It was the last few kilometres of a 40km solo ride, a junction this UpRider has ridden through more times than he can count, and a young driver who was looking the wrong way at exactly the wrong moment.
UpRide turns daily rides into data that drives change.
Every UpRider has a story. Here is Rich’s.
What happened prior to this incident and why do you record your ride?
I was out on a 40km solo ride, getting close to the end. I have been through this crossroads a gazillion times and always take extra care. Drivers often misjudge the speed of traffic coming into the village, they are looking for faster vehicles rather than cyclists. This young lad and his mates were looking the wrong way when he decided to go, just as I entered the junction to turn left. Thankfully his mate was paying more attention than he was, called out a warning, and the car stopped, I think he stalled on the junction too!
To be fair, I got an apology, and hopefully he will have learned something from the experience.
When do you feel most vulnerable as a cyclist?
When there is a fast-moving queue of cars trying to get past. Usually the worst offenders are the third and fourth in line, they are just following the leader and only care about getting past, not about driving safely.
What do you think are the most important things that can be done to improve safety for cyclists on the road?
I would like to say infrastructure, but it is so inconsistently designed, built, funded, and maintained that I think education, of both drivers and cyclists, is far more effective. Also, get more bicycles on the road. The more cyclists there are, the harder it becomes to ignore the fact that roads are a shared space and not the sole domain of self-entitled drivers.
What is your advice for other cyclists?
Yes, it can be scary – but try not to let bad experiences keep you off your bike. Take sensible measures to make yourself visible, anticipate everything, and stay as safe as you can. The more we ride, the more we are noticed.
Real UpRides. Real stories.
Submit yours to UpRide.