Hit by a car... again.

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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Andrew G » Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:57 am

[quote="adrian"]I also found it refreshing that you're able to be philosophical about it and recognise that accidents happen and the driver isn't necessarily Satan.

Hear, hear, accidents can happen. As a driver myself I also know that sometimes you do get caught out if you are trying to watch a junction, other cars, and then pick up objects moving in and out of your blind spots, and I would bet that every one of us who drives would have had at least one "moment" at some point and that's as cyclists so probably looking out more than others for bikies. Worth remembering next time you're calling for a lynching as it could be you on the gallows one day. Sometimes it is just an accident.

Hope you're alright this morning Adam and nothing's swelled up in an alarming manner.
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Dombo » Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:44 am

[quote="huw williams"][quote="Antloony"] Police took a statement and are going to speak to the driver and then hopefully procede with a charge of driving without due care and attention.


This is how Cyclists DIE. So MAKE SURE you take the time to send a letter of complaint to his garage stating that you've reported it to the police - chances are he'll have to at least face a grilling by his manager, and might get a suspension in the meantime. Those police follow-ups can take a long time.


If he tried to overtake you then he did see you so "I didn't see you" is a lot of cr@p. You should kick up a hell of a fuss over this. Maybe next time he'll pay more attention. See how the police would come down on you if you shoved somebody out the way while walking on the payment. As Andrew says, driving standards have plummeted among bus drivers and too many cyclists are getting killed this way.
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Antloony » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:00 pm

Thanks for the advice and well wishes guys.

I'm in the middle of writing to the bus depo and giving a statement of my account of what happened and included all the police info so they know I'm serious about the incident being followed up and the driver being punished for what I believe was a deleberate act of dangerous driving. This was no accident, he knew I was there and knew exactly what he was doing. :evil:


Thanks Sean, Im not worried though, my win was a fluke and will be my one and only claim to fame on a bike, its all down hill for me from now one so no one has anything to fear from me. :D
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby -Adam- » Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:47 pm

May I echo Ant's thanks.

Although so we are clear... No, I was not wearing a helmet. And, No, this wasn't to make me look cool on my fixie. Those of you who know me will have often seen me without a helmet on my head, there is little if no logic to my helmet wearing, and certainly no connection to whether my bike has a freewheel or not. Some may have noticed I spent an entire day riding around with no helmet on Sunday, nothing but a cotton cap protected my head, shock. You might also notice that in another month or so you will almost never see me in a helmet once my winter hat comes out to play. In fact a key motive for wearing a helmet for me at least is I have to, while racing anyway, and the rest of the summer? Well I like having hair, and a helmet is sometimes the most appropriate way to keep it in check when it's to warm for caps or hats. Yes, I really am that fickle.

Many an experienced rider will never wear a helmet, I'm not going to name names, just trust me. I mean look at the amount of Pro's who only ever wear helmets while racing... Thats not to say that one isn't going to do you any favours in an accident like this, but then it wouldn't have saved me from the cars that were coming the other way, would it?

It's down to your own choice at the end of the day, and I don't want to get involved in the 'great helmet debate'. Because it is a subject well covered by countless boring people, long before this thread started.

Like people have noted, I'm not holding the driver up as Satan. In fact I spoke to her last night to see if she was ok, I felt sorry for her as her young son was screaming his head off in the aftermath. What was she to do? There was clearly no intent, unlike perhaps in Ant's case. I often get annoyed as a driver, with cyclists' actions on the roads, so I can see both sides of the coin. We are all but ''Bloody Cylists'' afterall. But the fact is, I'm alive. I'm not really that badly hurt. My bike will live. And I will be back on it maybe even tomorow... yes, to cycle to Uni.

So, anyone know any amazing physio's near by me?
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Toks » Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:58 pm

[quote="Antloony"]I've never ever been so scared so much in all my life, I honestly thought I was going to go under the wheels and that would be it, game over. I really hope they do this prick for this and he gets the sack. It's a good job I was strong enough to keep myself up right using the bus, had it been a kid it would have been a far worse outcome.
Bloody Hell mate I'm glad to hear you're alright. :shock:
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Toks » Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:04 pm

[quote="marco"]Sorry to hear that both of you
I dont think it matters if you wear a helmet or not, cars and buses shouldnt be driven into you

the only advice i can give is to get into the habit of riding just a touch slower and trying to develop that track sprinter awareness where you permanently have one eye (right) looking over your right shoulder. We shouldnt have to but it helps in traffic awareness.
Hope the injuries heal up quickly.
I gotta agree Marco. And before I come under attack yes I know it won't save you from lunatic that Ant happened to meet. Another tip - when approaching short narrow bits in the road or pinch points (that take a few seconds to ride through)- ride in the middle - it helps the driver make up his/her mind up so they don't try some risky overtaking maneovre.
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Antloony » Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:04 pm

Oh I know the bus was there Toks, I'd been sat at traffic lights in front of it for 2 minutes. I knew it was behind me where the road narrows because of some street furniture, I was riding 2 feet out from the curb, still didn't stop the tw*t from trying to wipe me out. I'm always aware of whats behind me, I always check when over taking parked cars etc that Im not going to get squeezed. I've ridden motorbikes half my life up untill 5 years ago so know all about defencive riding etc. Sometimes no matter what you do to protect yourself there's always some idiot trying to make life dangerous for you. We're quite capable of doing that ourselves my doing 60 mph down hills :D
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Toks » Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:44 pm

Cool, I wasn't trying to suggest that you were at fault at all. As we know you can't account for idiots... By the way you weren't lucky to win the race, it wasn't a complete surprise you're a strong rider :D
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Snoop Doug » Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:17 pm

[quote="Toks"]Another tip - when approaching short narrow bits in the road or pinch points (that take a few seconds to ride through)- ride in the middle - it helps the driver make up his/her mind up so they don't try some risky overtaking maneovre.


You knows it Toks - there ain't nothing wrong with taking the primary position on the road eh wot. I don't buy the I never saw you, I'd more likely believ - I wasn't paying enough attention tho that would be too much like taking some responsibility. At least if you are in the primary position there's some decision making to be done by the car driver. Most of this stuff happens through ignorance and lack of attention - not malice.

Be careful out there y'all
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby mrP(Boonen)VT » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:52 am

[quote]It's down to your own choice at the end of the day, and I don't want to get involved in the 'great helmet debate'. Because it is a subject well covered by countless boring people, long before this thread started.


Name names.....

Glad you're OK-both of you.

I get frustrated and annoyed by people using the word "ACCIDENT" which in the dictionary is "an event without apparent cause". There clearly was a cause at both "INCIDENTS" - inappropriate driving.
Rant over

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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Keith » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:04 pm

Never wanting to be left out of things, tonight there was a black Corsa with my name on it.

Broad daylight, straight road, no other cars. Wearing a long-sleeve, bright yellow top and a fluorescent yellow gillet. (Well, you've got to give them something to aim for. :shock: ) Corsa overtakes and before it's finished going past me turns left into a side road. No indication. Handlebars and front wheel pushed by rear left quarter of car and over I go.

Car stops in side road. Driver denies she's hit me and starts calling me a f*****g c**t. Dialed 999. Three Surrey Police vehicles attend. I declined an ambulance.

Cuts to hip, knee and hand. Hip hurts. Helmet split in 2 places. Michelle came and got me. Had serious shakes. May well have gone over my lactate balance point. :shock:

Bike? Dunno. Slung it in the shed. Will check tomorrow.
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Antloony » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:14 pm

Sorry to hear that Keith, sounds quite nasty, hope your not suffering to much. I stand by what I said earlier on in this thread, these idiots need prosecuting, this is a clear cut case of driving without due care and attention.

Are you going to claim off them for your bike and injuries Keith?
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Stu Merckx Man » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:37 pm

crikey keith!

sorry to hear about that. reading it made my blood boil! hope you are ok soon, and that the bike is ok!
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby Toks » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:51 pm

Jesus Man they're really trying to get us :twisted: :twisted: I'm glad you ain't too bad Keith. They all need to be prosecuted indeed
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Re: Hit by a car... again.

Postby -Adam- » Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:05 am

Keith, mate, I don't know what to say. Except, glad you're ok, and sadly, I know exactly how you feel.
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