Dear Richmond Black Cabbies...

[TwickenhamCyclist]

//startRant

To all the black cab drivers (and all the other motorists) in Richmond:

If your can knock on the window of a black cab, while they are overtaking you on the right and while your handle bars are inches from the railings on a dual carriage way to the left, are they a little too close?

Need to know if I’ve woken up in some parallel universe where I’m out of order for asking not to be squashed – his answer – “I gave you plenty of room…” – about 6 inches clearence

Last time I ever, ever move out of primary for anyone on that stretch of road (A316 / Richmond Circus)– from know on I’ll be cycling down the centre of the left hand lane and you can all go and **** yourselves – and you’ve only yourselves to blame.

//endRant

 

[gary r]

i always keep clear of the A316 its much to narrow for 2 lanes of traffic ,Cut through Richmond,St Margarets,etc its safer!Used to use the A316 on the Twickenham cc chaingang felt a lot safer when there were 30 of you in the bunch!

 

[Eat MY Dust]

I've had this toooo many times to count:

"I gave you plenty of room"

"REALLY"

"did I hit you?......no. There you go then"

 

[thomas]

I tapped on a window the other day as they were so close, yelled "too close" about 10 times but they still didn't get it. They stopped and got out which was a bit worrying so I had to go around the inside as I didn't know if they were just going to hit me.

Just be careful!

 

[HF2300]

“I gave you plenty of room…”

I think this is the nub of it. These people genuinely believe they have given you enough room. They'd pass cars, trucks and buses leaving the same amount of space.

I'd say (as others have already) that this is the issue with the Highway Code bit about giving cyclists the space you'd give a car, except that I don't believe any of them have ever read the HC.

 

[PBancroft]

I think this is the nub of it. These people genuinely believe they have given you enough room. They'd pass cars, trucks and buses leaving the same amount of space.

I'd say (as others have already) that this is the issue with the Highway Code bit about giving cyclists the space you'd give a car, except that I don't believe any of them have ever read the HC.

But thats just it... they do give the same amount of space as they give cars.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Carry a 'dog-pull' (ball-type) round your right wrist. When a car gets 'too close' a deft whip of the pull toy onto the bodywork will communicate the lack of space quite well.

'........er I don't know how that happened, you were well clear of me when you overtook....'

 

[BentMikey]

LOL, that's quite funny! It'll make enough noise, yet not damage the plonkers car either.

 

[HF2300]

But thats just it... they do give the same amount of space as they give cars.

?

That's what I was saying, I thought.

LOL @ CP - I'd been trying to think of a way of doing that!

 

[515mm]

Carry a 'dog-pull' (ball-type) round your right wrist. When a car gets 'too close' a deft whip of the pull toy onto the bodywork will communicate the lack of space quite well.

'........er I don't know how that happened, you were well clear of me when you overtook....'

Pardon me for being ill informed (cat servant see) but what's a dog-pull?

I'd quite like one

 

[ComedyPilot]

Pardon me for being ill informed (cat servant see) but what's a dog-pull?

I'd quite like one

A chunky tennis-ball sized rubber ball attached to about 2 foot of rope with a wrist loop.

See, you put yer hand through the wrist loop, and the ball just dangles.

The wierd thing is, it seems somehow magically attracted to car bodywork that is closer than a foot away

 

[downfader]

Another guy on another forum (of which I now forget where and when, and can only paraphrase said conversation that transpired... came up with a similar solution when a driver came within an inch of him on his bike and he deliberatley banged his fist into the door. Said driver pulled over and got out "to have a chat":

"Did you just punch my car!?"

"You drove into me, I want your insurance details!"

"I did not, I gave you plenty of room!"

"Fine I'll phone the police then!"

Said driver then gave over his details. I have no idea if a "claim" was ever made and I suspect it would have been fraudulant if it had been.

I have also told the story before online of a guy I met years ago at college. He had a huge chain with a 500g padlock on it when he rode his bike. I was curious about this as he never chained it on the bike but brought it into class. He confessed to me that he rode with it around his neck and if a driver offended him he'd swing it like a mace. Also bragged that he'd put two rear windscreens in.

There are some nutters out there on both sides of the equasion.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Another guy on another forum (of which I now forget where and when, and can only paraphrase said conversation that transpired... ) came up with a similar solution when a driver came within an inch of him on his bike and he deliberatley banged his fist into the door. Said driver pulled over and got out "to have a chat":

"Did you just punch my car!?"

"You drove into me, I want your insurance details!"

"I did not, I gave you plenty of room!"

"Fine I'll phone the police then!"

Said driver then gave over his details. I have no idea if a "claim" was ever made and I suspect it would have been fraudulant if it had been.

I have also told the story before online of a guy I met years ago at college. He had a huge chain with a 500g padlock on it when he rode his bike. I was curious about this as he never chained it on the bike but brought it into class. He confessed to me that he rode with it around his neck and if a driver offended him he'd swing it like a mace. Also bragged that he'd put two rear windscreens in.

There are some nutters out there on both sides of the equasion.

I was actually joking.......

 

[jay clock]

I have a pair of mtb shoes with tough soles (also applies to my SPD sandals). I have always been tempted to screw a round headed screw into the right hand side near the toe. A simple movement of the foot to the right would soon explain how close they were