Commuting into town this morning, I decided to try a slightly different
route. This route involved stopping at some traffic lights. I was in the
cycle lane and I stopped at the advance cycle stop line thingy (forgive the
technical jargon). From this position I found it difficult to clearly make
out any traffic light. A postman on a bike stopped on the main part of the
road itself and he was holding his hand up so that he could look at the
nearest traffic light without being dazzled by the sun.
I knew from past experience that these lights take ages to change so I
decided to move my bike back a bit (still within the bicycle area) for a
better view. I still had to hold my hand up and squint.
First thingy of note that happened. I heard a rev from the white security
van behind me. I put my foot on the pedal and took a quick look around to
see if anyone else was moving. Nothing. I then returned to squinting at the
red light. The van driver then revs the engine again. Once again, I began
to wonder if I had missed something, put my foot on the pedal and then took
a look around. This time, I looked at the driver. He was grinning away and
laughing like an idiot. It occurred to me that he was perhaps reving his
engine to make me react.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, when we eventually did pull away, he
squirted me in the face with the water squirter thingy on his windscreen
wiper.
This is the second time that someone has done this to me at the traffic
lights. The first time, I am fairly sure that it was an accident. In that
instance, it occurred just after I first came to a halt. I don't think that
many drivers would be bold enough to do this to a cyclist who had just
pulled to a halt beside them. I remember thinking that the driver could
have been more considerate.
However, on this second occurrence, there is some circumstantial evidence
that the squirting was a malicious act. Is cyclist squirting the new sport
of van drivers?
When I got to work, I washed my face as it had started to tingle. Perhaps
there is some sort of cleaning agent in the water that is used in the
squirter? Last time this happened, I developed some spots and a cold sore
on the area around my nose where the water had landed. I suspect that water
from that source is filthy. This time, I have given my face a good scrub
and have applied some Savlon antiseptic cream.
So, are car drivers zapping my with their squirting devices or am I being
paranoid?
--
***My real address is m/ike at u/nmusic d/ot co dot u/k (removing /s)
http://www.unmusic.co.uk - about me, music, geek sitcom etc.
http://www.unmusic.co.uk/amh-s-faq.html - alt.music.home-studio
http://www.unmusic.co.uk/ukodb - uk outdoor bargain noticeboard.
