Glow worm
Legendary Member
- Location
- Near Newmarket
I hope he reported him.
- Thread starter Venod
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
jo from the other place
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Hackney, London
Those here and elsewhere who think the person riding the bike was somehow antagonistic or a nob or had it coming or showed lack of awareness, just go to prove how necessary it was for him to take primary in that stretch of the road. There simply was no room to overtake safely and legally, so his road positioning was irrelevant to the passage of the van. If you think otherwise, you should not be in charge of a motor vehicle on public roads.
A Renault Trafic has an external width of 1.9m. The furthest right the van driver could have positioned themselves legally is shown below. That leaves 1.5m of road space on its nearside. The absolute minimum space required for the bike rider would have been 2.25m, and arguably much more than this for a high sided van travelling on a 50mph road.
A Renault Trafic has an external width of 1.9m. The furthest right the van driver could have positioned themselves legally is shown below. That leaves 1.5m of road space on its nearside. The absolute minimum space required for the bike rider would have been 2.25m, and arguably much more than this for a high sided van travelling on a 50mph road.
Well, I wasn't going to, but I will add my opinion here because I'm a little saddened to see comments getting (understandably) a little heated and some arguing against things that nobody has said.
I honestly don't see anyone here even vaguely justifying the van driver's actions - for me it was clearly a criminal act that deliberately endangered the life of another road user. The driver should be prosecuted, and I sincerely hope that's what happens.
As for the cyclist's use of primary positioning, well, I think he was entitled to do that if he thought it was the safest course of action in the circumstances - and as we don't have the full experience of being there and only have a very limited video clip to rely on, I don't think we can judge the wisdom of his actions either way.
Personally, I would almost never use primary positioning on a road like that, and will sometimes even slow right down and pull close in to let traffic pass me - I'm never in a hurry, and I think that if I want respect from other road users, it is important for me to show that respect first.
So, to sum up, imo: Van driver wrong, very very wrong. Cyclist not wrong, but wisdom of approach debatable.
Alan
I honestly don't see anyone here even vaguely justifying the van driver's actions - for me it was clearly a criminal act that deliberately endangered the life of another road user. The driver should be prosecuted, and I sincerely hope that's what happens.
As for the cyclist's use of primary positioning, well, I think he was entitled to do that if he thought it was the safest course of action in the circumstances - and as we don't have the full experience of being there and only have a very limited video clip to rely on, I don't think we can judge the wisdom of his actions either way.
Personally, I would almost never use primary positioning on a road like that, and will sometimes even slow right down and pull close in to let traffic pass me - I'm never in a hurry, and I think that if I want respect from other road users, it is important for me to show that respect first.
So, to sum up, imo: Van driver wrong, very very wrong. Cyclist not wrong, but wisdom of approach debatable.
Alan
I would love it if I ever got that kind of space from overtaking vehicles - it's nice to dream like that, but it's a fantasy to think it's remotely likely.
When I'm out riding, I'm more than satisfied if I get something close to that 1.5m between the kerb and the overtaking vehicle.
Oh, and surely no, it's not "arguably much more than this for a high sided van travelling on a 50mph road" - it's the actual speed of the vehicle that matters, not the speed limit, isn't it?
Alan
But Beretta owners also have a crossbow and match grade air rifles
I would not have thought a Beretta would have fitted a real man like you?
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
It was a new Beretta or a used something else. Pretty good value for a new weapon.
Origamist
Legendary Member
Yesterday, I was walking along the pavement and there was a slow moving old lady in the centre of path. I could have waited 4 secs or so, but I decided to barge past and push her into the grass verge. I was bigger, moving faster and in a hurry and she was deliberately blocking me. I hope you will all agree it was her debatable pavement positioning that forced me into dispensing a violent but valuable lesson.
That's perhaps an amusing parody, but not of any opinions I have seen actually offered here - it is possible to criticize both a and b without suggesting that a justified b, and that's all I've seen.
Alan
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
That's not respect. That's supplication. See https://beyondthekerb.org.uk/2013/10/11/the-most-basic-respect/ or more swearily http://www.cambridgecyclist.co.uk/2013/04/showing-respect-to-motorists.html?m=1
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Thing is, there are no grounds to criticise a.
I think that depends on the combative/cooperative nature of one's attitude. My long experience has led me to believe that most road users are respectful to the rights of other road users, and I think an approach of "We're sharing this, how can I help?" has been more fruitful than one of "We're fighting for the same space and I'm determined to win".
Alan
That does not negate my critique of the parody - my point is that nobody in this discussion has suggested that a justifies b.
Alan
Last edited:
winjim
Straddle the line, discord and rhyme
Their Twitter's down too. Shame. It could have been a good opportunity for them to very publically do the right thing. Unless their lawyers have advised them not to I guess. I wonder exactly who was driving the van...
JohnHughes307
Über Member
- Location
- Potters Bar
google "vidette uk ltd" and the google review show up in the search results. There are now 128 one-start reviews!
