Registration plate
Official local mnemonic: London Postal area: Wimbledon
Issued: between march 2010 and august 2010 Black Smart Fortwo coupe, manufactured in 2010, first registered on 1 May 2010. Cylinder capacity: 999cc, CO2 emissions: 104 g/km. As of 17 January 2017 this vehicle had done 39,213 miles. Current estimated odometer reading: 64,000 miles.
This also situation happens with many drivers. There is a narrow tunnel near me and whether I am on a bike or driving, it make no difference; you will get people who try and beat you to the tunnel coming the other way so they can claim they were negotiating the tunnel before you got there. It's crazy. All they have to do is wait, like they should.
I personally think the basis of this video could be a simple misunderstanding (as mentioned the cyclist appears fairly quickly), however it got out of hand. If I was on my bike or driving I wouldn't even approach the driver or try to react angrily. You just don't know what kind of people are on the roads. And if it's an honest mistake then it's forgotten in no time. Things can so easily get out-of-hand these days and over the most inane reasons. So yeah, technically the driver was 'in the wrong' for not 'giving way' however it is not something I would be so vocal over because there is a possibility it was a mistake.
If you observe, the moment the two road users met there was a cyclist approaching from behind at significant speed. This may be the reason why the person with the cycle cam stayed in that position. If the cyclist behind them had rode a similar route and shot left then there would have been practically no time to avoid a collision. I also think the cyclist bombing through that section is an idiot: too fast, too close to a parked car, and no shoulder checking as he negotiated said car. Now with a driver like the one shown, you are not going to be able to stop like the cycle cam person did, because you brakes will basically lock and you'll be over the bonnet before you know it, your head smashing against tarmac.
It's a tricky section of road and hence the reason there's a traffic calming measure in place and the extra need to drive safely and with caution. A big factor in incidents like this is simply that our roads are small and more and more people are owning cars they park on the road, and close to features such as this. More and more people, more and more hazzards = more need to exercise extra caution.
03:41:57 = another troll/idiot who's mouth is bigger than their tiny brain.
You need to learn to articulate your views with FACTS - your own hysteria is no substitute. Use YOUR brain! There is no requirement to use the bike lane. None. Zip. Live with it or stay off the road (they will be much safer without people like you on them). Time to grow up.
Why can't the cyclist use the bicycle lane? If the second cyclist riding up behind the first cyclist managed to use the cycle lane then I'm sure the first cyclist could manage, he decided that he wasn't going to slow down and use the correct lane. If the Smart car driver decided to use the cycle lane then the cyclist might have cause for concern but that was pathetic, the cyclist needs to grow up
Quote Graham: "If the second cyclist riding up behind the first cyclist managed to use the cycle lane then I'm sure the first cyclist could manage".
lol this is like saying, if the second person fired a gun inches from a kid's head then there's no reason why you shouldn't. Just do it because according to the Graham Code you should. lol
As per the Highway Code, there is no legal requirement for the cyclist to use the cycle lane. Therefore the cycle lane was not the "correct lane". Furthermore had the cyclist used the cycle lane then as explained below, this risks being hit. By using primary as shown, the cyclist is thus in a more prominent position. The cyclist is traffic and has every right to ride in the middle of the lane.
As shown, a smart car didn't use the cycle lane and has no bearing on this matter. You then imply the cyclist needs to "grow up" for doing nothing more than following the recommended, safe cycling advice. Graham, perhaps you should read-up on cycle craft as well as the Highway Code..it's what any mature person would do.
"chose to take the more dangerous route, probably because they believe they have right of way."
Wrong. They ARE traffic and as such they have PRIORITY - LOOK at the sign. IF you cannot comprehend this simple, basic fact of the Highway Code then that's your problem. Whilst I feel the driver may have missed them visually (due to the parked vehicle to the left), this on no way justifies your blatant disregard for logic or the rules of the road. Next.
"Rightly or wrongly, by putting yourself in this situation you are endangering yourself unnecessarily."
You still don't "get it" do you? You still think the professional advice, the Highway Code, doesn't apply to you and your personalised little rule book.
Again, the cyclist is traffic. Deal with it or stay off the roads. Hint: it's a condition of a license to agree with and abide by this rule. Simple.
"When an adequate and purpose built bicycle lane has been put alongside the traffic calming measures it is there for you to use."
Again, you talk absolute tripe. How many times do you need to be told? Cycle lane use is NOT compulsory and the choice without prejudice.
Furthermore, just because there is a cycle lane does NOT mean it is safe. You really need to "wake up" because you either can't or won't see the danger in this video; rather, you use some flawed, weak argument based on demonising someone exercising their rights on the road.
"If you are killed or injured while pigheadedly using the main lane - "
Yet again, YOU are the pig-headed on. This isn't the "main" lane.. this is the cycle's lane as much as it is yours. Are we getting closer to the source of your confusion - your own stubborn arrogance?
"you may have had every right to use it - but you'd still be dead or injured!"
There is no "may". You clearly need to be told, don't you? There was an obstruction to the left immediately on the calming facility. ANY respected cycle craft authority - including the government's own advice - will tell you generally where and when to use such positioning. This is such a scenario.
The cyclist wasn't being selfish. The cyclist didn't command any more or less rights than you, or anyone else. The cyclist took steps to remain more visible; albeit somewhat later than I would have recommended due to the aformentioned hazzard prior to the calming measure, the parked vehicle.
"The driver of the smart car should be more aware, and definitely shouldn't have slapped you, but come on... "
No. Assault is assault.
"don't be such a stubborn bastard and take the safest route!"
Follow your own advice - take your blinkers off.
"self preservation should always outweigh proving a point."
Indeed it should. And by the measure of your own words on here, you act like a hypocrite. You are more interested in proving your own point and your own, custom rules of the road than you are about preservation, or indeed common sense it would appear.
You clearly have a hard time treating cyclists as equals. You have thus found the source of your problem - yourself, not the cyclist. You.
total pleb.
chose to take the more dangerous route, probably because they believe they have right of way.
Rightly or wrongly, by putting yourself in this situation you are endangering yourself unnecessarily. When an adequate and purpose built bicycle lane has been put alongside the traffic calming measures it is there for you to use.
If you are killed or injured while pigheadedly using the main lane - you may have had every right to use it - but you'd still be dead or injured!
The driver of the smart car should be more aware, and definitely shouldn't have slapped you, but come on... don't be such a stubborn bastard and take the safest route!
self preservation should always outweigh proving a point.
Simon you clearly have a personal interest in lycra, and cyclists wearing it, even those you think wear it. It's OK if that's your thing, however, perhaps it would be better to focus your attention here on the situation at hand rather than your personal or even sexual interests? Not disrespecting those interests Simon, just saying that I think they are irrelevant to this report. Good luck in your quest for self-realisation.
Try growing up and joining the real world. You type like a moron and nothing you have typed has anything to do with the subject matter. This is your indirect admission you have lost your own argument. Your ONLY recourse herein is to belt up, and grow up or be treated like a troll. Your choice.
"features someone WEARING FLUORESCENT PINK cycling past you with ease using the fucking cycle lane!!"
Classic example of just how poor your road skills are.
The cyclist you refer didn't shoulder-check before clearing the parked vehicle, then despite moving further out was still in the "door zone". They afforded their person ZERO protection against ANY form of carriage behind them, or from dooring. As regards the latter the speed at which they were traveling at results in no thinking distance on their part. None. You are doored and there is nothing you can do to avoid it. Nothing.
Use your brain instead of spouting rubbish, and ignoring the facts of the matter including the driver reportedly assaulting the cyclist despite the cyclist having priority. Neither the driver nor yourself has ANY right to abuse cyclists just because you personally think they should use a cycle lane regardless of the law and regardless of the risk. YOU are the danger on the roads, James.
There is NO requirement to use the lane. The choice is entirely at the discretion of the cyclist; this without prejudice.
What part of that do you not understand? The cyclist doesn't have to use the cycle lane just because another cyclist does, nor coerced into using it purely on account of abusive people such as yourself.
You completely failed to mention the driver's actions. You completely failed to mention the hazard to the left, immediately after the calming measure (parked car). The cyclist filming this video adopted the position as recommended by all respected cycle craft authorities, including Road Safe.
However if you still prefer to judge not on facts but on your own bigoted perceptions then the best advice I can give you is simple. Learn to grow up and drive properly.
Firstly my own observation of what I think may have happened here.
At 00:15 you're partially obscured from his view, behind the parked car. At 00:18 you go round the car. If he hasn't seen you - or wrong assumes you should be using a cycle lane - then he has but 3 seconds to make a judgment call.
Look. I'm not saying he's right. You clearly had priority. All I'm saying is this. For whatever reason if it looks like the oncoming vehicle isn't going to stop then please try your best to stay clear of them. In this case it looks like the driver attempted to assault you - did you report this incident to the police?
What a fabulous cunt you've made of yourself driver
Unaware of the Highway Code - cyclists do not need to use cycle paths
Cycle path was blocked by parked vehicles on both entrance and exit
Threatening and attempted assault
You need to be ragged out of your safe space and dealt with - just like someone else who will remain nameless
You've made a video of how impossible it was to use a cycle lane which features someone WEARING FLUORESCENT PINK cycling past you with ease using the fucking cycle lane!!
This also situation happens with many drivers. There is a narrow tunnel near me and whether I am on a bike or driving, it make no difference; you will get people who try and beat you to the tunnel coming the other way so they can claim they were negotiating the tunnel before you got there. It's crazy. All they have to do is wait, like they should.
I personally think the basis of this video could be a simple misunderstanding (as mentioned the cyclist appears fairly quickly), however it got out of hand. If I was on my bike or driving I wouldn't even approach the driver or try to react angrily. You just don't know what kind of people are on the roads. And if it's an honest mistake then it's forgotten in no time. Things can so easily get out-of-hand these days and over the most inane reasons. So yeah, technically the driver was 'in the wrong' for not 'giving way' however it is not something I would be so vocal over because there is a possibility it was a mistake.