Whilst there is no doubt that some drivers have a shocking lack of regard for cyclist either through deliberate acts or carelessness (I suspect the latter in most cases), I have never gone after the culprit on the offensive. I can't see the point, other than it may vent a certain amount immediate anger and fear on the part of the cyclist. I admit that I have an urge to shout something or bang on the vehicle if I fall victim to bad or aggressive driving, but this must be resisted as it can only exacerbate the situation and set cyclist and driver at each other's throat. This is no good for anyone and will create or harden further animosity between cyclist and driver for the future. When I have had the need to say something, where possible I have caught up with drivers and said something along the lines of, "you came very close to me back there and I thought for a moment that you were going to knock me off my bike. I'd feel much safer if you could give me a few inches of more space next time and I'd also appreciate it too. " Responses have ranged fro F Off to acceptance and an apology, but I would like to bet that in all cases it has made the driver think and that probably leads to them behaving a bit more carefully next time. It's difficult to keep calm, but difficult usually leads to the better outcome in all walks of life. It's easy to cave in to spontaneous emotion.
I was knocked off my bike a week ago last Friday by a pedestrian. I was cycling along an arrow straight flat section of national speed limit single carriageway road. It had a pavement on my near side with two female pedestrians walking towards me, both head down tapping away on smart phones. The instant I was almost level with them, the one closest to me suddenly lurched towards the road, lost her footing on the kerb and stepped backwards into the road and into my path. As she turned to step backwards a huge rucksack on her back presented itself and stuck even further out into the road, which slammed into my left shoulder. This unsettled the bike and brought the front wheel into the kerb sending me sliding along the cheese grater textured pavement with the bike still clipped onto my feet. According to Strava (cycling app) I hit her at 24 mph.
The grazing to my left side was quite nasty, but I have healed remarkably well and I am full fit again now. I was more upset about the damage to my new bike's handlebars and shifters (only had it a month), but at least I have learnt a new skill from the experience, handlebar tape binding, and the frame is unblemished. The woman was very apologetic and offered to call for an ambulance, but I was so angry that I couldn't speak to her. I knew that if I said just one word it would be like breaching a dam wall and an unstoppable tirade of abuse would follow. So I chose to sit on the pavement gazing at the ground in total silence until they both waddled off down the road. I think she got the message and maybe she will reflect on what could have happened if I had been driving a vehicle.
