Are the roads safer or have my perceptions changed??
- Thread starter Sandra6
- Start date
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GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Probably a bit of both. Since my other half started cycling longer distances rather than just riding a few miles across town to work the shops I've noticed she has slowly taken a more assertive road position all the time etc. She swears she's not changed her riding style but to me it's evident.
I also think that we slowly get de-sensitised to close passes. I say this as I now ride on 3 distinct platforms (up right, high-racer recumbent & low-racer recumbent) I notice when swapping between them I find I register a 'close pass' much further out for the first miles on the road.
I also think that we slowly get de-sensitised to close passes. I say this as I now ride on 3 distinct platforms (up right, high-racer recumbent & low-racer recumbent) I notice when swapping between them I find I register a 'close pass' much further out for the first miles on the road.
simon.r
Person
- Location
- Nottingham
Funnily enough I was just thinking the same. I've just done a cross-City 'commute' for the first time in a few months (work commitments have meant my cycling has been restricted to evenings and weekends recently) and my perception was that more drivers were extremely considerate than normal.
I also noticed a lot more cyclists on the route than, say, this time last year - I wonder if the two are linked? As we become more 'normal' are drivers expecting to see us and a more aware of how to drive in our vicinity?
I certainly hope that's the case
I also noticed a lot more cyclists on the route than, say, this time last year - I wonder if the two are linked? As we become more 'normal' are drivers expecting to see us and a more aware of how to drive in our vicinity?
I certainly hope that's the case
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Most drivers are very considerate and nice. My YT channel covers perhaps 0.02% of my cycling, and even then there's a good proportion of non-incident cycling.
In London I do think cycling has become safer over the years. As more and more people take to cycle commuting, car drivers have no choice but to be aware of and around cyclists. In some parts of London at junctions and bridges cyclists outnumber cars. It's a learning process for car drivers.
There has also been extensive campaigns of motor/cycle awareness which has helped.
There has also been extensive campaigns of motor/cycle awareness which has helped.
Hitchington
Lovely stuff
- Location
- That London
I noticed, in London, that during the Olympics and Paralympics last summer people were generally nicer to each other (and cyclists) on the road, but a month or two after they finished everyone went back to being a'holes and the level of "near misses" has gone back to what it was before the games.
SquareDaff
Über Member
- Location
- Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Hmmm! Not so sure. My brain is registering a lot of "closer" passes recently. Maybe I need to check my road positioning.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
I'd like to think that they are safer and that drivers are a lot more cycle aware than they ever have been. Thing is though I've never really found them to feel that dangerous.
I can say that, in my little bubble of friends and relatives, more of them seem to have an opinion on cyclists where they didn't before. More of them are also educated (I hate that word its so patronising), correctly or not, on the issue of cycling.
My sister, who lives in the remote bit of the Weald of Kent and sees few bikes from day to day, held a discussion with me at the weekend about the dangers of cycle lanes!
So we are definitley getting there
I can say that, in my little bubble of friends and relatives, more of them seem to have an opinion on cyclists where they didn't before. More of them are also educated (I hate that word its so patronising), correctly or not, on the issue of cycling.
My sister, who lives in the remote bit of the Weald of Kent and sees few bikes from day to day, held a discussion with me at the weekend about the dangers of cycle lanes!
So we are definitley getting there
coffeejo
Ælfrēd
- Location
- West Somerset
I define a close pass as one that causes my bike to wobble, thereby putting me in danger of hitting the deck. This could be because I've instinctively flinched or swerved, or something to do with the laws of physics and air flow. Anything else I don't notice. That might be right or wrong, I don't know. Nor do I care. It works for me!
I'm also a lot more confident on the road now and ride in secondary, happily moving into primary to pre-emptively prevent a silly overtake if it's a blind corner and so on, but also briefly moving to the side to allow cars to pass if it's suitable (not if the road's potholed / littered etc) and trying to be as considerate to other road users as I'd like them to be to me. It's a style that works for me in my particular neck of the woods, including the main A roads from Taunton to Minehead, Bridgwater, Wellington and beyond.
I'm also a lot more confident on the road now and ride in secondary, happily moving into primary to pre-emptively prevent a silly overtake if it's a blind corner and so on, but also briefly moving to the side to allow cars to pass if it's suitable (not if the road's potholed / littered etc) and trying to be as considerate to other road users as I'd like them to be to me. It's a style that works for me in my particular neck of the woods, including the main A roads from Taunton to Minehead, Bridgwater, Wellington and beyond.
- Location
- Glasgow
One gets used to everything in life
paul04
Über Member
I was very apprehensive when I started to ride my bike on the road, but now 8 months later, and I am alot more confident. working out the flow of traffic and moving into the primary position at lot earlier.
I have found that 99% of drivers are very good, give you room when they pass. I've had 5 near misses, where I've had to take evasive action to avoid a crash, every one the car drivers fault. I think we learn abit more each day.
I have found that 99% of drivers are very good, give you room when they pass. I've had 5 near misses, where I've had to take evasive action to avoid a crash, every one the car drivers fault. I think we learn abit more each day.
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