Cyclists pulling out in front of me.

[d87francis]

A habit I encounter far more than I would have expected to is cyclists turning left out of left hand side roads, straight into my path. I cannot fathom why it happens so frequently? In the past few years in Oxford I have hit one and nearly been hit by a car swerving to avoid another. I know many will reply that I should expect it to happen and be prepared in case they do, which is what I do with drivers in side roads by making eye contact, however, I do no believe it to be practical to slow at every side road at which a cyclist is waiting to pull out from.

I have read the piece (http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/) by the RAF pilot on why people may not spot cyclists as easily as cars, but given I have only once or twice had a SMIDSY with a car pulling out it doesn't explain why it happens more frequently by cyclists. Perhaps it's because I'm cycling faster than they're expecting?

I thought I would see if anyone else has similar experiences?

 

[Biker Joe]

I can't say that I have.
Perhaps they're picking on you
Perhaps you could cut your speed down to below 40mph

 

[sidevalve]

Yep, it's you. The voices are correct, they ARE all out to get you !!!
However I must say it's really no different than expecting car drivers to see you, just because they ride a bike doesn't mean they are better at seeing what they look at.
One other thing, I've noticed a lot of riders use dark specs even on gloomy days. It may look cool but it can't help much.

 

[summerdays]

Why not pass all the side roads in a more primary position so even if they pull out you have some space.

 

[ianrauk]

It's more of a problem with car drivers pulling out rather then cyclists.
One of my biggest beefs with motons is when they don't stop at the junction, but slowly creep forward. You have no idea whether they are actually going to pull out or not. Bloody idiots.

 

[Sittingduck]

I have noticed it happening more and more. Had a cpl of examples of this during the past few days. Just one of those things - the reason they pull out is because they are ignorant and living in their own world. Just be prepared for it when you see them approaching the junction.

 

[summerdays]

It's more of a problem with car drivers pulling out rather then cyclists.
One of my biggest beefs with motons is when they don't stop at the junction, but slowly creep forward. You have no idea whether they are actually going to pull out or not. Bloody idiots.

Yes they are annoying as you have to slow down in case ... whereas if he looks as though he has stopped for you, then you end up passing the junction quicker so that they actually get out of the side road quicker (assuming there is a space behind you).

 

[PocketFrog]

I have this as well, on a pretty fast stretch of road, cars pull out into the carriageway to see past parked cars. They assume that because that lane is then too narrow for a car to pass that they can just block it themselves.

 

[GrasB]

A lot of people on bikes seem to think that because they're on a bike & it's narrow vehicle that they can just pull out regardless because anything can easily swerve around them.

 

[potsy]

Doesn't happen often but I get a few, similar to those semi pavement riders who hop back onto the road without looking

 

[Crankarm]

This is what Air Zounds are made for.

 

[gaz]

I run lights all the time now. seems to have stopped most SMIDY's

 

[BikeLiker]

A lot of people on bikes seem to think that because they're on a bike & it's narrow vehicle that they can just pull out regardless because anything can easily swerve around them.

Well, isn't that true? That's why countries such as US and Oz allow bikes to turn left without stopping at a red light and Boris want's the same thing here.

 

[GrasB]

Well, isn't that true? That's why countries such as US and Oz allow bikes to turn left without stopping at a red light and Boris want's the same thing here.

NO! A bike turning left against priority causes space issues, end of story 'Left on red' rules firmly put the responcibility of checking it is safe to do so on the cyclist, it doesn't allow for the cyclist to simply charge round a left hand corner with complete dis-regard for what's going on the carriageway with priority. The main reason for this rule is to mitigate the rush away from the lights & reduces the number of potential left-hook situations, basically it's compensation for bad road craft of both cyclists & drivers.

 

[BikeLiker]

NO! A bike turning left against priority causes space issues, end of story 'Left on red' rules firmly put the responcibility of checking it is safe to do so on the cyclist, it doesn't allow for the cyclist to simply charge round a left hand corner with complete dis-regard for what's going on the carriageway with priority. The main reason for this rule is to mitigate the rush away from the lights & reduces the number of potential left-hook situations, basically it's compensation for bad road craft of both cyclists & drivers.

Wow! You're very confident of yourself - maybe you should set up as an international traffic consultant and put our colonial cousins right. Might be best to avoid shouting at them in any correspondence you send, though.