What I Witnessed: A Close Call Between a Truck and a Cyclist

Some moments make the reason behind this work feel very immediate. In this short video, our founder Ritesh shares what happened when he witnessed a truck and a cyclist come dangerously close to each other on the road — and why moments like this are exactly what Safer Cycling Foundation exists to help prevent.

A Moment That Stays With You

Close calls rarely make headlines. Nobody was filmed being hurt, no charges were laid, and for the drivers and cyclists involved, the moment likely passed in a few unsettling seconds. But for anyone who witnesses it, a close call between a large vehicle and a cyclist is hard to forget — a reminder of just how little margin for error exists when a multi-tonne truck and an unprotected rider share the same stretch of road.

Why We're Sharing This

We don't share moments like this to place blame or to sensationalise what happened. We share them because they're real, and because they reflect exactly the kind of everyday risk that motivates our work — the risk that comes not from reckless behaviour necessarily, but from insufficient space, insufficient awareness, or a moment's inattention on a road that wasn't designed with enough margin for both.

The Bigger Picture

Incidents like this reinforce why Safer Cycling Foundation focuses on all sides of the road-safety conversation — not just cyclist behaviour, but driver awareness, road design, and the broader cultural shift needed for everyone to see each other as people sharing the same journey, not obstacles in each other's way.

If this video resonates with you, we'd encourage you to think about it next time you're behind the wheel near a cyclist, or on a bike near heavier traffic. A little extra space and a little more patience costs almost nothing — and it can be the difference between a close call and something far worse.

If you have witnessed or experienced a close call of your own, we'd welcome you sharing your story with us through our Get Involved page.