As above, ride assertively and not in the gutter. Particularly at traffic islands where someone will try and push through if you’re in the gutter. Be assertive but don’t get into shouting / slanging matches. No good comes of the latter exchanges. If you use cameras report close passes, but don’t let it ruin your day. Let it ruin their day.
It certainly changed since the 70s and 80s when I would ride the A roads regularly but that’s simply that the planners have engineered them in every upgrade since to prioritise the motor vehicle. Plus as Colin says the number of motorised vehicles continues to climb year on year with significantly more trips being made by car in the UK than in history. Plus the school run is now a thing that it wasn’t when most of us went to school (on foot, bike or bus).
In terms of the last decade I would not say it’s any more dangerous round here. I mostly ride quiet lanes or B roads. But even in towns most drivers realise they need to wait till it’s safe to overtake. The sooner we see 20 mph on built up roads the better in terms of calming down those who think they can ignore what they were taught about how to behave around vulnerable users on the road. The vast majority are fine, if impatient and distracted.
These 2 replies illustrate the problem , precisely.
It my opinion , that when drivers get behind the wheel ,the vast majority, just plain switch off, they do not engage with what they are doing , distracted by nefarious gizmo's about them, I don't allow such distractions, I rarely play the radio , I turn off my 'phone, I wouldn't answer it anyway, I don't drive very much now, preferring the Motor Scooter ,because it gets me where i want with far less hassle, if i going somewhere.
I went out Sunday morning on my bike to meet cycling friends, I had at least 3 incidents,all the classic moronic ones, turning left in front of me fr the right, my priority on the main road, the driver, in my opinoon should have joined after i psdy the juncyion safely, then overtakev,nothing behind me, i would have expected that.
Then the classic overtake then turn immediately left,
And the other old favourite overtake then stop for the roundabout, I was 2 to 3 car lengths from the give way line to turn left.
Really it beggers belief, its not that I am invisible, I am 6 ft 2 tall ,and half ad wide ,always try to wear bright conspicious clothing of some kind, but if I am on the recumbent trike. I don't get half as much traffic incidents.
If I am on the motor Scooter, currently on L- plates ,the badge of shame. The incidents are on par with being on a bicycle, which given ,I've been driving nigh on 45 years, I think I should know how to drive / ride 2 wheels by now.
It is this mentality, that we cyclist are a menace, Learner drivers too
But motorist, wouldn't ordainarily behave like that to other motorist...... But it does happen.
I know the risks involved on the roads and behave accordingly, having had one major RTC 20 odd yrs ago, which I survived,, but in so doing I did write the motorist car off, I might hasten to add that i wasn't at fault, apart from being in the right place at the wrong time, entirely the motorist fault.
Perhaps ,I am bitter about that, it changed my life , I am not so confident when I do take a bicycle out now, but I have missed a lot of cycling because of it.
