Blind, aggressive, shortsighted... or just stupid drivers?

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Last night's commute was fun, fun, fun... a couple of incidents of note as well as plenty of illegal ASL usage, speeding, RLJing etc. by cars around me... it's not going to be pretty when the weather get's worse and the evenings get darker!

Just a short vid.. and yes, I'm back to my normal swearing (bleeped out though, for the sensitive natured ones) and muttering to myself in this one.

 

[trustysteed]

do you ever go out and just enjoy your ride and not feel the need to film everything and get angry about other road-users?

 

[BentMikey]

That first close overtake - I'd have been riding outside the cycle lane. Not excusing the motorist, but people don't move out much unless you ride in their lane. Stick left of a line and they'll assume that you're OK and don't need to give any space.

do you ever go out and just enjoy your ride and not feel the need to film everything and get angry about other road-users?

That's so patronising.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

do you ever go out and just enjoy your ride and not feel the need to film everything and get angry about other road-users?

I haven't said I didn't enjoy this ride...most of it was fine, just a few numpties to contend with. That's not me being angry, btw... that's very, very mildly irritated by my standards.

I love the cut-and-thrust of being in and around traffic, so my commute is enjoyable... as for going without the camera... it's attached to my helmet so if I wear that then it's already with me... seems rather pointless to have it and not use it.

 

[trustysteed]

That's so patronising.

i don't think it is. it seems that there are quite a few people here who feel the need to film their commute every day in the hope of finding an example of bad drivinganti-cyclist behaviour so that they can upload it on here and say 'oo look how bad these motorists are' and expect everybody else to agree and say 'ooo, you're right, isn't it awful'

i include yourself and magnatom in that category, and was querying whether sh4rkybloke was another who is more interested in finding other road-user flaws rather than just enjoying being on a bike.

so my question stands, do you lot ever just enjoy riding your bike?

 

[Origamist]

I think it's a tough call in that situation. Two lanes become three and they are narrow. There's also not a lot of traffic about. Is it a 30mph limit, Sharky? If you're going to share the nearside lane I think I would ride in a similar position to Sharky. If you're going to move out, you want to be in the centre of the lane and preferably going some. The place I wouldn't want to be is a foot to the right of the cycle lane as you're going to encourage close overtakes as the lane can still be shared in the minds of some motorists.

I much prefer riding at night to twilight.

 

[BentMikey]

LOL! What do you think, trustysteed?

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

i don't think it is. it seems that there are quite a few people here who feel the need to film their commute every day in the hope of finding an example of bad drivinganti-cyclist behaviour so that they can upload it on here and say 'oo look how bad these motorists are' and expect everybody else to agree and say 'ooo, you're right, isn't it awful'

i include yourself and magnatom in that category, and was querying whether sh4rkybloke was another who is more interested in finding other road-user flaws rather than just enjoying being on a bike.

so my question stands, do you lot ever just enjoy riding your bike?

It's not all about finding other road users' flaws... but I'm happy to upload videos that show this... the more examples of this that get shown, the more chance there is that the Police might crack down on such poor driving as it becomes more obvious that these are regular occurrances on our roads today.

Most of my time on the bike (probably about 90%) is for commuting purposes. The camera is there to provide some form of backup should any incident arise that requires proof, and the added bonus is that it can help highlight the dangers we face on the road due to idiotic driving.

I would love it if the Police started a campaign to ask for assistance in helping them enforce the law on the road.... if camera footage could be used to prosecute/fine drivers caught on film breaking the law and perhaps a percentage of the fine given to the person who filmed it... I'd happily shop drivers RLJing, using their mobile etc. As there's no incentive currently, I'll just put them up on YouTube for people to point and lugh at for having no brains.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I think it's a tough call in that situation. Two lanes become three and they are narrow. There's also not a lot of traffic about. Is it a 30mph limit, Sharky? If you're going to share the nearside lane I think I would ride in a similar position to Sharky. If you're going to move out, you want to be in the centre of the lane and preferably going some. The place I wouldn't want to be is a foot to the right of the cycle lane as you're going to encourage close overtakes as the lane can still be shared in the minds of some motorists.

I much prefer riding at night to twilight.

It is a 30mph limit. I tend to ride on the white line of the cycle lane which means I'm enough of an obstacle that drivers need to actually think about their overtake (generally) but it still gives me some wriggle room should I need it. I think taking the centre of the left hand lane would provoke reaction as they'd see it as needlessly holding them up.

 

[Origamist]

It is a 30mph limit. I tend to ride on the white line of the cycle lane which means I'm enough of an obstacle that drivers need to actually think about their overtake (generally) but it still gives me some wriggle room should I need it. I think taking the centre of the left hand lane would provoke reaction as they'd see it as needlessly holding them up.

Thanks for the info. In that situation, I'd of ridden where you were riding. However, if traffic was bit heavier and slower, I'd probably be in the centre of lane.

 

[trustysteed]

the more examples of this that get shown, the more chance there is that the Police might crack down on such poor driving as it becomes more obvious that these are regular occurrances on our roads today.

As there's no incentive currently, I'll just put them up on YouTube for people to point and lugh at for having no brains.

i don't think the police monitor youtube in order to control traffic offences so i'm just not seeing the point?

i'm also not really seeing the point why anybody else here would be interested in viewing them? it always follows the same pattern:

1) cyclist posts video showing example of bad driving etc
2) cyclist asks forum members to confirm that cyclist was in the right and motorist was at fault when cyclist is convinced he was in the right anyway, just pretends to be unsure so he can get attention from other forum members
3) forum members agree with cyclist, nasty motorist
4) all forum parties content that cyclist honour has been maintained

i'm obviously missing something. perhaps someone can tell me why they think posting a video of these incidents would be relevant to the rest of us? what are my chances of having the same incident happen to me by the same motorist on the same road in the same town of somewhere i don't live or ride?

Perhaps admin should create a video footage category purely for these.

 

[Origamist]

Perhaps admin should create a video footage category purely for these.

Or perhaps, you don't have to read the thread or view the footage if it bothers you?

 

[trustysteed]

Or perhaps, you don't have to read the thread or view the footage if it bothers you?

i've never viewed any of the footage because as i've said, i just don't get the point.

 

[HJ]

i don't think it is. it seems that there are quite a few people here who feel the need to film their commute every day in the hope of finding an example of bad drivinganti-cyclist behaviour so that they can upload it on here and say 'oo look how bad these motorists are' and expect everybody else to agree and say 'ooo, you're right, isn't it awful'

i include yourself and magnatom in that category, and was querying whether sh4rkybloke was another who is more interested in finding other road-user flaws rather than just enjoying being on a bike.

so my question stands, do you lot ever just enjoy riding your bike?

Not just patronising, silly as well...

 

[trustysteed]

the thread title is Blind, aggressive, shortsighted... or just stupid drivers?

it's off to an anti-motorist start immediately.

i wish cyclists would enjoy cycling more and be anti-motorists less