Entering the box.

[jimboalee]

What you have ALL missed here is...

45 years cycling in the West Midlands metropolis and I've had TWO incidents.

The first was 15 years ago and the second 4 years ago.

You are probably correct in saying "It was the motorists who were to blame", but what caused them to get so aggrieved? It was my riding 'In their way'....

OP committed TWO fatal mistakes.

1/ He rode away in 'Primary', effectively becoming 'the prat on the bike'.

2/ He TOUCHED Mr Focus' precious metal.


To avoid getting sworn at ( or if its really bad, smacked in the teeth ) again, get out of the idiot's way and DON'T lay a finger on his paintwork.

 

[tdr1nka]

Jim, there is still absolutely nothing wrong with taking a primary position away from an ASL.
In most cases a cyclist has better reaction time to the change of the lights and can be upto speed before the car behind has even thought of changing up from second gear.

 

[tdr1nka]

Jim, there is still absolutely nothing wrong with taking a primary position away from an ASL.
In most cases a cyclist has better reaction time to the change of the lights and can be upto speed before the car behind has even thought of changing up from second gear.

 

[ufkacbln]

Somewhere it says that it is illegal to cross the solid white line after the lights change - for either cyclists or cars. That is why they should have a filter lane to allow access. However the positioning of the filter lane may not always be in the best place - so for example one on my route to the office is a filter lane down the left hand side of a turning left lane - puts you in totally the wrong place.

I usually ignore the rule and approach from which ever side is safest. But technically he is correct.

There are also some ASL's which don't have feeder lanes and therefore are technically incorrect themselves.

The trick is to assess the lights. THis happens on my commute. I know that there is a period of some 4 minutes where it is safe to filter as the traffic is kept by the light sequencing, yet at other times this would be a lethal maneouvre.

 

[ufkacbln]

Somewhere it says that it is illegal to cross the solid white line after the lights change - for either cyclists or cars. That is why they should have a filter lane to allow access. However the positioning of the filter lane may not always be in the best place - so for example one on my route to the office is a filter lane down the left hand side of a turning left lane - puts you in totally the wrong place.

I usually ignore the rule and approach from which ever side is safest. But technically he is correct.

There are also some ASL's which don't have feeder lanes and therefore are technically incorrect themselves.

The trick is to assess the lights. THis happens on my commute. I know that there is a period of some 4 minutes where it is safe to filter as the traffic is kept by the light sequencing, yet at other times this would be a lethal maneouvre.

 

[ttcycle]

jimbo - there is nothing wrong with taking primary in an ASL- it increases visability.

I know the roads you cycle - they're different to in London - probably higher speeds but less busy.

I do think it pays to be assertive on the roads and back to the OP - overtaking into the ASL is sometimes the safest thing to do -coming through on the filter lane on the L hand side is often very unsafe due to left hooks, no space etc etc

 

[ttcycle]

jimbo - there is nothing wrong with taking primary in an ASL- it increases visability.

I know the roads you cycle - they're different to in London - probably higher speeds but less busy.

I do think it pays to be assertive on the roads and back to the OP - overtaking into the ASL is sometimes the safest thing to do -coming through on the filter lane on the L hand side is often very unsafe due to left hooks, no space etc etc

 

[Rhythm Thief]

To avoid getting sworn at ( or if its really bad, smacked in the teeth ) again, get out of the idiot's way and DON'T lay a finger on his paintwork.

Or better still, why not simply stay at home, perhaps remaining in bed with the covers pulled over your head? Then you won't be in anyone's way.
Honestly, Jimbo. If this works for you, that's fine, but it's not good to advise a new cyclist to wobble around in the gutter, keeping out of everyone's way. If you're as experienced as you claim to be you should know that it's sometimes necessary to control the traffic behind you. You should certainly not be merely trying to keep out of the way of the "proper" traffic at all times. You're part of the traffic on a bike: if you want to be taken seriously as a road user you should act like it.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

To avoid getting sworn at ( or if its really bad, smacked in the teeth ) again, get out of the idiot's way and DON'T lay a finger on his paintwork.

Or better still, why not simply stay at home, perhaps remaining in bed with the covers pulled over your head? Then you won't be in anyone's way.
Honestly, Jimbo. If this works for you, that's fine, but it's not good to advise a new cyclist to wobble around in the gutter, keeping out of everyone's way. If you're as experienced as you claim to be you should know that it's sometimes necessary to control the traffic behind you. You should certainly not be merely trying to keep out of the way of the "proper" traffic at all times. You're part of the traffic on a bike: if you want to be taken seriously as a road user you should act like it.

 

[jimboalee]

I enjoy cycling and I enjoy arriving home safely, which, as I've said, has been the case for forty five years.

When I ride an Audax DIY or MidMesh, I wear my Solihull CC jersey. When I'm wearing my club colours, I'm an ambassador for the sport of cycling.
My target speed isn't fantastic and I have to admit, I take it easy along the rural roads, and even easier in the towns.

I take it easy because I KNOW trying to ride fast lands the cyclist in all sorts of conflicts with Mr and Mrs motorist.

In the towns, eg Stratford u Avon, there are motorists. That's no surprise. Some are housewives shopping and some are WVMen trying to get their day's work done.
There are many 'pinchpoints' in Stratford; and letting the motorists go first will not only ensure I get my final control proof instead of a hospital bed, but shows this Solihull CC member is a fine chap and respectful of other road users.

You can all play it your own way, risking the wrath of Mr Focus. I'll play it mine and continue to enjoy my cycling instead of getting wound up and abused by some jerk in a car who thought I was blocking his swift passage.

In my younger years, a jovial exploit was racing the bus from Birmingham to Solihull. I mostly won.
The only problem with 'getting a stink on' in the afternoon traffic is that some motorists took it as a personal challenge to stop the cyclist getting further down the road than them.
They would overtake ( or try to ) and cut in to slow me down, or drag race me off traffic lights, which only proved they had more strength in their right foot than both my legs.

After twenty years of getting slower and slower, I've seen the attitude of motorists change from competative to appreciative when I let them go ahead first.

 

[jimboalee]

I enjoy cycling and I enjoy arriving home safely, which, as I've said, has been the case for forty five years.

When I ride an Audax DIY or MidMesh, I wear my Solihull CC jersey. When I'm wearing my club colours, I'm an ambassador for the sport of cycling.
My target speed isn't fantastic and I have to admit, I take it easy along the rural roads, and even easier in the towns.

I take it easy because I KNOW trying to ride fast lands the cyclist in all sorts of conflicts with Mr and Mrs motorist.

In the towns, eg Stratford u Avon, there are motorists. That's no surprise. Some are housewives shopping and some are WVMen trying to get their day's work done.
There are many 'pinchpoints' in Stratford; and letting the motorists go first will not only ensure I get my final control proof instead of a hospital bed, but shows this Solihull CC member is a fine chap and respectful of other road users.

You can all play it your own way, risking the wrath of Mr Focus. I'll play it mine and continue to enjoy my cycling instead of getting wound up and abused by some jerk in a car who thought I was blocking his swift passage.

In my younger years, a jovial exploit was racing the bus from Birmingham to Solihull. I mostly won.
The only problem with 'getting a stink on' in the afternoon traffic is that some motorists took it as a personal challenge to stop the cyclist getting further down the road than them.
They would overtake ( or try to ) and cut in to slow me down, or drag race me off traffic lights, which only proved they had more strength in their right foot than both my legs.

After twenty years of getting slower and slower, I've seen the attitude of motorists change from competative to appreciative when I let them go ahead first.

 

[ufkacbln]

Besides, I think that a genuine mistake has been made in the OP

Surely this read that the offending vehicle was so close you were forced to fend yourself off from the vehicle to avoid colliding with it?

 

[ufkacbln]

Besides, I think that a genuine mistake has been made in the OP

Surely this read that the offending vehicle was so close you were forced to fend yourself off from the vehicle to avoid colliding with it?

 

[eldudino]

What you have ALL missed here is...

...what caused them to get so aggrieved? It was my riding 'In their way'....

So what if I pose the question as to why it is their right to be there over mine? We're talking a matter of yards here that Mr.Focus wasn't willing to wait, this was on fairly empty roads and he was stopping 400yds ahead.

Being in the primary in poor conditions in this instance was correct, the motorists actions were wrong.

I'm unsure why you're supporting dangerous driving, or maybe you empathise with Mr.Focus and drive in a similar manner if another road user gets in your way?

 

[eldudino]

What you have ALL missed here is...

...what caused them to get so aggrieved? It was my riding 'In their way'....

So what if I pose the question as to why it is their right to be there over mine? We're talking a matter of yards here that Mr.Focus wasn't willing to wait, this was on fairly empty roads and he was stopping 400yds ahead.

Being in the primary in poor conditions in this instance was correct, the motorists actions were wrong.

I'm unsure why you're supporting dangerous driving, or maybe you empathise with Mr.Focus and drive in a similar manner if another road user gets in your way?