Should have left this one for the keeper....
Posted: 01 Jun 2009, 08:52
On Saturday, I went for a ride through the three Gorges, as the Renegade Ride was cancelled, and the weather was pretty average, it was a solo ride.
When I got to the intersection at Mona Vale Rd, I was in the left hand lane as I was going straight through. Despite the low volume of traffic, a motorist decided that he wanted to share the lane with me, and pulled up beside me. He indicated that I should move further left and get out of his way. I refused and tried to argue that I had rights to use an entire lane.
When the lights changed, neither he nor I gave any ground, and I (foolishly) kicked his car as he went past.
He then tried to cut me off, and I went onto the pedestrian island, and he stopped further up the road. He then walked back to me with a phone saying he was calling the police. He didn't know the number so was calling directory enquires and there was no Pymble Police Station.
I asked him where the damage was to his car (knowing that there was a high chance that there was none. I wouldn't have been able to kick very hard, and I was wearing neoprene shoe covers). We went over to his car, and he had a close inspection. I could see from a distance that there was no damage. He then hung up his phone, told me to "F*ck Off" gave me a push and went to leave.
I asked him what was so important on a Saturday morning at 6:50am which required him to bully me off the road. He got back in my face, and I held my ground, he said a few more words and then shoved me again, and also swore at me. I took note of his number plate, making sure that he knew that I did so.
He even said that I was welcome to report him. I did seriously consider it. I was going past Hornsby Police Station as part of the route. However I didn't.
First, because I probably would have been cautioned for kicking his car, even though I was in the right to hold the lane. He may have been given a visit by the boys in blue and warned about his actions (the fact that he shoved me could be considered assault). But generally, I didn't bother because I didn't think that it would make a difference. He is probably one of the motorists out there who think that we use the roads at the sufferance of motorists. A visit by the police would have probably pissed him off even more (I don't think that his blood pressure was all that healthy anyway), and this would have made him more dangerous to other cyclists.
In hindsight. I should have just bitten my tongue, and at worst given him a rude gesture. At the end of the whole incident I think that I was lucky to finish the encounter with the bike still working and all of my front teeth.
Be careful out there
James
When I got to the intersection at Mona Vale Rd, I was in the left hand lane as I was going straight through. Despite the low volume of traffic, a motorist decided that he wanted to share the lane with me, and pulled up beside me. He indicated that I should move further left and get out of his way. I refused and tried to argue that I had rights to use an entire lane.
When the lights changed, neither he nor I gave any ground, and I (foolishly) kicked his car as he went past.
He then tried to cut me off, and I went onto the pedestrian island, and he stopped further up the road. He then walked back to me with a phone saying he was calling the police. He didn't know the number so was calling directory enquires and there was no Pymble Police Station.
I asked him where the damage was to his car (knowing that there was a high chance that there was none. I wouldn't have been able to kick very hard, and I was wearing neoprene shoe covers). We went over to his car, and he had a close inspection. I could see from a distance that there was no damage. He then hung up his phone, told me to "F*ck Off" gave me a push and went to leave.
I asked him what was so important on a Saturday morning at 6:50am which required him to bully me off the road. He got back in my face, and I held my ground, he said a few more words and then shoved me again, and also swore at me. I took note of his number plate, making sure that he knew that I did so.
He even said that I was welcome to report him. I did seriously consider it. I was going past Hornsby Police Station as part of the route. However I didn't.
First, because I probably would have been cautioned for kicking his car, even though I was in the right to hold the lane. He may have been given a visit by the boys in blue and warned about his actions (the fact that he shoved me could be considered assault). But generally, I didn't bother because I didn't think that it would make a difference. He is probably one of the motorists out there who think that we use the roads at the sufferance of motorists. A visit by the police would have probably pissed him off even more (I don't think that his blood pressure was all that healthy anyway), and this would have made him more dangerous to other cyclists.
In hindsight. I should have just bitten my tongue, and at worst given him a rude gesture. At the end of the whole incident I think that I was lucky to finish the encounter with the bike still working and all of my front teeth.
Be careful out there
James