Out Yesterday and approaching a T junction (going out) last bit is single track, so you wait if car is coming in and they wait if you have blocked the road coming out.
I approach the narrow bit and car coming in so I bear left a bit and car should keep left and I can pass into narrow bit.
Car comes through and then I realise they is driving straight at me and car swerves to miss me
I can only conclude that the driver never saw me when they came though the narrow bit and at last moment saw me and swerved to miss me.
I was in full view and had not entered the narrow bit, lucky that I took avoiding action, well actually I didn't as they swerved first, and that would be my next move immediately. I could not see their face but I imagine that they were preoccupied with another task
Later on in same area I was turning right behind a car and notice they are on their mobile, so as the car turned right with me following behind I caught a glimpse of their face in wing mirror and pointed at them, immediately they dropped the phone and speed of like they do
But a road sweeper hoovering up mud from the road works was closing the gap going our way they raced for the gap between the sweeper and wall and just past I don't think they wanted a confrontation even with a cyclist.
That's............Not........Really.........The..Story.
On my way along a cycle path which was originally a footpath along what might have been a track adjacent to the railway (Goods single track).
I don't normally hang around but I do have to have my wits about me for sometimes groups or even a single cyclist come blindly into view, blocking the whole path (I am sure they think its one way).
This occasion came up very very quickly and at the moment I thought that we would collide head on with no room for passing,
I would bet my last penny that there would be injuries both sides.
I have never been that close.
One - two fast cyclists, not normally a problem as I always slow on the blind bits.
Two the other cyclist was easily my weight (all up 99kgs)
Three - not enough room for safe passing except at a fast trot.
Four - leaves covering the path.
Five - my hands were not on the brakes
I quickly braked without losing control and managed to bring the bike to a stop but that was not in the front of my mind.
What was, that there was simply not enough time for both of us to stop before we butted heads
I could only stop in the middle of what is a very narrow piece of hard ground with leaves and rubbish on both sides.
I now know why I was so worried, the other cyclist appeared not to slow at all and passed me at speed...........on My Inside
I don't think that cyclist anywhere are advised to pass on the right when meeting another cyclist
I have had a few try.
There are no markings on the path at all, no signs except one at the road entrance which says give way to pedestrians, I am assuming that it refers to the staggered gate which the sign is on but not that visible.
A moment after I stopped and the cyclist passed me I said *&$$!£ *&$$ not to the cyclist so much but to my surprise that I had not come to grief, on looking behind the cyclist sped off with out a blink.
Its apparent that the other cyclist who was matching my speed did not brake, slow and I will never know if they had always intended to pass me on the left (my left) but many cyclist I meet seem confused as to which side to pass.
Lucky for us both that I braked and left a slim path for them to go through.
If I had pulled up on my left not the middle (well there was only the middle) I am even more certain that we would of collided.
Its not just cars that worry me................................
