Your Dad is a terrible driver!

[Massy]

I was out on my bike this morning, and met a driver who did a 3 point turn in front of me. He did not notice me until I rang my bell, right next to his window. I pointed out that as a cyclist, my life was in his hands and he wasn’t looking.

Anyway my parting gambit ‘your Dad is a terrible driver, was addressed to his 2 children in the car, aged about 10 & 12. It made me feel better. He said it was wrong to talk to children like that. Your thoughts?

At no point has the OP come back to answer where they were when the car driver started his manoeuvre.

If the cyclist was already there, and visible to the driver, then yes, the driver is in the wrong.

If the driver had already started his manoeuvre, and then the cyclist comes over a hill, it is the cyclists responsibility to stop. A car is bigger than a cyclist and a pedestrian - when I'm a pedestrian, I am also aware of my surroundings.

If I'm driving my car, and I'm unsure of what a lorry driver is doing, I slowly apply my brakes and hang back if necessary. The lorry is going to do more damage to me.

and it's ok to get upset when other road users are being negligent.

It's ok to get upset, but it's also sometimes best not to react. Road rage and all that - I've read it has cost life.

Oh and just to give a caveat to my comment above.

If I'd started a manoeuvre and then saw a cyclist, I'd be extra observant. If they continued to approach me, I'd stop obviously because I know I'd likely be held responsible for running them over. I'd then be pretty pissed off if they thought they were in the right. I wouldn't want to be blocking the road whilst the cyclist drives past though, and that would be their fault.

@Gcsunnyside23 @ILoveToCleanSaidNooneEver So you agree with my point then? A manoeuvring driver should not be concentrating solely on the movement of their own vehicle; they should be paying attention to their surroundings, as these might change. A cyclist, pedestrian or car might approach and present a hazard - the manoeuvring driver should be aware of this.

The OP said: He did not notice me until I rang my bell, right next to his window. The driver was not paying attention.

If it had been a car behind him - would it be ok for him to not notice it was there? The driver should have been aware before starting and during their three point turn. When I'm reversing in a car park, I don't wait for a pedestrian to be behind me before I stop.

The driver was in front of her so my guess is - based on experience - he suddenly slowed and swung his car to the right. (It's happened to me more than once). If the cyclist had hit the side of his car, I am going to take a guess that it would've been more traumatising for the children than being told their dad is a bad driver.

They weren't upset they were an asshole, shouting in a car at kids is ok? The OP said nothing about shouting...

Very unreasonable and somewhat mean of you.

@LordEmsworth no I didn't agree with your initial post at all. I do agree with what you are saying in your most recent one though.

What I do disagree with is your point about the OP ringing their bell and the driver just realising the cyclist was there. The driver may not have been very observant, or he may have just been looking in his rear view mirror whilst reversing. The OP was extremely ridiculous to be so close to a car, especially when their little ding ding bell wouldn't really make a difference to a driver in their car.

Absolutely unacceptable to speak to his kids, in any situation.
Very wrong of you!

Brilliant

You agree that the driver should have been aware of his surroundings, but think it's ok he didn't notice there was a cyclist behind him before he did something unexpected without signalling. Ok sure, whatever.

God I hate people who use children as a means of settling a grievance with their parents. You sound awful. And yes, why on earth did you keep going when you could see a car doing a manoeuvre in the road ahead of you?

You didn't need the parting gambit. You'd already told him that what he did was dangerous.

But can you also not concede that the cyclist was at fault for getting to close and presuming the driver would stop? They were probably both in the wrong but you're focusing on it only being the driver at fault. The original post doesn't say the cyclist was right behind the driver and then unexpectedly did a 3 point turn with no indication. You made that up and making assumptions about what happened. But as the op hasn't returned I'm assuming they've realised they are at fault as well as the driver

People's level of driving literacy on this and all threads about driving is sobering.

You've got a license, part of that is being aware of the contents of the highway code. Stopping your manoeuvre for oncoming traffic IS what you should do. There is no onus on the approaching driver to do anything other than not plough into you. There is an onus on the driver to only proceed when safe to do so. Approaching cyclist, regardless of lack of common sense applied, means that continuing the turn is not safe and driver needs to wait. What happened suggests they weren't aware of the cyclist and that's driving without due care and attention. If you reverse into someone it will be your fault regardless of what they're driving or riding.

Also a car turning in the road presents a significant obstacle to an approaching car, and often you'll wait for them to complete their manoeuvre because you cannot physically pass them. The same does not apply to bikes, which on most roads would be able to pass a turning vehicle provided it had stopped as it was meant to.

Like I said it's not how I'd ride, because I enjoy life, but the driver is in the wrong here, not the cyclist

Yes, it was wrong. He was the arsehole, nothing to do with his kids and no reason whatsoever to drag them into a situation they had no control over. That’s the kind of comment kids fret over. Keep your criticisms directed at the person who has actually done wrong in future.

If it was me I would have most defiently be apologetic to you. But wouldn't have been so nice if you spoke to my kids that way.

You need to grow up. And be careful, you never know who you are being rude to and how they will react.

You sound like a child. Grow up.