Entering the box.

[jimboalee]

+1

I'm also of the opinion that if you can touch their car, then they're too close. But I haven't been riding for 45 years

The standard lane width is 3m, or 10 ft.

A bike is 2' and a car is 5' (nominal).

The car leave 1' between it and the centre markers. The bike rides 2' from the kerb minimum.

That leaves 1 foot between the cyclist's elbow and the passing car.

If I reach out my right arm, the passing cars will hit my right hand.

This is pretty normal in the urban environment.

If I was to throw out my right arm suddenly and the passing car hits it, it would be MY responsibilty for any damage because,

1/ Riding without due care and attention, and
2/ Causing an obstruction to traffic.

Try it.

 

[ttcycle]

Surely Jim you'd look behind you first to see if there was a car or to determine if it was safe to indicate?

 

[ttcycle]

Surely Jim you'd look behind you first to see if there was a car or to determine if it was safe to indicate?

 

[hackbike 666]

Never said there was not a problem, my point is that Jimbo has his own style of riding, granted not to everyones own taste but it works for him. And he ends up getting lamblasted for daring to be different and say that he lets traffic through when he can.

Aye.

There is a lot of this on here.If you don't do it my way then you are wrong.

That's why I very rarely comment on road positioning and the like but just let the usual suspects get on with it while I get on with my cycling.

 

[hackbike 666]

Never said there was not a problem, my point is that Jimbo has his own style of riding, granted not to everyones own taste but it works for him. And he ends up getting lamblasted for daring to be different and say that he lets traffic through when he can.

Aye.

There is a lot of this on here.If you don't do it my way then you are wrong.

That's why I very rarely comment on road positioning and the like but just let the usual suspects get on with it while I get on with my cycling.

 

[tdr1nka]

Never said there was not a problem, my point is that Jimbo has his own style of riding, granted not to everyones own taste but it works for him. And he ends up getting lamblasted for daring to be different and say that he lets traffic through when he can.

Just to reiterate, Jim originally expressed the opinion that those of us who position ourselves in a primary position in an ASL box, or ride in a primary road position are asking for close overtakes, trouble from following traffic and should readily concede our place on the road to impatient motorists so as not to aggravate them.

He seems keen on advising other cyclists to be more passive toward motorised traffic, which as an instructor I couldn't disagree with more.
As cyclists we should be considered part of the traffic and it would be nice to think that was respected across the board whereas I think we know this isn't the case.

To match Jim's brag, I've cycled in this manner, where needed, in London traffic for some twenty years and, as yet, I've not had one collision because of my riding style.
Plenty of shouting and beeping from the type who say cyclists shouldn't be on the roads at all but when you're holding someone back for a few measley seconds from cutting you up where there isn't safe space to do so, you don't usually get the time or a chance to explain.

 

[tdr1nka]

Never said there was not a problem, my point is that Jimbo has his own style of riding, granted not to everyones own taste but it works for him. And he ends up getting lamblasted for daring to be different and say that he lets traffic through when he can.

Just to reiterate, Jim originally expressed the opinion that those of us who position ourselves in a primary position in an ASL box, or ride in a primary road position are asking for close overtakes, trouble from following traffic and should readily concede our place on the road to impatient motorists so as not to aggravate them.

He seems keen on advising other cyclists to be more passive toward motorised traffic, which as an instructor I couldn't disagree with more.
As cyclists we should be considered part of the traffic and it would be nice to think that was respected across the board whereas I think we know this isn't the case.

To match Jim's brag, I've cycled in this manner, where needed, in London traffic for some twenty years and, as yet, I've not had one collision because of my riding style.
Plenty of shouting and beeping from the type who say cyclists shouldn't be on the roads at all but when you're holding someone back for a few measley seconds from cutting you up where there isn't safe space to do so, you don't usually get the time or a chance to explain.

 

[Coco]

A bike is 2' and a car is 5' (nominal).

Nah, my bike is much narrower than that.

 

[Coco]

A bike is 2' and a car is 5' (nominal).

Nah, my bike is much narrower than that.

 

[jimboalee]

When I raced dirtbikes, there were a couple of dozen other riders with the same idea, ‘get to the front’. It’s a bit like that at rushhour traffic lights.
There are no plastic bicycles on fake marble plinths to be won, so I just let them get on with their ‘ten to the dozen’ scramble home ( or into work, as the case may be ).

Standing directly in front of the queue of traffic inside an ASL reservoir when I’m not turning Right is effectively ‘joining the race’ and I’m there to be overtaken at the first opportunity.

Is this what happened to OP?

Look at it from Mr Focus’ point of view.

You’ve had slow journey in the icy weather and had to stop at a red, when a cheeky c*nt cyclist come past from the RHS and stops right in front of you. Then he rides away close to the centre of the carriageway instead of getting more to the left. “I’ll get past this awkward f*cker and get in his f*cking way”.
When you pass the ‘prat on the bike’, he slaps your paintwork.
“Who the f*ck does he think he is?” “I’ll slap the bas*ard back”, so you find the next place to pull over and get out.
You have a swear at the cyclist who replies with some Highway Code which is quite correct.
You have a good look at his face, his clothes and his bike and commit it to memory for a future occasion when you can be a bit more forceful with a large piece of timber.

 

[jimboalee]

When I raced dirtbikes, there were a couple of dozen other riders with the same idea, ‘get to the front’. It’s a bit like that at rushhour traffic lights.
There are no plastic bicycles on fake marble plinths to be won, so I just let them get on with their ‘ten to the dozen’ scramble home ( or into work, as the case may be ).

Standing directly in front of the queue of traffic inside an ASL reservoir when I’m not turning Right is effectively ‘joining the race’ and I’m there to be overtaken at the first opportunity.

Is this what happened to OP?

Look at it from Mr Focus’ point of view.

You’ve had slow journey in the icy weather and had to stop at a red, when a cheeky c*nt cyclist come past from the RHS and stops right in front of you. Then he rides away close to the centre of the carriageway instead of getting more to the left. “I’ll get past this awkward f*cker and get in his f*cking way”.
When you pass the ‘prat on the bike’, he slaps your paintwork.
“Who the f*ck does he think he is?” “I’ll slap the bas*ard back”, so you find the next place to pull over and get out.
You have a swear at the cyclist who replies with some Highway Code which is quite correct.
You have a good look at his face, his clothes and his bike and commit it to memory for a future occasion when you can be a bit more forceful with a large piece of timber.

 

[tdr1nka]

Standing directly in front of the queue of traffic inside an ASL reservoir when I’m not turning Right is effectively ‘joining the race’ and I’m there to be overtaken at the first opportunity.

Again you are so wrong as well as now misrepresenting a good majority of drivers.

Starting from an ASL(which incedentily is there to give you a head start over the following traffic in the first place)in a primary position is called 'holding the road'.

Also a lot of ASL's involve a left turn ahead so the need to take a primary position in order to disuade cars from cutting across you is also in order.

If we were to follow your advice to the letter, we should need to dismount at every set of lights and only proceed with our journey once all the nasty cars have gone.

 

[tdr1nka]

Standing directly in front of the queue of traffic inside an ASL reservoir when I’m not turning Right is effectively ‘joining the race’ and I’m there to be overtaken at the first opportunity.

Again you are so wrong as well as now misrepresenting a good majority of drivers.

Starting from an ASL(which incedentily is there to give you a head start over the following traffic in the first place)in a primary position is called 'holding the road'.

Also a lot of ASL's involve a left turn ahead so the need to take a primary position in order to disuade cars from cutting across you is also in order.

If we were to follow your advice to the letter, we should need to dismount at every set of lights and only proceed with our journey once all the nasty cars have gone.

 

[jimboalee]

There are two types of sportsmen. Those with natural talent and those who need a book to tell them how to do it.

The same applies to cycling in traffic. There are those who recognise danger and ride in a position well away from it, and those who ride ‘to the book’ but take so much time deciding if they really are ‘to the book’, they end up being a nuisance.

 

[jimboalee]

There are two types of sportsmen. Those with natural talent and those who need a book to tell them how to do it.

The same applies to cycling in traffic. There are those who recognise danger and ride in a position well away from it, and those who ride ‘to the book’ but take so much time deciding if they really are ‘to the book’, they end up being a nuisance.