On 2007-10-02, Martin Dann <
[email protected]> wrote:
> David Nutter wrote:
>
>> Nasty, glad you managed to alert the numpty before anything worse
>> happened. I had a similar incident this morning, though the left hook
>> was attempted at a junction where we were both turning left so
>> escaping wasn't too hard. Which is just as well, because my numpty had
>> definitely seen me and didn't stop when yelled at.
>
> Were you in a left turn only lane, of indicating left.
No, approaching an ordinary T-junction with limited visibility
(turning left at the corner of Greenhill Gardens and Strathearn
Place). Greenhill Gardens is one way (I was travelling "down" the
right hand leg on the map below) and is full of parked cars, speed
pillows and stuff emerging from driveways. This means primary position
all the way through, which probably caused a frustrated numpty.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=1203908015
I was indicating left but had to stop in order to perform the violent
change of direction necessary to avoid becoming a bonnet decoration on
numpty's crappy Mazda!
What I should've done is not start moving into the turn quite so early
as it's the road widening out slightly at the end (past the park cars
you can see on the sat image there) that allowed numpty to pull his
little trick. If I'd stayed on my original line, he'd have had to run
me over to get past there. As it was, he nearly did anyway, but I had
enough room on my inside to escape.
From the map you will also see that if he'd waited Whole Seconds he'd
have been able to overtake easily and safely on Strathearn Pl. Bah...
> I rarely indicate left now due to numpties doing things
> like this. Many car drivers take a racing line around
> corners, not realising that cyclists sometimes need extra
> room here.
I take your point, though I'm slightly wary about pissing off other
more sensible road users who would like to know what I'm about to do
next. In this situation though it would've likely helped.
Regards,
-david
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