Don’t cycle at night, dark clothes, no lights, just don’t!

To the man I was within six foot of knocking off his bike:

Dear Sir, you who were wearing dark clothes and cycling at 9:45 on a wet and very dark winter’s night, with no lights on your bicycle and no reflectors on your wheel, you are most fortunate that I was going extremely slowly as I approached the traffic roundabout, and even more fortunate that my passenger spotted you and told me to STOP! You emerged from the darkness at this badly lit junction but I was able to stop within two yards of you without even a screech of brakes. You sir, are an absolute idiot, and I hope you got a scare and will buy some lights for your bike – front and back with batteries that work, will buy and wear some fluorescent clothing, and most of all, get yourself a safety helmet.

Yours faithfully,

the motorist who, thank goodness, saw you in time and did not run you over