Cycling in Melbourne Australia
Idiot riders
Just got out of hospital after having a torn shoulder tendon re-attached. Caused by a lunatic who tried to overtake in too short a length - it was either hit the pedstrian or cut me into the fence so he chose me.
- Slow down you fu#ckwits and consider the consequences of your erratic behaviour! - the Yarra trail is a recreational bike use - its not the veledrome! Funny now these same idiots refuse to carry or use a bell? I feel sorry for the pedestrians who receive absolutely no warning as they speed past!
- Keen but now very wary cyclist
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ChrisS on -
So this incident happened whilst riding along the Main Yarra Trail? Unfortunately there's a bizarre proto-racing culture on some shared paths where riders think they're doing a PB or stage race, i.e.: racing for sheep stations mentality.
I honestly don't like reading about incidents like yours, it's selfish towards ALL shared path users. Hope everything mends up well, torn tendons damn painful!
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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on -
Hope you recover soon Graeme. It's bad enough dealing with idiot motorists, without our own kind being a danger to us.
On the subject of bells, I carry a warning device with me wherever I go, it's called my voice. I find a polite, "Excuse me," or "Passing," followed by a, "Thank you," after passing is as effective as any horn or bell. In fact, I've had people infuriated by me dinging a bell at them.
As for the clown who knocked you over, may he get a small, yappy dog in his wheel (or its teeth embedded in his ankle.)
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Permalink Reply by GRAEME REES on -
Thanks for the well wishes.
Arm and shoulder all strapped up like a sore dick for 4 weeks then about 8 weeks of physio, Im told. Cannot drive - using public transport and you see the best and worst in people - one lady offered to tie my shoe lace because I could reach them .... hows good that! Then 1/2 hr later a dood jumps in the train seat next to me and looks me in the eyes as though I was poisonous because I was occupying 1.5 seats due to the strapped arm.
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Permalink Reply by Adrian Tritschler on -
Sorry to hear about it Graeme, unfortunately its an everyday occurrence on nearly every bike path in Melbourne, but nobody keeps any real injury records and so the perception continues that "bike paths are safe" and "roads are dangerous".
I've lost count of the number of times I've been run off the track by idiots coming the other way, it used to be almost a weekly occurrence because I was commuting from home in the inner city to work in the suburbs, and met the majority of riders all busy with the daily wacky races coming the other way.
Worst day was head on with some retiree who pulled out to overtake two ladies on situp ladies bikes, once he heard me yelling he looked up and swerved to his RIGHT, hit me head on when I was already a metre or two off the edge of the track, managed to throw me over my bike and his so that I landed back on the tar and dislocated both shoulders and got grazes while he got to land in a nice big pile of soft fresh grass.
Heal quick and I'd recommend you ride on the roads -- its safer. For all the noise and posturing it really is safer.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on
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I'd have to agree, the roads are safer, even where there aren't bike lanes (and there aren't many of those where I ride.)
Cycleways tend to attract the unconfident/incompetent, as well as those who simply want a pleasant, traffic-free ride.
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Permalink Reply by Jack on -
Shame to hear about your accident and the fact that you must now use public transport for awhile.
I must be lucky with bike trails, probably because I do not commute. My riding is on the weekend and usually early in the morning. The only issue I have is trying to guess how the pedestrians are going to react when I ring my bell. Most are good and move left but some!!!!!
Get well soon. Cheers, Jack.
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Permalink Reply by GRAEME REES on
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Yeah - I've found the same problem but mostly with the old folk and its seems to be either their hearing or just plain stubbornnes. A lot of pedestrians on the Yarra trail over the years have actually yelled out "THANKS MATE".
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Permalink Reply by Chris Harris on -
When I used to work in the city and ride the Yarra Trail from Eltham, I found the biggest hazard was the dweebs on bike with megaphones talking to the rowers !
Hope you recover OK.
Cheers
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Permalink Reply by GeeBee on -
Maybe so, but if you are old enough, and I am, to remember when there was no Yarra Bike Path, it was a worn track in the grassy bank, used only by 'dweebs' on their bikes, with megaphones, talking to the rowers.
No helmets back then either, and the odd coach would end up in the water.
Some have said that if it was not for the rowing coaches track we wouldn't have got the bike path.
Maybe we would have and it would have been in a better place!
Get well soon, Graeme
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Permalink Reply by Walter on -
I know what your going through, I came head on with a rowing coach atleast 10 years ago (he had his megaphone in one hand and his helmet in the other) I tore my anterior ligament in the right shoulder, still giving me trouble.
However, I've noticed that recent bike traffic volume on the Yarra Trail has ballooned in the last few months. Which I think its great to see this number of Bike Traffic. But as Graeme has experienced with increase in numbers so are collisions. I feel the Yarra Trail bike path is way too narrow in parts and maybe we need to voice our concerns to local councils or bike groups. Bicycle Victoria is a great lobbyist for this major bike path.
Keep it safe and upright!
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Permalink Reply by Richard Monfries on -
Hope the limbs heal soon Graeme. I've avoided bike paths for years, whether I'm on foot, or on a bike. The last time was when the family and I were taking a 'stroll' to the Collingwood Children's Farm. I got more and more peeved at the Sunday cyclists that flashed past with inches to spare. I finally yelled at one to "use your bloody bell mate!", at which he yelled back over his shoulder "I don't have one!!" I've got an old-fashioned ring-a-ding bell on the cross-bar of my bike (won't fit on the drop bars), and I make sure meandering pedestrians - and other cyclists hear me coming.
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Permalink Reply by Alex 4.0 on -
two thoughts - 1. name and shame, do you remember any of the rider's features, ride etc? did they stop at all? 2. you're going to remember the spot forever, they should too - go back and graf the spot with a 'got cut off here' or something less subtle. maybe how much the surgery cost? glad to hear you're vertical again, and still keen.
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