Leaving that safe gap ?

[goo_mason]

Sigh.

Skelping along tonight in primary at a fair old lick in the traffic, making sure I leave a nice 'safe braking distance' gap between me and the car in front in case he brakes suddenly or does an emergency stop (after my experience last year).

Car pulls by me in the lane on my right; I mistakenly think he's in that lane because he's going to turn off right at the junction ahead. Nope. He swerves into the gap between me and the car in front, then immediately has to stand on the brake as the traffic ahead has slowed. I grab a massive handful of brakes as he's only about 3 metres in front of me, realise that I'm not going to stop in time and I'm going to slam into his rear, and somehow (not sure how on earth I managed to react so quickly) I swerve left whilst yanking and unclipping my foot, kick it off the kerb to avoid hitting it and make it up the inside of the idiot's car in the blink of an eye. Ironically, a cycle lane began a few metres further on so I was able to continue up the inside and leave him far behind.

2nd day of wearing my Tesco HRM - could certainly see my heart racing afterwards !!

So, back to that old quandry again; whilst riding along at the same speed as the traffic, do I:

(a) sit close enough to prevent an idiot trying to get between me and the car in front, risking a collision if the car ahead brakes sharply ? Or;

( sit a safe braking distance behind and risk another idiot like the one tonight, who MUST get into the gap to get ahead of the cyclist ?

 

[beanzontoast]

You've hit the nail on the head. Damned if you do leave a gap and damned if you don't. My choice would be ( - to leave the gap and be prepared for the inconsiderate motorists who exhibit the urge to nip in.

Well done for avoiding the 'hit', by the way.

 

[HLaB]

I prefer to do a) or sit at a gap about a bike length back or more but not enough room for a car but it depends on the situation (speed/ surface, etc) and no matter what you're doing there's always some idiot so you have to be aware of.

Some folk are just plonkers, like last night. I could have been in a stronger position and being more alert but as I slowed at a 3 lane approach in the inside of the two left turn lanes with a gap of about 1.5 m a black cab decided he would try and carefully fit in that gap. He could of went in the completely clear outside lane and easily out accelerated me up the steep hill but no he had to try and teach me a lesson.

 

[fossyant]

I'd have given the car a smack as well....good job you missed it.....

Had someone 'pretend' I wasn't there this morning - tried the same thing although at slow speed - 5 -10 mph..."Oi...there is a bike here".....

 

[PrettyboyTim]

I probably ride a bit closer than I should... but in line with either the right or left brake light, to give me a chance to swerve if I need to.

 

[BentMikey]

I sometimes sit closer than the 2sec gap, but then I'm off to one side, usually the off side.

 

[gavintc]

I had a similar problem last night when coming home. I was coming up and over on Belford Road. I generally start off from the lights heading south in a secondary position allowing cars to get past before the road narrows at the galleries. As the road narrows, I move across into a good primary as the road is just too narrow for overtaking. Well, an old biddy, did just that and squeezed me so close to get into the gap in front of me. I caught her at the lights on Palmerston, knocked on her window and asked her quite politely is she would leave cyclists a little bit more room. She then admitted, that she had not seen me and was blinded by the oncoming cars. I was then amused when she asked me for directions to the Zoo. She was ancient - I did feel a little sorry for her - but she really should not be driving.

 

[hambones]

I ride quite close to the car in front and usually to the right. On a bike you are considerably higher than most cars so you should be able to easily see ahead and anticipate any braking, sudden or otherwise.

 

[goo_mason]

Thanks all. (a) used to be my preference until I hit the back of a car last year. Thought I had everything covered, except for the fact that there was no way to anticipate the person who pulled out in front of the car I was following.

It'll just have to be 'leave a gap' and try to be even more ready for the "I can fit into that space" loonies and their sudden braking once they squeeze in.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Sigh.

He swerves into the gap between me and the car in front, then immediately has to stand on the brake as the traffic ahead has slowed. I grab a massive handful of brakes as he's only about 3 metres in front of me ...

Someone will do this to me on the motorway about twice a month, sometimes more. Alright, the gap's a bit more than three metres, but my vehicle is a bit heavier than your bike, and certainly large enough to drive over the offending car. You're right, it's really annoying. Did you have words?

 

[Origamist]

I ride quite close to the car in front and usually to the right. On a bike you are considerably higher than most cars so you should be able to easily see ahead and anticipate any braking, sudden or otherwise.

I used to do this, but as car brakes have got better and better and my response times have increased, I now prefer to leave a sizeable buffer.

 

[Bodhbh]

That used to really annoy me in the car, probably no1 pet hate on the motorway. Not had it done to me yet on the bike, but tend to leave a generous space, had peds I didn't see step in front of the car in front of me a couple of times and well cars suddenly braking out the blue for reasons best known to themselves.

 

[bryce]

He swerves into the gap between me and the car in front, then immediately has to stand on the brake as the traffic ahead has slowed. I grab a massive handful of brakes as he's only about 3 metres in front of me, realise that I'm not going to stop in time and I'm going to slam into his rear, and somehow (not sure how on earth I managed to react so quickly) I swerve left whilst yanking and unclipping my foot, kick it off the kerb to avoid hitting it and make it up the inside of the idiot's car in the blink of an eye.

Quality narrative, my heart was beating faster just reading it!

 

[silverbow]

Wow! I think Steven Segal should play you in the movie, although he clearly would have wasted the drive a little further down the road.

GOOD CYCLING THOUGH!

 

[Eat MY Dust]

I don't leave much room!!


View: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3StZUHSEx80