Etiquette - and how to deal with cyclists who have none

[Nicobulus]

Two incidents with the same person on the way home, just wondering how others would deal with this.

Incident one, bus slowly pulls out for a right hand turn onto the main road. Naturally I slow down to avoid running into it. Slower cyclist I've left behind at the lights rides up next to me on the right, boxing me in behind the bus. I then have to wait for him to round the bus before I can get past; I always find this irritating in London as the roads can be a little narrow for two.

Incident two, after I manage to catch up with the same guy we find ourselves behind a different bus. This time I hang back a little, waiting for the bus to pull into the stop that's just ahead. Cyclist then pulls out in front of me, without looking, which means a quick tug on the brakes. He overtakes the bus, and then rushes for the red light with an ASL.

Next green light I just leave him behind up the hill.

Should I have suggested something about his poor behaviour? Just that I'm not very good at opening my mouth when frustrated. Or should I just enjoy the feeling of being able to out run him up the hill?

 

[slowmotion]

Yelling "self-gratification artist" helps me.

 

[snorri]

Just learn to deal with close encounters with other road users calmly and take pride in having avoided an incident of any sort.
The middle of a busy street is seldom a suitable place to pass on advice, better just to let it go.

 

[Scoosh]

Yelling "w*****" helps me.

That's Woooaa !

I'd certainly have been inclined to say 'Whoa !' or something when he pulled out in incident 2 - just to let him know that he is being a numptie .

 

[Drago]

Just ignore it, spend your effort scalping him.

 

[defy-one]

a "whoa" should get the point across and keep scalping

 

[Boris Bajic]

Say nothing. It is frustrating but that is life.

Most drivers and cyclists are skilled and courteous. Those who are not are unlikely to become any better through admonishment or quiet advice from someone they've just cut up.

By the time the second incident happened, you were aware you were in the proximity of a sub-standard road user. That is part of your armour.

I am not guilt-free in this and have raised my voice in the past. I may do so again, but I cannot imagine it ever really has any positive outcome.

Your final sentence is the better solution.

 

[redcard]

I'm always suspicious of stories where one guy does everything was 'wrong' and the other guy does everything 'right'.

I don't understand how you ended up ahead if him when you were behind the bus.

 

[Hitchington]

Put a gypsy curse on them.

 

[Sittingduck]

I'm not clear on what the guy has done wrong...

If your intention was to overtake the bus as soon as it pulled back out, I would have been on the right side of the lane when waiting behind it. I am assuming that you were not on the right side, anywhere near the centre line, if the other guy was able to come along side you?

In the second incident, I think it's the responsibility of the overtaking cyclist to ensure they have the time / space / whatever to go around somebody safely. You can see what's coming up - so just anticipate these things.

Not trying to have a pop here but in the two scenarios you have described, nothing particularly out of the ordinary has happened. You get this stuff every day and although it would be great for every single cyclist to shoulder check before moving out - that just doesn't happen. Don't let it wind you up.

p.s. and as for confrunting other cyclists to tell them what they did wrong - I would be very careful about doing that. They don't generally take kindly so such things!

 

[thefollen]

Get that all the time, just think 'meh' and carry on when appropriate. It's mildly annoying but you'll only lose 10-20 seconds from your overall journey time.

 

[BentMikey]

Keep quiet, and plan better next time so that with your positioning they aren't able to momentarily inconvenience you like that? Maybe more space, maybe hold a little more right, maybe something else?

 

[BentMikey]

p.s. etiquette is used to exclude people from your social group, whilst manners are used to include them.

 

[Graham]

I wouldn't bother. If he never looks over his shoulder then he will either (a) get run over soon; or (b) have a near death experience which will keep him off the road for good. You did him on the hill anyway.

 

[steve52]

say, "shall we ride together" as you ride of up the hill