Another near miss

wotme

wotme

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The New Forest where I live has comparatively narrow roads and we have more than our fair share of cyclist. Overtaking a single cyclist does not present too much of a problem unless you're towing a trailer or driving a heavy goods vehicle. Its when you find yourself behind a mass of lycra stringing themselves out over a hundred yards or more when things can become interesting. I shall never understand why nine out of ten bike riders wear black or dark clothing.
My son who regularly enters in iron man events is no exception, he rides his bike 40 miles to work and back rain or shine wearing black.
I've seen whole families obviously on holiday hiring bikes and letting their toddlers ride bikes wearing camouflage clothing, they must be totally bonkers
When I worked for Esso Exon Mobile it was a sackable offence to ride a bike on site without wearing a Hi Viz vest. I realize many of you guys ride bikes so I have to ask, if you're one of the majority who prefer not to be seen when riding on the highway, --- why is that? .
 
Personally, I dont wear black when cycling alone or in 2's and usually have a flashing rear light as well even in daylight. If cycling in a bigger group, its slightly less critical on colours but I totally agree - wearing black seems a very odd choice to me.

Have to say though - wearing bright colours makes (seemingly) very little difference - I still witness aggressive and dangerous passing on almost every ride, irrespective of the colour of shirt worn.
 
It’s daft . When we did our big cycle ride across France we didn’t bother on the tow paths but always took our hi viz out of our handlebar bags and put them on if we were riding on a road. Why wouldn’t you? Similarly we always wear hi viz on horseback on roads.
 
I have a bright orange cycling top for when it's raining and my dry weather one is bright yellow both look horrendous but I don't care my mate was killed 2 years ago cycling he went under a lorry but he had bright clothing on so it doesn't stop it happening but I believe it helps

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Most of the cyclists you see these days are 'lycras' who use the roads as 'their own'... who seem to think everyone should give them as much of the road as they want -
They probably drive cars as well but don"t seem connect the reallity..... rider is hit by car, driver goes home, rider goes to hospital or morgue
 
wotme said:
The New Forest where I live has comparatively narrow roads and we have more than our fair share of cyclist. Overtaking a single cyclist does not present too much of a problem unless you're towing a trailer or driving a heavy goods vehicle. Its when you find yourself behind a mass of lycra stringing themselves out over a hundred yards or more when things can become interesting. I shall never understand why nine out of ten bike riders wear black or dark clothing.
My son who regularly enters in iron man events is no exception, he rides his bike 40 miles to work and back rain or shine wearing black.
I've seen whole families obviously on holiday hiring bikes and letting their toddlers ride bikes wearing camouflage clothing, they must be totally bonkers
When I worked for Esso Exon Mobile it was a sackable offence to ride a bike on site without wearing a Hi Viz vest. I realize many of you guys ride bikes so I have to ask, if you're one of the majority who prefer not to be seen when riding on the highway, --- why is that? .
Click to expand...


It's amazing how motorists think that's cyclists do it wrong.

So they were wearing black, so what you saw them.

Not as if there are no dark coloured cars.
 
as an ex competitive cyclist, we never behaved the way the current lycra louts do. Nobody asks to be knocked off their bike, but their stupid antics are pretty much suicidal maniac behaviour
 
Most of the cyclists we've seen recently seem to be strapped for cash - none of them appear to be able to afford a bell to warn pedestrians that they are approaching.
We are at the Clumber Park site and we walk on the miles and miles on paths in the woods.
Time and again a cyclist approaches from behind us and we have no warning until they are right behind us - a bell, horn or even a shout would be appreciated.
This can be on wide paths or single tracks but it makes no difference to their speedy progress - it just seems like a couldn't care attitude and to put it bluntly - bl**dy annoying.
Rant over.
Sorry to hijack your post.

:cycle::cycle::cycle::cycle:

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For people who say black is OK - on Saturday I was driving towards Stansted with trees overhang the single lane road on a sunny day. The driver in front of me was travelling at around 40mph, the speed limit, and suddenly braked and swerved out to the middle of the road. I was a safe distance away and could not see why he did this until I realised there was a cyclist in black on a black bike who, in the shadow of the trees, was virtually invisible. He had no lights but obviously didn’t realise he could not be seen in bad light.

In my opinion he was lucky not to have been hit and I was considering stopping in the village and telling him as he passed but thought he might not believe me as I wouldn’t have believed it.

I am also a cyclist and will now be wearing my hi viz jacket and have my lights on at all times.
 
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thats what they should be wearing. I had a close call last winter, well a cyclist did.I came out of a side turning on a wet dark evening first i knew of the cyclist was when he banged on my van at the next light, its a short stretch between two sets of lights and he had come along the kerb but had the glare of the headlights at the lights behind him i had not seen his two twinkling lights obviously he was in all black with a black or dark bike
 
mitzimad said:
thats what they should be wearing. I had a close call last winter, well a cyclist did.I came out of a side turning on a wet dark evening first i knew of the cyclist was when he banged on my van at the next light, its a short stretch between two sets of lights and he had come along the kerb but had the glare of the headlights at the lights behind him i had not seen his two twinkling lights obviously he was in all black with a black or dark bike
Click to expand...

So you miss his lights but it's his fault :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
Why do I have to go out of my way and use hi-viz when it's you who is not looking where you are going!! What if it were a child, would you still try and run them over as you try to do with me every day.
Phil

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I know many cyclists have small video recorders (dash cam ?) fitted to them or their bikes and wonder if the outcome of the trial might have been different if this guy had had one fitted.

:cycle: :cycle: :cycle: :cycle:
 
BusyBuilder said:
Then there's this

www.theguardian.com

Cyclist who knocked over woman on phone must pay up to £100,000

Man claims case in which both found equally to blame may set alarming precedent
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
Click to expand...

So what's that got to do with a motorist nearly taking out a cyclist because they were not paying attentiion.

The fact is you have highlighted a fact that a cyclist made a mistake. He is actually getting quite a hammering on the cycling forums.

Mean while motorists kill, yes kill not injured, around 1700 a year. Quite a few are not even on the road.
 
keithchesterfield2 said:
Time and again a cyclist approaches from behind us and we have no warning until they are right behind us - a bell, horn or even a shout would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I was on a shared cycle and walking path a few weeks ago and I approached 2 men and 2 women out walking I used my bell about 20 yrs behind them and one of the women went crazy at me shouting how dare I sound my bell telling her to get out the way she had as much right to be there as me she kept telling I tried to explain I am traveling faster than walking speed but she was having none of it I gave up told her a few home truths and carried on stupid c@w
 
wotme said:
The New Forest where I live has comparatively narrow roads and we have more than our fair share of cyclist. Overtaking a single cyclist does not present too much of a problem unless you're towing a trailer or driving a heavy goods vehicle. Its when you find yourself behind a mass of lycra stringing themselves out over a hundred yards or more when things can become interesting. I shall never understand why nine out of ten bike riders wear black or dark clothing.
My son who regularly enters in iron man events is no exception, he rides his bike 40 miles to work and back rain or shine wearing black.
I've seen whole families obviously on holiday hiring bikes and letting their toddlers ride bikes wearing camouflage clothing, they must be totally bonkers
When I worked for Esso Exon Mobile it was a sackable offence to ride a bike on site without wearing a Hi Viz vest. I realize many of you guys ride bikes so I have to ask, if you're one of the majority who prefer not to be seen when riding on the highway, --- why is that? .
Click to expand...
We both wear yellow reflective coats,,feel unsafe without.BUSBY.

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PhilMary said:
Why do I have to go out of my way and use hi-viz when it's you who is not looking where you are going!! What if it were a child, would you still try and run them over as you try to do with me every day.
Phil
Click to expand...
Because it could save you from serious injury..Why not.BUSBY
 
Lanerboy said:
I was on a shared cycle and walking path a few weeks ago and I approached 2 men and 2 women out walking I used my bell about 20 yrs behind them and one of the women went crazy at me shouting how dare I sound my bell telling her to get out the way she had as much right to be there as me she kept telling I tried to explain I am traveling faster than walking speed but she was having none of it I gave up told her a few home truths and carried on stupid c@w
Click to expand...
She wasn't coming back from the Pub, was she ?

I admit you meet all sorts when out walking and everything isn't black and white but I'm sure most people would prefer some sort of warning rather than be sh*t scared when a bike unexpectedly passes at speed.

(y)
 
PhilMary said:
Why do you aim to injure me?
Phil
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You are talking utter rubbish. If I cant see you which happens easily if you are wearing dark colours.I don't know you so why would I aim at you..I am an avid cyclist and am not stupid enough to cycle on the road without high viz clothing on.Would you drive your car at night or in fog without lights on.I just don't know where you are coming from.With an attitude like yours you are asking for an accident.BUSBY.
 
I’m pretty sure (the vast majority of) car drivers, don’t intend to injure, and it makes sense for cyclists to help them, by being as visible as practically possible. And I’ve seen many cyclists make stupid mistakes whilst out riding, that wind everyone up. Equally, it’s not like car drivers never make a mistake.

I’m not perfect, but I try really hard to cycke considerately and courteously. I wear bright clothing. And have daylight lights. And I have insurance and pay a fortune in vehicle duty (no such thing as road tax anymore)
And yet at least once a week car and van drivers leave me in fear for my life when out riding.
I don’t know what the solution is - maybe we just need to all be a little more tolerant of each other :)
 
Ernesto said:
I’m pretty sure (the vast majority of) car drivers, don’t intend to injure, and it makes sense for cyclists to help them, by being as visible as practically possible. And I’ve seen many cyclists make stupid mistakes whilst out riding, that wind everyone up. Equally, it’s not like car drivers never make a mistake.

I’m not perfect, but I try really hard to cycke considerately and courteously. I wear bright clothing. And have daylight lights. And I have insurance and pay a fortune in vehicle duty (no such thing as road tax anymore)
And yet at least once a week car and van drivers leave me in fear for my life when out riding.
I don’t know what the solution is - maybe we just need to all be a little more tolerant of each other :)
Click to expand...
The solution is more cycle tracks,,proper ones not painted lanes and motorist and cyclist attitude.In Spain it's a pleasure to cycle,,drivers attitudes are so different to UK. In UK it's like a war,,both sides need to get a grip.BUSBY.
 
busby said:
The solution is more cycle tracks,,proper ones not painted lanes and motorist and cyclist attitude.In Spain it's a pleasure to cycle,,drivers attitudes are so different to UK. In UK it's like a war,,both sides need to get a grip.BUSBY.
Click to expand...

Cycle tracks are only part of the solution.

What we really need is for motorists not to think they own the road and everyone should get out of there way because thy are not in a motor vehicle.

But of course they will be replies to this that they do own the road because of the non existent Road Tax they pay.

I don't see why people don't just chill out, go at speeds that are appropriate for the conditions of the road and aim to get where they are going without harming other road users.

A cyclist isn't going to harm you in any way.

Who cares if you get there 5 minutes later than you intended.
 
I think its fairly straightforward drivers give way to cycles who give way to pedestrians. Its sensible to wear clothing that makes you more visible as a cyclist or a pedestrian and pay attention to whats happening around you but the majority of the blame if theres an accident has to lie with the person at least risk with the best manoeverability . We go up a narrowish bendy road every day to walk the dog there are often cycists going uphill I won't go past unless I can see its safe to do so with time to pull back in even if a speeding car comes the other way around a bend other drivers can get quite irate waiting at most for 2 or 3 minutes behind me.

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