November 2008

Probably the best of the stories as I ended up with sprains and bike damage as a result of someone pulling out of a junction in Cable Street, Poplar.

Relatively early, although dark by the time I reached the junction and a car crewed by some Easter Europeans pulled out of the cable street junction swiping me from the inside to outside lane of the dual carriage way on Butcher Row.

Although shocked and a little hurt, no major issues (although did find out later I had a sprained wrist).

Police were called, and after waiting 20 minutes, was called by the Police to tell me they weren't going to arrive.

Bike was in a bit of a mess, front wheel had been twisted, cables damaged, seat ripped, pedals slightly bent.  Clothes that I was wearing were also ripped, including tracksuit bottoms (it was cold) and a hi-viz jacket.

A couple of interesting parts of the story...  The following day, I received a call from the owner of the car (not the driver) who asked to sort out the cost of damage - when I told him the value of the bike, he was less interested in doing this 'outside of the system'.  Further interesting point is that when I made a claim against the driver, both he and I had the same insurance, yet the legal company took almost 2 years to settle on a figure that I agreed in the initial offer stage.

My insurance company, Direct Line, however were great; apart from offering to replace the bike fully (with a bike considerably less decent than my own), when there was only around £200 of damage to it.  Still, a few months later the bike was fixed and I was cycling again.

Date Unknown 2009

Travelling to work quite early around 7am, towards Woolwich down Plumstead Road, when saw a black car weaving in and out of the traffic.  Reaching the lights at Burrage Street, stopped in the lane for cars waiting to turn left into Burrage Street or busses going straight across.

The black car came behind me in the 'left turn' lane, but because I was almost in the middle of the lane (as you are directed to do by various cycling tips), the car shunted me from behind. 

You need to remember the lights were red and that the black car, which had been weaving about, was trying to go across the junction.

After getting out of this way, taking the registration number (which I no longer possess), I telephone the Police via 999.

Despite the black car tearing off down the road well in excess of the speed limit, the Police asked that I come into a Police station to report it.

I duly did this, filled out a report and was told by the officer that they wouldn't be doing anything with the report - it seems they were simply humouring me or needed me to go through the motions.

The Police seemed uninterested once again.