Had a bad experience yesterday

janninew

Hi All,

Just wanted to share my experience because it shook me up and really made me think. Hopefully it will make others think as well.

I was waiting to pull out of a busy junction yesterday and a car flashed to let me go, I was just pulling out when a cyclist rode past in the bike lane - I managed to slam my brakes on but came close to hitting him.

I take full responsibility that it was my fault. The sun was bright and I was only watching the car that was letting me out. I checked through my window that he was ok (he was) and he seemed grateful that I asked! He said that it happens a lot, he even said it was 'easy done' as a driver he has done a similar thing. I felt terrible though and had that sick feeling for the rest of the day.

I consider myself to be a safe driver and have never had an accident yet, but I was not as observant as I should have been and thank god nobody was hurt.

I'm taking a positive away with me though and will be even more vigilant for cyclists from now on.

What made me feel even worse is my husband cycles to work most days and last week he was knocked off his bike and he broke 2 ribs (the driver never stopped). I feel dreadful that I could have done the same to somebody (obviously I wouldn't have driven away like this other driver).

Will be much more observant in the future.

Tilt

Obviously you managed to do the right thing and should be congratulating yourself for avoiding an accident. Knowing how some cyclist ride, my guess is that he wasn't paying attention either as no doubt he was overtaking on the inside approaching a junction and not anticipating the possibility of that scenario occurring.

Strider590

Very common set of circumstances, most cyclists know and are aware of the danger when passing cars in the cycle lane.

The clever one's they ride down the middle of the road and avoid the cycle lane altogether when traffic grinds to a halt. There's still a danger of cars pulling out of junctions on the left and cutting through the line of traffic, but from the centre line there's a much better chance of seeing them, because they have to stop and check for cars coming the opposite way.

rev_henry

Strider590 wrote: »

Very common set of circumstances, most cyclists know and are aware of the danger when passing cars in the cycle lane.

The clever one's they ride down the middle of the road and avoid the cycle lane altogether when traffic grinds to a halt. There's still a danger of cars pulling out of junctions on the left and cutting through the line of traffic, but from the centre line there's a much better chance of seeing them, because they have to stop and check for cars coming the opposite way.

Indeed. I cycle down Oxford/Wilmslow Road daily and this often happens. I wish people just wouldn't flash others out/in on that route, just too many cyclists. Unfortunately going down the middle wouldn't help here as people are always performing ridiculous U turns.

rdr

Cycle lanes can be leathal: well done for avoiding to all too common acident, it reinforces the fact that you should always check for yourself when flashed out.
Similarly cyclists do not evaporate as they are passed - the number of drivers who will pass a bike then immediately turn left is frightening - it even has a name - a left hook.
Cycle lanes can lull the unwary cyclist into a false sense of security and are rarely the safest place to ride.

Mojoworking

I know that feeling and it does stay all day but just console yourself it was "nearly" - and at least you've got a conscience - some people don't stop or seem to care.

savageHK

Tilt wrote: »

Knowing how some cyclist ride, my guess is that he wasn't paying attention either as no doubt he was overtaking on the inside approaching a junction and not anticipating the possibility of that scenario occurring.

If you read the OP the cyclist was in a bike lane and therefore probably had right of way! (Although without seeing the junction layout it's hard to comment.)

scotsbob

"Think once, think twice, think bike" as Johnny Saville used to say in an old TV ad in the 70s.

Tilt

savagehoutkop wrote: »

If you read the OP the cyclist was in a bike lane and therefore probably had right of way! (Although without seeing the junction layout it's hard to comment.)

but you did anyway!

:think:

savageHK

... only because you did as well?

sg1066

As a cyclist I would just wave & be on my merry way without a care in the world.

As a car driver I would be with the OP and have that terrible feeling for the rest of the day as to how close I came to injuring someone.

Is it odd that I would rather be hit as a cyclist than do the hitting as a car driver?