Nearly ran over a pedestrian on my way to work this morning

[Sparrows12]

She was wearing a headscarf and was in her 20s - and must have either been deaf or wearing an mp3 player under her scarf. She just started stepping off the pavement in front of my bike as if I wasn't there - I rang my bell and said excuse me loudly but she still behaved as if I was completely invisible so i ended up having to shout at her - "what are you doing" etc and jam on my brakes in the drizzle. Disconcerting start to my day. I felt so shaken up I had to get off and walk for a while. Some pedestrians are incredibly stupid.

Not justifying it. Accepting that it happens. I think it's idiotic to pretend it doesn't

I wish people would take as much responsibility for their own lives as they expect complete strangers to do.

That's all.

LRD is right. Many other people are not. Hiding thread now.

Three times since the start of this school term I have had to slam on my brakes as a pedestrian just stepped into the road in front of me. In all three cases the person was walking and didnt even look before stepping out, just attempted to carry on as though the road was an extension of the pavement. One girl did get a bollocking of her Mum and she apologised.... Igot dirty looks and tuts off the other two.

As a cyclist it does shake you up when this happens, because it does come out of nowhere. Dont even get me started on the people who get huffy when you come up behind them on a cycle path... the clue is in the painted pictures on the ground

Why doesn't anyone use their horns/bicycle bells? They're there to alert people of your presence. Instead they're viewed as a rude gesture. The amount of times I press the horn to alert people and get fists and swear words mouthed at me is amazing. Just to save a life/prevent an accident I'm abused.
I always drive cautiously and abide the speed limits, but will always come across pedestrians/cyclists who act dangerously. I just slow down to prevent anything from happening.

I nearly hit a pedestrian in my car last year. A girl stepped straight out in front of me from etween parked cars, she was looking in completely the opposite direction. I only just missed her and it really shook me up. She was wearing one of those veils with only here eyes uncovered and I can't help but think that has the muffle your surroundings somewhat.

I know If I have my good up in the rain I feel a bit blinkered and it's easier to not see bikes or hear cars.

Desperately - I actually feel desperately sad when I read 'Did you know its possible to sue a pedestrian, or his estate if they are killed, for the damage they cause to your car if they just step out?'

What a sad state of affairs.

I think we should all remember that people come first. Your statement is a sad insight to the way that some people think.

Best to keep away from the kerb in pedestrian areas, so if they do step into the road without looking, you have more time to stop.