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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give up cycling?

28 replies

Pseudonymity · 06/03/2012 12:21

I have thought about this for a few days so I'm not posting in the heat of the moment.

On Saturday I was out cycling, crossing a major bridge that has 2-way traffic but narrow lanes and therefore no room to overtake. A car overtook me and then pulled right into my bike (i.e. they didn't wait until they could see me in the rear-view mirror, as I was taught when learning to drive) missing me by a matter of a couple of centimetres, I had to brake v. heavily and was extremely shaken, crying and had to stop my day to go into a cafe and recover.

Needless to say I don't feel like going out on my bike anymore. I'm prepared to face these risks as a driver as I have a car protecting me but it feels too dangerous. Interested to know your thoughts so, AIBU?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 06/03/2012 12:23

I think YABU really

You need to get back on and focus on all the times nothing bad happened

I bet they far outweigh the times something did.

TroublesomeEx · 06/03/2012 12:27

Sorry, but YABU, in the nicest possible way.

You've had a shock but, you know what they say about getting straight back in the saddle...

The reality is that someone else did something stupid, you reacted quickly and appropriately and ultimately, nothing happened.

It's not always true that you're safer in a car - I've a very close relative who is (lucky to be living) proof of that!

bejeezus · 06/03/2012 12:30

i commute on my bike. And I think this more and more frequently.
IME worra is wrong; it is rarely that my commute in both directions goes without a near miss.

A most recent incident, was a taxi suddenly pulling out of the line of slow moving traffic to turn left and then braking suddenly as his way was not clear. I was in the cycle lane and couldnt avoid running into the back of him. His response was to shout and swear at me.

I feel my confidence as a cyclist sweeping away daily

sorry, couldnt be more encouraging Grin

Scholes34 · 06/03/2012 12:31

Get back on your bike. It's a great way to get around. Just make sure you assert yourself in the position you choose to take on the road. If it looks too narrow for overtaking, then position yourself further out into the road, rather than closer to the side so cars etc are more likely to try to overtake you. On a bike you have to assume everyone's out to kill you and be sure to protect yourself.

bejeezus · 06/03/2012 12:31

seeping not sweeping

FredFredGeorge · 06/03/2012 12:32

I think YABU too, you should also probably do a bikeability course, and gain the confidence to actually prevent the overtake from happening on that bridge by riding in the primary position. (ie not in a position where you're able to be overtaken without the other lane being completely clear.)

There are lots of bad drivers and cyclists, making sure you have the confidence to deal with the situation - and you did well to avoid the accident, but obviously more confidence to just shrug it off would help.

Cars just change things for a different set of risks - learn to cycle defensively.

WilsonFrickett · 06/03/2012 12:33

What Scholes says. If it's a narrow lane then you sit in the middle of it. You're a vehicle, act like one. I don't mean be agressive, but ride safely and assertively. Maybe go on a couple of organised rides to get your confidence back?

Original poster
Pseudonymity · 06/03/2012 12:36

Actually I WAS riding well out into the road, which had the (perceived) effect of causing the driver to be annoyed with me.

OP posts:
Scholes34 · 06/03/2012 12:38

OP - it's the driver's problem, not yours. You weren't doing anything wrong.

everlong · 06/03/2012 12:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bejeezus · 06/03/2012 12:42

yep! I ride asserively too pseudo it doesnt matter how you ride, you cant eliminate the arseholes on the road

depends how much you want to keep cycling I think

Im still pretty determined

I keep toying with the idea of organising a 'drive to work day'. Instead of trying to encourage everyone onto their bikes, it would be good to demonstrate to car drivers how much extra traffic there would be on the roads if people didnt cycle, and how much longer their drive would take- then they might stop trying to kill us!

joanne34 · 06/03/2012 12:48

I dont think you are being unreasonable to complain about it, and yes you would be shaken up !

No, dont stay away from the bike, get back on asap. If you are feeling nervous, go out with someone else.

In future when you feel there is not enough room for a car to safely over take you, then you should cycle further into the middle of the lane. Take control, if there is not room for a car to overtake then make them wait until you are happy to let them pass safely ! :)

MrsBethel · 06/03/2012 12:52

YANBU

You can ride assertively, defensively, whatever - but there's always the chance of someone pulling into/across your path.

I was taken out by a car in my cycling days. And had lots of near misses from white vans. I still cycle, but not during commuting hours - too many drivers are half asleep.

joanne34 · 06/03/2012 12:55

sorry just read you were cycling assertively - well yep as bejeezus said, still a-holes on the road. It is amazing how many f*ckwits there are driving vehicles !

Anyway-get back on your bike !

mousymouseafraidofdogs · 06/03/2012 12:59

YANBU to be shaken, poor you. so glad nothing has happened.

BUT I think YABU giving up riding a bike all together.

Kennyp · 06/03/2012 13:03

I have had several near hits too. I always wear a lot of high vis stuff and take it slowly.

Hope you are back in the saddle soon!! It is a real confidence rocker when something like that happens.

Thistledew · 06/03/2012 13:03

Sorry that you had such a scary experience. I cycle a lot too so know all too well what you experienced.

YABU to let idiots cycling like that stop you enjoying cycling, so I although you were scared, please don't let it put you off altogether.

I have started using a helmet cam for my commutes, and have sent off a clip of dangerous driving to a bus company after a bus did the same to me. A lot of cyclists are now saving such clips and making reports to their local police force if the drivers are private road users and to companies if they are work vehicles.

MurderOfProse · 06/03/2012 13:04

I used to commute to work in London by bike. Despite riding as you should, I still had far too many near misses that were never, ever my fault or even close. Getting pregnant stopped me commuting by bike (hello early onset SPD..) and I never went back to it afterwards as I just felt I could not take the risk any more. Most of the journey was fine, it was just the final two miles involving some hairy bridges and multi-lane wotsits with no alternatives unfortunately.

It's a damned shame :(

But if this is the first time you've had a near miss and you've been cycling for ages, then yes, get back into it as soon as you can!

WilsonFrickett · 06/03/2012 13:14

Ah. Then he was a cock. If he had to have seen you to have managed to overtake you in the first place because you because you were in a good road position then I reckon he pulled in sharply because he was pissed off that you'd slowed him down by 5 nanoseconds. That is slightly different but in your shoes I would be mad not shaken - there's a difference between a near miss and a near hit IYSWIM. Don't let one idiot spoil your bike for you Sad

ragged · 06/03/2012 13:19

Go on the BikeRadar commuting fora, they will help you get morale & confidence back up, OP.

The more cyclists who quit the more dangerous conditions will become for those of us who remain. :(

Thistledew · 06/03/2012 13:23

ragged - have you been on there recently? There is a rather interesting debate raging at the moment.

Original poster
Pseudonymity · 06/03/2012 14:18

Thanks for the advice. I've just been on that forum and now I'm looking at YouTube footage from people''s helmet-cams. Fair to say it is not inspiring me with confidence.

OP posts:
Thistledew · 06/03/2012 14:24

Yeah, perhaps it is not the most encouraging viewing, but I think that the point is that given the number of near misses, the times when there actually is an accident are very, very few. Unfortunately, if you do ride on the road you do have to get a bit tough to it, and just concentrate on riding as safely as you can.

Also have a look on the same forum on the 'anti-rants' thread, which was set up to counteract the negative posts, by getting people to talk about good and considerate driving they have seen.

CelstialNavigation · 06/03/2012 15:14

It must be very difficult. I see more people in general staying back and waiting to overtake bikes than I used to, but I have also seen drivers who seem convinced they have to get past a bike immediately and don't even slow as they catch up to a cyclist - overtaking on bends, pulling out around bikes despite oncoming traffic etc.

Some drivers still seem to think that cyclists should essentially be riding in the gutter and out of "their" way and react with road rage. I do think some drivers are still unaware that cyclists are advised to ride a few feet out from the kerb - a TV ad campaign could help a great deal - even just making drivers think a bit (and maybe featuring helmet camera footage).

I've never seen a TV ad aimed at car drivers about increasing safety for cyclists (in Ireland). Only very basic ones aimed at cyclists about "how to overtake a parked car" 20 years ago.

ragged · 07/03/2012 12:09

Nobody bothers to post or watch on UTube the many many thousands of commuting journeys by bike where nothing happened! It's going to be the exciting or dodgy ones only. "I cycled 5 miles to work today and absolutely nothing happened (as usual) as this shows" videos won't be many.