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

[thomas]

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!

A Tesco's lorry was nice today

Though, as you can hear on my video I expect the worst...right at the same point so I think I'm allowed to worry

Not the nicest of routes, but averaged 18.8mph on the 13.something miles home - very pleased with that!

 

[domd1979]

Most supermarkets outsource their distribution. Fairly certain Tescos use Wincanton, so although it might be Tesco's name on the side, it isn't their truck.

 

[thomas]

Most supermarkets outsource their distribution. Fairly certain Tescos use Wincanton, so although it might be Tesco's name on the side, it isn't their truck.

Still their reputation.

Got a reply to the email.

Dear Thomas,

Thank you for your email.

I am very sorry to hear that you feel you where overtaken dangerously by one of our lorries when cycling. I can understand how disappointing this must be for you.

Unfortunately we are unable to deal with your complaint from this office and can I please ask you to give our well driven line a call on 0800 225533 and I am sure they will be happy to help you.

I am very sorry for any disappointment this has caused and thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Not sure what will happen if I phone up - maybe I'll do it a bit later this week.

 

[bryce]

Dangerous/ scary/ driver mistake. However, I think you were too far out from the kerb (sure I'll be flamed for saying so). That shouldn't matter to an HGV driver as he'll have to use both lanes to overtake you anyway but obviously if you were closer to the kerb his trailer woudn't have come as close to you when he pulled in again.

I also detect a hint of sarcasm from their response.

 

[Bollo]

Dangerous/ scary/ driver mistake. However, I think you were too far out from the kerb (sure I'll be flamed for saying so). That shouldn't matter to an HGV driver as he'll have to use both lanes to overtake you anyway but obviously if you were closer to the kerb his trailer woudn't have come as close to you when he pulled in again.

Let the p1ssing contest begin! I'll start. You are wrong because.....

gutter hugging makes you less likely to be seen,

more likely to be passed close as it allows a driver to attempt to pass without making any manoeuvre at all and

it gives you less escape room in the event of a close pass.

Anyone else care to take it up from there?

I also detect a hint of sarcasm from their response.

On this we agree. Its standard corpo-toss. He only felt he was in danger remember.

 

[thomas]

Dangerous/ scary/ driver mistake. However, I think you were too far out from the kerb (sure I'll be flamed for saying so). That shouldn't matter to an HGV driver as he'll have to use both lanes to overtake you anyway but obviously if you were closer to the kerb his trailer woudn't have come as close to you when he pulled in again.

I also detect a hint of sarcasm from their response.

It's duel carriageway. Being further out encourages drivers to overtake in the other lane, rather than cutting up close in that lane. It does work (generally) - it seems to with the car drivers along there. Had I not been as far out, he'd of overtaken closer and I would of had any space to escape into, had I needed to. I did have to brake to avoid him, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to have to pull in too...if I was close to the kerb I wouldn't be able to pull in closer.

In this situation, no matter where on the road you believe I should be, he shouldn't of pulled in, into me. On the route I do, it is a very busy road so I'd much rather be over assertive than under assertive and actually be under that lorry. I by no means like taking the piss and I will say thank you to people who've been patient and overtaken well...gave a thumbs up to a few wvm and they all waved back, so hopefully they'll continue being friendly to cyclist.

As for the reply, it seems they're sorry about the way I feel, rather than the actions of their drivers...but like she said, I'd have to speak to their, how's my driving line. I might phone it - I just feel that a lot of stuff like that is a waste of time (I'm SHATTERED today, so maybe have a bad out look on things atm).

edit: I think Bollo's reply kinda sums up gutter hugging quite well. Got work again tomorrow, so finger's crossed that I won't get there with brown stains in my shorts.

I won't have as much crap in my bag as with the first day, so hopefully I'll be able to keep my speed up a bit more....need to get an early night though!

 

[cheadle hulme]

Re the poor overtake by the Peugeot MPV. I personally wouldn't have bothered to filter past at RAB and would have coasted up to the back of the queue. Filtering in front and then holding a strong primary sends a message which some drivers receive as "cyclists are happy to share a lane when it suits them and become arsey when it doesn't".

Still should have given you more room though.

 

[thomas]

Re the poor overtake by the Peugeot MPV. I personally wouldn't have bothered to filter past at RAB and would have coasted up to the back of the queue. Filtering in front and then holding a strong primary sends a message which some drivers receive as "cyclists are happy to share a lane when it suits them and become arsey when it doesn't".

Still should have given you more room though.

I cut the footage sooner, but I kept up with the MPV until the roundabout about half a mile ahead when I go a different way. I've deleted the footage, but I would be willing to say that I wasn't overtaken by all the cars that I filtered past - not because I was holding them up or stopping them.

 

[bryce]

Completely agree 'gutter hugging' isn't clever but I reckon anything up to a metre out from the kerb is ok. From a driver's perspective, a cyclist in the middle of a lane for no apparent reason is going annoy them and potentially make them do silly things. I'm not saying that's right, but I don't think cyclists can justify using the entire lane at relatively slow speeds just to satisfy their own ideas on safety.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Completely agree 'gutter hugging' isn't clever but I reckon anything up to a metre out from the kerb is ok. From a driver's perspective, a cyclist in the middle of a lane for no apparent reason is going annoy them and potentially make them do silly things. I'm not saying that's right, but I don't think cyclists can justify using the entire lane at relatively slow speeds just to satisfy their own ideas on safety.

Don't really agree with you there bryce -
On narrow lanes like those I think positioning yourself close to the middle of the lane is pretty sensible – to overtake a cyclist safely, with room, however far from the kerb they are, with lanes like that, you’re going to have to enter the right hand lane anyway – to do that safely you have to make sure there is room in it for you to pull into it – ie no other traffic in it – therefore you can use the other lane to overtake cyclist and give them room. If there isn’t room/time/space to get into the other lane then you, as a driver, are going to take a risk and pass the cyclist too close. If the cyclist is in the middle of the lane preventing (most) drivers from attempting a dangerous overtake the only driver they are likely to annoy are the crap ones anyway – decent ones would still give them space or wait.

I drive and have absolutely no problem with slower moving vehicles taking a lane, can’t see why anyone else gets so frustrated…

 

[bryce]

Happy to differ on this, I take the point it's a dual carriageway but still don't think drivers are likely to understand any rationale for a cyclist being in the middle of the road (unless he is turning right). Whatever the cyclist believes in terms of safety, the driver will be ignorant of this and may get frustrated. Not saying it's right but it'll happen - and the bad ones will make mistakes and cut cyclists up (deliberately or otherwise). Of course you can get cut-up closer to the gutter as well but it's probably less likely.

 

[thomas]

Happy to differ on this, I take the point it's a dual carriageway but still don't think drivers are likely to understand any rationale for a cyclist being in the middle of the road (unless he is turning right). Whatever the cyclist believes in terms of safety, the driver will be ignorant of this and may get frustrated. Not saying it's right but it'll happen - and the bad ones will make mistakes and cut cyclists up (deliberately or otherwise). Of course you can get cut-up closer to the gutter as well but it's probably less likely.

I don't care if they do get frustrated - my life is worth more than their patients. I'd rather have one frustrated person once in a while, rather than have the majority not use the overtaking lane along there and going past at 60mph.

 

[PBancroft]

Did you phone them Thomas? Don't leave it too late, or they may not be able to identify the driver.

 

[thomas]

Did you phone them Thomas? Don't leave it too late, or they may not be able to identify the driver.

I didn't as I had work yesterday and was shattered in the evening. I suppose it won't be open today? Maybe I'll try anyway.

I think part of me just can't be bothered with the hassle as I believe I'll just be fobbed off like when I dealt with Anglian Buses, First and the Police.

I'll try phoning when I've woken up and had breakfast. Maybe I'll get a free Tesco's voucher

 

[thomas]

Yes it will.

Yes it is..just done it. Told them about the video and described what happened. I was honest, she put on the report the driver was tailgating but he didn't, as he didn't stop to have a chance to tailgate (probably would have been better if he stuck behind and just tailgated ).

I want them to see the video but we'll just have to see what happens.

She said in around a week I should have a reply (by letter) from the transport manager. I'll keep you updated.