cycling fisherman
Senior Member
- Location
- Middlesbrough
get out there and do it !
best way to get confidence on roads ?
in my opinion there is no substitute for getting out there and doing it, nice and slow at first so that you remain comfortable with the traffic around you.
Your anticipation levels will rise naturally, you will anticipate more what other car and road users are going to do.
You will start to notice the likely direction of traffic by their position on the road, roundabouts and junctions even when they dont indicate
My 3 essential tips ? these are my tips not everyone will agree !
1. You must be seen... i know this sounds daft but riders do sometimes wear black and no hi viz, it is essential that you can be seen clearly and easily.
2. Keep to the rear right hand side of HGV's and buses so the driver can clearly see you in his right mirror, you want the driver to be able to see you and know that you are there but also the driver needs to know that you are going to keep out of the way. make your actions deliberate.
3. Traffic islands...picture the scene... 30 mph zone, single lane, you are approaching a traffic island, you are in the correct position, there are some drivers who will try and squeeze past you and in between the island.
This is extremely dangerous.
In this case again make your actions deliberate, as you approach the island say 10 metres away you should be looking over your right shoulder, you want to be doing this every so often anyway so that you know what is behind you.(the threat is 9 times out of 10 behind you rather than in front)
Let the traffic behind you know in good time your actions and be deliberate.
In this case i would let the traffic behind me know in good time that i am going to move over a touch to the right so that you are in fact an obstacle and un passable.
This eliminates the danger.
these are my opinions and not everybody will agree
notice i have highlighted the word deliberate, this is because some drivers will be on the phone or eating or doing something that will be distracting them.
it is the mainly the attention of these drivers you are seeking because they are not concentrating.
if you make all of your signals and intentions on the road as deliberate as possible and in plenty of time you will be much safer on the road.
best way to get confidence on roads ?
in my opinion there is no substitute for getting out there and doing it, nice and slow at first so that you remain comfortable with the traffic around you.
Your anticipation levels will rise naturally, you will anticipate more what other car and road users are going to do.
You will start to notice the likely direction of traffic by their position on the road, roundabouts and junctions even when they dont indicate
My 3 essential tips ? these are my tips not everyone will agree !
1. You must be seen... i know this sounds daft but riders do sometimes wear black and no hi viz, it is essential that you can be seen clearly and easily.
2. Keep to the rear right hand side of HGV's and buses so the driver can clearly see you in his right mirror, you want the driver to be able to see you and know that you are there but also the driver needs to know that you are going to keep out of the way. make your actions deliberate.
3. Traffic islands...picture the scene... 30 mph zone, single lane, you are approaching a traffic island, you are in the correct position, there are some drivers who will try and squeeze past you and in between the island.
This is extremely dangerous.
In this case again make your actions deliberate, as you approach the island say 10 metres away you should be looking over your right shoulder, you want to be doing this every so often anyway so that you know what is behind you.(the threat is 9 times out of 10 behind you rather than in front)
Let the traffic behind you know in good time your actions and be deliberate.
In this case i would let the traffic behind me know in good time that i am going to move over a touch to the right so that you are in fact an obstacle and un passable.
This eliminates the danger.
these are my opinions and not everybody will agree
notice i have highlighted the word deliberate, this is because some drivers will be on the phone or eating or doing something that will be distracting them.
it is the mainly the attention of these drivers you are seeking because they are not concentrating.
if you make all of your signals and intentions on the road as deliberate as possible and in plenty of time you will be much safer on the road.
