Rule no. 1

[jonredhornet]

Heh, this thread is still going

To shed some more light on the discussions, the footage is stretched vertically. The cam records at 420 vertical lines and the video is 576. Makes the image look taller and thinner than it actually is. The 110 degree angle lens also helps to distort observed distances in the video, and makes motion seem much faster (dramatic) than it actually is. Also, I was filtering slowly due to the oncoming traffic, which in itself helps to negate the U turn or driveway risk.

Actually, when you watch the video back when I was cycling I had cars approaching and passing in the opposite direction. I was stationary adjacent to a junction when the opposite lane was empty. This discussion is getting a little silly

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Actually, when you watch the video back when I was cycling I had cars approaching and passing in the opposite direction. I was stationary adjacent to a junction when the opposite lane was empty. This discussion is getting a little silly

... and your point is??? This is Cycle Chat... we're all used to "silly".

 

[Bollo]

... and your point is??? This is Cycle Chat... we're all used to "silly".

It is positively encouraged.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

It is positively encouraged.

Good job too.

 

[jonredhornet]

Jon, I have a question for you:

With the arm waving, what were you trying to do? Was it the thing where you stop next to the gap, point with one hand at the vehicle in front and make a beckoning movement to the driver who overtook? The sort of direction a standing helper gives to someone reversing so that they can get to within inches of an obstacle?

Sorry BM I missed this one. Like I said it was an emotive response and not a rational response, I was annoyed at the look of utter contempt the driver gave me when he passed. He was even leaning slightly over the passenger seat to leer at me (which was empty). I don't think I was aggressive though, even the beep, although loud, was a short 'toot toot' to gain the drivers attention.

Anyway, I was trying to point out that the reason I was in the right of my lane was because of the stationary traffic ahead. I initially pointed at the stationary traffic, then moved my hand back, palm open 'what are you doing' type way then kind of beckoned him forward as if to say 'go on .. oh no look, you can't'. If it wasn't for the look of disdain I wouldn't have thought twice about the incident as it wasn't a bad pass. Just something which we see all the time and can cause us problems.

 

[jonredhornet]

Also, regarding how close I was to the stationary vehicles, don't make me go measure the road please!!

A typical transit is approx 1900 wide (I'm an engineer, I always work in mm). The white car/van was less than half the width of the lane, the blue van was about half. This makes the lane roughly 3800 wide, and I was cycling close to the centre. Now 1900 = 6'6" in old money. In other words, I gave the parked vehicles plenty of room and I was travelling real slow as I was going up hill, and I couldn't be arsed that day Lots of room, lots of time to react, kind of makes the argument academic.

 

[Bollo]

Just so you don't feel picked on, there's a long and solid tradition of dissecting helmet cam footage on CC. Most criticisms are meant to be constructive, or at least not meant as personal insults. So far, this one has remained pretty civilised and nowhere near as silly as they've been in the past. BUT, any footage posted that explicitly or implicitly judges the actions of another road user leaves you open to a certain degree of scrutiny yourself.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Secondly any vehicle turning into a driveway or making a u-turn should be driven with due care and attention under UK law.

Right. Meantime, back in the real world ...

(I don't have time to dig into the legislation, but either way the risks of being taken out in that situation are pretty high, especially when you include the likelihood of people getting bored of sitting in traffic and deciding to use one of those drives to do a U-turn and try another route.

 

[Origamist]

Also, regarding how close I was to the stationary vehicles, don't make me go measure the road please!!

A typical transit is approx 1900 wide (I'm an engineer, I always work in mm). The white car/van was less than half the width of the lane, the blue van was about half. This makes the lane roughly 3800 wide, and I was cycling close to the centre. Now 1900 = 6'6" in old money. In other words, I gave the parked vehicles plenty of room and I was travelling real slow as I was going up hill, and I couldn't be arsed that day Lots of room, lots of time to react, kind of makes the argument academic.

Jon, 190cms is nearly 6"3' in old money and I'm not an engineer!

You also don't get a lot of time to react if you're almost level with the car when the door gets flung open.

If you're 4 feet plus from blue van when you pass it, I'd be very, very surprised. You're a long way from the centre line, and your bars/elbow are even closer to the van.

It strikes me that you understand the risks inherent in both filtering and passing parked vehicles at less than 4ft and do what you can to mitigate them. My risk threshold is now lower - I've been doored (more than once) and taken out by a right-turning car when filtering.

 

[jonredhornet]

Hey what's 3" between friends (knew I should have calc'ed it .. heh)

Bollo, that's fine. I'm all for critical thought and criticism, it's very healthy, I just don't agree with some of the comments and distance estimates. I shall however try and give vehicles more room though.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Like a lot of blokes, you're prone to overestimating length and width...http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=982052&postcount=15

Sig material if ever I saw it :-D

 

[BentMikey]

Origamist isn't very good at admitting when he's wrong. LOLOL!

 

[fossyant]

I shall not show you some of my right passes(outer filters) ...... calculated and ........precision........i.e. close............

 

[Origamist]

Origamist isn't very good at admitting when he's wrong. LOLOL!

You need to broaden your horizons - you are anchored to the ticks and crosses of school textbooks.These discussions are not about right or wrong - they're about situational awareness, hazard perception and managing risk on the roads.

 

[BentMikey]

Origamist isn't very good at admitting when he's wrong. LOLOL!

...and can never resist having the last word.