Bike aware car driver

[cd365]

Whilst driving to the post Office to get a package yesterday morning, I stopped at traffic lights; my lane was signed straight on and the lane on the inside of me is signed left turn only. A car pulled up behind me, then a car rather aggressively pulls up in the left hand lane. My first thought was that he is going to go straight on.

A cyclist then pulls up between us. I watch him look at the traffic lights so I'm assuming he's going to try and take a flyer as soon as they go from green to amber for the other drivers; which he does. He then moves towards the left hand side of the road expecting the car in the left hand lane to go left. As soon as the lights change this numpty shoots away almost side swiping the cyclist who had to veer into my lane. Luckily I had thought that this was a possibilty so had hung back, if I hadn't there might have been a rather squashed cyclist.

I put this awareness down to the fact that I am a born again cyclist and had a rough idea what the cyclist was going to do, i would have done similar.

 

[2Loose]

I put this awareness down to the fact that I am a born again cyclist and had a rough idea what the cyclist was going to do, i would have done similar.

Sounds like you as a driver and a cyclist, knew what the aggressive driver was going to do, therefore forcing the cyclist's manouevre.

Either way, good anticipation.

 

[BentMikey]

Nice one!

 

[subaqua]

Sounds like you as a driver and a cyclist, knew what the aggressive driver was going to do, therefore forcing the cyclist's manouevre.

Either way, good anticipation.

and thast what makes a good road user, anticipating what the other numpty is going to do.

theres a few on here that need to learn this skill. well done OP

 

[cd365]

Thanks

 

[BentMikey]

Anticipation? Here's some good anticipation by Gaz:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q055u8xwpwU

 

[Ste T.]

As a cyclist, I would have taken the left hand lane and sat primary behind the numpty ( assuming that the lights go green for both lanes at the same time) Then drifted right to take secondary as I crossed the junction. But each to their own. I often see comments about drivers on here joking about apparent " must overtake the cyclist syndrome" but cyclists are often just as guilty getting themselves into tight spots trying to be just one more car in front, when it makes much more sense to hold back. As did OP +1

 

[mark barker]

As a cyclist, I would have taken the left hand lane and sat primary behind the numpty ( assuming that the lights go green for both lanes at the same time) Then drifted right to take secondary as I crossed the junction.

Surely you'd have been in the wrong lane to start with then? Why not use the the correct lane in the first place?

 

[Ste T.]

Correct.
As I say each to his own.

 

[mark barker]

Correct.
As I say each to his own.

Why would you do that? I'm not asking this in a confrontational way, but I can't see any benefit in doing that, and would've thought that holding a primary position in the correct lane would make your intentions clear to all and you wouldn't have to worry about drifting across into the other lane when everyone else is moving around you.

 

[Dan B]

Hard to say without knowing the junction, but I can think of many places where a two-lane junction thins out to one lane afterwards, and maintaining a primary in the right-land lane would "invite" a close fast undertake by a driver abusing the left-hand lane. Depends on traffic speed and a host of other factors

 

[subaqua]

Hard to say without knowing the junction, but I can think of many places where a two-lane junction thins out to one lane afterwards, and maintaining a primary in the right-land lane would "invite" a close fast undertake by a driver abusing the left-hand lane. Depends on traffic speed and a host of other factors

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...=ZIgztafirmsPatqjR83H6Q&cbp=12,262.36,,0,6.29


is one example by me. it does encourage short cutters on the left side lane (Left turn Only) to undertake the stationary traffic .

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...noid=UmgQsz4BsFTkLlEUIg9qUw&cbp=11,31.18,,0,5


here is another one that isn't listed as 2 lanes but is wide enough ( if you use the cycle lane ) for car drivers to get 2 abreast blocking any access to the ASL zone unless you go into the opposite carriageway. I avopid where possible

 

[subaqua]

Anticipation? Here's some good anticipation by Gaz:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=q055u8xwpwU

excellent riding

 

[BentMikey]

As a cyclist, I would have taken the left hand lane and sat primary behind the numpty ( assuming that the lights go green for both lanes at the same time) Then drifted right to take secondary as I crossed the junction. But each to their own.

In some situations that's good practice. I can think of a couple of junctions where this is a good idea, @mark barker.

 

[Banjo]

Well done to the op for rescuing the situation for the cyclist.

At junctions I dont take anything for granted and presume drivers will do the worst thing possible. Surprising how often I am proved right.

I know what U mean about being a cyclist affecting your driving. How many non cycling drivers check their left side mirror carefully before turning left ?