Greater Manchester be-an-ignorant-git-on-the-road day, today?

[fossyant]

I had two this morning - one pull out form a car park, put my hand up, and the guy just gave a cheesy grin. Then a bus driver tried overtaking me through a junction at Parrs Wood - I had no-where to go, so he stopped - otherwise he would have taken me down - beeped at me. I shouted 'you were over taking me' then I swore - and I was gone.

 

[Ibbots]

To balance things a little, today I had one chap raise a hand and nod in apology when he almost pulled out in front of me but stopped when he saw at the last minute and several considerate drivers obviously allowing me space and time when I was passing parked cars. I'm getting all Zen these days and think it's karmic reward or something. Also, our local TV celebrity waved good morning as he set off to work, which was nice.

Does having a helmet cam exacerbate this (extending the anger for more than a few minutes)?

I found having film to review made me dwell on incidents that would otherwise have been not noticed, forgotten or put in context - survived, had a bit of a swear and no harm done. I just delete the footage now, occasionally check that the camera is still working and pointing in the right direction but that's all.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

One more this evening on the way home. Primary position through the pinch point at a traffic island, maintained primary because of rough road to left and about to turn right anyway about 50 yards on. A car overtook me by going across the shaded are in the centre - that's OK as I hadn't started indicating right yet, and was a bit close but not scary - but he shouted something as he went past, so I asked him what he said at the next queue.

Him: How much bloody space do you need.
Me: About 8 feet.
Him: You should be at the side ... blah blah ... rant rant
Me: Read highway code rule 163; give motorcyclist and cyclists as much ....
Him: You're supposed to stay at the side ... bloody ridiculous ... other things I couldn't catch as he drove away.

He then joined the queue for the roundabout whilst I went past him in the bus lane.

Poor fat sod, really needs to get a bicycle.

Not in tomorrow, but on Thursday I'll try to regain my Zen cool.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

I reported the Audi to the police. They are going to review the video and will get back to me. It's a company car, so they need to get in touch with the company. They seem to be taking it seriously, though.

 

[400bhp]

I know that route reasonably well-can you not use more back roads?

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

I know that route reasonably well-can you not use more back roads?

Take my shiny new bike round the back roads of Salford? Shirley, you jest!

Actually I was on the old road that runs parallel to the 50mph dual carriageway that replaced it. (Ant and some other brave souls do cycle along the dual carriageway, mind you.)

 

[al78]

To balance things a little, today I had one chap raise a hand and nod in apology when he almost pulled out in front of me but stopped when he saw at the last minute and several considerate drivers obviously allowing me space and time when I was passing parked cars. I'm getting all Zen these days and think it's karmic reward or something. Also, our local TV celebrity waved good morning as he set off to work, which was nice.


I found having film to review made me dwell on incidents that would otherwise have been not noticed, forgotten or put in context - survived, had a bit of a swear and no harm done. I just delete the footage now, occasionally check that the camera is still working and pointing in the right direction but that's all.

Just out of interest, would you (or anyone else) still get angry at drivers if they do something stupid but realise it and apologize for it?

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Just out of interest, would you (or anyone else) still get angry at drivers if they do something stupid but realise it and apologize for it?

I have occasionally had that happen, and I find it makes me smile for the rest of the trip.

 

[fimm]

One acknowledgement from a chap who had turned right in front of me at a junction, causing me to slow down (I was pulling away from lights myself, so not going fast and had plenty of space - slightly dodgy manouver on his part but no harm done).

One nice First Bus driver who sat behind me for ages while I cycled up a hill and then gave a good overtake.

A nice morning for a cycle

 

[Jezston]

Just out of interest, would you (or anyone else) still get angry at drivers if they do something stupid but realise it and apologize for it?

I usually find my initial reaction when I have such incidents is fear - it's an ignorant, aggressive or dismissive response from the driver that turns that fear into anger. An honest looking apologetic reaction usually diffuses it.

 

[Ibbots]

Just out of interest, would you (or anyone else) still get angry at drivers if they do something stupid but realise it and apologize for it?

Well I have in the past, then apologized myself. As with Jezston there's the initial reaction to the incident to overcome before offering a more reasonable response. I am finding that by not rising to most situations that the whole journey is a lot calmer, I am slower without the fuel of adrenaline though.

 

[BSRU]

Just out of interest, would you (or anyone else) still get angry at drivers if they do something stupid but realise it and apologize for it?

If someone genuinely apologises and does not try to make excuses any anger or upset quickly dissipates, unless it was really dangerous.

 

[Mad at urage]

How can we address the level of total ignorance that these drivers display? They make their own rules up as they go along.

Back in the 'old days' I got into the habit of having no bar endstops in (straight bars): When they come close enought for the ends of the bars to 'touch' the car, it does all sorts of damage to the car. Of course you need to lean into the car to prevent the collision from knocking you off . Only works at smallish speed differentials of course.

I still ride without bar endstops. Not had one that close this year though! Closest I ever had, back when I rode with clips and toestraps was a car catching the toestrap clip in his wheel arch and carrying me along at 30+mph for about a mile .

 

[BSRU]

I've found cycling to work a real pleasure the last few weeks, with hardly any bother from motorists. Seems like I was just saving up for today.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=se60ut-E_-Y
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=hqoCVSQmP6E
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=N6mgJhf9RU4
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=6fGp8bZYQrY

How can we address the level of total ignorance that these drivers display? They make their own rules up as they go along.

I'm afraid I got more than a bit angry with one of the private hire drivers; not good, I know.

It does seem to be that way periods of nothing then loads, like buses.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Police got back to me tonight about the white Audi. He says they've "had a word with him". I got the impression that he didn't really accept that he'd done anything wrong and that he still believes I should have been riding int the gutter, so not completely satisfactory. At least there should be a record now, though.