A viral video from the UK shows exactly why cycling on sidewalks can be a recipe for disaster.
Let’s break down this cringe-worthy encounter that probably left both participants with headaches for different reasons.
Warning: Video contains expletives
How It All Went Wrong
A cyclist, probably thinking he’s playing it safe, decides to ride on the sidewalk. As he rounds a corner, his bike clips a wall, sending him off balance and straight into an unsuspecting mechanic.
WHY YOU COMING FAST?
The poor mechanic, who was just doing his job checking under a car’s wheel arch, got an unexpected introduction to the vehicle’s underside.
Let’s just say his head and the car had an unscheduled meeting.
The Heated Exchange
What followed was exactly what you’d expect when someone’s head just met a car.
The mechanic, understandably upset, greeted the cyclist with a colorful “what the **** are you doing?”
The cyclist’s response? A somewhat understated “Sorry, I crashed.”
The Tension Rises
The mechanic, still holding the bike, asked the rather pointed question, “Are you blind? You can’t see me?!” followed by “WHY YOU COMING FAST?”
In a final display of frustration, the mechanic threw the bike aside, exclaiming “You just hit me and I just hit the car, with my head!”
The mechanic posted a reply on YouTube and was a really decent person about the crash and it being posted on YouTube without his permission. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qd4p4vm4lw
If the rider had crashed into me I would have been far “less polite” about it!
In most states of Australia it’s legal to ride on the footpath and police crash records show theres very few reported crashes between bicycles and pedestrians on paths. In fact there’s far more crashes on-road where pedestrians have failed to give way to bicycles on the roadway!