Head to Head Collision.....Almost

[Cyclezee]

Yesterday morning, I was riding up to Central Milton Keynes on one of the Redway cycle routes at a sedate 15.5 mph precisely on an eZee conversion when rounding a blind uphill bend I came face to face with an MTB rider on the wrong side on the road going, how can I put it, bloody fast.

There was no where or time to go to take evasive action, I braked hard as did he, our handlebars hit each other with a metallic clang and my left shoulder hit his chest. Both our front wheels ended up side by side, but not quite touching.

We were both a bit shaken, I had a bleeding left hand, but nothing broken and surprisingly but more importantly, there was no damage to either bike.

When I asked the rider politely what he was playing at, his explanation was that he was overtaking a pedestrian who was in his way

I spend a lot of time on our local cycle routes and have to say there is general lack of lane discipline, sometimes I feel safer riding on normal roads amongst cars.

After the incident and literally licking my wounds, we both headed off on our way.

When I got back home and told my wife what had happened and showed her my bloodied hand, she said "your face is bleeding too, have look in the mirror". My face was not actually bleeding, but unknown to me was smeared with blood from the back of my hand no wonder I was getting funny looks in the bank

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I've encountered this many times on straight cycle paths where visibility is good. I keep left, only to see the other guy coming at me keeping right. Sometimes I wave my arm to beckon them on the other side. Sometimes I shout "keep left", but more often than not, they just carry on until we both do an emergency stop. Sometimes it's teenagers that don't know any better, but about 50% of the time, it's adults. who should know better. I usually inform them that we drive on the left side in this country.

Like you, I've found that cycle paths are rather more dangerous than the roads, so I only use them when there's an advantage for me - like shorter or easier route. I often get shouted at or beeped by car drivers for using the road when there's a cycle path, but I just ignore them. I'm just waiting to get stopped by the police for it, which will give me a chance to explain why it's safer for me on the road. I've already practised my speach.

 

[Artstu]

I was on holiday in and around Telford a few years ago, I never rode on all those cycle paths either on the ring roads.

 

[amigafan2003]

I'm just waiting to get stopped by the police for it, which will give me a chance to explain why it's safer for me on the road. I've already practised my speach.

Why would they stop you for riding on the road?

Highway code

61
Cycle Routes and Other Facilities. Use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time it is unsafe to do so. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer.

............

63
Cycle Lanes. These are marked by a white line (which may be broken) along the carriageway (see Rule 140). Keep within the lane when practicable. When leaving a cycle lane check before pulling out that it is safe to do so and signal your intention clearly to other road users. Use of cycle lanes is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I was on holiday in and around Telford a few years ago, I never rode on all those cycle paths either on the ring roads.

Holiday in Telford?

I didn't realise that you wee that poor. You should start up a holiday fund, so that we can donate for you to go somewhere much nicer like Slough or Milton Keynes, or maybe even Basildon if we can get enough donations.

 

[103Alex1]

Really sorry to hear about your 'head to head' ! Got off lightly by the sounds of it.

Why would they stop you for riding on the road?

Yeah - they can't force you to use those blooming paths alongside the roads - surfaces like an off-road trail, crossing traffic at every side road bringing you to a standstill, ipod-wearing pedestrians immune to bells or yells ... and that's before you meet cyclists all over the place riding willy nilly. It makes the motorists seem quite well behaved in comparison at times !

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Why would they stop you for riding on the road?

There's been a couple of instances reported, where the police threatened to charge the cyclist with driving without due care and attention on the basis that he didn't need to ride on the road and hold up all the traffic. Also, I can see the scenario where police feel it's their duty to advise you to ride more safely, which they believe, in their ignorance, is on the cycle path.

 

[hopper_rider]

I was watching some youtube vids. It seems that cycling proficiency is taught to young kids in Holland.

I remember when i was young there was a local recreation ground that had a kids minature traffic layout. Together with working traffic lights and road signs. The area used to hire out bikes and kids could become cycle safety aware without exposing themselves to road dangers.

What it did do is taught that there was more to riding a bike than just getting on and pedaling.

Glad to hear you are ok. That numpty is a danger to himself and others.

 

[GaRRy]

IGlad to hear you are ok. That numpty is a danger to himself and other

While not knowing all the facts may be the OP should also consider whether riding at 15.5 MPH around a "blind bend" is a good idea ?.

Basic rule of defensive riding is never travel that fast that you cant stop well within the distance you can see ahead of you.

Yes the other guy was on OP side of path (although not aware that there is officially a correct side of path for cycle paths) but OP was making a big assumption that nothing on their side of path when could not see that this was a fact.

At 15.5 mph OP's own speed was a contributing factor to the accident.

Glad your both OK.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I was watching some youtube vids. It seems that cycling proficiency is taught to young kids in Holland.

I remember when i was young there was a local recreation ground that had a kids minature traffic layout. Together with working traffic lights and road signs. The area used to hire out bikes and kids could become cycle safety aware without exposing themselves to road dangers.

What it did do is taught that there was more to riding a bike than just getting on and pedaling.

Glad to hear you are ok. That numpty is a danger to himself and others.

Good point. It really winds me up when I get a family cycling towards me occupying the whole of the cycle-path width. The parents normally move to the left, but they make no attempt to control or inform the kids, who are obviously totally ignorant of what they should do.

 

[103Alex1]

Good point. It really winds me up when I get a family cycling towards me occupying the whole of the cycle-path width. The parents normally move to the left, but they make no attempt to control or inform the kids, who are obviously totally ignorant of what they should do.

Sounds just like trying to shop on a Saturday !

 

[grldtnr]

Basildon, Essex? are you mad! would not want to go there unless I wanted to get mugged, beaten senseless or mangled under the wheels of a joyriding car.

Canvey Island is a better place , there is a sense of excotica being a Island, (mind ,Basildon does havea good network of cycle paths, all the better for the ne'rdo wells who live there )

How 'bout Harlow or Stevenage for cycle paths

Holiday in Telford?

I didn't realise that you wee that poor. You should start up a holiday fund, so that we can donate for you to go somewhere much nicer like Slough or Milton Keynes, or maybe even Basildon if we can get enough donations.

 

[Ettica]

It really winds me up when I get a family cycling

i know, it does me too

 

[Artstu]

Basildon, Essex? are you mad! would not want to go there unless I wanted to get mugged, beaten senseless or mangled under the wheels of a joyriding car.

Canvey Island is a better place , there is a sense of excotica being a Island, (mind ,Basildon does havea good network of cycle paths, all the better for the ne'rdo wells who live there )

How 'bout Harlow or Stevenage for cycle paths

It was more Much Wenlock really. I rode to Telford after visiting Ironbridge. I couldn't really find much in Telford apart from some long ring roads with huge cycle path pavements.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Canvey Island is a better place , there is a sense of excotica being a Island, (mind ,Basildon does havea good network of cycle paths, all the better for the ne'rdo wells who live there )

How 'bout Harlow or Stevenage for cycle paths

I don't think that the holiday fund will stretch that far.

 

[Cyclezee]

While not knowing all the facts may be the OP should also consider whether riding at 15.5 MPH around a "blind bend" is a good idea ?.

Basic rule of defensive riding is never travel that fast that you cant stop well within the distance you can see ahead of you.

Yes the other guy was on OP side of path (although not aware that there is officially a correct side of path for cycle paths) but OP was making a big assumption that nothing on their side of path when could not see that this was a fact.

At 15.5 mph OP's own speed was a contributing factor to the accident.

Glad your both OK.

Hi Garry,

I understand your comments, but the stated speed of 15.5mph was an exaggeration and meant to suggest that I was riding at the legal limit for assistance, to tell the truth, I wasn't looking at the speedo or Cycle Analyst in this case, but I know it was less than that.

Normally when rounding a blind left hand corner on a cycle route I ride towards the centre to give a better field of vision but in this instance I kept over to the left as I saw a pedestrian coming in the opposite direction, what I couldn't see or anticipate was a cyclist riding at speed giving the pedestrian a wide berth on my side and at the same time cutting the corner.

I am probably fortunate to have been on a bike which gave some protection, had I been a pedestrian, I might not have been here to write this........not that anyone would miss me

 

[jackhandy]

We'd miss those erudite pearls of wisdom.

 

[flecc]

........not that anyone would miss me

That rogue cyclist didn't!

But of course members would miss you, where else could they get such good torque arm kits at reasonable prices!

 

[hopper_rider]

Hi Garry,

I understand your comments, but the stated speed of 15.5mph was an exaggeration and meant to suggest that I was riding at the legal limit for assistance, to tell the truth, I wasn't looking at the speedo or Cycle Analyst in this case, but I know it was less than that.

Normally when rounding a blind left hand corner on a cycle route I ride towards the centre to give a better field of vision but in this instance I kept over to the left as I saw a pedestrian coming in the opposite direction, what I couldn't see or anticipate was a cyclist riding at speed giving the pedestrian a wide berth on my side and at the same time cutting the corner.

I am probably fortunate to have been on a bike which gave some protection, had I been a pedestrian, I might not have been here to write this........not that anyone would miss me

Attention seeking post alert!

 

[funkylyn]

Hi Garry,

I understand your comments, but the stated speed of 15.5mph was an exaggeration and meant to suggest that I was riding at the legal limit for assistance, to tell the truth, I wasn't looking at the speedo or Cycle Analyst in this case, but I know it was less than that.

Normally when rounding a blind left hand corner on a cycle route I ride towards the centre to give a better field of vision but in this instance I kept over to the left as I saw a pedestrian coming in the opposite direction, what I couldn't see or anticipate was a cyclist riding at speed giving the pedestrian a wide berth on my side and at the same time cutting the corner.

I am probably fortunate to have been on a bike which gave some protection, had I been a pedestrian, I might not have been here to write this........not that anyone would miss me

Awwww.....you know I would miss you

God, first time online in what seems like WEEKS and I have to massage your poor bruised and bleeding spirit.....still, nearly time for Arne dahl......lolol

Lynda