The magic arm.

[Melonfish]

Sounds odd, but basically shoulder checks.

I've observed a few people recently who frankly haven't bothered, they just stick their arm out and meander into traffic.
my question is why? why on earth would you gamble so recklessly? saw a lass yesterday do this across two moving lanes of traffic, i was in the car at the time and it just astounded us, arm out nice and straight, no checking though just went for it.
it beggars belief!
please tell me this is common only to Warrington and you don't see this across the rest of the country, it may be that the soap powder in the air makes us loopy...
Pete

 

[AndyRM]

I'm afraid it's not a local peculiarity.

 

[thefollen]

In London you constantly see people not shoulder-checking. Had to swerve one or two who've moved out on me- of course I do give them a good metre when overtaking on the bike, as one should.

It's a life saver. After a while the neck muscles become so snappy it's really cool also.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I see it here too though it's not rife.
I only cycle on one short stretch of road (because roads terrify me - ask @Telemark !) to get to the cycle/tow paths.
I dismount and cross the road rather than ride up to the junction. I have extreme difficulty shoulder checking anyway due to arthritis in my neck.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

It's one of those odd things, but around here, I have found (and no I wasn't in Warrington yesterday) that if I want to go around a parked car, if I shoulder check and look, 9 times out of 10 the car behind with pretend I don't exist and try to overtake me as I need to get out. If I don't 'appear' (and this is the clue) to have checked it is clear to come out and simply come out around the parked car (with a long gentle manoeuvre not a swerving), the vehicle drivers hold back and don't try to overtake me at the same time.

But I wouldn't do it through moving traffic, filtering in traffic or crossing lanes (then I make it exceptionally obvious to all often turning on the seat and looking at the driver behind me!) just around parked cars.

 

[cd365]

I once had a collision with a cyclist who didn't shoulder check, I was OK because I was in my car!

 

[downfader]

Couple of years back saw a rider veer out of the cycle lane on the Itchen Bridge and right in front of a private hire who had to slam on. Rider gave him the finger and a load of abuse and rode away...

I couldnt catch up with the driver who was already through the toll booths and off but I caught his reg and hire number at the time so emailed the company just in case someone needed a witness etc and to let the firm know he was driving flawlessly. Most riders dont behave like that around here though.

 

[I like Skol]

It's one of those odd things, but around here, I have found (and no I wasn't in Warrington yesterday) that if I want to go around a parked car, if I shoulder check and look, 9 times out of 10 the car behind with pretend I don't exist and try to overtake me as I need to get out. If I don't 'appear' (and this is the clue) to have checked it is clear to come out and simply come out around the parked car (with a long gentle manoeuvre not a swerving), the vehicle drivers hold back and don't try to overtake me at the same time.

^^^^^^^ This!

If the cars following know you have seen them and think you know they are coming, they see it as the go-ahead to try and pass you anyway

I once had a face to face row with a red faced, angry, spitting idiot van driver because "You shouldn't just pull out to overtake [a parked car] without looking!" The fact that he had pulled up behind me at a red light just 20yrds before the parked car was irrelevant. I didn't need to look because I knew he was there and I was in front of him in the road.......

 

[400bhp]

+1 with Skolly and Satnav on this.

Often the problem when signalling to turn left. Someone behind will take that as an opportunity to overtake and turn left.

 

[betty swollocks]

You should also bear in mind that with some speed differentials, even though the cyclist may have shoulder checked five, ten seconds (whatever) before, the time gap between those glances is enough for a car to advance from a substantial way back, to right up your arse.

 

[numbnuts]

Mirror

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

You should also bear in mind that with some speed differentials, even though the cyclist may have shoulder checked five, ten seconds (whatever) before, the time gap between those glances is enough for a car to advance from a substantial way back, to right up your arse.

Also bare in mind that it is not only shoulder checks that give you information on what is going on behind you. there are loads of other sources, like reflections in house or shop window or in cars etc, not to mention the noise a vehicle engine makes! I could list many others but really can't be both bothered.

 

[400bhp]

Mirror

No

 

[martint235]

I must admit I shoulder check then veer slowly right over a distance of up to 50yards or so. I try to indicate but I often forget. If there's another parked car further down the road, I just hold my new line. I find those cyclists that are within feet of a parked car before they decide to indicate and manouvre are scary.

I rarely bother with a shoulder check unless I'm going to do something. I find there's usually way too much going on in front of me to keep looking behind me.

 

[jarlrmai]

The final part of my commute is a a right turn into a mid road filter lane off a 40mph road I shoulder check and signal, most cars ignore my signal and overtake me anyway with my outstreched arm, I need to have a lot of cojones to move out even whilst checking if there is a car behind me that I think is respecting my signal.

To the point where I have had to stop on the left and wait for a cleat spot to move to the filter lane.