Same old story again: I was being overtaken by a lorry, and the driver forgot that there is an awful lot of lorry left behind the cabin. he turned in, bumped my shoulder and all of a sudden yours truly went flying arse over tit into the ditch, missing a traffic sign post with inches to spare. Fortunately I landed in soft grass, unhurt but furious beyond words. I bounced back up in time to see the lorry moving away and displayed a bit of very rude body language for the benefit of the driver.

Knowing that there was a roadwork area with slow speed a mile away, I jumped back on the bike and went after him, pedalling as hard as I possibly could. I nearly made it, but the lorry pulled past the roadwork just as I was about to catch up. Maybe just as well, considering my state of mind.

Right then a car driver called for my attention: It turned out that he had seen the whole thing, raced after the lorry and gotten its number. I found another witness and reported the incident to the police. Now I am awaiting the fireworks. That driver is really in for it.

/Claes

Good to hear you weren't hurt, not to mention a witness seeing the event and getting the lorry's number.

The lorry driver - Hit and Run, Leaving the scene of an accident. I wonder what else he could be charged with.

Thank's both of you.

Yes, there is hit and run, and leaving the scene. There is also reckless driving: I assume that he is sporting a drivers licence, not a licence to kill. I have every intention of discussing that with him as soon as the police tracks him down.

/Claes

There are a lot of streets in my area which have a wide area for (I *assume*) disabled cars to pull over. They may in fact be a defacto "bike lane" but there are no markings indicating that's what they're for. I know the local police will ticket someone in a car who, for example, at a corner pulls into that "lane" to turn right. A friend was over here and thought they were turn lanes or something and got a warning.

On the other hand, do a Google Earth and go to street view to see where I live (the view is about 3 years old, the house and yard have changed a bit but the street hasn't changed). It's on about a 1 mile section (with an "S" turn and "ups" and "downs" (not at all level so you don't always know what's over the hill or around the bend) of what's left of what was at one time an old country road. The white line on the edge of the road is quite literally the edge of the road. I see bikers on it a lot and I cringe. I always slow down and pass with a wide berth. If a car is coming from the other direction I'll stay behind the biker until it passes so I can pass with plenty of room. Many people in cars use this section of road to "gun it" (especially going south as it's going down hill). It's a bit of a dangerous section of road. I've even thought of calling the local police and offering my driveway as a place to set up a speed trap, but haven't done it.

That's the only thing I have about biking - A car (or truck) can make you dead pretty quickly, and there are a lot of idiot drivers out there.

I had a look at the road, and I see your point. In my case it is a narrow road with heavy traffic and the white lines literally inches from the edge. I usually do not use it, but I needed to visit store there on my way home. In hindsight that was a big mistake that could have cost me dearly.

I think you have seen my pictures from the more scenic route? It is much safer.

/Claes

Yeah - The more scenic route is nicer, but as you say - Sometimes one has to stop by the store or something.

I'm personally not afraid of bikers when I drive, even on roads like the one in front of my house. I'm just seriously overly cautious because I know if I hit someone on a bike and hurt or killed the person I'd have a hard time living with myself. I don't mind hanging back until oncoming cars are past. But most of the drivers I see on roads like mine aren't very "bike friendly". I've seen a lot of near misses. Sometimes it's almost as if the driver is purposefully trying to see how close they can come to the biker, but then again on a narrow road when there's oncoming traffic few drivers I see slow down to stay behind the biker until there's plenty of room to pass - They just want to get by the biker without breaking their pace.

It's been probably 30 years ago, but a gal I knew back then hit and killed a kid on a bike. Luckily there were witnesses (the biker swerved into the roadway to make a left turn without checking for cars behind him) and she wasn't charged with anything, but she was in psycho-therapy for several years. She wouldn't even drive again for a year or more. I can't imaging a more horrible thing than to have to live with that on my conscious even not being at fault.

Well, the main thing is you're OK.

All very good points Marc. You are quite right of course.

/Claes

Claes, I don't know that it's a matter of my being "right" - I was just sorta rambling on with my thoughts. I do know that death is permanent. Please - Take care and take as few risks as you can.

Ah.. I was refering mainly to your comment "I can't imaging a more horrible thing than to have to live with that on my conscious even not being at fault".

/Claes