advise please?

[skubull]

Today i got knocked of my bike by a car pulling out of his drive and didnt look, i was riding on the pavement due to the traffic jam which i know i shouldnt have been doing.

I was going slowly and the driver basical didnt look. Is this a case of we are both in the wrong, im in the wrong or that he is in the wrong?

Also due to traffic caused where i work i dont have any other routes as they are all as bad, should i sit and wait in the traffic, should i ride down the middle of the road like i see some cyclists doing?

What do others think and do in this situation as im sure i cant be the only one to face these issues?

 

[I like Skol]

You are both in the wrong and it sounds as if you already know that.

As for what to do about the traffic, do what is safe and legal. Riding on the pavement to pass queues is not the answer and if you don't have the confidence to pass queuing vehicles than sit in the queue with the other road users. You are part of the traffic so take your place.

 

[ManiaMuse]

Both in the wrong, but you can't really complain.

Filter down the middle of the road, much safer. Or wait and be patient. Set off a bit earlier if you know the traffic will be bad.

Please don't cycle on the pavement. It pisses pedestrians off and gives cyclists a bad name.

 

[helston90]

Sorry to hear about you being knocked off- hope you/ the bike are ok.

I would always filter down the middle in a queue- if it's safe/ legal to do so. There's also nothing wrong with waiting in a queue until you can get passed them.

 

[Beebo]

I sometimes get off and push my bike along the pavement especially when the traffic is grid locked at a junction and the cars are so tightly bunched that there are no one road options available.
I have also been known to scoot my bike along the pavement if I need to travel more than a few metres, but only in areas where the pavement is wide and relatively free of pedestrians.
If you do go on the pavement you need to be travelling at walking speed.

 

[MichaelO]

If you do go on the pavement you need to be travelling at walking speed.

You need to not be on the pavement if you're on your bike!

 

[nilling]

Keep off the pavement unless you want to wheel your bike. If it's safe, then filter otherwise take the lane in the traffic. Try and find another quieter route, look out for shared paths that do allow cycling. Keep riding

 

[Arjimlad]

Pavement riding as well as being illegal can actually be rather dangerous as you have found out !

Others just don't expect you to be there.

I prefer to overtake on the right of standing traffic especially if there are railings kerbside. You are less likely to be squashed by someone turning left without signalling early enough, or just drifting into the kerb as they text their mates.

 

[Frood42]

Please, please don't ever ride on the pavement unless it is a clearly marked shared space where you are allowed to do so.

Both of you were very silly here, but I am wondering, if he didn't see you, would he have seen a pedestrian?
Or were you going a bit quick on the pavement and the driver was not expecting someone to appear so suddenly?

Most roads you should be able to filter without issue, if you are not comfortable with it, then either wait in the queue with other traffic, or get off the bike and walk along the pavement.

Filtering:
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/co...Effective-Traffic-Riding-Part-2---Filtering-0

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Sorry to hear about your off, hope you and the bike are ok.
It is sometimes quicker to push the bike on the pavement than to wait in a traffic jam.
Do this next time if you are not comfortable filtering in traffic, much safer.
Unless the pavement is very wide, deserted, no driveways ...
It's still illegal to ride on it, but none of us is perfect
to cycle chat btw.

 

[I like Skol]

..... but none of us is perfect

It's "none of us ARE perfect" Pat.

 

[Roadrider48]

You shouldn't ride the pavement ever! Whether it is a wide pavement, deserted or otherwise. Filter down the middle or get off and push your bike on the pavement.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

It's "none of us ARE perfect" Pat.

Ok, Mr Perfect

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Today i got knocked of my bike by a car pulling out of his drive and didnt look, i was riding on the pavement due to the traffic jam which i know i shouldnt have been doing.

I was going slowly and the driver basical didnt look. Is this a case of we are both in the wrong, im in the wrong or that he is in the wrong?

Also due to traffic caused where i work i dont have any other routes as they are all as bad, should i sit and wait in the traffic, should i ride down the middle of the road like i see some cyclists doing?

What do others think and do in this situation as im sure i cant be the only one to face these issues?

Sounds like you're getting it already. It doesn't feel natural filtering down the middle because cyclists are conditioned that the gutter is where they belong.

Filtering down the middle is fine - it's often more preferable as you can see oncoming traffic which may want to turn across your path and you don't get in the kill zone of larger vehicles - so don't be scared to do so - but don't be scared to pull back into the traffic flow and wait when unsure. Pressing on when unsure, is when things go wrong.

And surely only the nun of is is perfect

 

[Poacher]

It's "none of us ARE perfect" Pat.

<grammar pedant> Sorry, but Pat is right and you are wrong.</grammar pedant>