InTheWoods wrote:Dizz, are you saying that the last example (AB87NB or whatever the numberplate was), was the cyclists fault? What would you have done differently?
Okay, fault is a loaded word because in an ideal world what I do should not be necessary. Here is my perspective of what happened and I will assume that the camera is accurately portraying the circumstance in regards to speed, distance and perspective.
The driver is a pr#$k and if you don’t want to be subjected to that you have to be an even bigger pr#$k. I’m not pretending that what I do is easy but of those cyclist that are struck in many cases the lucky ones are those that are killed instantly.
This is not a game, if you want to be drooling out of the side of your mouth staring at the ceiling; then by all means, continue to give an inch, there are no shortage of idiots that will take a mile. And remember this because it is so important, it will be deemed an “ACCIDENT”. Just exactly as if two vehicles had collided; because in the eyes of the law that’s ALL that happened… an “ACCIDENT” between two vehicles, it simply doesn’t matter that one was a non-motorised vehicle, it is completely irrelevant!
So what is your life worth to you? Is it worth being a militant pr#$k? or Are you still trying to be the “nice guy” that doesn’t upset anyone.
In many ways Andrew is almost there, now step it up! Be more aware of your surroundings; learn to scan your surroundings as opposed to looking. Always be conducting risk assessments; vehicles with the greatest momentum are the ones that pose the greatest risk to you and yet we don’t see you scanning behind yourself. Act on your peripheral information; riding out there is as much about control as it is about escape. You have at least 2m of lane to your left, so at the last moment hit the brakes and use it and they will miss you by a mile.
In addition there are other more advanced techniques that can be used to get a drive to snap out of their stupidity and use their brakes; never underestimate the power of the “wobbles”. The site of a cyclist that appears as though they are about to go down will scare most drivers into going for the brakes. Remember slow car good, fast car bad it’s all about Traffic Calming!
In short, 40+ years of riding and seeing your mates get hit one by one gives you a very different outlook, they were all “nice guys”, I never have been; I know what’s at stake and I value my life and I use my knowledge and bike skills to ensure that it stays that way.
Is it your fault… no! but by the same token it would not have happen to me. I would have scanned the danger zones, instinctively comparing it with the last scan, done the risk assessment and identified the potential offenders. Then I would begin to enact an appropriate strategy to help the idiot make a better choice. I have never said that it is simple and I understand why cyclist think that motorist are just out to get them but motorists are not evil; they are just caught-up in their own little world. Hating motorists will not keep you safe and nor will cowering in the gutter. But applying “PROPER LANE CONTROL” will provide you with the most effective strategy for maximising your safety!