The golden rules of my cycle commute

[benb]

Good list, but:

• Never cycle in the door zone and watch the actual doors

If you're not in the door zone, then you don't need to watch the doors, surely?

Also, you forgot:

• Enjoy it

 

[PpPete]

I'm with Greg on most of his points...
but re the door zone: Watch the door AND the wing mirror

and roundabouts... I generally personally prefer Skol's approach. Big, Bold, I own my space. Of course this is a lot more practical if rider is tall - riding a large bike (preferably steel) at the same speed as the traffic. Incidentally, although not local to me, I know the RAB Skol refers to as it's close to MiL... it's one where cojones are definitely going to be required. Any sign of timidity there could get very nasty.

"Chapeau" as they say.... and I'll even forgive your spelling error !

 

[400bhp]

DOH! Schoolboy error. It seems like the polite thing to do would have been not to draw attention to it?

 

[sunnyjim]

Good list, but:


If you're not in the door zone, then you don't need to watch the doors, surely?

Also, you forgot:

• Enjoy it

I've had someone open the door, get out of the car then walk backwards out into the road right in front of me, well clear of the door zone.

 

[Dan B]

In one directon not too bad but you had to be careful when rejoining the traffic flow after the roundabout, but coming in the other direction you have to cross both directions traffic flow which is effectively 4 lanes at this point then when past the roundabout cross back to the correct side through one queue of standing/crawling traffic waiting to enter the RAB and the other lane of cars whizzing off the RAB around a bend.

Indeed I would not have described that as "avoiding" the roundabout in any practical sense of the term. I think by the time you get so close to it that avoiding it requires crossing its entrances and exits, you might as well just go for it vehicle-style - but if you can plan your route to avoid the junction completely, that could well be a win

(RBT I'm specifically thinking of is Old St station in E London, which in an E->W direction can be bypassed completely by taking Leonard St instead of Gt Eastern St, and crossing City Road at the toucan. As a fast cyclist I'm happy to go with the flow, but if I'm pootling or skating I often use the alternate route)

 

[BentMikey]

I'm with Greg on most of his points...
but re the door zone: Watch the door AND the wing mirror

and roundabouts... I generally personally prefer Skol's approach. Big, Bold, I own my space. Of course this is a lot more practical if rider is tall - riding a large bike (preferably steel) at the same speed as the traffic. Incidentally, although not local to me, I know the RAB Skol refers to as it's close to MiL... it's one where cojones are definitely going to be required. Any sign of timidity there could get very nasty.

"Chapeau" as they say.... and I'll even forgive your spelling error !

Just stay out the door zone, then you won't need to worry so much. Even hair trigger reactions won't always save you if you're in the door zone.

I'd certainly have an element of caution for roundabouts - they have much potential for hazards, more so than ordinary junctions.

 

[I like Skol]

Indeed I would not have described that as "avoiding" the roundabout in any practical sense of the term. I think by the time you get so close to it that avoiding it requires crossing its entrances and exits, you might as well just go for it vehicle-style - but if you can plan your route to avoid the junction completely, that could well be a win

Avoiding the roundabout altogether isn't an option. I didn't actually appreciate how stupidly inadequate and dangerous the cycle lane option is until I looked at it on a map-

I have done a badly drawn line that picks out the official route when travelling north and it is really dire, having to cross many lanes of traffic without any lights to stop the flow. Taking to the RAB is much quicker and safer.

 

[benb]

Yeesh, that roundabout looks horrible.
Can you cut through the industrial estate?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You didn't mention rabid bats, dogs on invisible extendable leads, sheep, crisp packets, leaves or hazelnuts!

I don't generally encounter said hazards on my commute. (Thank Goodness!)

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Although I think I know what you are going to say, can you explain your reasons behind the two quoted above?

Gestures; Y'day, after too close a shave with Polo man I did my 'give me more space gesture' i.e. right hand from hip pushing outwards and coming back two or three times whilst looking straight into their rear view mirror (where they are ALWAYS looking straight back at you cos they know what they've done). A polite gesture.

Polo man took great exception, blocked my path, wound the passenger window down, the usual verbal abuse, the usual road tax rant, and threats of violence towards me.... A frank exchange of views took place in which I avoided swearing or shouting (a first for me), in which his female passenger was reduced to tears, and in which he clearly got the message that I wasn't having any of it. But I only just kept a lid on my oh so short temper so decided no more gestures.

Slow overtakes and me bailing primary/secondary; on my commute there are two or three places where I end up with a queue of cars, or a bus behind me. I'm a fan of rural public transport and it costs me nothing to pull over or out of the way, and it reduces the chances of Mr second in the queue attempting a mental overtake where his escape route will be through me.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You missed.

• Never, ever ever assume that just 'cos your traffic light is on green, that the cross traffic will stop. At least once a week I could get knocked off my bike by a red light jumper.

Home town doesn't really have RLJ-ers but I'm attuned to that risk as it is the only place where I encounter traffic light controlled junctions, two in the first 1km then apart from pelican's I'm traffic light free.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Cannot possibly agree with your view of roundabouts! I encounter a big one at Bredbury which is fed from a nearby industrial estate as well as traffic leaving the motorway. To be honest roundabouts hold no fear for me but I decided to take the seemingly sensible option as it does get exceedingly busy at rush hour and for the first few months I deferred onto the cycle lane along side. What a nightmare that was. In one directon not too bad but you had to be careful when rejoining the traffic flow after the roundabout, but coming in the other direction you have to cross both directions traffic flow which is effectively 4 lanes at this point then when past the roundabout cross back to the correct side through one queue of standing/crawling traffic waiting to enter the RAB and the other lane of cars whizzing off the RAB around a bend. I reverted back to my natural instinct which was to join the traffic flow on the RAB and it was fine as I expected. The trick is to behave exactly as I would in a car, assert your position, push, shove, stare, change lanes, minimal signalling and get the job done. As if by magic you end up with a big car shaped space around you and everyone seems to mentally accept you as 'one of them'. I am not one of those people that gets tooted and shouted at but I have ridden with people that do and it is mostly down to road sense and confidence.

Fair enough. The one large roundabout on my commute is a source of incident at least once a month. Whilst I agree with your assertion point when push shove stare comes down to it 'they' are inside steel boxes weighing a ton and I'm not. Riding in such an assertive way is what caused Mr Polo to behave like a prat. After our discussion when Mr Polo man roared off yesterday only to stop 10m further on only for his reversing lights to come on, well I was not thinking postively as well one might not. That he thought better of ramming me and blundered onto the roundabout with his hazards on was fairly amusing only with time and distance between us.

Not much point in checking your bike before a trip as it is too late then and besides, bikes don't typically brake while they are parked in the garage/shed/hallway. Bike checking is something that should be happening throughout your ride and at the end of the trip. This gives you time to sort any problems before you have to venture out onto the roads again.

There have been times when I've put stuff off until the weekend. Not anymore.

Helmet? It is as much a personal choice as the gloves and there are enough helmet discussion threads on this forum without me adding further comment here.

I was thinking largely of its application/usefulness in a fracas!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've had someone open the door, get out of the car then walk backwards out into the road right in front of me, well clear of the door zone.

Ditto. Hence stay out of the zone and watch the doors....

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Also, you forgot:

• Enjoy it

True.

But for me that is not always possible. I'm afraid one indicent usually takes the enjoyment out of a whole journey.

At least the ride home last night was bliss.

 

[ultraviolet]

• Check bike is 100% functional before each trip

better to do it before you go to bed, no one likes sorting out a puncture at 6:45am :-)