What does SMIDSY mean? Easy. It means "Sorry, Mate, I Didn't See You" - the perennial "excuse" of the driver who wasn't looking at the time. SMIDSYs are responsible for most serious crashes involving cyclists. Rear-end crashes are the worst but very rare, cars entering the road into your path (or into you) are common. 50% of all cyclists killed on roundabouts are SMIDSYd by a driver entering the roundabout and failing to see a circulating cyclist.
SMIDSY causes a certain wry amusement when said with a perfectly straight face to a cyclist dressed in fluorescent clothing with reflective trim, on a b ike fitted with enough lights to light an outdoor football match (this is known as "full stealth mode" because cyclists thus accoutred are generally considered completely invisible to car drivers).
The term seems to have originated on uk.rec.motorcycles, but I can't find the original source. At least one regular on urm has adopted it as his nickname. |