There is a stretch of my commute where there are opportunities a-plenty for the errant motorist to pull this one on me (rat-run, parked cars all down one side, etc.).
I rarely get grief. Sometimes there's room enough, so long as the car isn't going at speed, we can pass reasonably safely, with me way over to the left but not in the gutter, I assure you! In the exceptional case where it's a bit tight, I hold my ground but slow down. The car does the same (the driver's got no choice, unless he wants to commit murder...). Then we edge past. Yes I know there's a risk, as in everything we do, planning an escape route helps, but I've never needed one. No shouting. No angry look. No finger. Just a neutral encounter.
That driver maybe learned something. He learned that there was a cyclist in the road, both needed the road, and both needed space. They made space for each other. Job done.
(*looks around*). Hey, first post on CC. "Hello Children Everywhere!"
I rarely get grief. Sometimes there's room enough, so long as the car isn't going at speed, we can pass reasonably safely, with me way over to the left but not in the gutter, I assure you! In the exceptional case where it's a bit tight, I hold my ground but slow down. The car does the same (the driver's got no choice, unless he wants to commit murder...). Then we edge past. Yes I know there's a risk, as in everything we do, planning an escape route helps, but I've never needed one. No shouting. No angry look. No finger. Just a neutral encounter.
That driver maybe learned something. He learned that there was a cyclist in the road, both needed the road, and both needed space. They made space for each other. Job done.
(*looks around*). Hey, first post on CC. "Hello Children Everywhere!"