She side swiped two cars and almost doored me.

Avoriaz

It just wasn't her day.

It was a lovely sunny day yesterday and I was happily cycling east along Oving Road in Chichester. As is usual on that road, my side is full of parked cars, leaving not quite enough room for two cars to pass in opposite directions. Most eastbound drivers are sensible and pull into gaps to allow cars driving west on the side with no parked cars to pass them. With a bit of sensible give and take, there is no problem.

I see a black westbound taxi cab stationary facing me with the driver leaning out facing backwards. I presume he is looking for an address or something like that, but, as I pass it, I hear the driver shouting something like "You've hit the blue car as well".

I see a red car ahead of me driving slowly.

There is plenty of space for me to continue, and there is no other moving traffic, so I carry on, although I do slow down considerably. I see nasty scrapes along two parked cars as I cycle past. The red car has presumably tried to squeeze through and has scraped two parked cars.

The red car has by now stopped in the middle of the road so I move to the right to overtake it. As I do the driver's door swings open in front of me. Fortunately I had anticipated that and was able to avoid it. I was also still cycling quite slowly. I shout a warning, stop and turn back.

A very flustered elderly lady emerges, clearly in distress at the chaos she has caused.

Although initially a bit angry at being almost doored, I felt rather sorry for her so I didn't say anything other than "Please be careful when you open your door, you almost knocked me off".

She just said tearfully "I'm sorry I'm sorry, yes I will".

There were a few pedestrians who had witnessed everything and one woman started to comfort the elderly driver. I hadn't seen the actual collisions, only the aftermath, so I went on my way.

Bear in mind that the above happened over just a few seconds and, at first, it wasn't obvious that there had been a minor accident so please don't have a go at me or suggest I should have acted differently in some way.

silverwhistle

On the assumption that she hadn't been down The Four Horseshoes for a few sherries, it does sound like she may be getting to the stage where giving up driving would be advisable.

barmonkey

Yesterday I witnessed an old woman reversing around a blind bend because she missed her turning, how the hell she didn't cause an accident I don't know, cars were going everywhere.

nobbysn*ts

Avoriaz wrote: »

It just wasn't her day.

It was a lovely sunny day yesterday and I was happily cycling east along Oving Road in Chichester. As is usual on that road, my side is full of parked cars, leaving not quite enough room for two cars to pass in opposite directions. Most eastbound drivers are sensible and pull into gaps to allow cars driving west on the side with no parked cars to pass them. With a bit of sensible give and take, there is no problem.

I see a black westbound taxi cab stationary facing me with the driver leaning out facing backwards. I presume he is looking for an address or something like that, but, as I pass it, I hear the driver shouting something like "You've hit the blue car as well".

I see a red car ahead of me driving slowly.

There is plenty of space for me to continue, and there is no other moving traffic, so I carry on, although I do slow down considerably. I see nasty scrapes along two parked cars as I cycle past. The red car has presumably tried to squeeze through and has scraped two parked cars.

The red car has by now stopped in the middle of the road so I move to the right to overtake it. As I do the driver's door swings open in front of me. Fortunately I had anticipated that and was able to avoid it. I was also still cycling quite slowly. I shout a warning, stop and turn back.

A very flustered elderly lady emerges, clearly in distress at the chaos she has caused.

Although initially a bit angry at being almost doored, I felt rather sorry for her so I didn't say anything other than "Please be careful when you open your door, you almost knocked me off".

She just said tearfully "I'm sorry I'm sorry, yes I will".

There were a few pedestrians who had witnessed everything and one woman started to comfort the elderly driver. I hadn't seen the actual collisions, only the aftermath, so I went on my way.

Bear in mind that the above happened over just a few seconds and, at first, it wasn't obvious that there had been a minor accident so please don't have a go at me or suggest I should have acted differently in some way.

Next time you cycle through the seen of a multi car accident, with cars stopped in the middle of the road, expect the drivers to be acting abnormally, and not checking for other overtaking traffic, if the road is effectively blocked. Not having a go, just advising you to look out for yourself, as the drivers wont be at their best, and they may not be looking out for you. Also, if you did have a go, others may not be as sympathetic to you, as they may have been to the flustered elderly lady. Don't have a go at me here, just trying to help with other aspects of your self preservation.

Avoriaz

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

Next time you cycle through the seen of a multi car accident, with cars stopped in the middle of the road, expect the drivers to be acting abnormally, and not checking for other overtaking traffic, if the road is effectively blocked. Not having a go, just advising you to look out for yourself, as the drivers wont be at their best, and they may not be looking out for you. Also, if you did have a go, others may not be as sympathetic to you, as they may have been to the flustered elderly lady. Don't have a go at me here, just trying to help with other aspects of your self preservation.

You didn't really get the story did you?

The cab was stopped at the side of the road, which is not an uncommon or unusual occurrence.

The "multi car accident" was two parked and unoccupied cars with scraped sides and one slowly moving car with a scraped bumper or wing. It wasn't exactly carnage.

As for "expect the drivers to be acting abnormally", did you miss this bit of my post: "As I do the driver's door swings open in front of me. Fortunately I had anticipated that and was able to avoid it".

The road was not blocked and there was plenty of room for me.

But thank you anyway for your kind thoughts about my self preservation. :beer:

nobbysn*ts

Avoriaz wrote: »

You didn't really get the story did you?

The cab was stopped at the side of the road, which is not an uncommon or unusual occurrence.

The "multi car accident" was two parked and unoccupied cars with scraped sides and one slowly moving car with a scraped bumper or wing. It wasn't exactly carnage.

As for "expect the drivers to be acting abnormally", did you miss this bit of my post: "As I do the driver's door swings open in front of me. Fortunately I had anticipated that and was able to avoid it".

The road was not blocked and there was plenty of room for me.

But thank you anyway for your kind thoughts about my self preservation. :beer:

So, a complete none issue you were ready for then? Why with the anger you said you had? You need to chill a bit.

Avoriaz

There is always one. :rotfl:

nobbysn*ts

Avoriaz wrote: »

There is always one. :rotfl:

No, you're not just one, there's a lot like you, sadly. But there's probably more like me, so chill a bit, you'll get on better with the rest of the world, and your stress will be a lot less.

Avoriaz

OK Nobby, if you say so. :beer:

Although I should point out that you are the one who appears to be rather less than chilled.

Most people don't try to pick non existent holes in posts.

nobbysn*ts

Avoriaz wrote: »

OK Nobby, if you say so. :beer:

Although I should point out that you are the one who appears to be rather less than chilled.

Most people don't try to pick non existent holes in posts.

You got angry, I don't appear chilled? Personally, I find your attitude quite amusing, so don't worry on my account, it's been a pleasant read so far.

Avoriaz

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

You got angry, I don't appear chilled? Personally, I find your attitude quite amusing, so don't worry on my account, it's been a pleasant read so far.

I'm delighted to bring some amusement to your apparently otherwise empty existence.