Inconsiderate motorists

I went for my usual training this morning, I had only ridden about 15km and had already had 5 near misses with cars.. The first two would you believe it were the same company but 2 different trucks.. I nearlly got sandwiched between the truck and a parked semi-trailor the first time. The second was just common sense which obviously the guy driving the truck had none of.. The 3rd near miss I had right away turning into another street and a old man in a truck nearlly hit me because he didn't obey road rules.. once he finally saw me wave my arms in the air and yell out 'HEY ARE YOU GOING TO STOP' he looked and laughed at me... hmmm by now my temper was rising.. no more then 2 km down the road the exact thing happened again at an intersection where I should have had right away and the car nearlly got me.. :mad:GRRR Do you ever go on rides and just think why do I bother when all I do is dodge accidents all ride??!!!
I just needed to have a winge. I wish motorists had a little more common sense/courtesy for cyclists, its not that HARD!!!!

were you wearing your cloak of invisibility? Sure sounds like it.
If you know the company for those two trucks call and/or write to the company and voice your complaints. do it in a nice way and it probably will help, your letter will be brought up in the next safety meeting.

yer I sure do think I was wearing my invisable cloak today...

I know the company, quite a few of their workers actually come into where I work so I might say something subtle to one of the guys I know and just try to make them more aware of cyclists...

Just one of those days I guess...

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Originally Posted by albe

I went for my usual training this morning, I had only ridden about 15km and had already had 5 near misses with cars...

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Something is terribly wrong here- 5 near misses in one short ride? I suspect you are unknowingly allowing yourself to get into dangerous situations.

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I nearlly got sandwiched between the truck and a parked semi-trailor the first time.

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How did you wind up in this position? Were you maybe riding alongside the moving lane of traffic, on the right side of them where there was no actual lane?

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The 3rd near miss I had right away turning into another street and a old man in a truck nearlly hit me because he didn't obey road rules.. once he finally saw me.... ....no more then 2 km down the road the exact thing happened again at an intersection where I should have had right away and the car nearlly got me..

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I will give you some helpful advice...
Always assume that cars and trucks do NOT see you- many times they do not see a bike til the last second and by then it's too hard to stop. Trucks especially have large blind spots and the drivers are high up and not looking for bikes- especially they won't see you if you are riding alongside them.
Just because you have the right of way does not mean anyone is going to give it to you.
Yes in a perfect world all drivers will be alert and courteous to bikers. But we are talking survival here. If you have 4 or 5 near misses with vehicles during one ride then something is truly not good about how you are riding in traffic. I would suggest that you are riding in such a way to be unwittingly putting yourself in danger.
Assume that vehicles are going to do the wrong thing. Assume they do not see you. Take control of your safety- don't put your life in their hands, hoping they will be courteous or obey laws or see you or give you right of way. Half the time they don't, but guess who loses either way when a truck and a bicycle collide?

No, I certainly was not riding in a way that put my self in any added danger... I ride on the shoulder of the road so there for out of cars ways.Its not that where I live there a stacks and stacks of cars driving around early in the morning.. Bit of a rear occurance to have 5 near misses on my roads also I must add. I am a very cautious, courties rider and always make sure I make eye contact with the person driving the car before I cross or turn or what ever i'm doing to ensure they have seen me.

You are right though, car's don't expect to see cyclists so are sometimes blind to them even if its not on purpose!

Today must have been day for blind drivers and lack of common sense and I will say on the motorists part definately not mine..

in regards to your question about how I got my self in the position to be nearlly sandwiched between a parked truck and a turning truck..here is the explanation.....

I was riding along and ahead of me was a parked semitrailor on the side of the road. As I was approaching the parked truck a council trucked screeched out of a side street and turned onto the road I was riding on. With the parked truck beside me and this council truck turning onto the road I was riding on there was no where I could go.. I could not possibly move over anyfurther as the parked semi was obviously in the way..

Second question about the turning intersection.

No cars behind me I looked and safely indicated that I was going to the turning lane (stil no cars behind me) I approached the intersection with no cars coming the opposite direction only one waiting to turn out of the road that I was wanting to turn into. I had made eye contact with him and the silly old man still kept coming... once i did wave my arms in the air he realised he had done wrong and laughed/smiled..

I believe that neither situation I put my self into danger where it could have been obviously avoided

I'm not trying to 'get on your case', but there are some common situations where riding on the shoulder, along the curb, or alongside the right side of moving traffic will set you up in a dangerous chain of events.
This is a very good web page that discusses some of these traffic scenarios in a simple clear way:
http://bicyclesafe.com/ Maybe one of your near misses this morning was similar to a situation discussed there? Just something to look into- we all want to be safer on our bikes. :)

Thanks, I'll check it out!