Testing out my new commute - Close overtake by Tesco's Lorry!

[thomas]

I was testing out my new commute for work on Monday. It's a new office so I decided to test out what's the busy road but shorter distance route. There's quite a bit of traffic on the route, but I'm hoping that when commuting there will be sooo much traffic that I'll be able to filter past all the cars (not sure atm). There's a very short section of duel carriageway - a few minutes worth of cycling so not a massive deal IMO.

I was holding a reasonable position on there and the cars were all overtaking nicely, on the other lane. Then, just before the end where a roundabout is this Tesco's lorry come shooting past, quite closely, then cuts in. I really did put the brakes on to avoid the end of the trailer.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLC0H5LpbVE


First commute is Monday, we'll see what it's like. Worst case I do know a slightly longer route down lots of lovely country lanes if it's just too busy/not very nice.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Did teh lorry have it's brakes on as well? Could have been sucked under that trailer quite easily - gl on monday morning thomas!

 

[thomas]

Did teh lorry have it's brakes on as well? Could have been sucked under that trailer quite easily - gl on monday morning thomas!

It looks like he does in the video....which just enforces what a bad time it was to overtake. I start a bit later on Monday so I might miss some of the earlier rush hour traffic. I'm only doing 2 days a week at the moment so I'll just have to see what it's like this week and then either change my route or stick with it.

I'm genuinely surprised at it being a Tescos Wagon, they are usually really good and all the Tescos motors near me are excellent when overtaking.

Why he/she didn't slow down then move out to the O/S lane, overtake then move back in is beyind me.

It was a bloke - saw in his ride side mirror. He could of done it so much better, or just waited. Don't really know why he did what he did. It might have been because he needed the left lane to get onto the A3 at the roundabout and I don't think the cars in front were going that fast.

 

[ACS]

Send a copy to Tesco's head office with a balanced lettter of complaint. Tesco take this kind of thing seriously, bad publicity is something they could do without at present.

 

[HLaB]

Unlucky, I think my best passes today were by HGV/ Bus drivers. Its not often that you get a stupid maneuver like that from somebody with a company name plastered all over the side, to much comeback IMO.

 

[thomas]

Send a copy to Tesco's head office with a balanced lettter of complaint. Tesco take this kind of thing seriously, bad publicity is something they could do without at present.

I sent them a quick email earlier and it says they've received it. Just mentioning what happened, where and when, along with the numberplate and some other reference number on the trailer I saw.

I've included the video and mentioned the highway code (just about overtaking a cyclist with the same space as a car).

Hopefully I'll hear something back next week.

Unlucky, I think my best passes today were by HGV/ Bus drivers. Its not often that you get a stupid maneuver like that from somebody with a company name plastered all over the side, to much comeback IMO.

Maybe because it was only a small logo on the door he didn't care.

 

[Graham1]

Speak to Tescos on Brookland Ind Estate at Byfleet I reckon that is where he came from or the hows my Driving free phone which is 0800 225533 tell them where and when they will sort it and you will get a reply.

 

[thomas]

ohh, just remembered this from my ride...really weird red light jumping - not sure if it was a mistake (not sure how).


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kDQj9ZTfeg

Speak to Tescos on Brookland Ind Estate at Byfleet I reckon that is where he came from or the hows my Driving free phone which is 0800 225533 tell them where and when they will sort it and you will get a reply.

Ohh, nice idea!

 

[Joe24]

The reason that they both went, was one of them went to go after seeing what they thought was a green light, and the other one just followed because the other one moved without looking at the lights.
It happens at a set near me, the right lane goes first to turn, and the left lane doesnt go straight away. The people in the left lane see the people next to them move and they go, and just keep going.
Theres a big sign there aswell and they still dont pay attention.

 

[rnscotch]

+1 with what lee said usually the tesco and asda lorries pass nice and wide around my neck of the woods.

Infact a few months ago it was a tesco lorry that held the other traffic back to allow me to filter into the cycle lane.

But obviously that was not the case here after looking at the video god know what he was thinking. You really where quite lucky there not to go under i have yet yo experience such an over take by a lorry.

 

[thomas]

+1 with what lee said usually the tesco and asda lorries pass nice and wide around my neck of the woods.

Infact a few months ago it was a tesco lorry that held the other traffic back to allow me to filter into the cycle lane.

But obviously that was not the case here after looking at the video god know what he was thinking. You really where quite lucky there not to go under i have yet yo experience such an over take by a lorry.

I'M ALIVE

I made it to work with no problems! There was a tesco's lorry...and it was overtaking (at the same point!) I was bricking it...but he was going around the roundabout not across me so it was fine!

I might upload the video when home, you can hear me getting nervous

Just got to make it home!

 

[rnscotch]

There is a big road expansion project that's happening on my main commute route A80 which is going to last for 2 years. Apparently traffic is going to increase x4 on all the side roads which are usually used as a safe haven by us cyclists, i am not looking forward to an artic rumbling past me on these little roads.

I am actually thinking of getting the train for a couple of stops then cycle from there.

 

[simon_adams_uk]

I've cycled that stretch of road umpteen times over the last 7 years or so - often during commuting hours... and seen a number of incidents very similar to both of your videos.

Re: the close overtake on the dual carriageway section up to the A3 roundabout - I take a very strong secondary straight after the traffic lights and then, more often as not, move out into primary as the road rises and turns to the right. That and cracking along at a fair old rate so that I'm not far off car speeds making overtaking me much less safe/neccessary (depending on their mindset!).

Re: the RLJing at West Byfleet - it seems to be common problem but I've never seen it as often anywhere else with a right filter - no idea why this junction is atypical. If I'm at the front of the queue I'll position myself ahead of the traffic in order not to be rear ended. And I certainly don't filter to the front of the queue - not least because of the less-than-ideal filtering arrangement after the next set of lights.

HTH,
S

 

[thomas]

Re: the close overtake on the dual carriageway section up to the A3 roundabout - I take a very strong secondary straight after the traffic lights and then, more often as not, move out into primary as the road rises and turns to the right. That and cracking along at a fair old rate so that I'm not far off car speeds making overtaking me much less safe/neccessary (depending on their mindset!).

Yep, this morning I just stuck myself out so they had to use the other lane - wasn't taking any BS today . Probably wasn't going that fast, but I had a tonne of stuff in my rucksack which I won't be having to take again!


Just after those lights at byfleet they're doing some road works atm, which is a nice way to overtake about 100 cars

 

[justAl]

I find drivers of large artics the more courteous, allowing time and room. Bus Drivers are the worst IMO/ experience. Hats off to Argos on Friday!