[ScottyBoy]

just to clarify my opinion there, people who do leave there car at home for reasons that its free and to help with conjestion etc, i do agree to that im just meerly pointing out that there is alot off cyclist that dont follow the rules of the road!

[Step_7]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yellow_Mini_Scott (original)

im just meerly pointing out that there is alot off cyclist that dont follow the rules of the road!

Just like there are a lot of car drivers who don't follow the rules of the road either......


If a road user is a idiot it won't matter if they are on a bike or driving a car or walking across it for that matter, they will still do stupid things.

[Morri7]

I cycle to work 3 days a week and try to obey the rules of the road as if I were driving a car - stopping at all the lights etc. No driver deliberately knocks a cyclist off their bike but sometimes I feel that a little more observation is needed simply because car drivers are looking out for cars and not bikes. It happens nearly every day - you can see drivers looking straight through you and only registering your approach at the last minute. I do think it is very important that cyclists should make every effort to make themselves seen and should wear the brightest fluresent clothing possible.
I personally would not even think about claiming against a driver unless I was seriously hurt and that it was clearly their fault. It sounds as if this cyclist would have nearly taken the wing mirror off the car as he was cycling so close.

I knocked a man over a couple of years ago he stepped in front of my car as I was turning right out of a minor road. It was the most awful experience of my life. Fortunately as I was only half way across the road and was not going at any speed. An ambulance was called and he was taken to hospital and released after 15 mins with no injuries. The police were called and were absolutely brilliant with me, very kind. I had a witness who stated to the police that there was nothing that I could have done to stop the accident happening as it was completely the other guys fault. The police took no further action. Despite this he claimed against me and my insurance company took it all the way to court. We won and the money grabber had to pay all the court costs, all my legal fees and expenses and a days wages for me and my witness! Served him right. He should never have tried to sue.

[spf]

I have given my details to be a witness to two car / cycle accidents - in both cases the driver of the car did not stand a chance as the cyclist came off the pavement across the road in front of the car and leaving no time for them to stop.

If there is any accident I always leave my details t ohelp just in case. Mainly because when I had an accident the other driver involved changed what he had said / was doing and it took 2 years to sort.

I think the claim culture is getting worse nowadays but fortunately in both these cases it did not occur.

[stuvoi]

Just going off topic slightly, when I worked in London I didn't see a single Bike obeying any of the Highway code in three years, (well maybe just the one)

Cycling on Payments / Cycling across Zebra Crossings, the wrong way down one way streets, through red lights, in underground stations, through lobbies, off buses, over cars (okay, I may have gotten a little carried away at the end, but you get my drift )

It's not surprising with some of the antics of cyclists that they are held in less than favourable regard with the rest of the motoring & pedestrian community.

Anyway, I have solved the dilema with who is to blame in the "Car Door Opening incident".
If I was cycling down the street and someone opened their car door on me, it would be HIS fault.
If I was parked and opened my door and a cyclist crashed into me, it would be HIS fault.
As I am never the cause of an accident, how can I be
Doesn't everyone feel the same ?

Stuart

[ScottyBoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by stuvoi (original)

Anyway, I have solved the dilema with who is to blame in the "Car Door Opening incident".
If I was cycling down the street and someone opened their car door on me, it would be HIS fault.
If I was parked and opened my door and a cyclist crashed into me, it would be HIS fault.
As I am never the cause of an accident, how can I be
Doesn't everyone feel the same
Stuart

Not at all......

if i was cycling down the road and i was not paying attention to the rules of the road, i.e cycling way to close the the cars etc and a car door opend slightly and i hit it and the blame was obvious to be the mine then thats the end of it...... if however 2 weeks down the line i decide to try and get a few quid from it by claiming then im a money grabber

but.....

if i was a driver and not paying attention to the TRAFFIC when i parked up and blatently did not check my mirror to see what was comin and opend the door and knocked over a cyclist then the blame is obviously mine again and if the cyclist has an injury then he's welcome to claim from what he may of lost i.e a broken bike, hospital charges, days pay etc etc.

IMO if theres an obvious reason for the accident and its clearly someone's fault then you shouldnt try and get out of it just because you maybe narrow minded about the situation and dont want to pay out in any way

i hope this makes sense

[Fin]

Don't blame it on the lawyers....

Don't blame it on the driver.....

Don't blame it on the cyclist....


.....Blame it on the boogie

[stuvoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yellow_Mini_Scott (original)

Not at all......

if i was cycling down the road and i was not paying attention to the rules of the road, i.e cycling way to close the the cars etc and a car door opend slightly and i hit it and the blame was obvious to be the mine then thats the end of it...... if however 2 weeks down the line i decide to try and get a few quid from it by claiming then im a money grabber

but.....

if i was a driver and not paying attention to the TRAFFIC when i parked up and blatently did not check my mirror to see what was comin and opend the door and knocked over a cyclist then the blame is obviously mine again and if the cyclist has an injury then he's welcome to claim from what he may of lost i.e a broken bike, hospital charges, days pay etc etc.

IMO if theres an obvious reason for the accident and its clearly someone's fault then you shouldnt try and get out of it just because you maybe narrow minded about the situation and dont want to pay out in any way

i hope this makes sense

Hiya

My comment was intended in a light hearted way to say that when looking at a situation there's always two viewpoints, things aren't always cut and dried.

Sometimes as the driver you look and the cyclist takes care, but an accident ensues, now both parties know they are in the right, the cyclist may be unhurt, but has broken the door of the mini, or the car may be damaged and the cyclist injured, but I've had a drink and lost my train of thought, except to say "touch wood" no one has crashed their bikes into my car either by accident or on purpose.

Stu

[Torquemada]

Quote: Originally Posted by stuvoi (original)

Hiya

My comment was intended in a light hearted way to say that when looking at a situation there's always two viewpoints, things aren't always cut and dried.

Sometimes as the driver you look and the cyclist takes care, but an accident ensues, now both parties know they are in the right, the cyclist may be unhurt, but has broken the door of the mini, or the car may be damaged and the cyclist injured, but I've had a drink and lost my train of thought, except to say "touch wood" no one has crashed their bikes into my car either by accident or on purpose.

Stu

lol I got what ya were saying, bud. Think Yellow_Mini_Scott was getting a bit touchy there hehe

[ScottyBoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Torquemada (original)

lol I got what ya were saying, bud. Think Yellow_Mini_Scott was getting a bit touchy there hehe

Nahh i wasnt! i was jus picturing the thought of some one crashing into my mini and it being ther fault and they person who was to blame had stuvoi's thought off mind that he wud be addament that he was not to blame and therefor making the situation a whole lot worse! its not happend to me but to a family member before and its not a nice situation when something has happend to your pride and joy

i wernt being touchy lol! just when i was typing i was picturing me arguing with someone in the middle of the road causing a tail back for miles and him/ her saying " well i cant be to blame" and me getting all angry etc....

[Torquemada]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yellow_Mini_Scott (original)

Nahh i wasnt! i was jus picturing the thought of some one crashing into my mini and it being ther fault and they person who was to blame had stuvoi's thought off mind that he wud be addament that he was not to blame and therefor making the situation a whole lot worse! its not happend to me but to a family member before and its not a nice situation when something has happend to your pride and joy

i wernt being touchy lol! just when i was typing i was picturing me arguing with someone in the middle of the road causing a tail back for miles and him/ her saying " well i cant be to blame" and me getting all angry etc....

oooohooooo! not touchy eh? lol, just kidding, I was being a bit of a wind up there mate, hooked ya though
I fully understood what you were saying too mate, just felt like taking the mick

Tom

[ScottyBoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Torquemada (original)

oooohooooo! not touchy eh? lol, just kidding, I was being a bit of a wind up there mate, hooked ya though
I fully understood what you were saying too mate, just felt like taking the mick

Tom

Touchy........Touchy........... well the roof has blown........... off in the wind
only kiddin a bit of banter is great lol im fine........HoNeStLy argghhh lol

[Torquemada]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yellow_Mini_Scott (original)

Touchy........Touchy........... well the roof has blown........... off in the wind
only kiddin a bit of banter is great lol im fine........HoNeStLy argghhh lol

pmsl, cheers bud.

T

[lespurgeon]

I have a very mixed opinion here.

I bike to work every day. I obey traffic laws. I am frequently cut-off, squeezed out of the lane that I am legally in, and otherwise witness dangerous driver behaviour. Bicycles are treated as vehicles in most U.S. traffic laws, with a few exceptions (cant ride on limited-access freeways). Those drivers should be cited.

I have gone over a car door some 10 years ago that was thrown open in front of me. I walked away, paid for repairs to my bike, and was sore for weeks. The guy said sorry - then made a hasty get-away. I probably had a case. If I understand the law in the U.S. if you open you car door and a car comes along and rips it off, it is your fault for opening it unsafely. That extended, it is the drivers fault for opening a car door unsafely in front of a cyclist.

On the other hand, if the door was being opened cautiosly - a few inches then looking back to make sure nothng coming, and a cyclist ran into it, then yes, the cyclist likely was not riding safely.

Safely sharing the road is a 2-way street. both drivers and cyclists SHOULD do their part. Drivers, don't crowd cyclists. Cyclist need to be careful and obey traffic laws - and I would say most important - not place pedestrians at risk.

[stuvoi]

Smiles all round