My first real concern when commuting...

[BentMikey]

I've mentioned before that I used to think narrow pinch points presented the most acute problems for cyclists. However, experience has taught me that wider pinch points are in many ways more problematic as drivers often think that you should cycle in the gutter in order for them to pass you with a foot spare, and only a few inches from the refuge/bollard during the overtake. These "wider" pinch points create a critical road width that can lead to trouble - narrow pinch points tend to discourage overtakes as there is simply not enough room to share the lane. I take the centre of the lane through pretty much every pinch point I come to.

I think you're right - narrow ones are not a big problem. It's grey area width pinch points (and roads too), that are most difficult to deal with IME.

 

[ttcycle]

About a year ago a WVM tried to overtake me whilst I was going through/past a traffic island (me in primary). Just before the island he brakes hard and then BANG! He hits the bollard. I went to see if he was okay and did my best not to laugh. But the men doing roadworks across the road were wetting themselves

made me laugh- wouldn't know if I could keep a straight face in the same circumstances though!!

I was thinking more on the approach to the pinch point.

I've mentioned before that I used to think narrow pinch points presented the most acute problems for cyclists. However, experience has taught me that wider pinch points are in many ways more problematic as drivers often think that you should cycle in the gutter in order for them to pass you with a foot spare, and only a few inches from the refuge/bollard during the overtake. These "wider" pinch points create a critical road width that can lead to trouble - narrow pinch points tend to discourage overtakes as there is simply not enough room to share the lane. I take the centre of the lane through pretty much every pinch point I come to.

+1 I had that nasty HGV experience at a pinch point like this.

 

[purplepolly]

About a year ago a WVM tried to overtake me whilst I was going through/past a traffic island (me in primary). Just before the island he brakes hard and then BANG! He hits the bollard.

it's just so hard not to laugh

I made a driver stall last night.

I was approaching a traffic island were there wasn't enough room for a car and me alongside, doing maybe 12 or 14 mph as it was dark and I didn't know the road and was approaching a muddy section, wearing hi-viz top, reflective ankle bands, flashy and non-flashy hope vision 1s and the hub dynamo chugging away.

There was a right hand turn immediately before the island and a few cars waiting to turn into my lane. The driver at the front glanced up the road and started to pull out, timing the manouevre perfectly so that we would end up at the traffic island together. I braked as much as the mud allowed and screamed my absolutely very loudest 'OIIIIIIIIIII'. She swerved right and stalled. We missed each other by about a foot.

I carried on. About half a minute later the same car came up behind and started a very prolonged hooting.

I'm not quite sure what she'd expected me to do under the circumstances, crashland on the pavement perhaps so that I wouldn't impede her progress?

 

[Sam the Eagle]

yesterday a van overtook me leaving plenty of space between him and me and just as I was thinking 'nice one', he turns left in front of me without indicating

Back on topic, hand signals and eye contact are great and waiving cars past you is good when done carefully. I found overall that car drivers aren't that bad when you show that you're aware of their presence and acting responsibly and in a way that limits the inconvenience. When I'm driving I still get annoyed by cyclist who seem happy to ignore that there are all sorts of other road users around them.

 

[hackbike 666]

I don't rush into a pinch point anyway and I know all the pinch points on my commute and a few new ones because of diversions due to the 2012 crap.

Oh and Chobham Road has speeds bumps and they are a right pain.(Another 2012 diversion)