Giving up cycle commuting after a close pass, a bit dramatic

[Rich_W]

B


Or perhaps take a break for a while. I had it a few years back. I wanted to kill the van driver concerned, especially wen he just shrugged and laughed. It amped me up for a couple hours at work so I took a few weeks off.


It's a funny time of year as it's still kinda light and kinda dark. My "gut" is that once the clocks change, people will somehow learn to drive in the night properly again.

AS a side note, are your lights flashing ones or static. Slow Flashing is better IMO. Not hyper seizure setting. Try and avoid it pointing at drivers, slightly off by a few degrees they still see it. Are the lights visible from the side?

[GOATever]

Find a different, quieter route to start off with. If you’re still rattled by the ( seemingly increasingly ) amounts of idiots who seem to be getting more anti cyclist in this country, drop the cycle commute, life’s too short.

[Carrot]

GOATever said:

Find a different, quieter route to start off with. If you’re still rattled by the ( seemingly increasingly ) amounts of idiots who seem to be getting more anti cyclist in this country, drop the cycle commute, life’s too short.

I sadly have already done this. Covered over 1000 miles on cycling in just over a year, had a couple of really really close calls.

If I lose my job due to accident, we lose the house. I actually feel safer on the motorcycle,. Might give it another go next year but it is just too dangerous for the benefits.

[Solocle]

superlightr said:

Sa Calobra said:

"I'm lit up like a Christmas tree and wear a bright yellow jacket."

Here's what happened to me and a well lit up cycling jacket wtc rider...
Dark large industrial estate roundabout where the speed limit is 40mpg on dual carriageways, I was driving, looking to my right at the car approaching the roundabout, I decided I had enough space to go (straight over the roundabout).

I didn’t see him at all- my partner did (sat in the back) and said ‘the cyclist’!- in one split second I turned the wheel to aim me over to the immediate left exit- it was VERY VERY close. Cyclist swore etc- I pulled in half a mile up the road and jumped out/waited for him and thoroughly apologised to him. Without the extra-wheel input he’d have been in my front wing (or infront of my offside headlight).

The SCARY thing is- he himself said ‘he had loads of lights etc etc’ and I just didn’t see him. Shook me quite abit as I have upto date prescription glasses, I was well hydrated, alert and not tired.

If I had hit him, in the very least he’d have had life-changing injuries but to be honest I think it’d been terminal. Only two weeks earlier a cyclist was rear-ended mid-roundabout there

Had a similar experience - rush hour, mini roundabout (on a T junction effectively) I was turning right. Was watching the car in front to make sure it had moved off and cleared rob. Then I looked, was a suitable gap before the next car on the right and went. Cyclist on my right just on the roundabout I didnt see at all. I should have given way. Pillar of the car perhaps? Thankfully did not hit them but close.

I cycle regularly as well so was shocked I didnt see them. When driving Im always saying out aloud at junctions BIKE to make my brain think about a bike and hopefully see it. Im careful about overtaking bikes etc.

If you dont expect to see a bike sometimes you will but it does not get recognised as one - your brain blanks it. You are looking for a big square shape ie a car. if you dont see a car then you think its clear. Its got to be taking your time to really look not a glance.

The closest I've come was back in July. Really sunny day, and there was a cyclist ahead. I had to brake a bit harder than normal, but it wasn't particularly dramatic. It does show the value of both applying the "distance you can see to be clear" rule, and also using daytime lights.

[SVS]

untakenname said:

Get a bright set of lights ...

Tall_martin said:

I'm lit up like a Christmas tree ...

[SVS]

The best explanation I’ve seen that explains why drivers don’t see people on two wheels is this YouTube video.

[ambuletz]

Option Z - don't ride so close to the curb.

I find if I ride close to the curb people are more likely to do a close pass. if I move a hair slightly off centre then people don't do a close pass and will have to consider doing a proper overtake manouver instead. If you give them the room to do a close pass they'll do it.

[SVS]

Option Z is what’s taught on Bikeability courses and one of the tips in Cyclecraft.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

Option B. Also I would seriously consider a camera then if a malicious pass happens again you can do something about it.

[ambuletz]

SVS said:

Option Z is what’s taught on Bikeability courses and one of the tips in Cyclecraft.

its defensive positioning essentially. The problem is a large amount of vehicle drivers have never been taught this and don't understand why someone is doing it, they might think they're just being a jerk and blocking the road, wasting their time etc.. they want to drive at a constant pace without thinking and not have to slow down or interrupted for 2-3 seconds

[Trevor555]

You're not alone, I gave up last year.

Too many moron drivers tapping away on their phones whilst driving.

I guessed it's only a matter of time before one takes me out.

[RickRolled]

Ride on the pavement where you can to avoid the busy road.

[Carrot]

Chainsaw Rebuild said:

Option B. Also I would seriously consider a camera then if a malicious pass happens again you can do something about it.

Do what about it? The police are not interested.

[Tall_martin]

It's not the close passes from people who have got it wrong that have shook me up, it was the delibarateness of the pass that is the worrying bit.

New route next week. No camera as it's one more thing to faff about with in the morning.

[henrycrun]

When approaching hazards as a motorist, I try to scan all of the tarmac (and not just the direction where you think someone is likely to emerge) and also moving the head around the A post for proper visibility.

[smn159]

Option D) Walk - 3 miles really isn't far enough to warrant driving

Option E) Run

Then go on a longer ride at the weekends when it's quieter

[MB140]

I bought a road bike with the intention of building up to a 17 mile each way commute as a way of losing some weight and getting fitter.

I was going to drive about half way originally and having spoken to the landlord of a pub halfway he was happy for me to leave my car and cycle from there so long as I popped in for a drink every now and then (fairs fair and all).

I did the halfway commute about 1/2 a dozen times and that was it. I think anyone cycling on the road is mental and has a death wish. I now have a nice road bike hanging in the garage and I take my mountain bike to sherwood pines every now and then.

Road cycling is just to bloody dangerous in my book.

[GOATever]

MB140 said:

I bought a road bike with the intention of building up to a 17 mile each way commute as a way of losing some weight and getting fitter.

I was going to drive about half way originally and having spoken to the landlord of a pub halfway he was happy for me to leave my car and cycle from there so long as I popped in for a drink every now and then (fairs fair and all).

I did the halfway commute about 1/2 a dozen times and that was it. I think anyone cycling on the road is mental and has a death wish. I now have a nice road bike hanging in the garage and I take my mountain bike to sherwood pines every now and then.

Road cycling is just to bloody dangerous in my book.

Unfortunately, I have to agree. I’ve been road riding for the best part of 30 years, and volunteering with British Cycling as a ride leader, for about 6 years. Reducing risks is becoming more and more difficult, as the roads get busier, and the ( general ) driving standards plummet ever further. I reckon I used to get driven into once or twice a year, you learn to deal with it, but I’ve been driven into 5 times this year already, 1 was a driver so far ‘under the influence’ I was amazed he was even conscious, 2 were idiots on their phones, driving straight into the back of me whilst waiting at an ASL, one who was terribly apologetic, one was a “what the f**k makes you think you’re so f****ng special, I ain’t waiting behind no f****ng Box for a f****ng idiot on a f****ng bike to get moving” merchant. The others were idiots one of whom seemed to think ( wrongly ) that my Primary position meant I was “hogging the f****ng lane, what did you expect”, and one ( it transpired ) was driving with eyesight below the required standard. It’s bad if I’m on my own, a lot worse if I’m supposed to be leading a group. I still ride, I’m willing to put up with the occasional nudge / close pass, but I fully understand why people can’t / won’t.

[Carrot]

GOATever said:

MB140 said:

I bought a road bike with the intention of building up to a 17 mile each way commute as a way of losing some weight and getting fitter.

I was going to drive about half way originally and having spoken to the landlord of a pub halfway he was happy for me to leave my car and cycle from there so long as I popped in for a drink every now and then (fairs fair and all).

I did the halfway commute about 1/2 a dozen times and that was it. I think anyone cycling on the road is mental and has a death wish. I now have a nice road bike hanging in the garage and I take my mountain bike to sherwood pines every now and then.

Road cycling is just to bloody dangerous in my book.

Unfortunately, I have to agree. I’ve been road riding for the best part of 30 years, and volunteering with British Cycling as a ride leader, for about 6 years. Reducing risks is becoming more and more difficult, as the roads get busier, and the ( general ) driving standards plummet ever further. I reckon I used to get driven into once or twice a year, you learn to deal with it, but I’ve been driven into 5 times this year already, 1 was a driver so far ‘under the influence’ I was amazed he was even conscious, 2 were idiots on their phones, driving straight into the back of me whilst waiting at an ASL, one who was terribly apologetic, one was a “what the f**k makes you think you’re so f****ng special, I ain’t waiting behind no f****ng Box for a f****ng idiot on a f****ng bike to get moving” merchant. The others were idiots one of whom seemed to think ( wrongly ) that my Primary position meant I was “hogging the f****ng lane, what did you expect”, and one ( it transpired ) was driving with eyesight below the required standard. It’s bad if I’m on my own, a lot worse if I’m supposed to be leading a group. I still ride, I’m willing to put up with the occasional nudge / close pass, but I fully understand why people can’t / won’t.

Indeed, I feel safer on the motorcycle these days.

[nickfrog]

Sa Calobra said:

"I'm lit up like a Christmas tree and wear a bright yellow jacket."

Here's what happened to me and a well lit up cycling jacket wtc rider...
Dark large industrial estate roundabout where the speed limit is 40mpg on dual carriageways, I was driving, looking to my right at the car approaching the roundabout, I decided I had enough space to go (straight over the roundabout).

I didn’t see him at all- my partner did (sat in the back) and said ‘the cyclist’!- in one split second I turned the wheel to aim me over to the immediate left exit- it was VERY VERY close. Cyclist swore etc- I pulled in half a mile up the road and jumped out/waited for him and thoroughly apologised to him. Without the extra-wheel input he’d have been in my front wing (or infront of my offside headlight).

The SCARY thing is- he himself said ‘he had loads of lights etc etc’ and I just didn’t see him. Shook me quite abit as I have upto date prescription glasses, I was well hydrated, alert and not tired.

If I had hit him, in the very least he’d have had life-changing injuries but to be honest I think it’d been terminal. Only two weeks earlier a cyclist was rear-ended mid-roundabout there

This resonates me as a similar thing happened to us. There is a particular set of circumstances where a bike will travel "behind" your A-pillar from a long way back where the driver simply won't see it at any point until it's too late. Only a passenger with a different angle and a different line of sight will see the cyclist and will obviously say "couldn't you see it?". It's terrifying and absolutely not an excuse. Thankfully it is very very rare that at no point the bike doesn't appear out of the A-pillar.