Near Misses Volume 2 (So close you can feel it)

MojoMaker wrote: »

How did he respond when you addressed his behaviour?

MojoMaker wrote: »

I know, it can be difficult.

But this way, the chap has learned nothing and likely will not change his behaviour one whit. So now it's someone else's problem. The next cyclist's I guess.

Had one on Thursday 7th, and couldn't comment until the migration was over.

There was a lot to get angry about with it. Not just the needlessness of it, not just the danger I was put in, nor my poor reaction to it, nor the fact that this guy works in the same place as me and could do what he did surrounded by the same constant exhortations to 'safety culture' as I am.

It was all that and I forgot to run my cameras that morning.

Last leg of my journey to work, I come off the cycle path and join the road just after the roundabout here. There's no street view of the new road layout, so for those who don't know, there are two lanes off the roundabout to the traffic lights at the next junction; the left lane goes straight to maynooth, the right lane splits into two right-turning lanes to enter the industrial campus. I am going to the industrial campus.

I check the roundabout approaches and join the road when it's clear, then enter the right turning lane, and stay in it when it becomes the central lane. The lights ahead are red for turning right, but green for straight. There is one car stopped at the red filter in the central lane ahead of me. There is a completely clear lane to the left of me. There is a completely clear lane to the right of me. The central lane is empty for 180m between me and the car at red light.

All that space and what does our hero do?

Pulls in on top of me from the left like he was going to drive through me.

It was like I wasn't there. I saw red.

A man in a white pickup in the left lane, slowed down with the window down shaking his head and said something to me but I didn't hear it - he seemed shocked - but I waved him on.

I caught up with our hero and I broke my rule about not engaging. I was ready to climb through his passenger window. I stopped before I touched his car, and tapped my bright green helmet instead, saying "could you not f**kin' see me?". He rolled down the window, looking puzzled, and I had a second to calm myself, and said "there was no need to do what you did, you had a clear lane there, and plenty of room ahead of me to pass-" when he interrupted "You shouldn't be there, you should be-" at which point the light changed green, he pulled off and I never found out where I should have been.

So I called him a dozy c*nt and left it at that.

Up in donegal at the moment and getting in a few spins in - staying off the main roads because they're narrow and motorway speeds are common place. My god the driving up here is crazy. Anyway myself and my 14 year old son went out for a spin on some of the local R roads which are quiter. We had an elderly lady come against us on a single track road at speed- she didn't even ease off, forcing us into the ditch. She was oblivious to us.

But that was topped by what I can only describe as a horrific close pass on a narrow bridge on the N56 near falcarragh. We had to use a few hundred meters of this to get across to the next R road. A van passed us on a continuous white line into traffic at the start of the bridge. I was aware of another car behind us and knowing he had no chance of making a safe overtake, I stayed out and beckoned to him to wait - we were on the bridge at this stage and there's a blind sharp corner ahead - but he steamed on through. The car coming against us had to stop and the overtaking car swerved back in abruptly, almost clipping my son in front. It all happened so fast I didn't get a reg plate and didn't have my bike camera with me. A horrible experience

Glad you're both safe. Maybe leave the spins until you get back home? Or leave the son at home, doesn't seem worth it.

I love it when you catch up with those guys at the next lights and ask them politely WTF they were on about, and watch them splutter and flap around.

A mate of mine cycles substantial sections of the N2, anywhere between ashbourne and carrickmacross, regularly.

Personally I think he's insane. Especially with the nearby options all the way along

You reckon he should have moved further out to make it more obvious to the oncoming vehicle that they needed to stop?

Bit of a childish one from me today, I was driving out of Maynooth and there's 500m of bad bends before Carton. There were 3 cyclists and a taxi ahead of me. The taxi was on their rear wheel itching to push past but the guys held the lane and he had to wait for 30 seconds to pass he blew them out of it when passing gesticulating out the window at them to move in and I saw red. I passed them safely and caught up to him doing 55 in a 80 he had his window down so when it was clear and safe I started to pass him once I drew along side I blew the horn he nearly jumped out of his seat 🤣. I completed the move and returned his gesticulations well he lost his reason blowing the horn and making more gestures and flashing lights. He must have gotten some fright as he had his high beams and hazards on until I turned off. It was a bit silly of me but it did feel good to be able to return after being on the receiving end so many times!

Lookit, don't be cycling on the runway, that's never going to end well.

The van's reversing lights come on at the end.... doubt it ended in agreement

Also the yellow regs have been obvious in their piss poor driving lately.

(I appreciate that the white regs reciprocate north of the border)

There's a 3 series goes from m1 at duleek to leixlip/maynooth couple mornings a week with an absolute death wish

What a shocking junction yet another case where the presence of a painted lane actually makes things worse.