride in rush hour in winter - no front light - no hi vis?

About this time last year I stepped off the pavement into the path of a cyclist I didn't see 'cos he was dessed in dark clothing & had no front light on (was an unlit country lane at about 6:30 in the evening - I had a flourecent jacket on and the dogs had flashing lights on their collars).

When challenged about it his response was "I can see where I'm going so I don't need a light"

Some people are just born stupid. The sooner they're removed from the gene pool the better.

No front light at night is idiotic, but hi viz [i]may[/i] not have helped very much in that particular scenario.

The nice day glow flouro high viz is only really useful in daylight. The Scotchlite bits are much better at night, but obviously need a light to reflect back which your chap might not have got if he was approaching from your side.

You're 100% right though - the guy was an idiot. Well done for not killing him.

Think I'd have stopped and told him (unless he looked a bit fighty).

Darwinism innit?

Well done for being so vigilant, could do with a few more of you on the road 🙂

That's the thing, doesn't matter whose at fault. If you run someone down, you will feel truly awful about it.
Watch out, and take it easy when driving.

Maybe he was thinking, why is this idiot dithering at a roundabout. 😆

Be seen, or face the died on the moral high ground argument

I nearly hit a motorbike 2 weeks ago. Completely my fault - I was turning right and didn't see him. My wife shouted and I stopped just in time. On reflection, I was probably slightly under the weather, and was navigating around all the diversions in Bexhill. That combination just dropped my concentration levels enough to miss seeing him.

When I worked at The Bike Chain in Edinburgh we'd carry a spare/NOS set of lights when commuting and offer them to any lightless riders. You'd be surprised at how many turned them down.

Think I'd have stopped and told him (unless he looked a bit fighty).

Ages ago I saw a cyclist on an unlit country road with no rear light, and only a pathetic front light, and dark clothing. I reached my destination about half a mile after passing him, and thought I'd just wait to tell him he had no light (as I've had my rear light go out before, unbeknownst to me). His response was to just shout "**** off" and keep going. Whether he thought I was being confrontational, rather than helpful, dunno. He was probably a penis.

If you look you'll see a cyclist, lights or not. Lights mean you also have a chance of being seen by those not looking. And sometimes even when you're lit up and wearing orange everything drivers still don't see you.

I came very close to wiping out a virtually invisible cyclist on a dual carriageway about this time last year.

According to some of STWs finest though this was 100% my fault and if someone wants to ride on an unlit 70 mph road at night dressed like a ninja then thats entirely their right.

Expect the baying mob to turn up shortly to scrutinise your driving ability and observational skills.

I nearly hit a cyclist once, she was coming down the cycle path (aka pavement) as I was edging out of an entrance, and I was clearly looking down the road not the pavement.

My fault - I didn't know it was a cyclepath (could have done with signs at the entrance tbh) and I didn't look. However I was edging slowly as always so she could brake.

I also almost hit a car once too. Looked but did not see. It happens to most of us I'd guess, but it's only a political issue when it's a cyclist rather than another car.

I also once hit a car when I was on my bike...

When I worked at The Bike Chain in Edinburgh we'd carry a spare/NOS set of lights when commuting and offer them to any lightless riders. You'd be surprised at how many turned them down.

It is amazing how different the view is from on a bike and inside a car. I use both. When on the bike I can see other road users perfectly clearly and there really is no need of lights in most situations on lit roads. As soon as there is a sheet of glass in the way people that can easily be seen disappear or at least need a good look to be seen. If you only use one form of transport it is easy to see how your opinion forms.

According to some of STWs finest though this was 100% my fault and if someone wants to ride on an unlit 70 mph road at night dressed like a ninja then thats entirely their right.

Pretty much what hora got told when he nearly killed a cyclist to death a million times.

As mentioned, darwinism will catch up with them eventually. I nearly witnessed it myself this morning when a dullard stepped off the pavement, whilst looking to the left straight into the path of an oncoming car coming from his right. There is little hope for such people...

It is scary how hard it can be to spot people wearing dark clothing during the winter commute

I do see a few cyclists with no lights, dark clothing, and one guy every night with the most pathetic back light I've ever seen, A candle would be bright in comparison..

If you look you'll see a cyclist, lights or not.

Quick test (watch full screen to give yourself a chance):

According to some of STWs finest though this was 100% my fault and if someone wants to ride on an unlit 70 mph road at night dressed like a ninja then thats entirely their right.

Except it's [b]not[/b] their right because they are breaking the law (Highway Code Rule 60 - RVLR regs 13, 18 & 24). A law which exists to protect them in exactly that scenario.

Except it's not their right because they are breaking the law (Highway Code Rule 60 - RVLR regs 13, 18 & 24). A law which exists to protect them in exactly that scenario.

I spotted that cyclist with so little trouble I thought there must have been another one I didn't see until the answer told me I was right, Graham. Hardly Ninja that one. Urban area, plenty of light, no problem. The more difficult ones are the ones in the country with no streetlights and blinding on-coming traffic.

Since moving down to London I've been amazed about how many cyclists down here seem to have no thought for their own safety. I haven't counted them but I'm sure most of cycle commuters do have working lights and wear high-viz, but it's the ones that don't (and there are a lot of them) that stick in the memory.

Also given the amount of press about it I'm amazed at the number of cyclists who think it's safe to filter at speed up the inside of vehicles (including HGV's and buses) indicating left at junctions and roundabouts. Ok you'd like to think they will at least check their mirror before they start the turn but given the standard of driving down here is also pretty poor there will be plenty that don't. It's also not unusual to have bicycles and motorcycles filtering past on both sides at the same time so there can be a lot for the drivers to keep track off, and not all of them will manage.

There are plenty of ninja cyclists around this time of the year so be careful out there. Some kamikaze type ninja cyclists will cut in front of you from pavement to the road ... 😯

I spotted that cyclist with so little trouble I thought there must have been another one

Of course, I expected no less from the STW Driving Gods. 😀
How about this one then?

(the preview sort of gives it away a bit!)

Quick test (watch full screen to give yourself a chance):

Just about to pull away and cyclist appears right in front of me.

Well done for not flattening him though!

Of course, I expected no less from the STW Driving Gods.

I spotted it, too. IANADG.

You'd easily spot the second ninja if a car had come from behind and silhouetted him.

Not condoning either cyclists' lack of judgement but as Edukator states, cyclist can be sen if you're reading the road correctly and paying attention to [u]everything[/u] around you - a task made more difficult due to in-car distractions and general carelessness. IMO.

In you second vid, Grahanm, I saw something in the headlights but it could have been anything. In real life it would have been enough to make me aware that there was something to look for.

I'm all for cyclists being well lit and wearing hi-viz (I am/do), but I drive assuming there will be walkers, animals, ninja cylists etc. that won't be. I hope it's enough because I'd be very angry with myself and upset if ever I hit one.

You'd easily spot the second ninja if a car had come from behind and silhouetted him.

Or if a helicopter flew over him and lit him up with a searchlight.

Or if he was swarmed by some well-meaning fireflies.

Or.... ...if he'd had some lights on like he is legally obliged to.

The cars in the video are overtaking the well-lit camera cyclist. The drivers would have been watching him and the road ahead.
Unfortunately there wasn't a conveniently-timed approaching car to silloute the ninja so they probably didn't know he was there until he was right in their headlights, by which time they could have been alongside the first cyclist. His stupid actions put everyone there at risk.

[i]Keep an eye open for idiots like this when driving and please make yourself as visible as possible when cycling. Don't be an idiot.[/i]

I do and I do. Why wouldn't I 'keep an eye out' for people on the road when I'm driving?

Funnily enough I was cycling home a couple of weeks ago and making a right turn, bus sitting at a bus stop in the oncoming lane but no traffic so set off across the junction, only to see a guy on a bike emerge from the glare of the bus headlights with no lights on.

I don't wear hi-viz btw but I'm pretty visible.

Do we know the cyclist in that case was breaking those rules? mdavids said he had a high viz vest and rear light, just that they weren't very good in his opinion.

yes but he also needs a front light according to the law.

I`ve still got the front and rear reflectors on my bike to give me that little extra visibility along with lights and reflective stuff. There should be a law that bikes have reflectors 😉

Or if a helicopter flew over him and lit him up with a searchlight.

Or if he was swarmed by some well-meaning fireflies.

Or.... ...if he'd had some lights on like he is legally obliged to.

?

I thought we were playing spot the cyclist. You appeared to use it as a comparatively harder test than the first - I pointed out the difference between the two incidents.

I think the contrast/lighting is slightly different between the two vids making true assessment of the visibility of both cyclist almost impossible TBH.

I thought we were playing spot the cyclist. You appeared to use it as a comparatively harder test than the first - I pointed out the difference between the two incidents.

Sorry teasel - you seemed to be defending him saying "You'd easily spot the second ninja if.." so I just offered some more possible "ifs".

Only one of which was actually in his control.

There should be a law that bikes have reflectors 😉

There is. (I assume the winkie means you know this?)

Unfortunately the law requires amber pedal reflectors - which aren't terribly practical with clipless pedals.

You are also required to have a red rear reflector which many people don't seem to bother with either.

I got slightly closer than I would have liked to a ninja cyclist the other day.
Country road, no lights, no road markings, about 1am, and the cyclist was wearing all dark clothing with no lights and only pedal reflectors whilst cycling in the thickest fog.

If I wasn't such a driving god I may well have gotten too close. Even someone with the exceptional observation skills of Edukator would have almost certainly mowed down the suicyclist.

Sorry teasel - you seemed to be defending him saying "You'd easily spot the second ninja if.." so I just offered some more possible "ifs".

Don't apologise. I actually enjoyed the image of some well-meaning fireflies coming to the aid of a 'hapless' cyclist.

First vid is fairly easy because it's streetlit,and fairly brightly.

Okay fair enough, apparently everyone saw the first cyclist, apart from me. 😳

He was more obvious when I watched it again full screen, but I missed him on my first run through because my eyes were on the black void to the left of the central island pinch point and the two unidentified light sources somewhere just beyond it (which ironically turned out to be a shared use sign and a zebra crossing).

i.e. I was looking here:

[img] [/img]

Chances are I'd have been looking in exactly the same places if I was driving.

Which just goes to show that:
a) People observe different things in different ways. Not everyone is a driving god.
b) it is possible for some people to miss ninjas even when they are looking for them
c) light sources draw the eye

personally I'm waiting for the fake 'some numpty nearly hit me on a round about' thread !

On my commute I saw a rider without lights, outdoors gear on a mtb with rucksack and I cheerily suggested he should get some... the torrent of abuse as I passed and rode away was quite something. Some people. Sigh. My only reply was, your funeral my friend.

In honesty it can be tricky to see 'us' cyclists, theres a lot of light sources on most roads, other cars, street lamps, shop signs, house lights and god forbid, dazzling Xmas lights, its quite easy to miss us. The best you can do is have a good set of lights/reflectors and get on with it.

I might look like a prat to some with hi viz vest and ankle straps and two sets of lights but if I do get knocked over a hedge they can hopefully find my body before the foxes get it.

Have been caught out by dark without lights in the past, and while it smarts to get yelled at by a motorist I somehow knew to not let it happen again. In fact without lights I'd walk around islands and stop, and on dark roads would get off and wait on the verge/pavement when vehicles approached from behind. Don't understand ninja cycling in the UK.

Malvern Rider - Member
I might look like a prat to some with hi viz vest and ankle straps and two sets of lights

Side-on, it is unbelievably difficult to spot cyclists on certain junctions and I've got perfect driving vision, a clean windscreen and decent reactions.

I am amazed how long some of the commuters I see, regularly without anything but a front and rear light are surviving. Without any other hi-viz or secondary illumination, on dark, twisty, narrow roads, it's not inconceivable that the first indication their rear light has failed will be a vehicle punting them through the hedge.

I was cycling home the other night about 7,on a country lane with no streetlights,also a bit twisty and turny,with a long uphill section to finish it off.
I'm on my last legs,puffing away at about 5mph going round a left hand bend,when I see about 10 yards in front of me,some clown pushing a bike,all in black,no lights,no reflectors, nothing at all to help him be seen.
As I pass,I say"you want some lights on that mate",his reply"nah mate,I never use them".
I wouldn't be surprised if he's still in the roadside ditch now, I'll have a check next time I ride up there.

Many, many moons ago, myself and some early 20s chums went to get a McDs post Friday pub (yes, we had a designated driver).

We were amazed to pass a severely weaving, drunk ninja cyclist on a rural Essex A road on the way back; so amazed in fact that we passed him and stopped several times just to see how far he was going.

One said chum was a proper local with family going back locally to the middle-ages, and he subsequently found out that said ninja did this ride regularly - several miles of unlit, rural unclassified and then A road - from a village boozer back to his home.

Unfortunately we also found out a few months later that he'd been knocked off and killed.

If you look you'll see a cyclist, lights or not

I'd dispute that

Or add that you might spot them, but much later

The last time this happened to me was driving through a local village and I was really concentrating and looking down the road ahead. Suddenly a pair of feet appeared in front of me. They were the only non dark part of a pedestrian crossing. Not great drama as they had space to cross but had it been an A road with me doing say 50mph not 20mph and had he been a cyclist I really might not have had enough time to react

I find being in a car makes it much harder to spot these low contrast targets, again even when looking for them. Things like light from the car behind reflecting of the windscreen and and dash etc. don't help

Just now, coming to the airport I was driving along 25mph or so on a right hand bend, looking at signs, lanes, surrounding traffic when a bloke standing in the road suddenly appeared dressed in full hi viz suit to my right. He was waiting to cross the road and was out of my way so no harm done. However the way in which he suddenly appeared just goes to show (me) how our eyes are a long way from infallible.

Saw a sparkler last week when I was riding home, I stopped behind a chuffing great lorry at some lights, this fella rode up the pavement and then onto the road, over the line and sat just in front of this lorry (no ASL).

He had No front light, black jacket and I could just about make out one blinky red LED on the seatstay, mostly obscured by his bloody pannier. Sets off when the lights change, creaks across the junction at a snails pace, and then... Goes back to riding on the sodding pavement having put himself at quite some risk of being squashed by a lorry for bugger all time saving...

It is amazing how different the view is from on a bike and inside a car. I use both. When on the bike I can see other road users perfectly clearly and there really is no need of lights in most situations on lit roads. As soon as there is a sheet of glass in the way people that can easily be seen disappear or at least need a good look to be seen. If you only use one form of transport it is easy to see how your opinion forms.

This is a big part of the problem in my opinion. Being on a bike and being inside a motor vehicle are two very different things. They offer completely different perspectives, from being hyper-aware of everything, to struggling just to see what's in front of you. I dare say there are a lot of people out there who don't drive, who just have no idea. And even for those that do, it's easy to forget.

I've always said it's not my experiences on the bike that make me fearful of riding on the roads, but my experiences in the car.

I would have killed the cyclist if it wasnt for mrshora shouting at me and my immediate wheel/car input. I pulled in further up the road got out and waited for the chap and apologised thoroughly. He said 'why didnt you see me/Im lit up/hi viz etc'. **** commuting by bike.

www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/so-i-had-a-close-miss-last-night-with-a-cyclist

Looking at you tube videos on your pc, phone etc is not a substitute / fair measure of what people really would have seen with the external stimuli of being in a real world road situation. You also know there's something hiding in there.

I tend to agree from experience that it is [b]possible[/b] to spot an unlit cyclist in many if not all road circumstances BUT what is possible is not always what happens or what we can even expect to happen. As noted above you see someone with lights a lot sooner which means you can deal with them in a safer manner.

Bring variable driving standards, a mild headache, a big sneeze, a smudge on someone's spectacles into the equation and it could all go so badly wrong for the absence of £10 worth of lights.

How many of those saying you can spot an unlit cyclist regardless of conditions would use that as an argument to defend driving a car with the lights off. And lit or unlit a car is a lot easier to see.

My kids have £10 of Oxford lights from Decathlon on their bikes for use at dusk and they are still young enough to be on the pavement. No excuses.

When I am driving I have to double my concentration when I see cyclists.

Don't know why but I keep imagining cyclist skulls being crashed by my wheel when a gust of wind blow them off their bike with their heads right in front of my wheel.

... and I have seen skull(alive) being crashed by car wheel in front of my eyes before ... live!

😯

Just been out on my bike in the dark and rain. I know it's the sort or weather where I'd have to really concentrate to even see well lit bikes and judge a cars speed and width. I'd could easily make out all the unlit pedestrians, unlit parked cars, road features etc from my bike. Didn't come across any unlit bikes but I can very confidently say I would have easily been able to see them. Basically being in a car massively restricts your ability to see those around you. Its a shame the onus falls onto the cyclists to make themselves visible when the problem is with the drivers but obviously common sense says we as cyclist should light ourselves up.

I know this has been done a thousand times but:
Intelligence/commonsense isn't evenly distributed across the population, and neither is observational ability/willingness or even skill at driving/cycling. That's why we lose around 1700 people a year and 20k+ are seriously injured on the roads. Some people can't even manage to walk safely!

In the meantime - drive and cycle with your eyes open... do you want to end someone's life?

There is. (I assume the winkie means you know this?)

Yep, I am aware there is a law about it 😀
I like those spoke reflectors you get from aldi now and again, I saw a guy with those on last week and they made him very visible, from the side granted but you can`t really see lights and reflectors from the side.

Yep spoke reflectors are a good idea, especially as the rotating reflection is very obviously a bike.

I also run Fibre Flares lights on the seat stays of my bike - they provide good visibility to the rear and sides.

[img] [/img]
(not my bike)

Oop no I'm not going to argue

It is amazing how different the view is from on a bike and inside a car. I use both. When on the bike I can see other road users perfectly clearly and there really is no need of lights in most situations on lit roads. As soon as there is a sheet of glass in the way people that can easily be seen disappear or at least need a good look to be seen. If you only use one form of transport it is easy to see how your opinion forms.

Agreed.

I nearly ran over another cyclist on Essex Road in Angel about 12 years ago. Damp Feb evening, I was on my bike but still nearly shunted him; he had long dark hair, was wearing a dark coat and riding a dark sit-up and beg. I thought back then "if I didn't see you, what chance does a driver in a car with a rain-spattered windscreen have?"