had a little run in with a large motorised vehicle of the kind used to maintain highways on tuesday last week.
6am on a dark lane, big rumbling noise sitting on my rear wheel. Lots of twists and turns but they sit there for a while, then with 2 turns left to go, I hear the engine rumble a lot louder and he pulls out to overtake.
I thought he might do something so was on my guard and sure enough, just as he pulls in front, a car appears on the other side. He very quickly slams on the anchors and pulls back into my lane. running me off the road into the verge.
Few years worth of riding round central london and i've had a fair few knock and spills, but nothing scared and angered me like that. no spill, no scrapes, I didn't even stop but I was shaking like a leaf.
got to my lifts house and phoned the police. managed to get some kind of fix on the number plate, and passed the details on. very understanding young officer took the call and although she couldn't match my version of the plate, she did assure me that "we have out secret ways".
Also phoned the local authority to find out who was in charge of this particular department and left them with some details about what had happened.
>>>>>>>>
fast forward to today, a few phonecalls and an email or two.
The driver of the truck has been identified, has apologised (not in person, but it'll do) and so I've been told, put on a saftey course.
The subcontracting company have also said that they'll rebrief all their drivers on bike safety as will the company who contracted them.
Yet to hear anything from local constabulary, but even taken with a pinch of salt, it's more than I was expecting!
6am on a dark lane, big rumbling noise sitting on my rear wheel. Lots of twists and turns but they sit there for a while, then with 2 turns left to go, I hear the engine rumble a lot louder and he pulls out to overtake.
I thought he might do something so was on my guard and sure enough, just as he pulls in front, a car appears on the other side. He very quickly slams on the anchors and pulls back into my lane. running me off the road into the verge.
Few years worth of riding round central london and i've had a fair few knock and spills, but nothing scared and angered me like that. no spill, no scrapes, I didn't even stop but I was shaking like a leaf.
got to my lifts house and phoned the police. managed to get some kind of fix on the number plate, and passed the details on. very understanding young officer took the call and although she couldn't match my version of the plate, she did assure me that "we have out secret ways".
Also phoned the local authority to find out who was in charge of this particular department and left them with some details about what had happened.
>>>>>>>>
fast forward to today, a few phonecalls and an email or two.
The driver of the truck has been identified, has apologised (not in person, but it'll do) and so I've been told, put on a saftey course.
The subcontracting company have also said that they'll rebrief all their drivers on bike safety as will the company who contracted them.
Yet to hear anything from local constabulary, but even taken with a pinch of salt, it's more than I was expecting!