Cyclist in Bedminster crash appeals for witnesses
A cyclist who claims a white van driver deliberately collided with him is appealing for witnesses.
Gary Harris, 45, who lives in Bedminster, was riding his Moulton cycle along Whitehouse Lane at lunchtime on Saturday when the accident happened.
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Gary Harris
He claimed the white van driver began to overtake him as he approached the junction with Philip Street.
Mr Harris, who runs his own cycle building and repair business, said he signalled to the driver with his arm, to hold back.
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"He ignored my signal and deliberately drove into me," he said.
Mr Harris said the accident made him lose control and crash, causing a broken finger, cuts to his head and bruises.
He said the police had told him they could not proceed with inquiries unless there were witnesses.
If anyone can help, they should contact Mr Harris on 0781 651 5082.
Comments
by redland_doug
Thursday, January 10 2013, 10:42PM
“Interesting video and comments. DM_Fishponds - the camera is clearly handle bar mounted, so you can't say he didn't look behind him - you simply don't know that he did or did not. Secondly, why do you state he was turning right? He was going straight over. Exactly what indication should you give when going straight over at a roundabout? I'll tell you - none! You are neither turning left nor right. You should indicate left as you reach your exit, but when entering, you give no indication. (I know a lot of idiots round here seem to think you indicate right when approaching to go straight over, but they stopped teaching that in the 1940s!).
Lastly I should point out to gentlegreen that you should really be in the centre of the lane, simply to prevent this sort of thing. Be assertive, not agressive. Its your right to be on the road, do not feel cowed to pull right in to the curb in such situations. Keep to left when cycling along the road, sure, but at a junction like this positioning is everything. That said, the van driver was 100% in the wrong - that is a single lane approach to the roundabout. Overtaking is a total no-no there, where ever the cyclist puts himself on the road.
And yes, I am a Bristol cyclist - I do 10 miles a day in the commuter traffic, and it is a blood bath out there. You have to be soooo assertive. From what I can tell all car drivers are out to get all cyclists, and all cyclists are out to break as many traffic laws as possible (ok - maybe a bit of an over generalisation there!). Cyclists - use lights, stop at red lights and keep off the pavement. Car drivers - it is NOT your God given right to overtake all cyclists, whatever the road conditions, and do not cut them up. And yes, it is legal for cycles to filter through the traffic - please re-read the highway code as you seem to be out of touch! :-)”
by DM_Fishponds
Thursday, January 10 2013, 9:48PM
“@Gentlegreen, actually, I have cycled a fair bit in the past and always do my best to avoid cyclists on the road, I was being sympathetic.
I'm sorry that you don't like my attempt at being reasonable!”
by gentlegreen
Thursday, January 10 2013, 8:57PM
“@ DM_Fishponds
You really are full of **** aren't you.”
by DM_Fishponds
Thursday, January 10 2013, 7:04PM
“And, of course, the white van shouldn't have overtaken you at the junction/roundabout!”
by DM_Fishponds
Thursday, January 10 2013, 6:38PM
“@Gentlegreen - http://tinyurl.com/aekkol6
Interesting video.
It seems that you were in the wrong position approaching the junction.
Did you signal your intention to turn right?
If your camera is helmet mounted, then you did not look behind you before your manoeuvre.
Unfortunately not all vehicles use their indicators and not all cyclists give hand signals (as defined in the Highway Code).
The other 2 cars which cut in front of you may have thought from your position at the junction that you intended to turn left not right, or they may have just ignored you.
I was at the junction this morning and was pleasantly surprised to see a cyclist look over her shoulder at vehicles behind, indicate right, position correctly and exit the roundabout through the Stoke Park gates.
Your video goes to demonstrate how easily accidents can happen when road users do not indicate or position themselves correctly. If two road users ignore some or all of the highway code at the same time the potential for an accident increases dramatically.
A lesson for us all to observe the highway code, indicate, and ride/drive defensively!”
by matic_113
Thursday, January 10 2013, 5:46PM
“@ welliedog2 - are you the mentioned white van”
by ChazzaB
Thursday, January 10 2013, 5:37PM
“welliedog2 - you are a ******.”
by Stokingharry
Thursday, January 10 2013, 4:51PM
“There are anumber of cctv cameras near this junction, perhaps one of those captured something”
by gentlegreen
Thursday, January 10 2013, 4:38PM
“Here's a white van driver I encountered yesterday.
I've approached this roundabout like this for 25 years - so about 5,000 times and this is the first time it's happened.
The cars who then cut me up from the left are sadly par for the course these days.
http://tinyurl.com/aekkol6
WARNING - contains swearing and blasphemy.
I would ordinarily approach the roundabout in primary position, but it's narrow and most drivers are turning right and I feel sure they appreciate me not doing that. 25 years and no problems on that stretch of road. I suspect half the drivers recognise me.”
by welliedog2
Thursday, January 10 2013, 4:09PM
“Looks like the cyclist paid the price for being a bit of a 'Cycling Martyr' of which there are many in Bristol. Too many for my personal liking...”