"Oh Shit" moments...

Just to turn this thread back to its origin...

Me cycling at pace in bus lane down Woburn Place towards Southampton Row.

Black cab had been tailgating for most of the Woburn.

Taxi overtakes and when rear wheel is in line with me notices ped signalling for a pickup, so does the standard indicate mid-manoeuvre towards the pavement, with me still on the inside. As he can no longer see me I guess I dont exist.

I cant overtake as on the inside with the front end of the vehicle closing against the pavement fast and emergency braking would see me caught between the taxi and the kerb. Pull out the sideways-hit-the-ground-running dismount onto the pavement and as I'm still holding onto the handlebars Im able to fling the bike out of harms way but quite a long way across said pavement, cartwheeling between peds (missing everyone fortunately).

Many scuffs, tears etc to bike components, and extremely rattled nerves. I go over to taxi window to be told "You shouldn't undertake".

Only had sense to reply "****ing taxi drivers." before he and his fare drove off into the sunset.

Happened to me a couple of months back except he clipped my wheel and I got a face full of tarmac. Didn't let him run away though.