Has this ever happened to you?

[guest5826]

Today I was leaving my local farm shop and stopped waiting to turn right on a very busy road.  Suddenly there was this crash from behind.  I look in the mirrors and don't see anything.  I get out of the car and find a cyclist on the ground.  Embarrassed, he apologised and drove off... as soon as he could straighten his front tyre.  Startled me and can't say it has ever happened before.  Cyclists in Cambridge are so terrible I would not have been surprised in the city but on a little farm lane?      Maybe he was texting and riding at the same time?  Which I see every day in the city. 

[John Ratsey]

If you hadn't been there as a safety net, would they have gone straight out into the main road without looking?

I agree that evidence suggests that the cyclist wasn't paying due care and attention. However, what colour is your car? Are you one of the good drivers who puts the handbrake on and takes foot off footbrake. A bright coloured car with some red lights are more likely to get noticed even if the cyclist was distracted.

[guest5826]

My car is a light blue but my foot was on the brake and my lights were on. 

[John Ratsey]

Then the cyclist should be grateful to you for stopping them going straight into the main road. Perhaps their brakes weren't working but they would have needed to stop at the junction.

In Dhaka (Bangladesh) the first thing that used to be done to a new car was to fit metal pipes in front of the bumpers at around 15" above ground level. This was to give the pedal rickshaws something to run into when they wanted to stop - they had a lot of inertia.

[guest1372]

Had one in front at a busy roundabout, he went for a 'power launch' unfortunately chain came of crank, he smashed himself on the frame and was left winded & prone on the road right in front of me. Should have seen all the evil stares I got!
--
TG

[guest5826]

Now I know why the cyclist was in such a hurry to leave....   



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[guest334]

You should be able to pick up arepalcement unit at local breakers yeard or E Bay/Gumtree. In short term cover with tape. Hard Luck.

[bill ericay]

I've just had a very similar experience while on a main road, one came out of a junction right across my path while not looking in my direction. Luckily I guessed he was going to do this and managed to swerve around him.

Thing is , the blind xxxx was driving a car, I was on my bike.

It takes all sorts.

This is not a German car forum !

[culzean]

Now I know why the cyclist was in such a hurry to leave....   

bikes don't have registration plates or insurance (and often don't have lights either) - so don't know how you would have got the money off him short of holding him hostage till his family paid the ransom.

[John Ratsey]

Given the extra evidence it looks like the cyclist was trying to pass along the nearside to turn left and then clipped the car's light cluster with the handlebar. Still careless, but not as originally thought.

[chrisc]

Here in SA one in 50 motorists stops at a stop street.  Most meander through and give you the finger if you toot them. Therefore you have to be extra careful.  Same with traffic lights, the red seems to be "better stop soon unless I can shoot across".  Last car (VW Jetta) was wiped out due to this careless motoring.