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Know of someone who’s packed in UK road cycling due to safety concerns?

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  • June 2, 2021 at 9:29 am #31622
    Shades

    Have a mate who is part of our wider cycling gang; he’s taken early retirement and heard he was really frustrated with the Covid restrictions as he has a small holiday flat in Germany and can’t pursue his various plans.  My comment was why hadn’t he gone out on some long rides etc; then I was told he’d stopped, because he was sick of UK roads (safety), and was just going to cycle when he’s out in Germany (which he always raves about).  I was initially bemused but then, having almost being totalled on 2 rides recently (oncoming driver speeding on a lane and another speeding/not paying attention whilst I was trying to turn right off an A road; I’ve really lost my nerve when trying that manoeuvre), I kind of sympathised.  Realised that pre-WFH etc a lot of my miles were commuting on the Bristol/Bath bike path and quiet urban roads, so I was probably slightly cossetted.  I generally steer clear of A roads but, mid-week especially, the roads are like the wild-west post lockdown.  Apart from group rides I’ve now got front/back cameras so I could hardly criticise my mate for just being aware of his own mortality.

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  • June 14, 2021 at 2:54 pm #980881
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    Tomo2365

    Been thinking about this

    Been thinking about this again. haven’t been out for a couple of weeks due to two close passes on last ride both reported to police with video. One has been spoken to by police but she said she was a good christian and a cyclist so I guess that’s ok to try to take me out then on an open road. Other van drive should be getting a call soon. Just puts you off all the time. 

    June 11, 2021 at 9:37 pm #980879
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    kil0ran

    I should add that this was on

    I should add that this was on Boxing Day too. Merry Christmas.

    Actually, the fact that my son was proper distraught about it was the only reason I didn’t go full postal on the guy and his Range Rover Evoque. It was fortunate because I would have done serious harm and probably ended up in jail.

    He didn’t see any issue with it – “you were holding me up, I had to get past” – and this on a lane with no following traffic, high hedges on both sides behind ditches, with a NSL road about 200 yards further on from where the incident happened. He’d been behind me for less than a minute, and we were clipping along at around 20mph (slight downhill)

    I’ve never seen him or the car again despite searching every driveway in the vicinity, I suspect he was visiting someone for Christmas. 

    June 11, 2021 at 7:03 pm #980877
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    ktache

    I hope they throw the book at

    I hope they throw the book at him (doubtful, but there is always hope, especially if you manage to get a keen member of HMs constablary AND member of the CPS)

    I am glad you got to see the good side of humanity, shame it had to be from the effect of the bad.

    Good luck in your recovery and getting back on “the horse”

    June 11, 2021 at 6:56 pm #980875
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    Grizwold 225

    I’m sorry to hear that, but

    I’m sorry to hear that, but it doesn’t come as a surprise. My wife and I both purchaed mid-range road bikes – for summer riding, and hybrids for autumn/winter riding. At times, when we were on the roads, it felt like we were being used in a game of chicken. I road my road bike once, it covered about 2 miles from new, and my hybrid about five times and it covered no more than about 10 miles from new. My wife did a few more miles on hers, but the pleasure rapidly deteriorated for both of us. As a result I sold both my bikes and my wife sold her road bike. We then purchased MTB’s and ride the off road tracks, and cycle tracks, where we at least feel safe. My wife did keep her hybrid but only rides this off road too. Our philosophy being “better safe than sorry”. 

    June 11, 2021 at 5:02 pm #980873
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    Xred

    TT sorry to hear the idiots

    TT sorry to hear the idiots have beaten you but I understand fully why you, and others, no longer feel safe riding the roads. I’ve ridden for about 55 years now and traffic manners are, for me at least, at an all time low. I now have to consider the possibility of quitting road riding following nothing short of an physical attack on me using a car as a weapon last Sunday morning. The perpetrator close passed me not once but twice – yes he came back for a second go. He then closed the gap to the edge of the road to about a foot and slowed. Fortunately we were both exiting a roundabout and I was only travelling at about 10mph. I removed his nearside door mirror with my, now cut, bruised and sore forearm and then somersaulted, with some style as a witness informed me. I’m of the bike for up to 6 weeks now with ligament damage to my shoulder but am not sure I’ll ride again. Sussex Police are involved. They have 4 witness statements supporting my statement. The driver was caught same day 12 miles away from scene and failed a drink test.He’s been charged with DD, leaving the scene & dangerous driving but pleads not guilty!  I spent 2 days in hospital and now wonder do I let these morons beat me into submission. On the plus side I cannot praise the public who stopped to help, the 6 lovely young female paramedics who attended the scene (there’s always a positive) and the police enough – all are outstanding human beings unlike the moron in the car.

    June 11, 2021 at 4:52 pm #980871
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    oizukilemon

    I regret I think I’ve reached
    I regret I think I’ve reached the same conclusion. I would rather deal with the annoyed walker / dog walker than go toe to toe with the inevitable BMW/Audi or 4×4 that is otherwise harassing , close passing etc.. it’s just ridiculous.

    Already poor driving standards have definitely taken a dip. There is definitely more aggression out there and it seems cyclists are a soft target… Quite literally Vs 2tonne oversized 4×4 monster.

    The issue is car proliferation, coupled with ever larger vehicles in busier lives with more time pressure on everyone. Drivers can’t get where they want when they want and rather than look to downsize their car ( or heaven forbid leave it at home ) or consider the endless double ( bad ) parking may have something to do with it … It is the cyclist that is the target of all that pent up anger.

    They can afterall just inflict life changing injuries and then speed away..
    .

    June 11, 2021 at 2:18 pm #980869
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    wycombewheeler
    TallestTim wrote:
    yeah. “Horn blowing, followed by you were too far out from the kerb, you should have got out of my way, you should have just got out of my way,” before leaving the scene when asked for insurance details. 
    And then neither reporting it to the police, or his insurer, and then trying to charge me for alleged damage to his vehicle caused by me slapping it.. (i did slap it, no i didn’t cause damage)

    any impact where horn blowing occurs and braking does not should be treated as deliberate and therefore assault.

    Unfortuantely the police don’t always see it that way

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2013/aug/08/nottingham-police-cyclist-video

     

    June 11, 2021 at 1:33 pm #980867
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    TallestTim
    Captain Badger wrote:
    TallestTim wrote:
    Ta.

    It was deliberate, the driver effectively admitted it at the scene. 

    But is denying liability. What a c0ckwomble. Saying <it’s my fault> is one thing, but doing it facking deliberately. Jeez

    I had something similar a few years back, very similar o/take windy country road. No way it was accidental, just too facking close for that. Just terrifying. 

    yeah. “Horn blowing, followed by you were too far out from the kerb, you should have got out of my way, you should have just got out of my way,” before leaving the scene when asked for insurance details. 
    And then neither reporting it to the police, or his insurer, and then trying to charge me for alleged damage to his vehicle caused by me slapping it.. (i did slap it, no i didn’t cause damage)

    June 11, 2021 at 12:45 pm #980865
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    Captain Badger
    TallestTim wrote:
    Ta.

    It was deliberate, the driver effectively admitted it at the scene. 

    But is denying liability. What a c0ckwomble. Saying <it’s my fault> is one thing, but doing it facking deliberately. Jeez

    I had something similar a few years back, very similar o/take windy country road. No way it was accidental, just too facking close for that. Just terrifying. 

    June 11, 2021 at 12:18 pm #980863
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    TallestTim

    Ta.

    Ta.

    It was deliberate, the driver effectively admitted it at the scene. 

    June 11, 2021 at 12:18 pm #980861
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    TallestTim
    brooksby wrote:
    Wow – sorry to hear that, TT 

    Ta. Think i’m slowly getting over it, driving means I’m no longer in fight or flight mode, before every commute, just sitting in traffic on a comfortable seat listening to the radio. And often feeling nauseous when I make sure i give other riders enough space, only for other drivers to skim past them :S

    June 11, 2021 at 11:52 am #980859
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    Simon E
    kil0ran wrote:
    Sorry to hear that – road cycling for my son was ended by a 4×4 driver squeezing us into a hedge and then brake testing us – he was on a tagalong so experienced the assault first.

    What?!?

    Child on a tagalong deserves a punishment pass and brake check? That fucker needs retraining (with a large hammer).

    I really hate it that you and many others have these experiences, each one causes such harm. Even if there is no physical injury every incident leaves lasting scars that go unrecognised while the perpetrator carries on their smug, selfish existence.

    Most drivers are OK and I’m sure overtaking drivers leave more room than they used to. I’ve had a few unpleasant incidents but overall my experiences have made me more belligerent. The most common micro-aggressions – drivers refusing to slow down on narrow lanes – just makes me more determined to defend my road space while trying not to let frustration get the better of me.

    June 11, 2021 at 10:58 am #980857
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    Captain Badger
    TallestTim wrote:
    Yes, me.

    Used to cycle to work, have done so for approx 5 years. Continued impact of this assault, with driver hitting my elbow (still going through the insurers),  has meant that I’ve given up, bought a car, and now drive to work. Every time I get an email /call from the my solicitor (driver is denying all liability) about it I relive the assault while having to get ready to explain another piece of it…  which makes me sick.

     

    Really sorry to hear this TT. That looks deliberate. Wishing you well n your recovery

    June 11, 2021 at 10:39 am #980855
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    brooksby

    Problem on this one, from

    Problem on this one, from anecdata read on the internet, is that a lot of motorists do seem to seriously think that it’s you putting your child at risk by letting them ride on the road.  Few seem to consider that it is their driving which is creating the risk…

    June 11, 2021 at 10:37 am #980853
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    brooksby

    Wow – sorry to hear that, TT 

    Wow – sorry to hear that, TT 

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