My first funny experience with a motorist
 

So I was out on a lovely ride this morning exploring some new (to me) territory around my city. I was headed back on a road that was under construction (normally 4 lanes but narrowed down to 2) and had traffic pylons (not cones, but the bigger plastic rectangle things) separating the two lanes.

There I was, minding my own business hugging the far right side of the lane when a young-ish girl in a van suddenly swerves around me to try and pass more safely or whatever. I looked to my left right as she obliterated one of the traffic pylons and then slammed on her brakes. Plastic was flying everywhere, accompanied by the lovely smell of tires and brake pads burning. I was watching the girl out of the corner of my eye as I passed, and I think she was glaring at me, because I obviously made her run over the thing... right. I just chuckled to myself, smiled and kept right on riding. That gave me a good laugh for the last few miles of my ride.

Silly girl, traffic pylons aren't supposed to be run over with your van. Hahaha.

Tom

you should have stop to see if every thing was ok. You were part of the accident.

yeah...maybe next time she'll go for the cyclist.

Yes, shame on her for not buzzing right next to you...

I don't get it. Why exactly is that a funny incident? Because a young girl crashes into a pylon? I could maybe understand it if the girl was being a total jerk and then got her just desserts, but I just don't get it.

Because she has no patience....?

Sorry, I left a few details out of the story.

Probably about 2 seconds after I passed her, she was driving again and ended up turning right onto a different street about 100 feet from where she passed me. If she would have waited 100 feet, roughly 5 or so seconds in her car I would guess, she could have just turned right and been done with me and not had to try and swerve around me and dodge traffic cones.

I honestly had no idea that this would be classified as me being part of the accident. Do you really think so? I'll be the first to admit that I'm a newbie when it comes to riding on populated roads, so maybe I just don't know what I should have done in this situation.

No, you're fine. She was probably talking on a cell phone, smoking a cigarette, putting on makeup, and eating a Big Mac. I laugh when anyone who shouldn't have a license wrecks.

And if you cause a wreck, you obviously don't need a license yet.

Phew. At least a few people agree with me on this! haha.

Its funny because she hit a giant, orange stationary object. Doesn't say much for her driving skills.

It sounds to me like a young driver making a mistake -and it's good it was a pylon. Doesn't sound any stupider, or funnier thant about 100 mistakes I made in my first few years of driving. Most were harmless and I never hurt anyone, but believe me, there were some errors in judgement.

I'm in the midst of teaching the second of two kids to drive. Kids, or any driver for that matter, just screw up. They are inexperienced and make mistakes.

Sounds like she misjudged the situation, and probably wont' do it again. It's always good when learning experiences are relatively harmless.

The girl may be a crappy driver, but at least she did make an attempt to pass by you in a safe manner. I don't think cyclists won any points today in our quest to earn mutual respect on the road when she saw the guy she was trying to avoid ride away and laugh after she crashed.

Edit: was much needed for clarity.

Jezzz. Why do we have to hate drivers just because we love cycling? Isn't being on the road in the air enough? Where's the love?

i agree. sounds like she tried to do the right thing and had a problem with it. least you could have done was make sure she was okay. you might have been able to get her number :rolleyes:

So I take it you didn't get digits?

no he wasn't.

I'm wondering if she said "on your left".

So she tries to give you extra space, misjudges it and you get a good laugh out of it.

Stopping would have been the right thing to do, even if you feel you weren't "part" of the acccident

^^ I agree, I would of stopped and ask if she was OK, after all she was only trying to be courtious towards you.

+1

Hahaha

Yeah, now that I'm looking back on the situation a day later, I probably should have stopped to see if everything was ok. I realize that laughing and riding on probably wasn't the kindest thing to do, but it's what I did, so whatever. Next time it happens I'll probably have a different response.