A CYCLIST is calling for action after a near miss with a car in the New Forest.

The man was on a ride when the incident, near Stoney Cross airfield, took place.

A red car which was overtaking a group of cyclists on the opposite side of a narrow road appears to drive straight at some cyclists travelling in the opposite direction.

And rather than being apologetic, the female driver is seen gesturing rudely to the cyclists as she passed.

The incident was caught on a GoPro camera by the rider, known on social media as Forest Cyclist.

The incident took place on the same day as the Wiggle New Forest sportive and Gridiron cycle rides earlier this month.

The cyclist, who asked not to be named, said the majority of drivers were giving room and waiting patiently.

“Sadly as I drew near to the end of the road I observed a red Citroen DS3 pull out from behind a couple of lines of cyclists coming towards me. At first I thought that the driver would simply pull the vehicle back into a safe gap, but to my horror they kept coming towards me at speed on my side of the carriageway,” he claimed.

“I braked hard and waved my hand to make myself visible as I was concerned that the driver had not seen me despite my bright clothing. In the heat of the moment and in fear of being killed I also used a few profanities.

“Indeed, as the female driver of the Citroen vehicle was just a few feet away from hitting me I could see that she had two fingers raised at me in an abusive gesture, in shock I reacted in kind as most people would likely do.”

He intends to report the issue to Hampshire Police.

Plea to show awareness of each other

Hampshire Police road safety sergeant, Darren Ord, said: “The New Forest in particular calls for motorists and cyclists alike to show awareness of each other to ensure accidents do not occur – for cyclists in particular the consequences will always be worse than for a car driver.

“Every day there are incidents which could have been dealt with better by the road users involved, and I am pleased to say that on this particular day there were very few issues raised to the police.

“The particular incident captured on camera is one which fortunately did not result in any injury, and it appears that both parties have made their feelings known to each other in no uncertain terms.”

A spokesperson for the New Forest National Park Authority said they do not condone dangerous behaviour or hostile attitudes from motorists or cyclists.

They said had both the Wiggle New Forest ride and the Gridiron not changed their routes as urged, “it would have been difficult for both cyclists and motorists including emergency vehicles to safely use New Forest roads.”

‘Shocking standard’ of driving

Forest Cyclist, who grew up in the New Forest and commutes via bike, said he has seen an “alarming” change of attitude from a minority of drivers towards cyclists in the New Forest.

“There is no justification at all for the thoroughly shocking standard of driving I witnessed.

“Both the local authorities and the police need to be doing a great deal more to protect law abiding cyclists on New Forest roads, irrespective of whether they are riding in an event or otherwise.”