Brixton Hill and the bus lane

[zimzum42]

Well, it's definitely normal for cabs along the Marylebone road to give me that little space......

 

[BentMikey]

I do ride along there occasionally too, and still don't get passed that close. Mind you I do own the bus lane and actively dissuade overtakes since they would be dangerous and pointless on the bit I'm thinking of.

 

[Riding in Circles]

I think Brixton Hill is a pain to cycle any way. I used to be ok with motorcycles using bus lanes but after a couple of near misses with idiots on motorcycles when they tried it in East London I am convinced it is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Origamist]

Logan, if Brixton Hill is causing you problems, explore other roads around Brixton/Streatham. There is liitle point doggedly persisting with a route if it is making you feel uncomfortable.

 

[simon l& and a half]

two feet is par for the course in London, and some cyclists find that uncomfortable. The DfT thinks that five feet is reasonable.

 

[zimzum42]

BentMikey - Since you're either blading or recumbenting, maybe that's why you get given more space!

 

[Cab]

The HC stipulates that the space left for a CYCLIST is enough so that were the cyclist to topple over they still would not be hit. Six feet is about right. If a cyclist is in primary there is not one single bus lane in London that would be safe to overtake a cyclist in.

I must have skipped that bit of the HC. Where does it say that?

 

[Cab]

Well, maybe I'm just immune to this kind of thing, since I get passed really close at high speed by all types of vehicles much of the time, and it doesn't bother me unless it's literally a couple of inches.

Two feet away is loads of room

Two feet is barely wobble space; quite simply if you believe thats okay then your perception of safe overtaking distance is wrong.

 

[zimzum42]

Again, I'm not saying it's a safe distance, I'm just saying it's what I'm used to, and what I generally expect....

 

[Origamist]

two feet is par for the course in London, and some cyclists find that uncomfortable. The DfT thinks that five feet is reasonable.

Two feet is not the normal or standard overtaking distance (ie par for the course) IME - you ususally get more room. That's not to say that you won't get passed that close, or that you shuoldn't expect close overtakes, but I think it's easy to underestimate the room you are given when a vehicle passes at speed. In addition, a couple of close overtakes are more memorable than numerous overtakes where you are given more room.

In Walker's study at the Uni of Bath he found that the average overtaking distance was 4.4 ft.

 

[zimzum42]

The vast majority of cars give me a nice wide berth and there's no problem. But in places like London, and the whole time in Singapore, drivers pass very close, but it no longer winds me up, it's too normal....

Having said that, I'm not a wobbler, so maybe I worry less.....

 

[spindrift]

Plus there's the legal case that established cyclists have a right, enshrined in law, to wobble and deviate from their path.

 

[LOGAN 5]

This is a tricky bit of road, mostly because of the potholes. I couldn't say, however, that motorcycles have made me feel less secure. I'd say that having motorcycles in the bus lane north of Brixton is an advantage - by far the greatest risk (apart from my own stupidity) is from cars turning across the bus lane, and motorcycles act as a deterrent.

I think you'd be daft to go to the left side of the lane. I'd settle for about five foot from the kerb - this is how Mrs L goes down the hill, and she's not fast.

Have you thought of using Lyham Road - taking it all the way down to Kings Avenue, then going on to Clapham North? It has speed bumps, but if you're not travelling quickly that's not a problem. It's not as steep as Brixton Hill, which makes the southbound trip easier.

Kings Avenue now has central islands, creating pinch points. Lyham Road avoids the worst of these.

Thanks for the route advice, just been looking at it on the map and will give it a go.

 

[Cab]

Again, I'm not saying it's a safe distance, I'm just saying it's what I'm used to, and what I generally expect....

Then I think your road position may be erroneous. Especially in the densest, heaviest, nastiest traffic I don't fall in to the trap of choosing road positions that allow that to happen frequently.

 

[zimzum42]

My road position is fine, generally in front of everything, or filtering through the gaps.

The busier the road the better, and if i can ride with the traffic, that's the best! Personal alleycat racing!