Is this some new motorist sport

[mummra]

Hi all,

been a lurker here for quite some time after starting commuting last June.
Got knocked off at the end of last year. not serious. I got back up and after the driver gave me his details I shot back home (apart from the crash it was my quickest time up to that point )

I've been toying about getting a helmet cam and finally took the plunge and got a Contour GPS. Very happy apart from since I started using it I feel that drivers are actually aiming for me.
Is this some new sport that I'm unaware about since I gave up the car last year???

Anyway after a little advice on whether anybody thinks this pass is a touch too close.
cycling downtowards Burslem from the A500 in Stoke (Google Map Link) and a large white van cuts in on me as I'm in the cycle lane. They must get past me but fail to think that they need to cut in to get past the island in the middle of the road and a car slightly further up the road.
Linky

Cheers

Howard

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

I think this is not unusual. You were moving pretty fast and a lot of drivers seem incapable of understanding how far a cyclist will have moved by the time they have finished their manoeuvre, especially long vehicles. I get this every so often from buses.

I might have been tempted to take primary position well before approaching the right turning van, even though there is a cycle lane, but it is hard to anticipate this sort of thing.

When I started using my camera, I felt that the drivers were actually giving me more space, though that may be just my imagination. To be honest, I don't think most of them even notice the camera.

 

[mummra]

Taking primary is something that I'm still not too confident with. I ride a mountain bike so I'm not usually too fast and I struggle with looking over my shoulder. I always end up swerving.
One weird thing about using the camera is realising how much I chatter to myself and I always say hello to the ducks and geese

 

[cyberknight]

How wide is that cycle lane?

It is hard to tell with the camera but it does look like it is not very wide and if so i would have cycled a bit further out, especially at the pinch point.

We all say take primary at such points , i have a similar part on my commute and it definitely helps if you can take your position on the road early enough to stop it happening .I know from experience if the motorist in bombing along at 40 + mph it is sometimes hard to get there in time but try if you can !
Practice you shoulder look on quiet roads and get used to it so whenh you need to use it you are confident enough to make eye contact with the vehicle so they know you are there, this makes it a bit more personal and helps to make your presence as another person on the road register rather than just an obstacle they have to get round without thought.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Taking primary is something that I'm still not too confident with. I ride a mountain bike so I'm not usually too fast and I struggle with looking over my shoulder. I always end up swerving.

As Cyberknight says, it's important to practice looking over your shoulder as this is one of the most basic safety techniques. Interestingly, the very act of looking back is often enough to cause the driver to be more careful and leave more space.

The main thing about taking primary is doing it early enough and signalling properly. I still find I sometimes leave it until a little too late myself and then it can be difficult. There is also a reluctance to do it because it will annoy some drivers. If a driver sounds their horn, though, it tells me two important things: that they have definitely seen me, and that they have recognized that they can't go past me at this point. They are also breaking highway code rule 112, so that tells me they are probably a pratt as well.

Another technique that I find is usually successful is to hold my hand out in a "stop" signal if I think someone is going to try something silly. It tends to cause them to hold back, but you have to be confident about looking back.

One weird thing about using the camera is realising how much I chatter to myself and I always say hello to the ducks and geese

Keep on chattering.

 

[Jezston]

That 'cycle lane' is flat out dangerous - can't be more than 18 inches from the pavement judging by the yellow lines. Complain to the council.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

That 'cycle lane' is flat out dangerous - can't be more than 18 inches from the pavement judging by the yellow lines. Complain to the council.

Indeed.

On my 25 mile round trip commute, none of the cycle lanes meet the DfT's own guidelines on cycle lane design, which are described in their document: Cycle Infrastructure Design. In particular, section 7.4 says that cycle lanes should be at least 2m wide on 40mph roads and an absolute minimum of 1.5m wide on 30mph roads. Do you know of any that are up to spec?

Unfortunately, there is a lot of ignorance about the nature and use of cycle lanes, especially advisory ones. See this, for example. The comments in the article show that most people haven't a clue how to use a proper cycle lane. (The Daily Wail had an even worse article on it, but I don't want to link to that.)

There is also research showing what we all know from experience, that cycle lanes, especially inadequate ones, cause drivers to pass far closer than they would if the cycle lane hadn't been there.

 

[cd365]

If a driver sounds their horn, though, it tells me two important things: that they have definitely seen me, and that they have recognized that they can't go past me at this point. They are also breaking highway code rule 112, so that tells me they are probably a pratt as well.

Surely they are sounding their horn because you are posing a danger to them in their 2 ton cage?

 

[BentMikey]

That's a good pace there, mummra!!

I'd say that situation is a good case for looking back well before the pinch point to assess whether you need to take the lane. I wouldn't bother for a smart car, but I'd most definitely negotiate out and take the lane in front of that lorry. It's far too big a vehicle to share the narrow space through there with.

 

[mummra]

Thanks for the advice. I took a slightly different route in today, past the same pinch point though. Have been checking over my shoulder quite often today. I struggle as I've got torticollis in the neck. A car at similar pinch point tried a similar move but I was going downhill with the traffic so moved over to a good secondary which stopped the overtake.
Just want a road bike so I can go faster

 

[delport]

Taking primary is something that I'm still not too confident with. I ride a mountain bike so I'm not usually too fast and I struggle with looking over my shoulder. I always end up swerving.

How about a wing mirror, £7 or thereabouts, easy to fit.
I'm sure they even had a basic one in the poundshop.

I use a mirror as i like to check how close the traffic is.

 

[BentMikey]

Mirrors are only a tool for looking, and aren't necessary for most people on uprights. The problem is the looking in the first place, and negotiating to take the lane.

Actually that's not true, the problem is the poor driving in the first place. All the above is just about defensive riding to compensate for the driver's lack of ability and foresight there.

 

[gambatte]

Or you could try a bike eye?

bike eye
​

 

[515mm]

Take your right hand off the 'bars when you want to look behind over your right shoulder. Keep good pressure on the left hand grip and the counter-steering effect will keep you going in a straight line. The advantage is that you............

i) don't veer right anywhere nearly as much

ii) look like you are about to signal

iii) look like you are about to perform a manouvre which makes following drivers hesitate and think about you a bit more

iv) gives you a chance to look at the driver in the face and make eye contact - you can see what he/she is doing (are they paying attention?) and there's now a much better chance they'll see you as a fellow human and not an obstacle in the road. If they're plotting something a bit dangerous your look will most likely make them think again now they know they are under scrutiny. This also makes any hand signal you produce carry much more psychological weight - they can't pretend they didn't see it - or you.

I will admit this doesn't work all the time - occasionally one will have to shout "GET BACK!" to reinforce the point.

 

[mummra]

Take your right hand off the 'bars when you want to look behind over your right shoulder.

Never even thought of this.
Will hopefully get out tomorrow and give this a try if the wind backs off a bit.
Really don't fancy riding one handed with the strong gusts we've had round here this weekend.