Came within a whisker of being wiped out by a car door last week. Although the bloke had opened it a bit as I approached (and after reviewing the video, I thought I would have spotted that), he chucked it open just as I went level with his car. I had no time to react - brake or swerve. Either I was going to hit the door, or I wasn't.
I chucked a U-turn straight away and went back and had words with the driver. He claimed he'd looked "a second before", but that was complete rubbish. I think he cracked his door open, searched around for and then lit up a smoke, and then pushed the door open once it was alight. He didn't look.
I wasn't very happy with him. I called him a few rude names. Smashing into his door at 40km/h would not have been pleasant.
After the adrenaline wore off, I felt sick to the stomach - the shock kicking in I guess. It took a while before that feeling passed.
4 comments:
Reminded me of one of my closer shaves riding a bike around Sydney in the 1950s.
I was riding down Glebe Road on the narrow strip between cars parked at the kerb and the tram tracks. I could hear a tram coming from behind me.
The door of a parked car opened just as I arrived. The bike stopped but I flew over the car door and landed on my side in the middle of the tram tracks.
I was facing the tram and could see sparks coming from the brakes as it screeched towards me.
Just to help keep me calm, the poor bloody tram driver was ringing his bell like crazy and kept ringing it after he had stopped inches from my face.
Here's how to let off some steam:
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2011/03/challenging-new-zealand-marksmanship-game-tests-your-skills/
(Sorry, I suck at HTML)
Some people really are a danger to themselves and other people.
Having nearly been wiped out twice myself recently I fully sympathise. Looking at the footage it almost looks like the door was aimed at you.
The last person who nearly took me out was a woman who just cut across the road in front of me as I was pushing on in top. Nailed the brakes so hard that I nearly had the back wheel up in the air. The scary thing was she had no idea why I was so annoyed, she hadnt even notice me and I think but for the grace of god she would have driven clean over the top of me if I was half a second earlier.
Yep, definitely a lefty pinko anti war nuts and raisins type out to get you, be aware, very aware.
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