Bloody cyclists
So alright, I confess to being a leper of society. I own a fully paid up and road worthy car but I don't actually have my license yet despite being nearer 30 than 20. I'm a procrastinating muppet.

So I cycle.

I can drive perfectly well I've just never got round to taking the test. I'm also very opinionated when it comes to driving. I think it is probably the *one* thing that most people do during the day that could kill / maim / completely destroy someone's life. I therefore believe that people should, you know, stick to speed limits, give way when appropriate etc.

One day I'm cycling along and a car avoids the traffic calming measures on their side of the road by driving within a metre of me. Worse still he's being completely tailgated by some twunt in a crappy old Vauxhall who does the same only they miss me by less than a foot and I'm completely freaked at how close I was to being killed.

A flick of the finger as I cycle onward seemed appropriate.

The very loud engine revs turn to a screeching brake within a few seconds and I look over my shoulder to confirm the worst. Yep, that car will be right on my tail within 10 seconds and there's no way I can outrun them or escape.

Thankfully they catch up to me right at another set of traffic calming measures that segregate cyclicsts from the road so they couldn't run me over or anything without taking out a wooden post. But looking into the car I see not one but two baseball capped, sovereign ringed neds. Oh shit.

"What's your problem!?"

"Erm, sorry but you nearly knocked me off the road."

I'm partly ashamed at my answer. They nearly kill me and I apologise. Thankfully it seemed to work though and my rugged, manly good looks remain intact (well, my nose isn't now modelled on Steve Bruce's at least). They drove off over-revving again and when they hit a speed bump a bit of the car fell off and lay in the road.

They needed to pull into a junction just ahead to turn and continue their journey (I'm guessing they were late and didn't have time to beat seven shades out of me). But still, I get to the junction they're turning out of and I can see the bit of car that was once part of their bumper and I technically have right of way.

I diplomatically wait by the side of the road for them to pass while they shout the final, "Do that again and I'll kill ya!"

Two lessons to learn from this: 1. if you're a cyclist, show restraint. You are sooo much more vunerable than even the most poverty specced cars and 2. if you're going to stupidly engage in a bit of roadrage - and almost all roadrage is stupid no matter how deserved - at least make sure you clock the drivers first and gauge whether or not any kind of protest from you will land you in A&E.
( djtrialprice, Thu 22 Feb 2007, 17:25, Reply)