Out of my way!

[BentMikey]

She was a terrible driver! I'd second the positioning thing though, if it's possible it's best to take the middle of the lane when sitting a car back to take the possibility away from them.

 

[magnatom]

Mag - I'm not excusing the driver's behaviour either, but is it possible the fact you usually get away with doing what you did lulled you into feeling falsely secure? It's not the thousands of times it's worked without a problem that you have to worry about - it's the occasions when it doesn't work. Like an impatient driver. Or when a ped steps out between vehicles. Or when someone in that queue opens a car door. Or when someone doesn't use their mirror before moving...

The chance of close shaves is dramatically increased by getting into positions where at least some drivers (and there's no way of telling who they are) might not be expecting / wanting to find you - whether or not that positioning can be defended in pure cycling terms.

That certainly happens beanz, and I think I have posted videos where I have admitted that that was a contributing factor. However, on this occasion I can't think of any other checks etc I could have made. I suppose the fact that I didn't wobble, held my position etc, suggests that I was prepared! Who knows, it's always very difficult to remember what was going through your head just before an incident.

 

[bryce]

'bu@@er it, bl**dy cyclists! Try and get in front of me, will he....oh wait a minute I have to stop 20m further down the road...oh bu@@er...off he goes.'

At least you were aware of her possible reaction before it happened. It did look to me (and probably her) that you tried to squeeze as far as you possibly could (and very close to her car) when you were filtering. It also looks from the video like you got stuck a bit. She probably took umbrage to that.

 

[stoptherock]

'You put yourself there!'

Was her excuse. So, cos she didn't like your position, she deliberately drove into you, it wasn't an accident.

I would killl her and all her family and anyone who owes her money.

 

[jonny jeez]

I'd have just gone to the front anyway.

Sorry...but ditto on the positioning, I'd have sat on or over the ASL (if there was one or just the SL if there wasn't), dont care if I'm in the way, at least I'm seen and I have an escape route (left or right).

That said, she was clearly unable to judge the width her car and knew she was in the wrong as she wouldn't "engage" at all.

If you'd hit me in a car and I KNEW I was in the right (hence you hitting me), I'd have stopped, got out... and you and I would have had a conversation...If I didnt, I'd have wound up my window and tried to ignore you (as she eventually did)

But, best of all ...I saw you eyeing up the cyclist crossing the road at the beginning...v.funny

better luck tomorrow

 

[LOGAN 5]

I thought your positioning could have been better. You were inbetween the lanes and not in one or the other. You were inviting an close undertake/overtake. Leave big enough gap and a car will go through it. I thought you should have gone right up the front of the queue. The light phase was certainly long enough for you to have safely filtered and taken a dominant position in the front. Can't understand why you allowed yourself to get "squashed" between queuing traffic by choice it seems.

Also thought your filtering down the middle of the two lanes earlier in the vid was too fast. Too many things could have happened while you rode that fast.

If I find myself caught (eg light change or gap narrowed etc) between cars I usually put my hand up as a way of thank you to the car driver behind and acknowledgement that I'm in his way. This usually works and they hold back until they can get past safely. It's just politeness really that I know I've pushed in. Just barging in is a bit rude and can wind drivers up - which it obviously did.

Having said that this "lady" was an awful driver. I bet she got quite scared that she couldn't drive completely away as you kept catching up with her. The last overtake was a punishment of course.

PS, funny though that had you jumped the lights the whole situation would have been avoided - not suggesting you should but sometimes it avoids situations like this ever developing

 

[dellzeqq]

Maggers, there's no smooth way of saying this, but your position was shoot. Neither one thing or the other. You could have gone behind the blue car to your right, or, if you didn't fancy pulling away in the fast lane, then you should have gone to the front on the left, and not worried about pissing off drivers - at most London junctions of this kind there would have been an ASL anyway.

I might have been where you are if I was on my own, but I'd have got moving a lot faster than the cars and gone to the left, indicating, looking back and affording the driver my best 'yes, you are dog-dirt' look which has the sole virtue of working every time. If I had been 'towing' The Babe (which puts me in a whole different frame of mind) I'd not have gone down the middle at all - just taken my place in the queue in the left hand lane, on the centreline of the cars.

And, while I'm busting what might have been a wonderful friendship, your cry of outrage isn't good. Concentrate on producing an air of command. Address her as if she is a lower form of life.

(better steer clear of Glasgow for a while.......)

 

[marinyork]

I'd have actually gone further forward as the blue car is so small and the size of the three cars in a triangle so big in comparison. I was thinking the car on the right was going to swipe you and not the left (as the rhs should be more likely be free flowing) so I don't think one can criticise positioning much.

The car undertook and had a collision. Their fault. They seemed totally unable to plan ahead as was seen more than once on that video.

 

[BentMikey]

Thinking about it some more, the benefits of sitting behind the first or second car are easily outweighed by being able to take the lane. I think I'd also have gone to the front in this case, although I'm normally with Magnatom here in sitting a little back in the queue.

I'd have kept an eye behind me too, and done a massive fear wobble when she approached again, plus put my arm out to make sure she didn't come anywhere close.

 

[cheadle hulme]

The woman was an arse, but a small minority of drivers are, but we already know that hey?

You've posted similar before Magna, seem to remember it was an olde escort that cut you up on the RH side after you'd filtered and stopped in front (but 1 car back).

Understand how some people think. If you go to the front, its the front. You haven't "chosen" anybody.

The womans flawed cognitive powers think you've singled her out for attention.

Just filter to the front (slowly if you know the lights) and roll through as they change. Or ist in front of the 1st car.

 

[magnatom]

I can understand what folk are saying about my position. I agree it wasn't ideal, but as I've said, I did make eye contact (although maybe I should stare them out!) and I took into account the queuing traffic up ahead that meant there was no point in her pulling away hard.

One thing that surprised me was how fast she accelerated as I wasn't hanging about here, honest!

I really wouldn't like to push past the stop line here for two reasons. The main reason is that a school is just across the road (a very posh one!) and kids have a habit of running across at the crossing. There have been accidents here. So I'd rather keep well away from that. The other reason is... I would get pelters for crossing stop line!

I think my filtering speed was reasonable about 10-12mph I reckon when traffic is stationary and going no-where.

cheadle hulme,

Yes there was the Escort driver, but he was a couple of cars back and I was back in primary position when he overtook, so I would class that as just a dangerous overtake.

and yes dellzeqq, I need to take improve my 'command voice'. Any Sergent Majors here...?

 

[4F]

I thought your positioning could have been better. You were inbetween the lanes and not in one or the other. You were inviting an close undertake/overtake.

I would agree with this, you left yourself rather in no mans land. It was rubbish driving by the chelsea tractor but if you wanted to be in the left hand land you should have got more of yourself in there to prevent the undertake.

 

[mr_cellophane]

I agree with Dell and would have stopped behind the blue car. Not only was there a large enough gap behind him, but there was also sufficient room between him and the taxi (?) in the other lane.
But then hindsight and being able to watch a scenario over and over before deciding the best course is a wonderful thing.

Love the way box junctions count for nothing in Glasgow.

 

[Piemaster]

My 2p.
I often hang back 1 - 2 cars, especially in situations were I can see that there will be the inevitable drag race to the back of the next queue. Let 'em get on with it, I'll still be at the front that queue before them. But I'd be uncomfortable in the position mags stopped in, there were better options.
That however in no way excuses the drivers behaviour. She was aware of him 'you put yourself in that position' and should have waited a few seconds to see what, probably in her view the idiot cyclist was going to do. There seems to be a bit of victim blaming happening here, anyone not thought they could have cycled (or driven) a situation better? I'm sure my driving is better since I got back onto 2 wheels - but thats for a different thread.
It's always easier to comment on mistakes when you can rewind the footage as well.
Hope you've chilled out a bit now Mags, 'cos that would have left me seething and f~'k-up my whole day.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Just watched it again.
At 1:38, just after she has hit you, she has one hand off the wheel and is steering towards the centre of the road. She pulls towards the centre after your first "chat". It is fairly obvious from that that she did not want you to get past her.