So, tonight I was cycling my usual commuting route from the West to Waverley. I had come through Randolph Place, around WRH and on to Charlotte square. Counterclockwise to get over to George Street. Row of parked cars on the north side of the square, then the cycle lan, then a row of stationery eastbound traffic heading up to the lights.
I was cycling quite slowly and just as well as a westbound car was inching through a gap in the westbound cars to get to a parking space on the inside of the cycle lane.
I just had time to clock the bonnet coming through the cars and touch my brakes before I bounced off it. Bike went over into the empty space and I went down to a couple of scraped shins.
The driver reversed out and parked across the street. Lots of people crowded around to make sure i was all right, including the driver, jut a young guy. I felt fine, the bike seemed okay, and the crowd melted away as it became obvious there was no harm done.
I got the driver's phone number. His hand was shaking as he keyed it into my phone.
It could have been so much worse but it needn't have happened at all if the cycle lane had been on the inside of the parking lane. There was a line of traffic blocking both of our views and i don't blame him, but as usual the conflict is baked into the shoddy street design.
I shall be writing to the transport convenor with my story. And suggesting the simple solution of cycle lanes inside parking lanes. Any suggestions of who i should copy in?
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