Twitter cyclists v Twitter driver video - who's right?
Discussion
Conflict that gets no one anywhere but who is in the wrong here - many seem to think it 100% clear cut:
https://twitter.com/petemorristwit/status/13680179...
https://twitter.com/petemorristwit/status/13680179...
Edited by Ken Figenus on Sunday 7th March 14:13
I cycle loads too - just come back from a fab 10 mile leisure run.
It seems beyond clear cut for some that the driver was 100% totally at fault though and they are raging. What I see is that the cyclist goes to do an U turn (since his mate washed out his front wheel on that right turn) but went to do it without looking first. This being the 'lifesaver' look as I was taught... I'd apportion 80% cyclist and 20% driver for being a bit quick with things.
The anti car sentiment in some cyclists on Twitter is something else - crazy statements like they wouldn't need helmets if drivers drove better. Quite a (sad) revelation to me
It seems beyond clear cut for some that the driver was 100% totally at fault though and they are raging. What I see is that the cyclist goes to do an U turn (since his mate washed out his front wheel on that right turn) but went to do it without looking first. This being the 'lifesaver' look as I was taught... I'd apportion 80% cyclist and 20% driver for being a bit quick with things.
The anti car sentiment in some cyclists on Twitter is something else - crazy statements like they wouldn't need helmets if drivers drove better. Quite a (sad) revelation to me
Edited by Ken Figenus on Sunday 7th March 16:19
monthou said:
Cyclists need to make good observations and they need to ride predictably. Taking the lane is fine, but not without looking.
The driving obviously wasn't great but I see worse from my saddle most days. I'd feel lucky to get away with what he (the cyclist) did there.
Great points; on the same page. It's quite a fascinating topic having a foot in both camps and watching this play out.The driving obviously wasn't great but I see worse from my saddle most days. I'd feel lucky to get away with what he (the cyclist) did there.
I'm an old motorcyclist and when I cycle I use loads of the survival skills from that (eg did the cyclist that fell off lean the bike over a wet smooth manhole cover..?). So, as much as I can, I never entrust my safety to civilian utility drivers . There is NO WAY I'd have veered out like that on a bike without looking in order to do an U'ie - it's a madness - plus I invested a tenner in a mirror which quadruples my situational awareness. I'd also like to think I'd have paused a couple of secs in the car before going past him too to give a little more space. Sadly there seems to be a lot of 'right but dead' blame game attitudes out there and survival by minimising all possible risk trumps them all.
okgo said:
Because they have an in-built hate for cyclists, like most of the UK. It really is an embarassing personality trait of our country (one of many).
This is a minefield of hateful tit for tat and it is all a bit tragic - wasn't really aware of it since plumbing the depths of Twitter. Absolute hate exists for cars and their drivers in the most vocal and militant cycling tribes - no doubt about it. Hate begets hate and then add to the (at times valid) impression that vehicle drivers cant be treated harshly enough or road re-appropriated from them quickly enough and it all ends in a mud slinging fest. It's so tragic really as for every cycle you see you probably are getting to where you want to go go quicker - will never forget beating an F40 from Crouch end to to W1 a good decade ago . This was always my 4 wheeled logic - these days maybe less - but every cyclist should be a positive on so many levels. Particularly me! But they DO alienate people and some drivers have a very $hitty impatient attitude towards cyclists and joke about pushing them into bushes etc. I want to say something very calming, positive and hippy next but guess I can only control my own attitudes and approach. Peace out man!
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