Battle hardening ?

[Jezston]

Much as I detest the DM, the only way to get a good outcome here is either to make it irrelevant or to find a way to get it onside. Perhaps if the "strict liability" campaigns were to concentrate on pedestrians and how this would help them defend against pavement cyclists and suchlike, the Wail would support them as an anti-cyclist measure?

The problem is that cycling is associated with 'the left' what with the whole being green and not showing off how wealthy you are with a flashy motor, and thus - like issues such as climate change, which the Daily Mail also associate with the left - they will always be hostile towards it.

 

[BentMikey]

I think it's very important to give driver feedback when they pass too close. I'll always call out a loud OI and make a pushing to the right motion after a close pass. If we all did this every time, you'd see a distinct drop in the numbers of close passes. I certainly have on my commute, and you get to teach not only the errant driver, but also everyone else whose attention was attracted by your shouted OI. Actually, mine's usually a beep on the airzound rather than an OI, unless I'm on the fixed wheel.

 

[HLaB]

I don't know how much of it is due to battle hardening or just I'm becoming more alert to what might happen, or is that the same thing

 

[BentMikey]

I think I'm also getting better at predicting and discouraging them. More apparently random wobbles, riding with my right hand down near ground level, better road positioning. At least I'd like to think so anyway!

 

[gbb]

I think it's very important to give driver feedback when they pass too close. I'll always call out a loud OI and make a pushing to the right motion after a close pass. If we all did this every time, you'd see a distinct drop in the numbers of close passes. I certainly have on my commute, and you get to teach not only the errant driver, but also everyone else whose attention was attracted by your shouted OI. Actually, mine's usually a beep on the airzound rather than an OI, unless I'm on the fixed wheel.

Oh yes, any chance i get (and with todays traffic, you often catch them up) i'll nearly always use my thumb and forefinger to indicate 'very little room given' to the driver. Its rare you'll get a bad reaction even when i pull up the the drivers window and calmly berate them.

 

[gaz]

I think I'm also getting better at predicting and discouraging them. More apparently random wobbles, riding with my right hand down near ground level, better road positioning. At least I'd like to think so anyway!

We just think your nodding off when you do a little wobble. what with your laid down position!

 

[cyberknight]

I think it all depends what you feel is a "close pass" ... for me, that depends on the size of vehicle and the circumstances.

+1 when i am on the country lanes and the vehicles are doing around 60 mph i expect and normally get a lot of room so anything under 2 foot seems close , Whereas i will happily take a 1 foot overtake if it is slow on the single track lane i use.
I certainly get less wound up these days by close overtakes or they seem to happen less often,whether this is because i have better skills to read and ride the road or i am used to traffic is a hard one to decide....

Just today i had a WVM squeeze past as i was getting into primary for the bollards on my commute that are a pinch point, Airzound FTW, one good beep and i can carry on with all the anger gone

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I think I'm also getting better at predicting and discouraging them. More apparently random wobbles, riding with my right hand down near ground level, better road positioning. At least I'd like to think so anyway!

Have you any insight as to why that would work as a deterrent, Bent Mikey? I've done the deliberwobbles and unbuttoned high-viz flapping-in-the-wind effect, but I find it hard to pin down what effect a hanging hand might have. Unless it's an incredibly hairy, muscular arm with a knuckle-dragging fist attached.

 

[BentMikey]

Have you any insight as to why that would work as a deterrent, Bent Mikey? I've done the deliberwobbles and unbuttoned high-viz flapping-in-the-wind effect, but I find it hard to pin down what effect a hanging hand might have. Unless it's an incredibly hairy, muscular arm with a knuckle-dragging fist attached.

No idea mate, EdinburghFixed discovered this one and told me about it. It's just about as effective as sticking your right hand out, but without the signalling effect. It's probably only any good on a lowracer recumbent though, can't see it happening on an upright.

 

[dondare]

I sometimes think i am !
Watching some of your videos of errant drivers, i find myself thinking 'it's not that bad '
Am i becoming immune, is it a good thing ? I certainly enjoy commuting, wouldn't have it any other way.
I watched one video posted the other day with an oncoming car...i really thought 'so what'.
Are cycle lanes contributing to my outlook ? Cars constantly passing within 2 ft, you quickly get used to it, accept, it and think when someone actually does gives you good room...'nice one bud'

There's always the really close ones of course, the ones that leave you spitting blood in an instant, but thankfully they're really rare.

I'll take it as a good thing. I rarely ever get angry anymore, just think tw@t when someone comes too close (what is too close ?), although i'll nearly always 'have a word' with a driver i think's overstepped the mark.

Is it just me ?

Not just you. I'm not bothered by close and I'm not given to having words with drivers either.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

No idea mate, EdinburghFixed discovered this one and told me about it. It's just about as effective as sticking your right hand out, but without the signalling effect. It's probably only any good on a lowracer recumbent though, can't see it happening on an upright.

Oh well, thanks for the reply. If it seems to work, then that's just about good enough, I suppose. It's always good to get an idea about why something works but in the end it's better to stay alive with the mystery.

 

[gbb]

Oh well, thanks for the reply. If it seems to work, then that's just about good enough, I suppose. It's always good to get an idea about why something works but in the end it's better to stay alive with the mystery.

This maybe (only maybe) ties in with something i've always noticed. I frequently look over my shoulder, and always, if possible look at the driver coming from behind (i can't see him, just looking his way). You can almost control situations with those looks behind.
Is it possible as a cyclist you're seen as a vehicle, not a human being. Do those movements (hand movements or looking behind) possibly have a sunconscious effect on drivers...they then see you as a person, not just another vehicle .

Maybe, maybe not, but i am sometimes still surprised how you can control a driver with a look.

 

[habibi]

<br />Is it possible as a cyclist you're seen as a vehicle, not a human being.  Do those movements (hand movements or looking behind) possibly have a sunconscious effect on drivers...they then see you as a person, not just another vehicle .<br /><br />Maybe, maybe not, but i am sometimes still surprised how you can control a driver with a look.

I think cyclists are regarded primarily as an obstacle by many approaching motorists, and become recognised as a vehicle when you look behind.

 

[downfader]

I think cyclists are regarded primarily as an obstacle by many approaching motorists, and become recognised as a vehicle when you look behind.

I wonder if they see you as a human being when they see your face, see your eyes..?

 

[Davidc]

I think cyclists are regarded primarily as an obstacle by many approaching motorists, and become recognised as a vehicle when you look behind.

Fortunately only by a very small minority. Trouble is it's that minority who are the problem.

If it was more than a tiny minority then riding on the roads would quickly become impossible.