Overtaking When Signalling?

[Jezston]

Blimey they're all out tonight. Guess this is what you get when you leave work late on a Friday - a whole lot of I don't give a toss I just want to get home NOW attitude.

So, when indicating right to change lanes to, say, avoid parked cars or get into a right turn lane, what can I do to stop Mr oh so effing important from dangerously cutting me up and overtaking when I try to move in front if him?

I suppose holding out a sabre as I do so might work, but they are quite heavy.

 

[Ravenbait]

I had a fat bloke in a ginormous silver SUV nearly take my freaking hand off doing just this thing on my way home tonight.

Sam

 

[Wobblers]

I suppose holding out a sabre as I do so might work, but they are quite heavy.

It's a shame that light sabres don't actually exist, isn't it?

 

[ManiaMuse]

My approach is to avoid signalling in situations like that but instead make a few looks over your shoulder at the same time as gradually taking the lane. This way most drivers realise that you are intending to do something but not exactly what which results in a lot of them hanging back instead of trying to overtake and gives you time to change lane safely. Obviously it doesn't work for all motorists so you have to watch out for the 'must get in front of cyclist' types and do whatever to ensure your own safety.

I'm sure some here will disagree, I just prefer to make as few signals as possible and rely more on eye contact and positioning.

As a general rule planning ahead helps prevent being cut up. If you know that you're going to need to pull out for parked cars or changing lanes start looking back way in advance. If there's a big gap you can pull out then, otherwise you can begin to judge where you will be able to slot in front of traffic. Gradually drifting out into the lane well in advance also makes you more visible and helps when you get to the point when you need to make the lane change.

 

[Jezston]

You know what I actually own one of those really fancy toy lightsabers! Perhaps I should get a sling for it...

 

[Jezston]

ManiaMuse: that's what I do, just add signalling to that. Plenty of warning, he just didn't want to get 'stuck' behind a cyclist. Even though I then overtook him 10 seconds later.

 

[HLaB]

I had a fat bloke in a ginormous silver SUV nearly take my freaking hand off doing just this thing on my way home tonight.

Sam

It wasn't Earl Grey St? The first time I ever cycled it, I made the stupid mistake of staying in the Bus Lane going up Lothian Road and finding I needed to cross 2 lanes to get to the central bus lane and right and this numpty got his fingers rapped. The drivers face was priceless though Unsurprisingly the next times I've been there I've started to make the manoeuvre on the top section of Lothian Road and follow a manoeuvre similar to what ManiaMuse describes

 

[Ravenbait]

Nah. It was Telford Road. I was at the start of the manoeuvre described above, so luckily a way back from the junction, and he clearly saw me and knew what I was doing but didn't give a rat's ass.

I am sure he knew exactly what he'd done because I was going to Sainsbury's and so was he. When he came past (on foot, having parked) where I was locking up my bike he gave me such a sarky stare that I nearly went over and lamped him.

Sam

 

[HLaB]

Nah. It was Telford Road. I was at the start of the manoeuvre described above, so luckily a way back from the junction, and he clearly saw me and knew what I was doing but didn't give a rat's ass.

I am sure he knew exactly what he'd done because I was going to Sainsbury's and so was he. When he came past (on foot, having parked) where I was locking up my bike he gave me such a sarky stare that I nearly went over and lamped him.

Sam

Sounds a right Pr1ck. Too busy focussing on his end destination and not the road immediately ahead of him.

 

[Tynan]

get wider earlier so it's much less of an adjustment later

 

[Ravenbait]

Earlier than what, exactly?

Sam

 

[mark i]

It is amazing what some people will try, earlier this week was approaching right turn, right arm out over 100m before junction, move to right, was aware of big volvo behind who then overtook me, despite my being on white line and indicating. Not quite sure what he was thinking, my mistake, he was not thinking.....

 

[BentMikey]

Annoying people, aren't they? Your best bet is to negotiate, and to do it earlier. If they don't want to let you out, then try to negotiate again with the next driver.

 

[LOGAN 5]

I had a fat bloke in a ginormous silver SUV nearly take my freaking hand off doing just this thing on my way home tonight.

Sam

It's usually silver cars isn't it? Huge silver cars that is. Very strange.

 

[Jezston]

My incident was with a big silver 4x4 BMW X-something funnily enough.

I guess the lesson we can all learn from this is avoid big silver cars.