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

I had a very close call today which was both a near miss and a fall. I was left hooked from behind while doing about 30kmph. I had to go with the vehicle to avoid crashing into it. Falling was unavoidable.

I landed on my shoulder and elbow mainly and slid on rough road. No fractures but lots of road rash on forearm and calf plus bruises and a sore neck. I am sore but better off than an impact. I was checked over by ambulance service. I may need to get a scan on my neck. Shorts. Jersey torn.

Though I fell, I guess it's a near miss through my own quick reactions., I avoided the impact collission. Not that this makes it in anyway a good outcome, just better than it may otherwise have been. Fate is dictated by split seconds

Thanks. I think it's all grazes, bumps etc. Lucky. I will be stiff and sore but hopefully that's it. I have driver details. They were deeply apologetic and said they would pay my bills and repairs. They accept was a massive error of judgement/poor driving. I think it is taken as very good lesson in what not to do. If this saves a more serious incident, what more can you dom. 5 seconds to wait is ultimately better a serious impact with a cyclist.

Got absolutely clattered today!

Heading down the canal path to the Leeson St bridge. Nearly slowed to a stop and was moving in towards the wall there to allow all sorts of traffic coming onto the path from the bridge crossing to die down before I could move out to the ped crossing.

First off - a scooter just missed me - then was face-to-face a cyclist doing some rapid speed and went head-first into me. 2 of us ended up in a hape on the ground.

He said he had lost his brakes or had missed the lever, but I was more surprised about how much speed he was able to carry into that bottleneck turn. Was stunned for a few secs and was more concerned for both our welfares before picking ourselves up. After stalling to gather myself, he was gone before I realised that he had done a job on my front wheel (bit wonky now) and left me with a souvenir impression of his chainring on my wrist 😤

Heading into Finglas village a guy skimmed, he didn't see me for sure. When I knocked on his car as he passed he accelerated and pulled in to stop me, I explained he was too close to pass me and he said I should have indicated as I passed a parked car, there wasn't a parked car. he then said I should have some f******g respect and not to touch his (141) car...Ruined the spin for me. W****r

I'd have slowed too given I was always behind. Presumably u knew what was happening and likely to happen and still let a roar like it was actually a near hit. Its all very well being in the right (possibly) but why not just be safe and decent? There are sh1t cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers everywhere, I don't see the point taking things to this point when easily avoided, unless looking for good clips to share maybe?

I'd also considering adjusting your position in general. Hard to tell for sure* but you seemed to be sitting right in their blind spot. Doesn't excuse someone not checking their blind spot of course, but it does increase your chances of impact. Especially when (based on that clip) there were clues to at least a novice or incompetent driver (L plates- either a learner or someone who is incompetent or lazy to remove them).

These clues and techniques are what will keep you alive, not being technically "correct".

*On second viewing, using the distance between the bollards as a guide, I'd say you were too close/in the blind spot for sure.

If you were in the same lane you'd be tailgating.

Yeah and tbh, those last two paragraphs are why I don't really like these segregated cycle lanes. I tend not to use them if I can avoid them and keep up with the other traffic.

So they should just come to a halt every time they see one?

Just ease off for like 3 seconds. People make road use needlessly complicated.

It's not an entitlement race.

An indicator does not give an automatic right to manoeuvre. Cyclist had time to hang back and should have. At the same time, the driver could have given the cyclist priority and let them pass.

In my view a lack of respect is shown to the cyclist, who has an established position on the road.

7 seconds is not a lot of notice. A cyclist could be distracted or just not notice indication for say 3 seconds or more. Does driver still plough on even if they don't observe cyclist slowing? Or wait for cyclist to pass junction which is not unreasonable. What is 3 seconds with a vulnerable road user approaching...

While I'd agree with your first point, if we said the distracted and not noticing thing in the case of a driver as an excuse then we'd be rightly up in arms

Wtf there are multiple offences in that one clip..

It was absolutely necessary to alert the driver to a situation they were oblivious to, and also in the hope that they would be more aware in the future.

So what you're effectively saying is that cyclists should cede their right of way when travelling straight on to every car turning left? What if they eased off and the following car was also turning left? Should they let that one turn too?

As someone said above turning left is no different to turning right, you check that your way is clear. That driver would have failed their driving test for that, it's a basic part of the rules of the road.

What makes that incident worse for me is the fact there is a segregated cycle lane, which should make the driver even more conscious of checking for a cyclist. It's just completely blinkered driving, not a clue of what's happening around them, that's the issue here, nothing to do with the cyclist.

And why cyclists that are behind a car that is turning left should slow and not overtake on the left in case car hasn't seen them!

You still seem intent on sharing the blame here

Taking care with cyclists If you are at a junction where there is an advanced stop line for cyclists, you should allow cyclists to move off ahead of you. When turning left, all drivers, especially drivers of heavy goods vehicles, must watch out for cyclists and motorcyclists going ahead or turning. 53 Údarás Um Shábháilteacht Ar Bhóithre Road Safety Authority 54 Údarás Um Shábháilteacht Ar Bhóithre Road Safety Authority On left turns, watch out for cyclists and mopeds close to the kerb in front of you or coming up on your left. Do not overtake a cyclist as you approach a junction if you are turning left, as the cyclist might be continuing straight ahead.

Note the use of the word 'must', not 'reasonable expectation' nonsense.

...

I’m all for making sure we have the right protections on the road and that drivers are made aware of the rules of the road, but eh, I’ll pass on being run over or colliding into the side of a car because I wanted to assert my right.

But honestly this should be a complete non incident. With the nature of the ebb and flow of traffic it just seems so much simpler to ease back a touch if someone signals (in this case) or in other cases just speed up slightly (if the car was at 4 o'clock for example). People just love adding stress to their journey's.

I find this example particularly troublesome as it really does look like you spend a bit of time at least hanging in the blind spot. Something that makes me really nervous.