Drivers pulling out.

[domtyler]

Possibly,but I think ignoring the rules of the road does so more.

I used to think this when I was a newbie cyclist too.

 

[BentMikey]

I must admit, I would have slowed down there and waited behind the car.

Yes the driver did make a mistake, but it is a common one, where drivers underestimate the speed of a bike (all be it a very strange looking one!)

Had the driver been more aggressive and accelerated faster you could have got stuck out in no mans land (beside the car) and facing oncoming traffic.


As for moving into the lounge, that is outrageous! You big Jessie!!!

As I said before, I could have been more tolerant and waited, but I doubt most on here would have at 30mph, and knowing they would have had to brake to 10 to stay safely behind this car. With so much space for an easy overtake, that's even less likely. What I didn't mention is that there was another vehicle behind me, breathing down my neck. That vehicle had to slow for this car.

As for "being stuck in no-mans land", come on, that's not even a slightly sensible comment. Firstly there was plenty of space, increasing further as we went along, and secondly with hard acceleration by the car the speed differential would have been minimal by the time we were level, so by then a dab on the brakes would have slowed me enough to drop back behind him.

Yes, the beeping in retribution as I passed the car was wrong. The riding itself was just fine, but not the most tolerant. The driving of the car driver was definitely wrong, but only a fairly minor mistake as mentioned by others. Oh, and I doubt very much the driver underestimated my speed given the car behind me, I think he just thought that "I can push out here quickly".

 

[magnatom]

As for "being stuck in no-mans land", come on, that's not even a slightly sensible comment. Firstly there was plenty of space, increasing further as we went along, and secondly with hard acceleration by the car the speed differential would have been minimal by the time we were level, so by then a dab on the brakes would have slowed me enough to drop back behind him.

I think no-mans land is a good description for it, personally. Not long ago I was filtering in static/slow moving traffic. I misjudged the lights up ahead and the traffic started moving, when I had a car next to me. I decided that the car next to me was accelerating slowly so I decided to try and slot in in front (wrong move). The driver took offence at this and accelerated intentionally to stop me getting in front. Then as I braked to pull in behind, he braked to prevent me pulling in. He was a total knob jockey (your phrase I believe!) and after some aggressive grunting he sped off. I made a mistake by placing myself there as I was to some extent at his mercy.
(My battery had run out on the camera at this point!!)

Now I understand that this situation is different, but by overtaking here, if the driver had taken offence, could have resulted in a similar situation, i.e. your safety depends to a greater extent than normal on how the driver of the car reacts. So you are in no-mans land, in a situation in which you have lost some control (though not all of course).

I just put in my 2p worth to say that I wouldn't have pushed through there., and you already know that the tooting was a bit naughty!

You could of course be right about the driver just forcing their way out, maybe not. Oh to understand the mind of drivers! Of course you were there and have more insight.

Anyway, your reply suggests that you took my comments a little personally. I'm sure you didn't really, the reply just comes across like that. Just remember Mike, I'd expect the same form of scrutiny back from you!

 

[hackbike 6]

I used to think this when I was a newbie cyclist too.

You still are.

 

[BentMikey]

Not personally at all, sunbeam, I was just answering factually.

Even had the driver done as you describe, which I think is *extremely* unlikely, I'm still not worried, I don't see the danger in my situation, I'd just come to a stop in the chevrons. Your point would be better made without quoting the most unusual or unlikely scenarios, since in 99% of cases there's no danger here.

 

[hackbike 6]

Doubt if he would do that if you were another car so why should he as you are a bike?

But motorists as an afterthought,who can tell?

Perhaps if you were a juggernaut he might have thought twice.

 

[domtyler]

Oh to understand the mind of drivers!

I think it is generally pretty simple. In this case it was something like "Can I pull out now without being killed?", "Yes, probably", "Okay, let's go.".

 

[Origamist]

Doubt if he would do that if you were another car so why should he as you are a bike?

But motorists as an afterthought,who can tell?

Perhaps if you were a juggernaut he might have thought twice.

Gap acceptance studies have shown that the larger the oncoming vehicle, the longer the gap time that other road users allow. If you're an approaching cyclist expect vehicles pull out at junctions with greater frequency.

 

[hackbike 6]

Aye I notice that.

 

[magnatom]

Not personally at all, sunbeam, I was just answering factually.

Even had the driver done as you describe, which I think is *extremely* unlikely, I'm still not worried, I don't see the danger in my situation, I'd just come to a stop in the chevrons. Your point would be better made without quoting the most unusual or unlikely scenarios, since in 99% of cases there's no danger here.

Of course it's unlikely, but it is possible, so why take the risk when there is a fairly easy option to avoid the risk. There are always risks with overtaking, especially when the decision to do it is last minute. For example in your clip, just a short distance after you overtake, there is a right turn lane (on the opposite side) into a garage. Had the car accelerated a bit faster and you got stuck out overtaking a bit longer, and if a car was turning here, you would have had to brake pretty quickly.

Of course this didn't happen, and is unlikely, but as you are aware, there are always things that can happen which we need to keep a good enough get out route available, to avoid. I just feel that overtake reduced some of your options for a short space of time.

I'm certainly not making saying it was a big mistake, and I am certainly not saying I haven't/don't make similar mistakes, just pointing it out.

Of course in your original description you didn't mention anything about a car bearing down behind you!

 

[magnatom]

P.S. Notice at the very end of the clip the car that pulls out from the right and forces the car in front of you to brake.....

 

[HF2300]

P.S. Notice at the very end of the clip the car that pulls out from the right and forces the car in front of you to brake.....

I saw that totally differently - seemed to me the car to the right was stationary half way across the road, or at least only creeping forward, and the car in front of Mikey slowed to let him out...

 

[hackbike 6]

99 pages.

 

[magnatom]

I saw that totally differently - seemed to me the car to the right was stationary half way across the road, or at least only creeping forward, and the car in front of Mikey slowed to let him out...

Perhaps.....

 

[BentMikey]

Come on magnatom, now you're using ever more unlikely scenarios to try to justify your point. It'd be easy to stop long long before that right turn lane. Perhaps you're forgetting that a 'bent can outbrake an upright bicycle by at least a factor of two? Even with an upright I'd have no worries about being able to stop with plenty of safety margin.