I cycled back from Accrington yesterday at 5pm. I'd been to the football match and the main road was as usual very busy with football and shopping traffic. Now i've made this journey many times in summer and winter/daytime and night time, and i'd say every occasion i've been beeped, cut up, verballed, revved at from behind etc. Even when i'm(as usual)wearing high viz clothing, using good lights and observing the Highway Code there's always one who'll want to vent his anger and nastiness on me.
Yesterday was different! Not one sign of bad manners, ok one or two did queue in traffic as close to the kerb as possible narrowing my passing gap down to about two feet but i still managed to pass them, even giving them a slightly sarcastic friendly hand signal, without them trying any funny business further down the road. Most drivers indicated as they pulled in front of me giving me good passing space as they did so. It was as if they were all retaking their driving tests again!!
I do believe that safety works both ways, we can't expect to educate motorists about our risks if we are prepared to take risks ourselves! Meaning cycling in dark non reflective clothing, using poor excuses for lighting and ignoring the basics of the Highway Code. I think BW's incident has highlighted how much danger we face, but by us making a better effort as well we can show motorists that we want to help them avoid knocking us off our bikes, making life easier for all of us!!
