Jumping lights dilemma

[psmiffy]

Sometimes it might be advisable to pull over onto the pavement and let the large vehicle pass.

+1

It is much better to have the HGV in front of you so that you can see what it is doing

Why, why are these signs not fitted to all lorries!

 

[Origamist]

+1

It is much better to have the HGV in front of you so that you can see what it is doing

Why, why are these signs not fitted to all lorries!

Absolutely. Just remember to keep a good distance behind it - you might also want to use the right third of the lane so you can see his offside mirror (particularly if you are planning to overtake) - that way you are less likely to be lost in the blindspot directly behind the vehicle.

The answer is they are not compulsory. Here's a better quality image of the sign (I posted it a while back):

 

[psmiffy]

I am sorry about the quality of image - It was a quick snap of the one on my mantlepiece - not much good there except it serves as a reminder to me

 

[Origamist]

This is a snappier, harder hitting vid on the subject:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7N9X0s_aXo&feature=player_embedded

 

[magnatom]

This is a snappier, harder hitting vid on the subject:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7N9X0s_aXo&feature=player_embedded

That's a good video. We need an English version of this.

 

[jimboalee]

This may involve technically jumping the lights however as the blindspot in front of a cab can be 2m + and not all HGVs have class VI mirrors fitted.

Sometimes it might be advisable to pull over onto the pavement and let the large vehicle pass.

Jimbo's 3 rules of cycling.

1/ Read, understand and obey the local Highway code.
2/ Wear bright clothing and display lamps after dark.
3/ Ride where you assess is the safest place to ride.

Origamist's point ( highlighted ) satisfies item 3.

 

[gbb]

Jimbo's 3 rules of cycling.

1/ Read, understand and obey the local Highway code.
2/ Wear bright clothing and display lamps after dark.
3/ Ride where you assess is the safest place to ride.

Origamist's point ( highlighted ) satisfies item 3.

Agreed, and that decision of course depends on many factors.
If i come to TLs and theres going to be a queue of traffic behind me, i'll take primary till i make speed.
If theres a bus (or lorry) only behind me at red TLs, i'll move to the kerb and motion the driver to move off before me when they turn green. By far the safer option, he's happy, i'm happy, everyones a winner.

 

[Trevrev]

Just do what you feel you need to do to stay comfortable, and alive!!

 

[BentMikey]

I have no problem at all with waiting to avoid an HGV interaction:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua4VKKHpYEA

 

[psmiffy]

I find that if I do get in a position at a junction where I have a lorry close to me on the right that if I move to a position where I can make eye contact with the driver they will acknowledge my presence and mostly they will indicate to me to go first (it does requires a little trust! - best not to confuse things by arguing about it) - I am sitting here writing this so it worked so far

 

[Yellow Fang]

My other solution, which may or may not be legal, is get off bike, push bike past traffic lights, get back on bike and ride off. Since the lights had just turned right, I expect I would have had time to do this. Whether it makes sense is a different matter.

 

[bonker]

If you felt that was safest thing for you to do at that time then it was right thing to do. I have been 'forced' to RLJ after stopping at a signal by cars trying to squeeze me off the road.

Start a road rage incident? or jump a red light when you feel its safe to do so? No contest, jump the red light to avoid the greater danger.

I've also pulled over on clear roads and before green lights if I've had a psychco on my tail so fair's fair.

Self- preservation is the name of the game.

 

[Vincealot]

I work at a distribution hub and work alongside a large work force of lorry drivers. Many of them ride motorbikes and some even commute to work on bicycles. They are very road aware when it comes to two wheelers.

The fact they are driving a big artic doesnt scare them. What scares them is when a cyclist comes up their inside. They all admit to their blind spots and every day fear someone has posistioned themselves in them. They all understand the dangers its a shame alot of cyclists dont (of course all us cool CCers know the dangers )

 

[psmiffy]

I work at a distribution hub and work alongside a large work force of lorry drivers. Many of them ride motorbikes and some even commute to work on bicycles. They are very road aware when it comes to two wheelers.

The fact they are driving a big artic doesnt scare them. What scares them is when a cyclist comes up their inside. They all admit to their blind spots and every day fear someone has posistioned themselves in them. They all understand the dangers its a shame alot of cyclists dont (of course all us cool CCers know the dangers )

There has to be Education, Education and Education - many years ago road design used cost benifit analysis to prioritise what schemes would go ahead (same sort of thing is still used but different name and different parameters) - by preventing a single fatality the savings would pay many times over for a public awareness campaign on this issue

 

[hackbike 666]

The suggestion that anyone that is not comfortable around artics should not be riding on the road I find laughable

That's not really fair though is it?

I may not be comfortable around large vehicles because of lorry blind spots and whether the driver is concentrating or whether he/she gives a toss or makes a mistake or whatever.For this reason I no longer use the Tower Gateway - Southwark Bridge Route apart from odd occasions.I even remember when one of the brothers got done by a lorry at Southwark Bridge a week after I fell off there.

Plus the fact that motorcyclists were using the cycle lane.No problem with that but when some of them didn't seem to give a toss I got fed up with it.

Christ there is even a clip on utube of a lorry with a car stuck to the front.