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As I was cycling back from Wimbledon this teatime, a young (by his voice) motorist saw fit to yell "get on the f@cking pavement" at me through his open window as he overtook. It's all rather confusing, really!

David Ainsworth ● 2566d10 Comments

I've had that one.I also had someone throw a medium-sized potato at the back of my head from a car. At 25mph that hurts.Recently a guy in a car tried to pass me at a very narrow pinch point in the road (near Hyde Park). His wing was so close to me I smacked it with my hand and shouted at him. He lost his mind with road rage and chased me down the road trying to knock me off, but had to do an emergency stop to avoid hitting a traffic island 🤣Some drivers really ought to be sentenced to a year of cycling to work.On the other hand, many are considerate, and often have to put up with my mistakes. Best if we all try to tub along together

Sean Hodges ● 2566d

"On the other hand, many are considerate, and often have to put up with my mistakes. Best if we all try to rub along together"True, but, when the actual event happens, for a little while one is not of sound mind. I actually cycled after the guy (and saw him engage in honking at a van that was in front of him and slightly slowed him down - which seemed to show that the cardriver was looking for trouble). Anyway I gradually simmered down, and, by that time, I was cycling up a hill - which helped in the calculation.

David Ainsworth ● 2566d

It's definitely pretty crazy on the road now.  It's amazing the number of drivers who seem to think that it is their divine right to pass cyclists with no thought about what is happening on the other side of the road.  They seem to have forgotten that they can take their foot off the accelerator and slow down and wait a minute or two.

Philippa Bond ● 2566d

Maybe it was the sight of you in your pink Lycra so he thought you would be safer off the road and on the pavement for your own protection?

Paul Game ● 2566d

I find the hazards change with the seasons. The current one is pedestrians running out in front of me in the dark evenings, presumably because they are out of practice looking for bikes (I have lights but obviously weaker than car headlights)I never understood why car drivers seem to panic and get so aggressive in the rain. They are indoors in the dry while I'm the one outdoors getting wet

Sean Hodges ● 2566d

"pink Lycra"!?If I wore that I would rightly be arrested under the Obscene Publications Act! No, I was wearing my dark navy jacket plus my black backpack, riding my camouflage-grey bike with black pannier bags. If they can't see you, they can't aim. Rather surprised that the motorist could see me in order to shout helpful suggestions. They may be using radar. I shall need a chaff dispenser.

David Ainsworth ● 2566d

That's not pink lycra — he was naked! 🤣🤣

Sean Hodges ● 2566d

Cyclists should never "smack" anything on a car, it's an aggressive act and has happened to me.  It only exacerbates anything that may have happened, possibly unknown to the driver and is very upsetting.  I am a cyclist myself, but have had my car kicked and been shouted and sworn at.Cars are licensed and so should bicycles be …

Bunny Payne ● 2565d

Good grief! How about licensing your wheelie bag.

Michael Winstanley ● 2565d

The driver had chosen to drive dangerously close to me. I warned him off by instinctively slapping the wing of his car, which was inches from my leg. It was the flat of my bare hand. He then tried to use his car as a weapon to kill or injure me, and nearly crashed it into a traffic island in his blind rage. He is lucky that I am a pretty calm and relaxed cyclist. Someone else might have deemed it reasonable to haul him out of his car and give him a slap. Interesting that you have had people kick at your car and been shouted and sworn at. This has never happened to me during two decades of driving in London. Maybe your driving isn't up to scratch?

Sean Hodges ● 2565d