I've cycled in London, drove a car in London and now use a Vespa. I've done all three over the last 20 years primarily in West London and find the following:
- Cyclists take risks, NEVER look over their shoulder if they're overtaking a vehicle or another cyclist. As a motorcyclist this is drummed into you when you are doing your CBT of full bike test - it's called a lifesaver check. Why is this?
http://begin-motorcycling.co.uk/the-5-elements-of-cbt/element-c/indicating-observation-osmpsl/
It surprises me that even a few cyclists don't do this.
- Drivers of cars are completely unaware, they just follow the road and rarely check mirrors. Undertaking a car is a risk. When I'm out on my bicycle I assume the drivers are the worst and never see me, but a lot of cyclists want to ride with the rights of the law in mind and nothing else. Insane.
- On a motorcycle we are inbetween everybody.
What prompted me to sign up to this forum is a cyclist today going mental at me for going in a cycle box - it was empty apart from one other cyclist who was on the far left, and then a brompton rider comes in and stops directly infront of me. I was inbetween two vans with their wing mirrors next to me and the one on the right was edging forward, so I wanted to be able to get away in front of them as it was a squeeze there. I went forward and to the right of the brompton and he immediately started filming with his head cams- me , my girlfriend and then my number plate explaining how it was going to be a really bad day for me as he was going to report me. There was so much space in a 2 lane width cycle box. There are dicks in all walk of life but cyclists do attract them.
When you go into a cycle box, if there's space to go the side of any motorcycles so they can get past you when the lights go green, it's much appreciated.
As an aside, I hope London continues to build cycle lanes. On any two wheels you see the cars queued up for miles on end and think how on earth are we still doing this in 2017
- Cyclists take risks, NEVER look over their shoulder if they're overtaking a vehicle or another cyclist. As a motorcyclist this is drummed into you when you are doing your CBT of full bike test - it's called a lifesaver check. Why is this?
http://begin-motorcycling.co.uk/the-5-elements-of-cbt/element-c/indicating-observation-osmpsl/
It surprises me that even a few cyclists don't do this.
- Drivers of cars are completely unaware, they just follow the road and rarely check mirrors. Undertaking a car is a risk. When I'm out on my bicycle I assume the drivers are the worst and never see me, but a lot of cyclists want to ride with the rights of the law in mind and nothing else. Insane.
- On a motorcycle we are inbetween everybody.
What prompted me to sign up to this forum is a cyclist today going mental at me for going in a cycle box - it was empty apart from one other cyclist who was on the far left, and then a brompton rider comes in and stops directly infront of me. I was inbetween two vans with their wing mirrors next to me and the one on the right was edging forward, so I wanted to be able to get away in front of them as it was a squeeze there. I went forward and to the right of the brompton and he immediately started filming with his head cams- me , my girlfriend and then my number plate explaining how it was going to be a really bad day for me as he was going to report me. There was so much space in a 2 lane width cycle box. There are dicks in all walk of life but cyclists do attract them.
When you go into a cycle box, if there's space to go the side of any motorcycles so they can get past you when the lights go green, it's much appreciated.
As an aside, I hope London continues to build cycle lanes. On any two wheels you see the cars queued up for miles on end and think how on earth are we still doing this in 2017
).
