Self preservation, are car drivers putting you off?

[Dogtrousers]

. If you feel you have to use a footway, dismount and use it properly.

Nice horse you've got there. Good and high

 

[katiewlx]

for me the problem with the "odd idiot" is theyre becoming more numerous as time passes, like im almost resigned to them on my commute now, but now Im encountering them more often at the weekends too. I rode 60miles this weekend, Ive probably got 6 or 7 prosecutable close passes from them, well within 50cm-1m at speed too, on the basis the police would actually do anything with them rather than their usual stance of just ignoring them, which is why people happily drive around at 40-50mph in 30limits...always the audi/bmw lot.

and fwiw yes one actually did include a motorcyclist, who despite sharing two wheels, I often find are just as bad as those on 4 wheels or more, I just find myself more disappointed that they never seem to share that vulnerability of kinship with cyclists,and most of them would be apoplectic if any car driver passed them the way they did me.

 

[PaulSB]

"If I am riding on a busy road, I will not ride in the gutter, I take the command position."
I take the trench attitude; If you put your head above the parapet, even if you have every right to do so to have a look round, you'll have it shot off.

From this I take it you ride quite close to the kerb? In my view less than one metre from the kerb invites danger. My default would always be the secondary position.

I want to give myself as many options as I can to mitigate the effect of others mistakes or of bad road conditions etc. That usually involves taking the lane. Primary position is the default, I'll move into secondary as and when I deem it appropriate.

My default is the secondary position which I take to be one metre from the kerb or an obstruction, usually a parked vehicle. I find this allows me to avoid most road debris, pot holes and pushes drivers towards a safe overtake. It also provides a metre of empty space to dive into if necessary.

I'll take primary at pinch points, junctions, roundabouts, traffic lights and in urban traffic. If I sense danger, for example a potential dangerous overtake opportunity, I may take primary to prevent this, my decision depends on the specific circumstances.

One manoeuvre we employ more and more is to pull over and let traffic by when we can. This improves our safety and the overall perception of cyclists. The impact on our ride is minimal and we almost always get a wave. When I'm out with our club groups I often wish they did the same.

I don't have any formal cycle training but have developed my own strategy over the years. I think it coincides with some thinking on the subject.

Overall I rarely feel threatened on the road. The drivers who have always worried me are those towing something. The majority underestimate their length when passing and the trailer, caravan etc often sways. Tractors with trailers or equipment wider than the tractor are the worst. Transit vans and 4 x 4s with empty trailers are horrific.

I was hit by a tractor driver pulling just such a trailer at 35+ mph. I now flinch at the sound of a trailer when I'm on a bike.

 

[grldtnr]

Regular cyclists become enured to bad driving, and just suck it up, but that's not to say we accept it, we as a group should. Ot, and make our presence on the road count..if we didn't the fools who think they are good drivers, will jist continue and not expect cyclists to be on the road.
I'm not as regular a cyclist as was my aggregate mileage has taken a big fall, I tend to ow favour rural quit cycling or off roading for leisure riding.
As for pavement cyclists, I have a particular dislike of it,in ' Sarfend'it is very prevalent, mainly done by I suspect people who shouldn't even be here, balaclava clad, deliveroo merchants , on poorly maintained ,if at all the bare minimum, electrified bikes which if looked at should be sent to the crusher as soon as possible,
Then there's those who recklessly ride on the pavement, pulling wheelies, and other stupid stuff, the very same who are the ones who drive ,kill & main, making it risky on the roads, ' oh can't ride on the road, it's dangerous '
If, they are riding on the footpath they should give every courtesy and ride responsibiy,

I'm biding my time, once one of these fools make contact with me,when I am fully entitled to walk the street, I'll make it known to them in no uncertain terms, I've no doubt we will be both on the ground ,

 

[All uphill]

Regular cyclists become enured to bad driving, and just suck it up, but that's not to say we accept it, we as a group should. Ot, and make our presence on the road count..if we didn't the fools who think they are good drivers, will jist continue and not expect cyclists to be on the road.
I'm not as regular a cyclist as was my aggregate mileage has taken a big fall, I tend to ow favour rural quit cycling or off roading for leisure riding.
As for pavement cyclists, I have a particular dislike of it,in ' Sarfend'it is very prevalent, mainly done by I suspect people who shouldn't even be here, balaclava clad, deliveroo merchants , on poorly maintained ,if at all the bare minimum, electrified bikes which if looked at should be sent to the crusher as soon as possible,
Then there's those who recklessly ride on the pavement, pulling wheelies, and other stupid stuff, the very same who are the ones who drive ,kill & main, making it risky on the roads, ' oh can't ride on the road, it's dangerous '
If, they are riding on the footpath they should give every courtesy and ride responsibiy,

I'm biding my time, once one of these fools make contact with me,when I am fully entitled to walk the street, I'll make it known to them in no uncertain terms, I've no doubt we will be both on the ground ,

Please take care of yourself.

I don't know if the above is a momentary letting off of steam. If you feel this way all the time I'm worried for you and the people around you

 

[grldtnr]

Partly it is,but I have had too many close misses from the balaclava brigade, sadly the rotten few spoils for the rest of us, if they clash into an ex- rugby forward, I'm pretty sure both us will hurt, ....

 

[Hover Fly]

Motor vehicle drivers have got worse and worse over the past few years. They are more inconsiderate and more selfish.
But it hasn't put me off road riding and never will. Despite (like Fossy) being whacked a few times by crap drivers.

I don’t think it’s just motorists, walking along a foot way by a not busy road we had a bunch of ATGNI pavement cyclists shouting at us to get out of their way. Similarly I’ve had people pushing past me as I was getting of trains, one even apologised in advance for being an entitled ”daddy’s little princess grown up”.

 

[classic33]

Well, if the local authority decides that a lot of new cycling facilities will be made by sharing existing pavements, obviously pavement cycling is acceptable when it suits

I've refused to use the shared footpath, and got shouted at for not using it more than once.
It narrows to less than two foot wide, with a wall on the left, and a raised kerb to the right(to try and prevent people cutting the corner), on a virtually blind left hand corner. It continues down past the entrances/exits to/from a petrol station. I'm safer on the road.

 

[HLaB]

I've not noticed any worsening of driver behaviour.

I'm on the bike every day and very, very rarely feel unsafe on the road.

I try to avoid the busiest roads, occupy the lane, give clear signals, avoid dithering and am alert and observant.

It actually feels to me that the majority of drivers are getting better and just social media amplifys bad drivers.

 

[blackrat]

"From this I take it you ride quite close to the kerb? In my view less than one metre from the kerb invites danger. My default would always be the secondary position."
As I presume have most cyclists, I have developed a sense of my surroundings and can sense and hear vehicles approaching from behind me, and when that occurs I do ride closer to the edge of the road - not many footpaths where I ride. I glance behind to inform the vehicle's driver I know they are there and that I am making way for them. In just about every case - maybe 99.9% - the driver moves over to the other side of the road if no oncoming traffic or waits some distance behind me if there is. Coming up to another vehicle I acknowledge their presence by waving, smiling, and when making a turn, I signal with an outstretched arm pointing in the direction I want to turn.
I do not view drivers as the enemy, I make the assumption their intent is to make their way to their destination and that at the end of the day we all want to go back home. I have never been hit by a vehicle, I have have been taken off my bike by dogs but not by people.
When I took my Advanced Driving course in Chelmsford it was drummed into me to always be on the lookout for an escape route, and I do. That escape route for me is most often the ditch on the side of the road, it is a lot softer than tarmac.

 

[Shearwater Missile]

"From this I take it you ride quite close to the kerb? In my view less than one metre from the kerb invites danger. My default would always be the secondary position."
As I presume have most cyclists, I have developed a sense of my surroundings and can sense and hear vehicles approaching from behind me, and when that occurs I do ride closer to the edge of the road - not many footpaths where I ride. I glance behind to inform the vehicle's driver I know they are there and that I am making way for them. In just about every case - maybe 99.9% - the driver moves over to the other side of the road if no oncoming traffic or waits some distance behind me if there is. Coming up to another vehicle I acknowledge their presence by waving, smiling, and when making a turn, I signal with an outstretched arm pointing in the direction I want to turn.
I do not view drivers as the enemy, I make the assumption their intent is to make their way to their destination and that at the end of the day we all want to go back home. I have never been hit by a vehicle, I have have been taken off my bike by dogs but not by people.
When I took my Advanced Driving course in Chelmsford it was drummed into me to always be on the lookout for an escape route, and I do. That escape route for me is most often the ditch on the side of the road, it is a lot softer than tarmac.

The escape route, that is good terminology and always use it, no different with driving. It is always the what if scenario, like driving around a blind bend in the road; what if someone is in the middle of the road coming the other way, it happens. Can I get out of the way ? There are sometimes when no matter how much we pre-empt a situation things happen. ie when I got knocked off at a junction a few years back by a driver turning into the road I was exiting. He cut the corner, I was stationary, I was visible but he did not see me.
Whenever I want to turn right I will look over my shoulder a half dozen times so that the driver following knows I have some intent, before I signal and move over to make the turn. Of course if somebody was impatient behind that driver and did`nt know there was a cyclist, it happens, they may decide to overtake. Dangerous driving of course. Just stay as safe as you can folks.

 

[grldtnr]

I don’t think it’s just motorists, walking along a foot way by a not busy road we had a bunch of ATGNI pavement cyclists shouting at us to get out of their way. Similarly I’ve had people pushing past me as I was getting of trains, one even apologised in advance for being an entitled ”daddy’s little princess grown up”.

In that situation ,I simply will not yield, pavement cyclists, MUST yield way, they should not be there, and if they do not feel safe or competent to ride then they should sell the bike.
I accept that sometimes cyclists simply have to use the pavement, and I admit sometimes I have, but if I do I always prioritize pedestrians, it'll stop and let them pass, I will not treat them as obstacles to be negotiated.
It's a sad fact that road users do not know where their responsibilities lie any more, and the 'Sod-you-i'll- do- as- i-please' attitude prevails.

 

[simongt]

In a pedestrian vs. footpath cyclist situation, what had to be weighed up is who will come off worse in a collision if the pedestrian refuses to give way especially as is often the case, the cyclist is going at speed - ?
Also bear in mind that the errant cyclist is often a 'cycle user' or 'grunt' who will give you a hard time anyway.

 

[Binky]

I think it's often down to perception.
My experience last 12 months is motorists got better but that could be luck that I've not had the numerous close passes of previous years.
Saying drivers are better/worse/same as before quite difficult to quantify.

I record my rides and any close passes I send in to Operation Snap. I've sent less reports recently even though riding same or more miles. Does that mean drivers are better? Very hard to say. My experiences will almost certainly differ from another especially in a different area.

As for road riding I will continue to do so and see no reason to stop.
As an aside I don't think turbo anything like riding outside.

As for tractors, yeah some of the worst drivers around. I've had rides where I've literally had to dive into a hedge to avoid getting squashed!

 

[winjim]

Road surfaces are terrible, potholes everywhere, parked cars turn residential streets into single lane trench runs, cars parked in cycle lanes, cycle lanes inadequate in the first place, narrow and full of crap, not joined up, heavy traffic with close passes, speeding, phone use, light jumping, dazzling headlights etc etc

There's a sort of contract when it comes to not riding on the pavement and one side of it is not being upheld. Under these circumstances I've got no issue with cyclists on the pavement as long as they're being considerate and giving way to pedestrians and if it's wide enough. Maybe get the cars off them first. Make the roads a reasonable and safe place to ride and I'll revisit my opinion. It's not ideal, but the problem is caused by road traffic and infrastructure.