Near miss with a pedestrian.
 

Today's has taught me NOT to try and second guess the inner workings of a pedestrian's mind! Not that I think a pedestrian's mind is any different to my own, we are all pedestrian (some more than others) at some point, most days. It's just that when I'm on my bike, pedestrians either become sinister, or I perceive them as such!?!

So it is that today I'm riding out ahead of traffic, on a fairly large road that's a bit quieter than usual when a man starts to run across the road (and not to catch a bus... or anything the other side).

I can't read what I'm seeing immediately, so don't start braking, in fact I convince myself he'll stop running in a while, so completely that I look away momentarily. By the time I look back, he's immediately at my right without a hint of a stop happening any time soon. I slam on my brakes and come to a halt... I'm not sure there's a metre between us.

I don't know what it was about my approach that made Mr Pedestrian think it was a good time to cross; what kept him crossing as I approached... at speed; what kept me coming as I watched him cross... at speed. But most disturbing, is that I had a brain freeze. I couldn't interpret what I was seeing sufficiently to act.

I rode the rest of the way in without incident and I was only shaken momentarily, but now some two hours later, I'm worried about how 'normal' my brain freeze was/not. I'm pretty sure my response would've been quicker were I driving a car and wonder if other collisions I've had (2 fairly minor but somewhat painful) might make me hesitant to pull my brakes too hard.

Thoughts?

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Re: Near miss with a pedestrian
 

Boot on the other foot, when I worked in china I was told never to stop or start running whilst crossing the road as the drivers expect you to keep walking and will plan to pass behind/in front of you. changing your plan is asking to get run over.

Was the pedestrian a Chinese gentleman ?

Re: Near miss with a pedestrian
 

Good to know, but no he wasn't. To be fair, not sure either of us came out as being particularly clever in this incident, i'm just really curious about my brain-freeze. Like I said, I'm pretty sure, I'd have pulled an emergency way sooner in the car, or better yet, one would not have been necessary, as I'd have started to slow down much earlier.

Re: Near miss with a pedestrian
 

Lesson learnt the easy way. We're all crap at learning lessons vicariously through other people's stories and advice. If we were any good at that, we'd never get on bikes when you consider all the deaths. You've learnt the best way i.e. had a close call, but got away with it. You'll be bright and alert for pedestrians in future and won't brain freeze again.

Don't worry about it. Just consider it a good lesson! :)

Re: Near miss with a pedestrian
 

If you where in a car he would most likely stop, people sometimes 'don't' see bikes. Your brain freeze is natural, I had some first year I drove my car. I think it's becuase the sitiuation turns out to be complete opposite of what is logic for you, and the shock of getting your head around that sitiuation takes all your attention. Just my theory and 50 pence

Re: Near miss with a pedestrian.
 

Sounds like a good case for a blast of the horn to warn the ped of your presence.

Re: Near miss with a pedestrian.
 

To check whether a pedestrian has seen you...

Get right on top of him/her, slip clutch, give it a fistfull of revs...
and observe the shatmypants look on their face.

Re: Near miss with a pedestrian.
 

I've brain frozen at red lights before.

Been driving towards it seeing the red but not really processing it until my brain suddenly jolts and I'm thinking Oh, sh... that means stop! and slamming the brakes on.

Re: Near miss with a pedestrian.
 

this is definately the best response :)

Re: Near miss with a pedestrian.
 

Its more likely your brain was pre-occupied. Ever daydreamed whilst staring at the computer screen? Same thing. This can happen no matter where you are, probably happens several times a day without you noticing.

Way I see it, you can be generally in one of two states of mind when riding. 1. Completely focussed on the ride (in which case you may feel almost prophetic at being able to avoid potential hazards and dodgy situations) or 2. pre-occupied - riding but not really fully concentrating.

I think all you need to do is get/stay focussed on your ride. Think about how the bike sounds or how it feels, or concentrate on some other aspect of your riding and I reckon this is unlikely to be an issue in the future.