BM, I never think you are being harsh, wrong, but not harsh!
You are wrong about my looks back though. I'll explain. Now that I am on the PC I can fill this out a bit more.
I have been very aware from day 1 about the risk at this junction. This is the junction
here.
The left lane is filter only. There is a central feeder to an ASL, and a single lane that is forward only. Beyond the junction it splits into two lanes. In this image you can see the 'pothole' across the two lanes just beyond the junction. It is significantly worse in the left hand lane so I go for the gentler right lane. In fact my ideal line is to be in the process of changing lanes at the 'pothole' as the smoothest surface is just to the left of the lane divider.
I don't use the feeder and ASL for two reasons. The main reason is because I have quite often seen drivers hange their mind here and move over into the left lane (and turn left), even after having stopped at the lights The other is that the lanes aren't the widest and there are usually buses turning left here. It would be very tight is a bus passed on your left when in that lane.
I have always been wary of cars skipping up the left as I cross the junction. I realised the first time that I rode this that I needed to keep a close eye on my left hand side. My first look left was actually quite a big one (and always is very intentionally)and allows me to see if cars are approaching the junction in the left filter It also serves to let following cars know that I am thinking of moving over. As soon as I finish that look I indicate. My second less significant look is my check that nothing idiotic has sneaked up before I move over.
The more I think about this (and this is me being honest), I am sure that there was a car stationary behind me when the lights were red. I am fairly sure this was not a pick-up. Taking into account the speed that the pickup passed me, I am fairly certain that it must have went straight on at the left feeder.
I can't honestly remember if I saw anything in the filter lane with my first look, but I do remember thinking to have a good look. I can only assume that as my spidey sense didn't kick in that I didn't see anything untoward. This to me suggests that if he was indeed in the filter that he was a good way back at my first glance. Thus he must have been moving at a fair pace all the way and not part of the original queue, possibly having seen a ';bl**dy' cyclist up ahead. He is certainly going well above the 30mph limit after he passes me.
So, it would seem that he steamed up a left filter only lane, continued up other car's left and my left despite the fact that it was obvious that I was about to move left and continued on with complete disregard.
Yes, there is some onus on me checking my left and moving over. The fact that I am still here to talk about it confirms that that is exactly what I did.
Any questions!?
