I thought this cyclist was going to die...

[Gains]

Ah the huge member - one of nature's great mysteries!!

Back on topic that was a pretty small gap there - i wouldnt fancy goin in it but i wouldnt fancy sitting right next to the bus' exhaust for a few minutes either! As everyone says its all judgement calls and personal preference, does however look like hes a bit of a dare devil mind you!

 

[andyfromotley]

awful move. Great educational vid tho.

 

[biking_fox]

I'm with Tynan on this - no particular problem with the 2nd move. I'd have done it - probably. I don't know the specific road though, and it's the details that matter. Depends a bit on how wide that gap actually is, on a road bike there aren't any "sticky out bits or straps" to get caught, but if I couldn't pedal than it's too narrow. One can't generalise, it's all about the specific situation, this guy, his bike.

The traffic was stationary so really not a lot can happen - cyclists can hear and respond to sirens well well before any motorist/lorry notices them.

 

[Origamist]

I'm with Tynan on this - no particular problem with the 2nd move. I'd have done it - probably. I don't know the specific road though, and it's the details that matter. Depends a bit on how wide that gap actually is, on a road bike there aren't any "sticky out bits or straps" to get caught, but if I couldn't pedal than it's too narrow. One can't generalise, it's all about the specific situation, this guy, his bike.

He could not cycle through the gap - watch him put his left foot down as he undertakes.

I'm shocked that a number of people think the second move was OK. He was fortunate to get away with the first attempted undertake. The second was impatience.

 

[CopperBrompton]

The traffic was stationary so really not a lot can happen - cyclists can hear and respond to sirens well well before any motorist/lorry notices them.

Hearing the siren won't help if there's nowhere to go.

 

[guitarpete247]

I did something that I found out was as stupid just over 30 years ago.
I was behind a lorry at lights. Left lane was left and straight only and lorry wasn't indicating. When lights changed they were for turn left only, red straight ahead. Lorry didn't move so I thought he was going straight. I waited for 30 secs and he still didn't move, so I went up the left. I was halfway up his left when he started to move and turning left!! I bounced off his rear tyre as I tried to stop.
I had some nice tyre pattern, black rubber marks on my nylon top. If it had been a cotton t-shirt it could have pulled me under.

Some of us learn by being close to death. Others don't or don't get the chance to learn.

Never done anything as stupid since but have had several stupid things done to me usually by young lads who think they are Lewis Hamilton. Whoa hed just did something stupid as wel didn't he.

 

[GrasB]

The traffic was stationary so really not a lot can happen - cyclists can hear and respond to sirens well well before any motorist/lorry notices them.

So naïve. It's incredible how much space drivers can find to manoeuvre as a collective group if required or if they have left a reasonable gap to the vehicle in front (also lorry drivers tend to leave a bigger gap in front when there's a small car in front so they don't 'lose' it & then forget the car is there). From that point all it takes is someone in front to pull 3 or 4 ft forwards & then everyone can pull to one side, now if the HGV driver hadn't seen that cyclist & there was an emergency vehicle coming up behind they could pull to the left & that's one squished cyclist.

 

[ianrauk]

People who don't actually know that junction are really not aware at how dangerous the junction/tunnels are. You really cannot get an idea from Mikes video. It has multiple fast lanes of traffic from various directions trying to squeeze into the tunnels along with multiple set's of traffic lights. It is very busy at most times of the day. It was a serious miss-calculation on the part of the cyclist which could have gone horribly wrong.

 

[BigSteev]

Particularly as, although there is a footpath to the cyclist's left, the kerb all the way along that stretch is that really high sort that wouldn't allow you to easily escape onto it. BM knows my riding and that I'm happy with a fairly high degree of risk but I wouldn't have gone for that move.