A lesson from a coach driver...

[Origamist]

Aye, but as I said, I thought the overtake was going to be fine until the last minute. He caught me out. It was one of those situation where, because you are staring at the object, you don't seem to move away from it, as you should.

The road is bending to the right - hence why the rear of the coach nearly catches you as the driver prepares for the bend. You need to work on your hazard perception, Mags.

Seriously though, in those sitautions you have to facilitate a poor overtake. I deviate left pretty hard when I know a large vehicle is coming - that's what the buffer to your left is there for...

 

[magnatom]

sorry and i'm not being provocative, but why is the cycle lane unusable? it seems from the camera to be in better condition than some of the main roads around my way. if this is a regular route would it not be easier to get chunkier marathon+ tires than to risk being knocked off? if you are going to cycle in that poor road position perhaps a mirror would be useful. i didn't listen to the exchange between you and the bus driver.

I've been meaning to do a video on this cycle lane. You don't see all of its 'features' in this video.

I mention my reasoning in the video. It is possibly suitable for mountain bike tyres but not for road tyres, and this is a road, so I don't think it is unreasonable to use road tyres here!

My road position is a bit of a compromise, i.e. not in the cycle lane, but not in a true secondary either. If I was further out I know I would get more hassle on this road, and generally my position up to a foot outside the lane appears to have the desired effect of drivers giving me enough room. This idiot just wanted to make a point.

As I have mentioned before, this road would actually be easier and safer to cycle on without the cycle lane, IMO.

 

[dodgy]

Possiby the video quality does make the road surface look better than it is, but it looked better than the roads I ride everyday with 120psi racing slicks.

 

[magnatom]

The road is bending to the right - hence why the rear of the coach nearly catches you as prepares and starts to turn. You need to work on your hazard perception, Mags.

Seriously though, in those sitautions you have to facilitate a poor overtake. I deviate left pretty hard when I know a large vehicle is coming - that's what the buffer to your left is there for...

Ah, but in general larger vehicles tend to give me more room, and so I find that I need to use my buffer less. Not on this occasion though.

Do you really deviate to the left every time a large vehicle overtakes you?

 

[Origamist]

Ah, but in general larger vehicles tend to give me more room, and so I find that I need to use my buffer less. Not on this occasion though.

Do you really deviate to the left every time a large vehicle overtakes you?

About 90% of the time.

 

[magnatom]

Possiby the video quality does make the road surface look better than it is, but it looked better than the roads I ride everyday with 120psi racing slicks.

If you pause the video at 36-37 seconds (when I am looking down) you can see the two different colours of the cycle lane. To the outside of the lane (right) it looks redder than the inside, browny red. This is because of a layer of grime, and muck on the inside of the lane. I'd rather avoid that thanks! Watch the brown layer as I ride along it varies in it's width and in places takes up the whole lane. My speed along this section (where the lane is) varies between approximately 14-25mph, probably averaging about 18-19mph.

 

[magnatom]

About 90% of the time.

Admit it, your deviation is a wobble! B)

 

[addictfreak]

sorry and i'm not being provocative, but why is the cycle lane unusable? it seems from the camera to be in better condition than some of the main roads around my way. if this is a regular route would it not be easier to get chunkier marathon+ tires than to risk being knocked off? if you are going to cycle in that poor road position perhaps a mirror would be useful. i didn't listen to the exchange between you and the bus driver.

I was kind of asking myself that too.

Close to the kerb you can clearly see mud and other debris. But from what I could see from the video, I would have been in the cycle lane but close to the white line. Maybe the video doesnt show the full picture.

Anyway whether you were in lane or not it certainly does not give him the right to bully you on the road. So im with you on that.
I would question if the second incident was actually a deliberate block. When he passed you he was in the RH lane and you in the LH lane. He passes and then stops in traffic further along (still in RH lane) albeit to the left of his lane. I dont think he was bright enough to anticipate that you would come down the middle.
But again thats just my reading of it.

One more question. Are you just the most un lucky man in Scotland or has someone put out a contract on you?B)

 

[magnatom]

I was kind of asking myself that too.

Close to the kerb you can clearly see mud and other debris. But from what I could see from the video, I would have been in the cycle lane but close to the white line. Maybe the video doesnt show the full picture.

Anyway whether you were in lane or not it certainly does not give him the right to bully you on the road. So im with you on that.
I would question if the second incident was actually a deliberate block. When he passed you he was in the RH lane and you in the LH lane. He passes and then stops in traffic further along (still in RH lane) albeit to the left of his lane. I dont think he was bright enough to anticipate that you would come down the middle.
But again thats just my reading of it.

One more question. Are you just the most un lucky man in Scotland or has someone put out a contract on you?

I am certain it was a block. It's not obvious from the video, but he slowed and then pulled over to the left slightly. Look at where his front wheels are in relation to the back wheels.

As for unlucky... I've just had a couple of incidents in a row. It happens. No-one ever comments when I don't post incidents for a while!

 

[thomas]

I don't really get that reaction. If I saw someone doing something wrong (in my mind) I wouldn't then drive/cycle in a way which is just going to cause more conflict. It doesn't matter who is "right".

I don't blame you for not using the cycle lane. I dislike them because of this sort of thing.

I can see why the coach driver got annoyed, but it's just complete ignorance and lack of patience. Not at all your fault.

At the end he was just playing the prat. Trying to scare you by pulling along side. I'd of been nervous that he'd pull in and try to hit me then.

Definitely worth an email to his company. He needs to be made aware of why cyclists may choose not the use cycle lanes and that as a 'professional' driver he may have to adjust his driving even if people are doing something wrong (which you weren't...just he seems to have a very black/white attitude about right and wrong).

 

[magnatom]

I was kind of asking myself that too.

Close to the kerb you can clearly see mud and other debris. But from what I could see from the video, I would have been in the cycle lane but close to the white line. Maybe the video doesnt show the full picture.

Forgot to add, look at the lane at about 1 minute just after the bus have overtaken me. The usable lane (without grime and muck is very thin at that point!)

 

[Bruce]

I love these type of posts, "I was riding like an idiot and got myself in trouble, its everyone else's fault Boo Hoo"

I think enough previous posters have said enough you brought this upon yourself, He wasnt that close either so the "danger" was marginal, and you had the escaape of moving from your poor riding position to the left if it was that dangerous. I note you dont mention your flouting of the highway by filtering through the middle of the traffic, maybe some of those motorists thought you were to close to them!

 

[thomas]

I note you dont mention your flouting of the highway by filtering through the middle of the traffic, maybe some of those motorists thought you were to close to them!

Filtering isn't illegal. I possibly wouldn't have overtaken the Corsa at 2.20....just waited behind till past the coach. Not a major thing though

As for Mags being too close...there's a difference between a cyclist overtaking a (more or less) stationary car at 1 foot away, than a MASSIVE coach overtaking at a few feet at a reasonable speed.

@Mags: If the cycle path was clean, would you use it for the most part (other than maybe at the odd pinch point?). If so maybe try and get the council to clean it? Wouldn't take much to run a road sweep vehicle down it...

 

[magnatom]

I love these type of posts, "I was riding like an idiot and got myself in trouble, its everyone else's fault Boo Hoo"

I think enough previous posters have said enough you brought this upon yourself, He wasnt that close either so the "danger" was marginal, and you had the escaape of moving from your poor riding position to the left if it was that dangerous. I note you dont mention your flouting of the highway by filtering through the middle of the traffic, maybe some of those motorists thought you were to close to them!

LOL!

I love these posts! Yes it was my fault, of course it was. I made him overtake me and pull into me, and yes, within easy touching distance is a safe distance for a bus to overtake a cyclist. Apologies.

And yes, you are right I was flouting the law, as it clearly states in the Highway Code that filtering through stationary or slow moving traffic is not allowed....oh wait a minute...it doesn't actually say that. never mind. Lets not let facts get in the way of a good rant!

 

[4F]

Other than sense, of course. If the cycle lane is clear, well designed, well constructed and going where you want, the only thing telling you to use it is common sense.

Be sure to let us all know if you EVER encounter a lane like that in the UK...

Couple of really good ones in Ipswich along with the majority of badly designed unusable ones.