Cars that veer right when you're filtering on the right.

[Boris Bajic]

This has happened to me, but seldom.

I've been filtering on both sides (but mostly the offside) for forty years or so.

On very few occasions I've had a niggling feeling that a driver has somehow crept across to block or impede me.

Sometimes a car has appeared to wander unhelpfully but on approaching I see that the driver is tuning the radio, brushing hair, applying make up, looking for a CD or (more recently) texting. Although that's poor driving, it doesn't feel like a deliberate block.

I continue to find almost all other road users considerate, skilled, observant and thoughtful.

I'm hoping to behave likewise one of these days.

 

[funk my fixie]

Always found that car drivers are most considerate. I have not been in TJ's and had people pull in to block me, though I am sure it happens. However, on all the roads that I travel on, drivers are prepared to slow to my speed, wait for a space then give me a wide berth when overtaking. Our road system is breaking down and so I often find myself further out than I am happy to be in order to avoid yet another pot hole. Drivers have not hooted or complained (least not to me), but are courteous and pass safely. I do get the occasional close encounter but I don't think it is with malicious intent. I think drivers are trying to stay on our side of the road and/or cannot judge how far they are from me. It may be ok to pass 1/2 foot from a stationary car but not a cyclist. Though unless you cycle yourself you would not know this, eh? Strangely, the only time I felt the need to put my fist up in rage to a car who was too close for comfort had bikes in the back of it though again they may have been looking at my bike out of interest etc rather than look where they were going. I always wave at cars for passing safely as this promotes them doing it again in the future and while many wave back it is Mr white van man who gets my thumbs up as they often give it a toot or hazard lights in recognition of me thanking them.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

You must be older than me to remember much about that show but I don't think cars were a strong feature in 19th century Minnesota.


That is not the worst thing which can happen when you filter on the left.

It was meant to as an example to a perfect World,of which my commute isn't by a long shot.

 

[Bromptonaut]

As Martin, my impression is that it's phone focussed farkwittery rather than deliberate blocking. RH filtering is still much safer the LH.

 

[Recycler]

Is it just a male driver thing though ?

Each time this has happened to me it has been a female driver. I doubt they were trying to stop me for my phone number.

You missunderstand. The driver used to have testicles, but a cyclist managed to get passed them one day and the things did fall off. They are simply blocking you now because of nostalgia

 

[Recycler]

. I always wave at cars for passing safely as this promotes them doing it again in the future and while many wave back it is Mr white van man who gets my thumbs up as they often give it a toot or hazard lights in recognition of me thanking them.

Joking aside.......
I think that is exactly the right approach. If we are friendly with motorists then they are more likely to return the compliment. We need them on our side more than they need us.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Yeah. Get a lot of it every day.

Buuuut... in the last year, we've noticed more drivers pulling in to let us go past.

+1

 

[jonny jeez]

very rare for me...like once in every 500 miles or so.

 

[boydj]

Are you sure that this is deliberate blocking? In my experience it is people moving over to see what is causing the hold up down the road. The blocking part being a careless incidental aspect.

Had an instructor alone in a L-plated car pull hard to the kerb as I came up behind him at the back of a long queue on a dual carriageway. As I passed on his offside I asked if the move was for my benefit. His reply "I've already passed you once, why should I have to do it again?". I was probably home, 2 miles away, before he got through the next three sets of lights.

 

[guitarpete247]

....... I always wave at cars for passing safely as this promotes them doing it again in the future and while many wave back .......

I too wave to thank drivers for safe passes or to those that have waited to pass in a safe place.

There are still those that try to force their way. Either by trying to force me back in so they can avoid hitting an island or those that force their way out from side roads on the right. I know they have probably been waiting for a while for that gap both ways. But, hey, I'm here too.

The place I find this most often is here. Most recently Friday about 4:15 going in to the library. Woman in MPV, with kids on-board, coming from school, suddenly shot out then braked as traffic in front was stationary. I simply filtered past her and another 6 cars to get up to mini RaB. (Filtered on right) then went right.

My most common experience round here though is of extremely polite and considerate drivers. Most of my riding is on rural roads and drivers are used to lots of cyclists and horses so willing to wait and give way to slower traffic.

 

[boydj]

So he got out of the way but resented doing so?

No, he thought I would filter on the left as I had done at the previous junction, where I was turning left. He was definitely trying to block me.

I should add that way more drivers move to make room - and get a thumbs up for doing so - than have ever tried to block the filter.

 

[thefollen]

Well, I was driving back through Clapham yesterday afternoon (without incident I'll add). Obviously as a cyclist I watch out for us and drive in a safe and non-worrying manner- but can see how veering right can occur, without malice or competing for postion. Find I initially look for cyclists on the left and consider giving them more space, but this can potentially cause a driver to move right slightly so it's important to check the right for filterers too. I'd say when driving, often the safest thing to do (in slow moving traffic) is stay on a straight and predictable course with no sudden movements, then let cyclists position themselves and filter accordingly.

 

[snapper_37]

For every 1 that moves to block, 100 move to make room. Most of the 100 would probably shake their head and mutter 'saddo' at the 1.

 

[moon_monkey]

Some people just seem to absent-mindedly drift towards whatever they are looking at, when they're driving on automatic.
Not malicious, just careless.
Some do, however, deliberately and obviously move over to block.