has a cyclist ever ...
 

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[Closed] has a cyclist ever damaged your car?

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from the Clarkson clickbait over on roadCC

[i]Clarkson: “But they do deserve it, honestly. The other week, no honestly, there I am sitting in a traffic jam in London” – oh, the irony – “and a Frenchman, he was tried to cycle between the pavement and my car [b]and after he’d removed most of the paint with his brake handle.....[/b][/i]

I've driven plenty in city traffic and never had a car damaged by a cyclist or seen it happen - lots of minor damage from other cars in car parks and on street parking or cars just run into the back because hadn't noticed you stop stuff
I've damaged a car wing on my bike but was def his fault (I was on the roundabout and he left hooked me) ...so anyone actually had a car damaged by a hit and run cyclist? or is it just another cyclists kill pedestrians all the time moan?

so who has


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:36 am
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A cyclist ran into the back of my wifes car when she was stationary, parked at the side of the road. He had his head down and wasn't looking where he was going. "Damage" was limited to a couple of little marks on the bumper, though the poor chap later had to be taken to hospital as he was concussed.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:48 am
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Had some clown about 15 years ago squeeze inbetween the back of my car and the following one whilst we were stopped at lights.

He lost his balance and landed on my tailgate. He went with an almighty bang and the back of the car bounced down.

It was a mk3 Escort I had at the time and they are quite flat booted at the very rear of the tailgate and his bars left a few marks. I was that shocked at the time I just let him disappear as I was just sat there and thought another car had hit me.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:53 am
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I rode full tilt into a parked car once, after getting distracted by the shadows my wheel reflectors were casting. Little bit embarrasing.

Also did a number on the side of the car I t-boned when he pulled out on me, but he got a fraction of what he deserved.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 1:02 am
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I am a cyclist and I have damaged my own car.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 1:02 am
 Pook
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Tboned a jag who pulled out on me once. My bike was fine, his front wing was knackered.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 1:07 am
 chip
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I was the first car waiting at a set of lights.
There were three lanes of traffic middle and right lane were straight on, I was in the inside lane which was left turn only into a B&Q with a separate filter light.

Light turns green, I turn into B&Q, an almighty bang as a cyclist bounces of the passenger door.
Passenger door of my immaculate mk2 Golf GTi dented and scratched and one badly shaken up and apologetic cyclist on his arse.
I helped him up and made sure he was alright before going on my way, don't know why I did not ask him to cough up.

A youth came darting out of an alley straight into the road in order to cross the road in front of my mothers car.
Luckily she was going quite slow, slammed on the brakes, got out to find both the cyclist and his bike still on the roof of her car. Had to have bonnet and roof resprayed paid for by youths parents.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 1:31 am
 chip
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Also read a customers review of a pair of nukeproof grips once that listed as a product pro the all metal bar ends were great for damaging cars. 🙁


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 1:40 am
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The police van behind me made sure he was okay and there was no damage to the car then let everyone carry on.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 7:16 am
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woman turned left while overtaking me, left a me sized dint in the rear door. I was proud (and sore)


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 7:21 am
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I wrote off a Ford Orion once! I was riding to the start of a race and was dicking about with my shoes and just rode into the back of it. I went through the rear windscreen and woke up in the back seat, somehow managed to crumple the boot and wing and smash the rear light cluster. I spent the next few hours in A&E getting glass pulled out of my face.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 7:27 am
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A couple of weeks ago I had the nearside door mirror smashed off my Vito by a guys shoulder who didn't realise he was a fair bit wider than the space available.

It also ripped a fair size hole in the arm of his Altura jacket. Which was shame obviously, but I was not moving and it was entirely his fault.

Cost him £75 for the mirror, plus a new Jacket.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 7:31 am
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A mate's wife stopped to reverse into a side street when some clown came through the back window, apparently cost an absolute fortune to repair the damage, not to mention the grief of the recovery company temporarily losing the car during storage.
Got another mate who managed to ride straight into the back of a police camera van that was parked up on a straight stretch of main road in broad daylight.
Also saw an oncoming car just ahead beginning to turn across the road in front of me, he stopped about 2ft into my lane when he saw me. I then watched a roadie overtake me out near the white line, stay out there for a good 3 seconds while i'm wondering how he's going to avoid the stationary car, then ride straight into it.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 8:16 am
 DT78
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Yes, whilst I was waiting at a red light. The arse scrapped/put a small dent in the rear quarter with his bar end and then carried on into the cycle box in front. I moved forwards wound the window down to ask if there was any damage and got a hail of abuse how I should,nt be in the cycle box which I wasn't in when he hit my car. it took a lot of willpower not to run him over.

You get tools on bikes too


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 8:22 am
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A cyclist went into the back of Mrs basqueMTB at a roundabout once. Knocked himself out and left an almost perfect face imprint in the back of her Peugeot 205 complete with two dents on either side which were either the bars or his hands. She helped him up and commented on how aromatic he smelt 🙂 Police were involved and she couldn't leave the scene which meant her 80 year old mother sitting at the side of the road in about 30degC for an hour. The police wanted us to force him to fix the car but we decided not to, it didn't seem right somehow.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 8:23 am
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Yup, cracked a numberplate going into the back of the car in front, they pulled off from the trafic lights then stopped to turn right without indicating, I was probably glancing down at my SPD's or something. They drove off so ovbiously weren't checking their mirrors and I didn't feel guuilty anymore!

Took out an Audi's wingmirror. I was cycling the 'wrong way' up a layby and he missjudged an overtake, pulled in too far to get out the way of an oncoming car and hit me. I was prepared to take the blame but he was so appologetic I just mumbled something about knock-for-knock and my hand feeling a little bruised before scampering quickly thinking an audi wing mirror would probably cost more than my bike!

Never done it vindictively though.

I am a cyclist and I have damaged my own car.

+1


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 9:18 am
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As a cyclist, I've damaged two cars quite badly. Both my own fault.
Smashing a Citroen windscreen with your face isn't that nice, but they're softer than the rear end of a BMW....
😳


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 9:26 am
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I damaged a Sheffield police van.
Mind, it had just pulled across the bus and cycle Lane and then stopped, blocking said Lane....


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 9:29 am
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As above, I've damaged my own car...

I've damaged a few other cars while riding too - never deliberate or my fault but certainly done some expensive damage when cars have driven too close and hit my bars or cut in front and then braked hard. I don't feel too bad about those.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 9:33 am
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and a Frenchman,

Blue and white stripped shirt and the onions gave away his nationality I assume?

I damaged a car once in ice when I just skidded down a steep hill across the junction and into his door...he was stationary in a traffic jam - i considered bailling but figured if he moved it was better to be upright than on the floor

He was pretty reasonable [ he had heard me screaming mind and saw it so he knew it was not deliberate] and he checked on me first and made sure I was ok.
I explained I had insurance we swapped details - I even showed photo ID as I was off to work
He claimed they paid out.

Never been hit myself


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 9:53 am
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I've rear-ended a couple of cars, at v low speeds in traffic queues.

Both drivers were fine about it - one in a works pick up with about 200 other dents in the tailgate, the other a woman Saab owner, only a wee mark in her bumper tho.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 10:09 am
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Some idiot pulled out onto and stopped in a cycle lane on me when I was living in Germany. After an unfortunate collision with his front wing and a brief flight over the bonnet of the car, I was in a lot of pain, but his car was really quite badly dented.

When he started abusing the police that came to investigate for being racist they agreed that it was his fault and left him to pick up the repair bill. I think it cost him DM2500 to get it all fixed.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 10:10 am
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A mate of mine ended up in the back of a Volvo. Literally in.

He removed the tailgate glass with his face on the way which was impressive and funny at the same time.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 10:16 am
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it took a lot of willpower not to run him over
🙄


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 11:42 am
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I damaged a taxi once as I sailed over the bonnet after it pulled out on me at a junction. I probably could have stopped in time but decided to teach him a lesson with my pedal. Left a nice big gouge then pretended to be dead for a minute.

That'll learn him 😈


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 11:59 am
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There was probably some damage to the front bumper of the guy who drove into me when he failed to give way on a roundabout.

I've left a few marks on the side of my wife's car riding past it on the driveway. Nothing compared to the other marks on it though.

Otherwise, I've never damaged a car with my bike.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:03 pm
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I've damaged my own car (mainly associated with bikes rubbing the paintwork when on bike racks) but never another. Once I averted a clipless moment by using a bus to hold me up, and once I slipped on a white line while filtering between two lanes of traffic and put a hand on a van but neither caused any damage.

A friend did have a cyclist go through the rear window of her (parked) car which seems to be surprisingly common judging by this thread.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:07 pm
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Yep -one of my daughters pals when they were about 8, decided to ride their bike between car and wall, whilst in the drive, rather than round the path and left a foot long scratch down rear wing with brake lever.

and myself, leaning bike on car and it slipped, brake lever left 3 in score on corner of same wing.

I have put a car door into the wing when they opened it on me as I was going past, I wasn't going slow either, had a perfect bruise across my chest.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:40 pm
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Had a passenger of a stationary car - in a traffic jam - throw their door open into the bike lane while I was riding along it. Hit it so hard the door wouldn't move at all, let alone close so the car went home on the back of a tow truck (I was fine, if a tad shocked, and rode home without a scratch!)

Also scuffed up the side of a car while crashing last summer, thankfully my insurance sorted it all out without any fuss as the owners were great - called an ambulance and even looked after my bike while I was in hospital.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:49 pm
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I'm the only cyclist that has damaged my own car. It was a choice of clipping the bin or the car, for some reason chose the latter....cracked the rear light cluster.

However, I've left a trail of carnage over south manchester. some accidental and some not.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:52 pm
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A bloke tried to squeeze between my mother in law's car and the van that was next to her when they were stationary at some lights. He got it wrong and broke the rear light cluster and damaged a panel on the side. The charmer then gave her incorrect contact details before riding off. MIL was quite upset.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:53 pm
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I ended up on some bloke's parcel shelf when I was 14 or so.

Chuntling down the road with traffic and for some reason all the cars inexplicably stopped when the lights turned red and I very sensibly didn't.

Straight through the rear windscreen - made a right mess of my chin (and his windscreen to be fair) and I bear the scars to this day.

EDIT - I dented a panel van also but technically that was with my fist whilst I was on a bike and not with the bike itself. Some stupid women carved me up and when I politely tried to explain to her she had nearly killed me when we got to the next set of lights she just laughed at me so I gave the van a good wallop


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:53 pm
 aP
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Nope, never. Had quite a lot of damage from hit and run drivers though.
I say ban cars from roads.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:53 pm
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As a kid(about 6yr old)I played hide and seek on my bike. Decided it was a good idea to sit between the BMW and the Merc on my bike. I tried to ride out and scrapped both cars (about 10cm) with my bar ends. I just left the scene. Cue angry neighbours a couple ours later speaking to my mum.

Also, riding down my road (on a hill) and I was looking at the ground. Hit the back of a parked Disco 2 doing about 15mph. Spalttered across the back of the car. Picked myself up and inspected the car. No damage to the car at all!! Just a tyre mark on the muddy bumper. I was in a bad state mind.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:55 pm
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I did around 500 quid's damamge to a cab once - some of it with my bike, some with my face.

Whilst in the ambulance I asked the police about the damage & his advice was 'keep your money in your pocket - that's what he's got insurance for'

Couldn't do that with a clear conscience though as it was my fault, so I sorted it out through my house insurance


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:57 pm
 D0NK
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Scratched a mates relatives car, end of my handlebar, small scratch - didn't

removed most of the paint with his brake handle
We were at an "unauthorised" bbq at his house, think I was nipping out for more booze or something. I was bricking it, he thought for a minute then said "right everyone down to the pub, erase any evidence of us all being here" aslong as his mum didn't wonder about the few dozen empty beer cans in the bin next time she took the rubbish out, I think we got away with it.

yes I do feel a bit guilty.

oh Yeah I've done a northwind too as a kid, straight into a parked car faceful of bonnet, pretty painful and mangled my <6hours old bike (replaced on warranty gotta love my LBS) no discernible damage to car.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 12:57 pm
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everytime my friend puts his bike in my car it takes chunks out of it. Having said that, same happens when i put my bike in the car.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 1:00 pm
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Seeing as people are posting the opposite to the thread's title.

When I was a young student; stupid and hotheaded and indignant, a Volvo XC-something-or-other cut me up at a mini roundabout and touched my front wheel with their rear bumper. I unclipped, scooted along with two feet and somehow didn't fall off my bike. When they stopped at traffic lights half a mile down the road, their offside wingmirror got a kick that would have made Wilkinson proud. I'm embarrassed to think how much that will have cost the driver..


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 1:04 pm
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I have, at least twice in the distant past.
Once a Range Rover seemed surprised that I was on a pinch point (raised narrow temp bridge over a wider weaker bridge whilst it was repaired) before him and decided to drive through anyway, cue one wingmirror being punch.
Another time a mondeo tried to force its way through a narrow road towards a number of cyclists were already heading towards it. He nearly took my mate out, so I clouted his wing mirror quite hard. Unfortunately for him I hit it quite hard and broke off.
Not proud of it these days, but I was quite angry about almost being put into a ditch because of the mondeo driver's impatience.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 1:14 pm
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I've got one of those Thule roofracks where you put the bike on by removing the front wheel and clamping onto the bike carrier. Then strap the rear wheel down.

I put it on my car the wrong way round so rear wheel is at the front of the car - otherwise when the boot is up it touches the end of the bike carrier and makes a mark on the plastic trim on the car boot.

On my way home from a ride I heard a big crashing noise. Stopped and realised I'd forgotten to strap down the rear wheel (which is at the front of the car). Bike had gone so that the forks were horizontal to the back of the car and the rest of the frame was at 90 deg to the forks and had smashed the rear light cluster.

I am a cyclist and I damaged my car. Bike was fine.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 1:19 pm
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I had a guy on a road bike come up behind me on a steep hill, I had to stop to let a car coming the other way pass. While waiting the roadie leaned on my van so didn't have to unclip.

When it was time to pull away I tried to move slowly, as the roadie wasn't paying attention - it obviously wasn't slow enough as he disappeared into the ditch still clipped into his bike.

He got up, and to my surprise was laughing and waved at me, as to say he was being a numpty.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 2:00 pm
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Squish!


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 2:03 pm
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[quote=coatesy uttered] Got another mate who managed to ride straight into the back of a police camera van that was parked up on a straight stretch of main road in broad daylight.

Well that's one way to make all the drivers love you I suppose


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 3:52 pm
 sbob
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There have been a couple of discussions on here where it has been mentioned (though some choose not to believe it) that some cyclists do actually put themselves in deliberate danger just to prove a point.

ndthornton - Member

I damaged a taxi once as I sailed over the bonnet after it pulled out on me at a junction. I probably could have stopped in time but decided to teach him a lesson with my pedal. Left a nice big gouge then pretended to be dead for a minute.

That'll learn him

Well here's one of the bell-ends should you need further proof.


 
Posted : 03/02/2014 5:57 pm
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a mate damaged another mates car a few years ago....friend in car drove past us and then pulled over to chat to us...hadnt seen the guy in a long time. i stopped but my friend forgot to hit the brakes and ended up on the back of the car (renault 19) no real damage apart form the rear spoiler being knocked loose. friend in car wasnt bothered...took it to local garage where they refixed the spoiler.
i myself have damaged 2 cars in my youth. first one was an accident...riding home late at night front mech was making a funny noise..i look down to see why (like you do) and didnt notice the parked citroen ax and crashed into the side of it after clipping the mirror....no-one was around so i straightened the mirror and carried on. i pulled over a bit later to straighten my bars.
another time whilst riding down a hill, approaching traffic lights on red a vectra passes me and immediately pulls in leaving me with no room...i had no chance of stopping in time so i carried on, breaking his wing mirror with my bar end....he was stuck behind 3 cars on a red light so i managed to get away.


 
Posted : 04/02/2014 4:07 pm
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A friend used to park his car down a long straight back road frequently used as a rat run for bikes and local cars. One morning he noticed blood on the pavement to the rear of the vehicle accompanied by some hair on the rear window/panel area and a few dents on the tailgate. It wasn't until he noticed the tyre mark on the bumper that it all became clear...


 
Posted : 04/02/2014 5:20 pm
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yeah, scratches all over the back of my mild hatch, well pissed off with myself for that...


 
Posted : 04/02/2014 6:39 pm
 hora
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I damaged Pooks 😀


 
Posted : 04/02/2014 6:43 pm
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Managed to put a small scratch in my neighbours month old car whilst loading my bike into mine, meant to tell them when I got back, but forgot about it for a day or two, during which time he managed to roll it whilst towing the caravan purchased at the same time. Seemed a bit pointless confessing then.


 
Posted : 04/02/2014 6:56 pm
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I too have hit a parked car when I was about 10. Big 4x4. Just clipped the corner, otherwise I would have went into (or through!) the back window. Went over the bars and landed squarely on my knee.

Don't know if I did any damage to the car. In an embarrassed panic I jumped up, hopped on my bike, and pedalled off home with one leg, thinking the other one was broken.


 
Posted : 04/02/2014 7:08 pm
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Not a cyclist, but someone on a trials motorbike. A guy pulled his nearly new 290 beta out of his van, started it, revved it. Didn't realise it was in a false neutral, jumps into third and launches out of his hands. Large dent in the side of his own t5.


 
Posted : 04/02/2014 7:12 pm

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