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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who’s in the right?!

213 replies

wonderwoman26 · 23/02/2022 08:07

I will try and explain as clear as I can

To get into my car park for work you have to turn right off a main road and straight into the opening for the car park. There is a path/cycle Lane either side of the opening.

For the second time this morning, the same cyclist has not stopped to see if the coast is clear to cycle across the turning, meaning I have had to slam my brakes on/he’s swerved to miss me. This means I’ve had to stop dead in the middle of the other side of the road to ensure I don’t hit him.

Am I right in thinking cars have the right of way turning in and cyclists should wait on the path until it’s clear?

Tempted not to bloody stop next time. Grrrrr

OP posts:
vivainsomnia · 23/02/2022 08:54

Your all giving me a right chuckle this morning
Glad that you think it's funny. Having been the cyclist almost run over by someone irresponsible like you, I can assure it's not funny at all.

Can't you just for a second look into your attitude, admit that you have been very wrong, that your hated of cyclist might come from the fact that you are rude to them regularly because you don't know the highway code that eating a slice of humble pie might be very appropriate at this point, rather than making light of the issue and your attitude?

luxxlisbon · 23/02/2022 08:55

The hitting with the front/ side of car is a totally stupid argument. If you pull out at a T junction without looking and the oncoming traffic hits you with the front of their car you are still at fault for pulling out into traffic when you didn’t have the right of way.

This is the same thing, it doesn’t matter if you think the cyclists is hitting you - you are the one crossing their right of way. I

Original poster
wonderwoman26 · 23/02/2022 08:55

I am not driving around with my eyes closed despite contrary belief on this post, I drove past the cyclist way before the turning, checked again that he was a safe distance. But I guess between checking the paths, the on coming traffic and the lorry in which was turning behind me, I obviously misjudged his speed.

But as stated, he swerved behind me - I was almost completing my turn before he reached me

OP posts:
luxxlisbon · 23/02/2022 08:57

“Almost” isn’t enough. Omg I can’t believe some people are even allowed on the road 🤦‍♀️

AllOfUsAreDead · 23/02/2022 08:57

[quote Bullandbush]@AllOfUsAreDead we know though that cyclists come off worse in a collision.
Both the driver and the cyclist shouldn't be proving a point.
Everyone should use the roads with more consideration.[/quote]
Agreed but the law doesn't agree. Its now drivers that need to pay the most consideration technically, because they have to watch for vulnerable users, like cyclists. Really it makes sense because if a driver hits a cyclists, the driver will likely walk away. The cyclist probably won't. So while the cyclist should also watch out for shite drivers, they also don't have to stop if they choose not to and if you hit them, you'll still be in trouble for it regardless of the situation. This is because, as proven by this thread, you can't expect people to be reasonable anymore or drive considerately. Someone must take the blame and be at risk of being in the wrong, and that is the driver, rightly so. They can do more damage.

Original poster
wonderwoman26 · 23/02/2022 08:57

Oh Lordy lord. It must be so miserable being so serious every second of every day.

I am wrong, you are right and I am the most Tetris human that ever lived. Shall we all move on now?

OP posts:
Dishwashersaurous · 23/02/2022 08:57

Perhaps a good tip for the next time is to think of the cyclist as a car in another lane. Then would you do the manoeuvre if it were a car coming towards you.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 23/02/2022 08:58

Omg you’re still going on. Thought you’d accepted you were wrong and we’re going to get on with your day.

Your latest post makes you sound even worse. You slammed your brakes on and the cyclist had to swerve behind you. So you didn’t stop in the middle of the road in oncoming traffic (like you first suggested) you didn’t stop so the cyclist could continue in their journey, you stopped right in their path.

And talking about knocking someone off their bike is not funny, it’s never a joke.

Fizio · 23/02/2022 09:01

OP your attitude towards cyclists does need a rethink. DF was out cycling on a country road (not going for any Strava records at his age Hmm) and saw a tractor approaching so pulled in to let the tractor by. The uneven road surface meant his wheel got caught as he stopped and he fell off and broke his hip. Nobody at fault here but due to the broken hip, he will never be able to run again which is something he had done his whole life. My point here is just to show you how vulnerable cyclists are. A bump to your car can be life changing for somebody on a bike.

Original poster
wonderwoman26 · 23/02/2022 09:02

@Fizio

OP your attitude towards cyclists does need a rethink. DF was out cycling on a country road (not going for any Strava records at his age Hmm) and saw a tractor approaching so pulled in to let the tractor by. The uneven road surface meant his wheel got caught as he stopped and he fell off and broke his hip. Nobody at fault here but due to the broken hip, he will never be able to run again which is something he had done his whole life. My point here is just to show you how vulnerable cyclists are. A bump to your car can be life changing for somebody on a bike.
I have no doubt a car would come off better than a cyclist, and contrary to belief I am not driving around aiming for cyclists. I was just wondering who had right of way. Believe it or not, I’m not some psychopath who had a hidden agenda to take all cyclists off the road.

Sorry that happen to you DF though xx

OP posts:
EnjoyingTheSilence · 23/02/2022 09:03

Btw I once knocked a cyclist off his bike. It wasn’t funny. Luckily we were both ok but it was one of the worst experiences I’ve had as a driver. He was technically wrong (he admitted this) but that wouldn’t have mattered if he’d been killed, it would still have been my car that killed him.

Daisydoesnt · 23/02/2022 09:03

both times he ended up swerving behind me to not hit into the side of me - as I was already that far into the turning that I wouldn’t have hit him with the front of my car, he would of hit me if that makes sense

Just wow - it gets worse!!

OP if you pulled out in front of a car that you'd failed to notice, and that car had to swerve to miss your back end, would that have been their fault or your fault? It would have been your fault, of course, for failing to observe and not having enough time to complete your manoeuvre.

In the same vein it doesn't matter that you'd nearly got across your turning this morning; you'd not allowed enough time for you to complete your manoeuvre without the cyclist having to take emergency evasive action. The fact that he had to swerve to avoid hitting hit you is because you pulled out in front of him!

DameOctaviaOstrich · 23/02/2022 09:05

Even though you are in the wrong I think you are right. I've noticed more cyclists undertaking and going through red lights just because the road is clear
I'm so glad they have brought in the law about passing cyclists and horse riders though. Some car drivers are tits

Bullandbush · 23/02/2022 09:05

@AllOfUsAreDead
I live in France now and drivers and other road users from the right can bizarrely pull onto a straight through road unless their junction has a stop or give way sign!
It makes for an interesting driving experience as we obviously don't know if it's their right of way until we're on top of the junction.

And obviously cyclists are everywhere here as its a massive hobby in France.

SquirrelG · 23/02/2022 09:06

It’s okay though, I know I’m a perfectly capable driver, had a question it’s been answered. Nobody will die at my car.

You can't claim to be a perfectly capable driver when you don't even understand the road code. Hmm

StepAwayFromGoogling · 23/02/2022 09:08

Er, this isn't a new rule under the highway code. You've never been able to turn across a cycle lane without checking it's clear, same as turning across moving traffic.

EricScrantona · 23/02/2022 09:10

Blimey this has taken a turn.

The cyclist is on the pavement from what you're saying? He shouldn't be there and he should stop before crossing a road just in case, regardless of who is right. I say this as a staunch advocate for cyclists as my dad is an avid cyclist who has been hit by several cars because they don't see him, they overtake and then cut him up or they pull out at a junction.

Sounds like he is playing with fire and you now know about the change so will act appropriately. To be honest, most people seem oblivious to it!

AllOfUsAreDead · 23/02/2022 09:12

[quote Bullandbush]@AllOfUsAreDead
I live in France now and drivers and other road users from the right can bizarrely pull onto a straight through road unless their junction has a stop or give way sign!
It makes for an interesting driving experience as we obviously don't know if it's their right of way until we're on top of the junction.

And obviously cyclists are everywhere here as its a massive hobby in France.[/quote]
Grin Yes France and Italy from what I remember have very interesting driving styles and rules. Going down a motorway in Italy once, and it didn't matter how many lanes it actually had, the drivers added two more. Grin Was an interesting experience in comparison to the UK.. No wonder most of the cars did not have doors and panels that all matched the actual colour of the car..

AllOfUsAreDead · 23/02/2022 09:14

@EnjoyingTheSilence

Omg you’re still going on. Thought you’d accepted you were wrong and we’re going to get on with your day.

Your latest post makes you sound even worse. You slammed your brakes on and the cyclist had to swerve behind you. So you didn’t stop in the middle of the road in oncoming traffic (like you first suggested) you didn’t stop so the cyclist could continue in their journey, you stopped right in their path.

And talking about knocking someone off their bike is not funny, it’s never a joke.

Amazing what comes out when they continue being upset isn't it?
Momicrone · 23/02/2022 09:14

Op, you said early on 'I hate cyclists at the best of times', - that's a massively inflammatory and bigoted statement, don't claim innocence now.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 23/02/2022 09:15

@AllOfUsAreDead I know!

Momicrone · 23/02/2022 09:18

What's a tetris human being

luxxlisbon · 23/02/2022 09:19

@EricScrantona

Blimey this has taken a turn.

The cyclist is on the pavement from what you're saying? He shouldn't be there and he should stop before crossing a road just in case, regardless of who is right. I say this as a staunch advocate for cyclists as my dad is an avid cyclist who has been hit by several cars because they don't see him, they overtake and then cut him up or they pull out at a junction.

Sounds like he is playing with fire and you now know about the change so will act appropriately. To be honest, most people seem oblivious to it!

The cyclist is on a 2 way cycle lane, not the pavement.
Brefugee · 23/02/2022 09:21

I live in France now and drivers and other road users from the right can bizarrely pull onto a straight through road unless their junction has a stop or give way sign!

this is not new though. When i was at school in the middle ages (or the 70s as i like to call it) we learned "priorité à droite" pretty early on.
Same in Germany and several other European countries (it makes sense because of driving on the right) that you give priority to the right at junctions unless your road is signposted as the priority road. And also in Germany, you have to check for cyclists and pedestrians when you turn right (or left but that's across traffic so you'd usually be more careful anyway) because they have priority.
Seems like the UK has looked into road safety and come to similar conclusions.

Momicrone · 23/02/2022 09:21

I better stop using pedestrian crossings in all then, let the cars go eh? Even though its my right of way