Coping with Shared Use Pavement

iconoclus

brat wrote: »

Ha, it's ended for me waiting for a lift to hospital! Heading of for a Saturday morning 30 miler, I was cycling down the hill about 200 yards from home, when an elderly lad in a focus pulled out from his drive hidden behind a car that was half on the pavement. I wasn't able to get any significant speed off - no time, so I've gone into his front A pilar, over the bars, smashed his windscreen with my helmet then somersaulted onto the road on the other side of his car, landing square on my back, smashing my mobile phone. Lots of cuts and bruises, swollen lip, loose front tooth and I'm querying a developing pain in my back. Bike forks, front wheel, bars and shifters likely to need replacing (at least). Clothes wrecked.

The old boy's in shock too - he's late 70s, I've known him for 25 years, poor lad.

Ho hum, just as well I've got the winter bike prepped and ready to go!

This would not happen to a competent and careful cyclist. It would appear that you are probably the type of incompetent/inconsiderate cyclist that 'buzz' pedestrians on shared use pavements, that the OP complains about.

brat

iconoclus wrote: »

This would not happen to a competent and careful cyclist. It would appear that you are probably the type of incompetent/inconsiderate cyclist that 'buzz' pedestrians on shared use pavements, that the OP complains about.

Thanks for that input. Would you care to clarify your opinion that a careful competent cyclist would be able to avoid such a situation.?
Just to clarify, I was doing 20 miles per hour positioned towards the centre of the road, coming downhill on a right hand bend. The car driver was emerging from behind two parked cars half on the road and half on the pavement. His driveway was below the level of the pavement, so I couldn't see him at all until the front of his car emerged in front of the parked car. He had already committed himself to moving out, having believed the road was clear. He hadn't seen me and my flashing front light coming down the hill. It would have taken him half to three quarters of a second to fill the road in front of me, just enough time for me to start to apply my brakes and consider steering, but not enough time to do anything about either speed or direction.

So, perhaps you might help me avoid such a collision in future. Perhaps if I was to do 5mph rather than 20mph in such a situation I'd be able to stop in time. Is that what you have in mind?
Or perhaps I should just ignore numb nuts who come on to these forums to antagonise. There are enough already.

iconoclus

brat wrote: »

Thanks for that input. Would you care to clarify your opinion that a careful competent cyclist would be able to avoid such a situation.?
Just to clarify, I was doing 20 miles per hour positioned towards the centre of the road, coming downhill on a right hand bend. The car driver was emerging from behind two parked cars half on the road and half on the pavement. His driveway was below the level of the pavement, so I couldn't see him at all until the front of his car emerged in front of the parked car. He had already committed himself to moving out, having believed the road was clear. He hadn't seen me and my flashing front light coming down the hill. It would have taken him half to three quarters of a second to fill the road in front of me, just enough time for me to start to apply my brakes and consider steering, but not enough time to do anything about either speed or direction.

So, perhaps you might help me avoid such a collision in future. Perhaps if I was to do 5mph rather than 20mph in such a situation I'd be able to stop in time. Is that what you have in mind?
Or perhaps I should just ignore numb nuts who come on to these forums to antagonise. There are enough already.

Thank you for the additional information. I have revised my opinion based on what you now say. I am undecided as to whether you were riding recklessly or dangerously. More information is needed.

Start your own thread, post a street view link to where the collision occurred and provide much more detail. Then politely ask for help and advice on how you could have ridden more safely.

Be prepared for the scorn and ridicule that some posters may aim at your irresponsible cycling. I am sure you will receive some good advice from those cyclists that are competent and courteous.

Alternatively take a bikeability course or similar.

brat

iconoclus wrote: »

Thank you for the additional information. I have revised my opinion based on what you now say. I am undecided as to whether you were riding recklessly or dangerously. More information is needed.

Start your own thread, post a street view link to where the collision occurred and provide much more detail. Then politely ask for help and advice on how you could have ridden more safely.

Be prepared for the scorn and ridicule that some posters may aim at your irresponsible cycling. I am sure you will receive some good advice from those cyclists that are competent and courteous.

Alternatively take a bikeability course or similar.

Thanks, your advice has been really insightful.

esuhl

iconoclus wrote: »

Thank you for the additional information. I have revised my opinion based on what you now say. I am undecided as to whether you were riding recklessly or dangerously. More information is needed.

Start your own thread, post a street view link to where the collision occurred and provide much more detail. Then politely ask for help and advice on how you could have ridden more safely.

Be prepared for the scorn and ridicule that some posters may aim at your irresponsible cycling. I am sure you will receive some good advice from those cyclists that are competent and courteous.

Alternatively take a bikeability course or similar.

I wonder if they have courses like that to teach people how to use forums...

frisbeej

esuhl wrote: »

I wonder if they have courses like that to teach people how to use forums...

Yes, complete fail as a troll for suggesting that "some" cyclists are courteous and competent, basic troll knowledge is that all cyclists jump red lights and all ride on the pavement. Definitely needs a bit of refresher training, Trollability maybe?

Teapot55

(Well, I really should alter my settings so that I receive an email when someone posts on my thread, then I wouldn't be replying in December to September posts!)

Brat - I hope you are fully recovered? Hope the old 'lad' is okay?

Thanks, Richard53 for your suggestion - since it's been dark at going-home-time I have been using the yellow clack bands (that I keep in my coat pocket for clipping my trouser-bottoms to my legs when cycling). I have put the two of them back-to-back and in a straight line a bit like a glo-stick and holding it in my 'outside' hand. Cyclists are now keeping a better distance from me.

Glad to see that unsubstantiated generalisations based on irrational prejudices have been adequately fielded on the thread in my absence. :T