Assertive cycling

[Fab Foodie]

I ride equally assertively regardless of what speed I'm doing. BUT, I get much much less grief from drivers on my fast bike than my slow 'un. I have concluded that higher bike speeds + assertive riding is the best method. Others seem to have found the same.

 

[Crankarm]

I had a bus pass me a bit close last night. I was mildly disgruntled. However, it got me thinking. On that particular part of my journey this was the first time in probably over a year that I had had any sort of incident of note on that particular section of road.

In fact, I can honestly say that I have far, far fewer incidents on the road now, than I ever had in the past. So, why is this? What has changed?

I certainly cycle faster. There are certainly more cyclists on the road now and I am more experienced. However, the biggest difference is the way I cycle. Contrary to what some would suggest I find that the more assertive my cycling the fewer problems I have. This, again contrary to what some might believe, doesn't mean that I take primary position all the time. In fact, one of the things that has helped me the most on the stretch of road I mentioned above is to hold the secondary (instead of primary) and to look back every 5 seconds or so. I've found those looks tends to discourage the daft overtakes (must be my ugly mug!)

Looking back at my videos provides an example of how things have changed for me on approach to one junction. On approach to Anniesland Cross I used to have problems of cars cutting in front of me, i.e. here and here. Over time, taking a more assertive position early it developed into attempted overtakes/cut ups, but the better position seemed to prevent the incidents, i.e. here and here.

So why am I writing this? I dunno really! I suppose I just wanted to illustrate that assertive cycling (or whatever you want to call it) can and does make life easier on the roads, despite what the youtube armchair experts tell you!

What do you think?

+1. All I would add is use a well timed wobble occasionally. It is to cycling what a well disguised lob is to a decent tennis player. Leaves your opponent totally out of position and beaten.

 

[JiMBR]

I definitely have a lot to learn, as I haven't been riding for long.

I have used as much common sense and fair judgement as I could have (imo), but there have been a few situations where I think I could've done better.

I suppose it's a lot to do with experience in the saddle etc and short of going out with someone to teach me, it'll come...bit by bit...mile by mile.

and that's one of the many joys of cycling...learning

 

[thomas]

Like others have said, doing a good speed stops incidents.

For instance, the reason I got my helmet camera was because I nearly got taken out by First buses, as they got halfway through overtaking and started to pull into me for a roundabout - resulting in me thumping the bus until it stopped pulling into me.

Now that I'm a little fitter and have my road bike at UNI I can cycle faster than the bus can do the route - therefore, no incidents

 

[Grendel]

Haven't read the book but I do try and cycle assertively. On my commute home the road goes from straight, on to a left hand bend, then straight with a traffic island.

I used to find that if I cycled close to the kerb, cars would pass extremely close on the bend, and try and squeeze through at the island.

I now move farther out, where I can be seen easier (Hi viz jacket and three seperate flashing LEDs at night), and have found that most cars give me a wide berth and slow for the traffic island.

I will try and pick up the book.

 

[DJ]

Yes I do cycle assertivley as much as possible , but have had a few incidents recently, minor squeeze point incidents etc, I think I must remember to look behind me more often , does anyone use mirrors?

 

[Origamist]

I ride equally assertively regardless of what speed I'm doing. BUT, I get much much less grief from drivers on my fast bike than my slow 'un. I have concluded that higher bike speeds + assertive riding is the best method. Others seem to have found the same.

It seems a bit odd that we are advocating an approach of speed/assertiveness = increased safety (or less hassle). When you think about it, it's actually a sad indictment of cycling in this country when slower, utilitarian cyclists are disadvantaged on our roads.

 

[Ian H]

Confidence comes with practice, as does speed. As regards speed, I think that so long as you look as if you're getting on with it and not dawdling or dithering about in the road, your actual speed is less important. There is a mistake that a few cyclists make - they confuse aggressiveness with assertiveness.

 

[Origamist]

Confidence comes with practice, as does speed. As regards speed, I think that so long as you look as if you're getting on with it and not dawdling or dithering about in the road, your actual speed is less important. There is a mistake that a few cyclists make - they confuse aggressiveness with assertiveness.

You can be a confident/assertive cyclist and pootle along purposefully (say 10mph) but you'll suffer more at the hands of impatient drivers. The greater the perceived inconvenience (a whopping 10sec delay going through a junction for example), the greater the likelihood of a manifestation of frustration.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Yes I do cycle assertivley as much as possible , but have had a few incidents recently, minor squeeze point incidents etc, I think I must remember to look behind me more often , does anyone use mirrors?

I have done, and it's handy for a quick glance to see what's going on behind you. But I broke mine and haven't bothered to replace it: I've got better at looking behind, and the advantage of a big old obvious look over your shoulder is that it lets the driver of the vehicle behind you know you're aware of them / up to something. And eye contact with them is a good thing: reminds them you're a person, not a target!

It seems a bit odd that we are advocating an approach of speed/assertiveness = increased safety (or less hassle). When you think about it, it's actually a sad indictment of cycling in this country when slower, utilitarian cyclists are disadvantaged on our roads.

It is indeed. Or is it more an indictment on the way our roads are used?

We watched that "Electric Dreams" (back to the 80s) thing on TV the other night, and they made the dad of the family go out on a C5 - he said it was fun to use, but that he didn't feel safe on the roads and so wouldn't use one.

I can understand not using one - even I can hold a better average speed on a bike than one of those can do as a maximum - but surely the fact that he didn't feel safe is damning of the drivers of vehicles around him than the fault of the C5 ..

 

[lazyfatgit]

I wouldn't say my cycling has improved much over the years. Been commuting off and on since I had first job after school. What I did notice recently when began to ride with my BIL who is a complete noob, and therfore both less assertive and also slower, was that the same behaviour by me at a slower speed resulted in more friction with some drivers.
I had just assumed i was getting better on the bike over the summer as minor incidents had dropped off. What appears to have happened is i've got quicker as i've got fitter.

being able to inject a little pace now and then helps with blending in the traffic.

 

[SBH]

Hi all,

First post on here after a lot of reading (and a fair amount of cycling). I'm far from an expert as I've only been riding for 3 months but I'm up to 60 miles now and really enjoying it. Even in that short time though, I've had my run-ins with inconsiderate (brain-dead!?) bus drivers and those idiots that like to overtake you on the right before turning immediately left.

It's amazing how threads like these can enrage you and provide therapy at the same time. Yet as someone who still loves to drive but now also loves to cycle, it's only recently that I've recognised just how difficult it is for the average motorist to see things from the cyclists' perspective. While I like to think I've always been a conscientious driver, I have certainly been guilty of mistakes in the past that would have aggravated me now as a cyclist. I can raise my hands to that.

On that basis, the thing that I've found most effective in my short time on the roads as a cyclist is to just do SOMETHING/anything!! that forces the driver behind you to take themselves off of auto-pilot and actually THINK about the manoeuvre they're about to undertake.

A wobble, a look over the shoulder, an assertive signal, a slightly more dominant road position - it all seems to have the same effect in registering with the automaton that they need to consciously make a decision one way or another that includes a bike.

I'm speaking generally of course. Some drivers really are stupid or malicious, and sometimes a combination of the two.

 

[Wheeledweenie]

I've had far fewer near-misses since I started being more assertive. I used to allow both cars and other cyclists dictate my position on the road but now I decide where's safest and go there, be it primary or not.

I've also discovered the power of eye contact. A look behind, eye contact and a smile does far more in keeping me safe and giving motorists a clear idea of what I'm going to do and where I'm going than any kind of aggressive maneuver. Several regular HGV drivers on my route will allow me time to get ahead and give me a friendly wave now and again. I'm sure it's because I don't creep into their blind spots, I make sure they've seen me and I'm always friendly.

 

[rh100]

and the advantage of a big old obvious look over your shoulder is that it lets the driver of the vehicle behind you know you're aware of them / up to something. And eye contact with them is a good thing: reminds them you're a person, not a target!

True, but I've mentioned before, and I'm curious to know others experience, I think that having a look makes some of them think - ah, he knows i'm here so now i'll do what I like

It mentions this in cycle craft aswell, it didn't offer a solution just a warning

 

[Wheeledweenie]

True, but I've mentioned before, and I'm curious to know others experience, I think that having a look makes some of them think - ah, he knows i'm here so now i'll do what I like

It mentions this in cycle craft aswell, it didn't offer a solution just a warning

I've never experienced the negative effect of eye contact but perhaps something I should think about. My main use for it is big big lorries and trucks. I like to think it encourages the drivers to see me as a person on a bike, not just a 'cyclist trying to get in the way' as it were.