My first near miss

Hmmzis

This morning while doing my everyday commute got kind of cut off by a lady in her Zafira on South Georges street. I was maybe 5-6m from her when she decided to pull out of a car parking space and then stopping right across the width of the car lane and blocking off most of the cycle lane (there were some cars already standing in front of her).

I'm not quite sure how I avoided becoming a part of the car's tailgate - the road was still wet and I might have been going at around 30km/h. Though I did go over the handlebars right besides the car and must have hit the lower pelvic area on the stem (still not able to cough or laugh without pain, didn't feel a thing at that time).

The most surprising/shocking thing was that the lady only noticed me when I was standing up right next to the car. I mean, I had my lights on blinking, had hi-vis gloves and other reflective stuff all over the place and she still didn't see me. Not sure what some people think the side mirrors are for on a car, nice decor?! Probably if there wouldn't have been any cars in front of her she would have driven off without even noticing that she almost killed somebody.

Anyway, hopefully it's just a bruised ego and nothing serious with the pelvic bone. And maybe the lady will from now check for cyclists before pulling out into traffic.

//rant over, good night everyone.

arodabomb

Sorry to hear, atleast you survived intact and all. Had a couple myself recently, I think everytime it happens I start cycling a little further out in the road the next time.

On a lighter note, a near miss or a near hit?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuCN6CD8j_s

petethedrummer

Hmmzis wrote: »

the road was still wet and I might have been going at around 30km/h.

While you are entitled to go that speed it would probably be better to go much slower. Not suggesting this was your fault at all, but for your own sake there are too many wayward pedestrians and half blind drivers to go bombing through the city centre.

Rew

MUst be the change in the weather had a close call with a Pajaro yesterday he didnt see I was already on a round about and went to pull onto it, scared the **** out of me and him. He pulled up along side and apologised though.

alexanderomahon

Going down hill hro Rush to Lusk and flying behind a van that had just taken over me. Car waiting to turn right at bottom of the hill. I normally fly all the way down and up the other side, bt I remembered some of the advice i had read on here. "Expect drivers not to see you etc. " So I backed off and sure enough after the van passed the car he went to turn right.

If i had done my normal riding I would have slammed into him. Thanks to those who keep posting that we should all expect the unexpected

C3PO

In my experience I'm nearly always in "the right" when I have close encounters with motorised traffic - little consolation if you're in hospital or worse!!

tomasrojo

petethedrummer wrote: »

While you are entitled to go that speed it would probably be better to go much slower. Not suggesting this was your fault at all, but for your own sake there are too many wayward pedestrians and half blind drivers to go bombing through the city centre.

Especially if you're in a cycle lane adjoining parked cars, as I assume you were. (I could be wrong!) Many cycle lanes bring you far too close to parked cars, giving you no time to react if someone pulls out suddenly or opens a door.

I hope you're feeling ok now.

daragh_

Hmmzis wrote: »

This morning while doing my everyday commute got kind of cut off by a lady in her Zafira on South Georges street. I was maybe 5-6m from her when she decided to pull out of a car parking space and then stopping right across the width of the car lane and blocking off most of the cycle lane (there were some cars already standing in front of her).

I'm not quite sure how I avoided becoming a part of the car's tailgate - the road was still wet and I might have been going at around 30km/h. Though I did go over the handlebars right besides the car and must have hit the lower pelvic area on the stem (still not able to cough or laugh without pain, didn't feel a thing at that time).

The most surprising/shocking thing was that the lady only noticed me when I was standing up right next to the car. I mean, I had my lights on blinking, had hi-vis gloves and other reflective stuff all over the place and she still didn't see me. Not sure what some people think the side mirrors are for on a car, nice decor?! Probably if there wouldn't have been any cars in front of her she would have driven off without even noticing that she almost killed somebody.

Anyway, hopefully it's just a bruised ego and nothing serious with the pelvic bone. And maybe the lady will from now check for cyclists before pulling out into traffic.

//rant over, good night everyone.

Whereabouts on South Georges street was this if you don't mind me asking? BTW if you are in any pain you should go and see a Doctor. Don't leave it.

Hmmzis

daragh_ wrote: »

Whereabouts on South Georges street was this if you don't mind me asking? BTW if you are in any pain you should go and see a Doctor. Don't leave it.

If memory serves me right then it was about here (didn't know the street had another name between Camden and Georges):

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=53.339429,-6.265919&hl=en&ll=53.339701,-6.265866&spn=0.001957,0.004823&sll=53.339695,-6.265866&sspn=0.001973,0.004823&vpsrc=0&mra=mift&mrsp=0&sz=18&t=m&z=18

I kinda remember almost hitting the garbage bin.

Feeling better now, there is still some discomfort when sneezing but at this rate it should be OK in a few days.

I'll try to make a wider berth around parked cars form now on.

skerry

Similar thing happened to me last week except the car pulled into the cycle lane from the road. Same situation, driver obviously didn't check mirrors, no sign of an indicator. Ran me off the road and had to hop up on the kerb, don't know how I managed to stay upright. Driver didn't even notice me until I came clattering up beside him as I hopped the kerb, expressing my opinion of his driving as only someone whose nearly been knocked down can.