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Got knocked off my bike by a lorry
Soundbox
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This morning while cycling in I was overtaken by a large lorry but the road was not wide enough and when it was level with me it bumped my shoulder and pushed me against the curb. It was not stopping so I tipped myself off against the verge and waited for it to pass. Whilst it slowed up it never stopped, nor did the cars behind. Par for the course I suppose.
Now here is the question. It is parked just up the road - should I go and have words with the driver or would that just be pedantic? What would you do?
I'm not hurt, just shaken up.
Now here is the question. It is parked just up the road - should I go and have words with the driver or would that just be pedantic? What would you do?
I'm not hurt, just shaken up.
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i would.
Depends what you'd want to achieve by it really.
Do you want to just have a go at him? Are you hoping for an apology?
Personally, experience has taught me that this sort of thing isn't worth it unless there has been some damage/injury. You never know who you're about to be dealing with. You could simply get a mouthful of abuse back. Or it could be much worse. It's your decision whether it's worth it really.
To what end ?
Whether or not at fault, it's almost a certainty that a driver - especially one who does it for a living - will stand there and argue until blue in the face that he did nothing wrong. Short of reporting the incident (he said/she said) for dangerous driving, the 'having a word' approach whilst understandable a sentiment, is likely to yield no results - though offer up the potential for a confrontation where matters just escalate.
From your description you were badly treated by the lorry, but on the general attitude of many cyclists (not you) the lycra clad brigade appear to have but one purpose, to speed in and out of heavy traffic at maximum possible speed.
That it reached it's final destination?
I'd perhaps have words with the company the person works for rather than the person. That might get more of a response.
Dangerous driving shouldn't just be ignored.
to inform him of what just occurred.
i would, you wouldn`t, thanks for sharing your reasons.
The route I'd probably take. I wouldn't like a face to face confrontation.
That's my concern - and I'm not one for confrontation as I never initiate it. I know he was aware of what he did as he slowed down, however he really put me in danger and that upset me. I have decided to leave it and hope that he will perhaps be a bit more careful in future.
Regardless of any 'bluff and bluster' you get back, it might make him a little more careful next time he encounters a cyclist.
OK...
EDIT : Thanks for not being acerbic.
Glad you're okay.
I think I'd want to let the driver know what happened. You were lucky, but if he does the same thing again to another cyclist the outcome could be much worse.
If it's possible, how about taking someone with you when you go and speak to the driver? That way if he gets stroppy with you, you'd have a witness, and things are far less likely to escalate.
Some years ago a similar thing happened to me, a lorry overtook me and knocked me off my motorbike and damaged the front wheel, but it didn't stop. Some passersby stopped to help me lift up the bike and move it, it wouldn't wheel with a squashed wheel. I went to the police station to report it , they asked me if I got his number and I said yes and gave them the lorries number plate which had come off. But I never heard from them again.
Discuss it politely is best, Police are generally not that intersted
I cycle daily in London and if it happened to me would no doubt go and say something.
I cycle to work too and it sounds to me like it was only your experience and quick thinking that stopped this from being worse - i.e you leaning the bike off the road onto the kerb so he could get past. Perhaps a less experienced cyclist would have ended up under the wheels?
I would have a word with him - if for no other reason than as an earlier post said - it might make him reaslise next time that he needs to give cyclists more room.
Please don't take any notice of the person above who started on about how other cyclists are lycra louts or whatever - that incident would have terrified me!
There is a culture of slackness in road transport, quite a number driving illegally without proper licences, and the employer not being bothered.
By making a little effort you might stop this happening to someone else.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/killer-hgv-driver-barry-meyer-who-mowed-down-alan-neve-jailed-for-three-and-a-half-years-10250978.html?fb_action_ids=10153790300234692&fb_action_types=og.shares
Get yourself a GoPro or something similar. I imagine being knocked off your bike, but with little evidence to the fact would be quite traumatic, leaving you unable to accurately remember the incident or take down registration numbers.
If you do have the driver or companies details, I would send them an email, but likely without corroborating evidence it is likely as not to do no real good.
I'd also talk directly to the driver to gauge his attitude. Assuming he's not an owner/driver, you can then raise it with his management who might also notice a pattern.
Agree about ignoring the pointless bit of stereotyping in the earlier reply.
Tbh OP, you don't sound like the sort of person who could have words with a lorry driver. Far too genteel
Another sad attempt by the cycling propagandists to paint themselves as a downtroden persecuted minority .
And we're off. Road tax? Helmets? Oooh don't forget lycra-nazis or whatever the term is.