I did my usual ten-minute ride from work to Durham station at 4:30 last night. There are usually
plenty of [censored] and close overtaking at that time but last night was a bit different. I get to
the main lights I have to go through and pass the cars (safely) up to the stop line, and stop. It's
an odd crossroads in that the main flow is around one of the 90 degree turns, thus when the lights
change there are no oncoming or turning cars on the junction.
So, lights change and I put my foot down to pull off away from the car at the front of the queue.
The junction itself has some broken tarmac so I tend to keep a wide (to the right) line across to
avoid the pot holes and then once I'm across I usually stay in the primary position. The road at
this point has standing traffic queueing in the oncoming lane and it is narrow with bends, grates
and junctions on both sides, I go down this road as fast as the cars if I am behind one so my
position isn't normally isn't a problem.
Last night though the car behind started sounding his horn at me. I had no intention of pulling left
until further down the road where it might be safe for it to overtake so I just kept going as
normal. As I passed the zebra crossing I pulled in a bit, he then overtook me on the crossing.
I was annoyed but thought that was the last of it as I took a left and he carried straight on.
However, as I get around to the station approach I see the car again---he's going to the station
but he took a different route. I need to turn left into the approach, he needs to turn right. He
flashes several times at me and then turns in front of me but immediately stops at an angle to
prevent me passing.
At this stage I assume a 6'5" skinhead with a baseball bat is going to get out and I quickly review
my options. I end up stopping because I had no choice, I glanced at the driver to see whether to
turn around and exercise my yellow streak. I see a 60 year old man shouting at me across his
passenger. I decide that I might as well ask him what the problem is.
He claimed I was "all over the place". I wasn't but still not a reason to pip. I explained that I
was cycling in the primary position as it was not safe for him to pass. He pointed out that as a
cyclist I was "not allowed to lead the traffic." I must admit to being a bit baffled at this and
suggested that the police might like to interpret his actions. I referred him to Cyclecraft and
mentioned the HC. He then told me that he was an ex-police officer and knew the rules of the road. I
suggested he didn't. I might have used a few expletives along the way. Anyway, he gave up arguing
and drove off towards the station.
If he was a copper then I sincerely hope he wasn't a traffic cop.
I'm still wondering if it is worth reporting, not for the original use of the horn but for the
subsequent harrassment.
Colin