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Emergency stop didn't work today...
Just had a pedestrian walk out in front of me after rounding the left hand corner at the bottom of Pentonville road. The light was green and there is no pedestrian crossing there. She walked out a bit, stopped then decided that she could get passed last minute, by which time I was already braking, but there wasn't enough time to stop. She got up shrieking and walked off leaving me to pick myself up off the road.
I should probably also point out that she was on her phone as well...
runawayjimuk
dancing james
Quite poor advice. Emergency stop is best used for moving hazards as you can't predict where they are going to move. Pedestrians tend to do the idiot dance of death, and then leap in the direction you have chosen to swerve. Swerve should be used for static hazards (potholes etc).
You should cycle at a speed where you can stop safely, ride far enough from the pavement/ parked cars so that you are visible to pedestrians and they can see you. Even then accidents do occur. Also beware that braking distance is increased in the rain.
However riding a bike without proper brakes, especially the front one which helps most with sudden braking raises your liability considerably.
If someone crashed into you, then you should have got their details.