Waiting behind a van at the Mont Albert Rd / Burke Rd lights yesterday, I was a little suprised to find the van suddenly start reversing, and then keep reversing despite my flashing lights in his window and my protests. I was unable to get out of his way before the rear bumber caught my new back wheel which is wrecked. When I enquired as to why he did this, through the 1 inch slit of the drivers window, this upstanding citizen replied "Sorry mate, my foot slipped". I told him that this was a lame and pathetic excuse and that he had stuffed my derailer (which I thought he had), to which he replied " ". Nothing but silence for the next minute or so until the lights turned green and he drove off. Mr. Plod was most encouraging of my report and will be having a chat to the driver forthwith. I am in little doubt that this was a deliberate act, and this very brave example of manliness manged to commit 2 driving offences (reversing when ensafe and failing to exchange details), to which hopefully he'll have to answer to his/her Worship.
Waiting behind a van at the Mont Albert Rd / Burke Rd lights yesterday, I was a little suprised to find the van suddenly start reversing, and then keep reversing despite my flashing lights in his window and my protests. I was unable to get out of his way before the rear bumber caught my new back wheel which is wrecked. When I enquired as to why he did this, through the 1 inch slit of the drivers window, this upstanding citizen replied "Sorry mate, my foot slipped". I told him that this was a lame and pathetic excuse and that he had stuffed my derailer (which I thought he had), to which he replied " ". Nothing but silence for the next minute or so until the lights turned green and he drove off. Mr. Plod was most encouraging of my report and will be having a chat to the driver forthwith. I am in little doubt that this was a deliberate act, and this very brave example of manliness manged to commit 2 driving offences (reversing when ensafe and failing to exchange details), to which hopefully he'll have to answer to his/her Worship.
Yes, there really is an [censored] born every minute. How did he back into your _back_ wheel?
Waiting behind a van at the Mont Albert Rd / Burke Rd lights yesterday, I was a little suprised to find the van suddenly start reversing, and then keep reversing despite my flashing lights in his window and my protests. I was unable to get out of his way before the rear bumber caught my new back wheel which is wrecked. When I enquired as to why he did this, through the 1 inch slit of the drivers window, this upstanding citizen replied "Sorry mate, my foot slipped". I told him that this was a lame and pathetic excuse and that he had stuffed my derailer (which I thought he had), to which he replied " ". Nothing but silence for the next minute or so until the lights turned green and he drove off. Mr. Plod was most encouraging of my report and will be having a chat to the driver forthwith. I am in little doubt that this was a deliberate act, and this very brave example of manliness manged to commit 2 driving offences (reversing when ensafe and failing to exchange details), to which hopefully he'll have to answer to his/her Worship.
Yes, there really is an [censored] born every minute. How did he back into your _back_ wheel?
Theo[/QUOTE]
I usually feed through to the front of traffic at the lights but as he was the only one at the stop, it was early in the morning and I wasn't in any hurry, I stopped behind him. I watched the reversing lights go on and as he slowly reversed, I even more slowly realised that he wasn't going to stop, so as I scrambled away to the side, with on foot still clipped in, he cuaght the back of my rear wheel. He seemed neither suprised when I confronted him about hitting me nor in any way remorseful which lead me to think it was deliberate.
On Aug 3, 10:19 am, vaudegiant <vaudegiant.2up...@no-
mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:
Waiting behind a van at the Mont Albert Rd / Burke Rd lights yesterday, I was a little suprised to find the van suddenly start reversing, and then keep reversing despite my flashing lights in his window and my protests. I was unable to get out of his way before the rear bumber caught my new back wheel which is wrecked. When I enquired as to why he did this, through the 1 inch slit of the drivers window, this upstanding citizen replied "Sorry mate, my foot slipped". I told him that this was a lame and pathetic excuse and that he had stuffed my derailer (which I thought he had), to which he replied " ". Nothing but silence for the next minute or so until the lights turned green and he drove off. Mr. Plod was most encouraging of my report and will be having a chat to the driver forthwith. I am in little doubt that this was a deliberate act, and this very brave example of manliness manged to commit 2 driving offences (reversing when ensafe and failing to exchange details), to which hopefully he'll have to answer to his/her Worship.
Pat
-- vaudegiant
My admiration for your self-discipline. This will stand you in good stead with hizonner. If you had done the reasonable thing and broken his window in order to choke him, you would have blown it. You might need to see a lawyer about getting compensation - the criminal/road offence actions won't fix your bike, I think. Many lawyers will give you a free phone consult.
so, in retrospect, was moving through parked traffic a wise choice for you?? Why not wait in line - he prolly passed you 3 times already and had the [censored] with you. You need to read people. He still ought not to have backed over your wheel, that's pretty dumb but people are weird little critters. I may be wrong. Jock
"vaudegiant" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Waiting behind a van at the Mont Albert Rd / Burke Rd lights yesterday, I was a little suprised to find the van suddenly start reversing, and then keep reversing despite my flashing lights in his window and my protests. I was unable to get out of his way before the rear bumber caught my new back wheel which is wrecked. When I enquired as to why he did this, through the 1 inch slit of the drivers window, this upstanding citizen replied "Sorry mate, my foot slipped". I told him that this was a lame and pathetic excuse and that he had stuffed my derailer (which I thought he had), to which he replied " ". Nothing but silence for the next minute or so until the lights turned green and he drove off. Mr. Plod was most encouraging of my report and will be having a chat to the driver forthwith. I am in little doubt that this was a deliberate act, and this very brave example of manliness manged to commit 2 driving offences (reversing when ensafe and failing to exchange details), to which hopefully he'll have to answer to his/her Worship.
so, in retrospect, was moving through parked traffic a wise choice for you?? Why not wait in line - he prolly passed you 3 times already and had the [censored] with you.
From Vaudie's point of view, he had prolly already passed this van three times but the guy insisted on passing him yet again. Surely passing a bicycle in heavy traffic in a van is so dangerous, inconvenient, and pointless, you may as well stay behind them. :-)
so, in retrospect, was moving through parked traffic a wise choice for you?? Why not wait in line - he prolly passed you 3 times already and had the [censored] with you. You need to read people. He still ought not to have backed over your wheel, that's pretty dumb but people are weird little critters. I may be wrong. Jock
Um.....you're right...... you are wrong. I didn't move through parked traffic, he was waiting at a red light when I rode up and stopped behind him. It was 7 am with no other traffic around.
I did in fact wait in line....a line of 2.
It's hard to read people, and completely uneccessary, when you pull up behind them.
You make it it sound like a nice tete-e-tete between us. It was at least low speed, which was rather considerate of him.
My admiration for your self-discipline. This will stand you in good stead with hizonner. If you had done the reasonable thing and broken his window in order to choke him, you would have blown it. You might need to see a lawyer about getting compensation - the criminal/road offence actions won't fix your bike, I think. Many lawyers will give you a free phone consult.
donga
Thanks. Not my usual style. I often do a good impersonation of a Catholic Dean when these things happen, and always later wish I had shown a little more civility. Knowing that he had committed an offence and that I had his rego did give some peace of mind at the time. I'm hoping to go through his insurance for reparations.
I'm hoping to go through his insurance for reparations.
That would be a good outcome for you, but you need his insurance details (ie from him; I don't know any other way of getting them). Have the police given you his info or are they even allowed to? Then again, if you are lucky you might be in a position to memorise them at the time of your report / statement when the police look up the rego details.
Depending on the wheel, it may not be worth him paying the excess on his car insurance.
Seems like some legal advice may be in order. If you are a BV member they may be able to draft a letter of demand etc.
That would be a good outcome for you, but you need his insurance details (ie from him; I don't know any other way of getting them). Have the police given you his info or are they even allowed to? Then again, if you are lucky you might be in a position to memorise them at the time of your report / statement when the police look up the rego details.
Depending on the wheel, it may not be worth him paying the excess on his car insurance.
Seems like some legal advice may be in order. If you are a BV member they may be able to draft a letter of demand etc.
Thanks. Yes, in the end, it may not be worth anyone's time pursuing payment. Only a brand new $300 wheel. Given that he is required by law to exchange details at the time of the accident, I don't see why he can't be compelled to provide them at some other time, but it's not about the money....although that would be good.
"vaudegiant" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
roshea said:
That would be a good outcome for you, but you need his insurance details (ie *from him*; I don't know any other way of getting them). Have the police given you his info or are they even allowed to? Then again, if you are lucky you might be in a position to memorise them at the time of your report / statement when the police look up the rego details.
Depending on the wheel, it may not be worth him paying the excess on his car insurance.
Seems like some legal advice may be in order. If you are a BV member they may be able to draft a letter of demand etc.
Thanks. Yes, in the end, it may not be worth anyone's time pursuing payment. Only a brand new $300 wheel. Given that he is required by law to exchange details at the time of the accident, I don't see why he can't be compelled to provide them at some other time, but it's not about the money....although that would be good.
Pat
Then again, what if it was your leg, and not the wheel...
On Aug 3, 5:07 pm, vaudegiant <vaudegiant.2uq...@no-
mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:
roshea said:
That would be a good outcome for you, but you need his insurance details (ie *from him*; I don't know any other way of getting them). Have the police given you his info or are they even allowed to? Then again, if you are lucky you might be in a position to memorise them at the time of your report / statement when the police look up the rego details.
Quoted message said:
Depending on the wheel, it may not be worth him paying the excess on his car insurance.
Quoted message said:
Seems like some legal advice may be in order. If you are a BV member they may be able to draft a letter of demand etc.
Thanks. Yes, in the end, it may not be worth anyone's time pursuing payment. Only a brand new $300 wheel. Given that he is required by law to exchange details at the time of the accident, I don't see why he can't be compelled to provide them at some other time, but it's not about the money....although that would be good.
Pat
-- vaudegiant
If you make a claim with the insurance company then they are likely to chase him, they have deep pockets to chase.
Then again, what if it was your leg, and not the wheel...
Yeah you should be asking the police to press criminal assault charges. And why let him off with just insurance when you can make him think again next time?
so, in retrospect, was moving through parked traffic a wise choice for you?? Why not wait in line - he prolly passed you 3 times already and had the [censored] with you. You need to read people. He still ought not to have backed over your wheel, that's pretty dumb but people are weird little critters. I may be wrong. Jock
What the heck are you talking about, Jock? Cyclists can legally filter. No point trying to argue with you that it's sensible too, which it is. However, it's not up to people to get [censored] about this and drive over someone's bike and possibly their leg/body too!
so, in retrospect, was moving through parked traffic a wise choice for you?? Why not wait in line - he prolly passed you 3 times already and had the [censored] with you. You need to read people. He still ought not to have backed over your wheel, that's pretty dumb but people are weird little critters. I may be wrong. Jock
What the heck are you talking about, Jock? Cyclists can legally filter. No point trying to argue with you that it's sensible too, which it is. However, it's not up to people to get [censored] about this and drive over someone's bike and possibly their leg/body too!
donga[/QUOTE]
And it is situations like this as to why a 9 month prison sentence for killing a cyclist while driving isn't long enough
I am in little doubt that this was a deliberate act, and this very brave example of manliness manged to commit 2 driving offences (reversing when ensafe and failing to exchange details), to which hopefully he'll have to answer to his/her Worship.
Similar story from a couple of years ago, while cycling along Sydney Rd I stopped for ped lights. A small delivery van thought this was a opportunity to straighten up in the parking space alongside me, and proceeded to reverse into my front wheel. After much yelling (from witnesses from both sides of the street) the twit stopped, then noticed he had a bike hooked up under the rear molded bumper. Unfortunately for him, as I pulled my front wheel clear, most of the rear bumper strip came away.
Bike: ok, although slightly dodgy headset, but rim, tread fine. Van: don't know how the driver was going to tell the boss what happened. I offered to exchange details but he didn't take up the offer. In retrospect maybe this dose of instant karma was all too embarrassing to deal with. 😉
I am in little doubt that this was a deliberate act, and this very brave example of manliness manged to commit 2 driving offences (reversing when ensafe and failing to exchange details), to which hopefully he'll have to answer to his/her Worship.
Similar story from a couple of years ago, while cycling along Sydney Rd I stopped for ped lights. A small delivery van thought this was a opportunity to straighten up in the parking space alongside me, and proceeded to reverse into my front wheel. After much yelling (from witnesses from both sides of the street) the twit stopped, then noticed he had a bike hooked up under the rear molded bumper. Unfortunately for him, as I pulled my front wheel clear, most of the rear bumper strip came away.
Bike: ok, although slightly dodgy headset, but rim, tread fine. Van: don't know how the driver was going to tell the boss what happened. I offered to exchange details but he didn't take up the offer. In retrospect maybe this dose of instant karma was all too embarrassing to deal with. 😉
I saw a similar but different thing with a motorbike in Vic Park in Perth. A guy on a large fast looking motorbike waiting to turn right is waiting for an opening in the traffic, a guy is behind in a small Japanese car. The guy in the car lets the car creep forward and it rides up on the back wheel of the motorbike. The bike is held in place until I get the driver to reverse back. The motor bike suffers no damage and takes off leaving the car with a big crease in its plastic bumper.
"Donga" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Jock said:
so, in retrospect, was moving through parked traffic a wise choice for you?? Why not wait in line - he prolly passed you 3 times already and had the [censored] with you. You need to read people. He still ought not to have backed over your wheel, that's pretty dumb but people are weird little critters. I may be wrong. Jock
What the heck are you talking about, Jock? Cyclists can legally filter. No point trying to argue with you that it's sensible too, which it is. However, it's not up to people to get [censored] about this and drive over someone's bike and possibly their leg/body too!
donga
legal isn't always thoughtful or wise IMO. People do get [censored] for the silliest reasons - not only with cyclists, with all road users and if you have no protective panelling as a powered or pedalling cyclist, is it not wise to minimise your chances of some peanut doing silly stuff to you? A higher average speed / shorter trip time shouldn't mean personal risk taking where you could get done like a dinner. Just my opinion. Jock
