Cycling UK Forum

I was assaulted on Sunday, and truly thought I was about to die.

At crest of a hill before home, I was riding slowly and panting, in secondary position. Coming towards me was a 4x4 towing a horse box. He moved across the white line, heading straight for me. I thought I was going to die. He had his mouth wide open, like he was screaming or something. His windows were closed and I heard nothing.

When he was very close to me, within two metres, he swerved away. I stopped and looked back. He had now moved back to his own side of the road.

It was daylight, sunny, and I was in long-sleeved hi-vis. He wasn't turning right -- there was nowhere to turn right to.

With hindsight, I don't suppose he was trying to kill me. He could easily have collided with me, but decided not to. So what was he doing? My best guess is that it was a "joke".

I didn't get his number. I don't recognise faces, and couldn't identify him.

snibgo wrote:I was assaulted on Sunday, and truly thought I was about to die.

At crest of a hill before home, I was riding slowly and panting, in secondary position. Coming towards me was a 4x4 towing a horse box. He moved across the white line, heading straight for me. I thought I was going to die. He had his mouth wide open, like he was screaming or something. His windows were closed and I heard nothing.

When he was very close to me, within two metres, he swerved away. I stopped and looked back. He had now moved back to his own side of the road.

It was daylight, sunny, and I was in long-sleeved hi-vis. He wasn't turning right -- there was nowhere to turn right to.

With hindsight, I don't suppose he was trying to kill me. He could easily have collided with me, but decided not to. So what was he doing? My best guess is that it was a "joke".

I didn't get his number. I don't recognise faces, and couldn't identify him.

You're not alone in having experienced this, I had a car do it a few years back, there are some [inappropriate term removed] around who think this is a funny thing to do. My experience suggests they are quite literally one in a million, fortunately.

One in a million, yes. It's never happened to me before. Motorists have been careless of my safety, but I've never before had one seem intent on running me down. At the speed he was doing, I doubt I'd have survived.

A very nasty experience. Only a second or two, but that was more than enough.

snibgo wrote:One in a million, yes. It's never happened to me before. Motorists have been careless of my safety, but I've never before had one seem intent on running me down. At the speed he was doing, I doubt I'd have survived.

A very nasty experience. Only a second or two, but that was more than enough.

It's happened to us twice,two tandems two abreast,wide road,minding our own business,when an oncoming car decided we were "antagonising" him so crossed the white line and drove straight at us,veering off at the last minute.
If it is a joke I don't get it
I always find it strange that such people need to do that to find meaning to their lives

reohn2 wrote:One in a million, yes. It's never happened to me before. Motorists have been careless of my safety, but I've never before had one seem intent on running me down. At the speed he was doing, I doubt I'd have survived.A very nasty experience. Only a second or two, but that was more than enough.It's happened to us twice,two tandems two abreast,wide road,minding our own business,when an oncoming car decided we were "antagonising" him so crossed the white line and drove straight at us,veering off at the last minute.If it is a joke I don't get it I always find it strange that such people need to do that to find meaning to their lives

You should try working truck breakdowns on the motorway. Not uncommon to get some idiot swerve across form the outside lane to "Wake you up" when working on the hard shoulder (drivers side of truck).
On normal roads you get that used to people hitting the vehicles you are working on it no longer bothers you that much, just part of a normal day.

TonyR wrote:The only reason they cant get past is they insist on driving around two abreast, often without even having the excuse of a passenger occupying the other seat. There would be plenty of room on the road for everybody otherwise.

lol but correct ...

I have a new addition to this thread:

Riding back fairly late last night from the cinema me and a friend were 2 abreast on a wide piece of road - wide enough that you get parked cars and still room for moving cars without crossing the line in the middle of the road. It was late, so there was very little traffic, and nothing coming the other way for the 1/4 mile you can see. A police van pulled alongside us and used the external speakers to say "Single file please" then sped off! Given that the highway code says "cyclists shouldn't cycle more than 2 abreast" it seems a little contradictory to me! Its not like we were holding up traffic, I think he just wanted to use the speakers tbh!

The Police dont always know the law and they have some descretion as to whether they think you are causing an obstruction. Depends how brave you are to argue the point and if neccessary how far and how much you are prepared to spend to prove your point.