This is why I cycle

[Mr Crash]

Love these videos!

 

[MossCommuter]

Proof not every driver is an arse!

Only the other day I was filtering past a jam and had to hang back behind a juggernaut that I couldn't see round - next thing I see is the driver's window come down and a hand comes out, palm towards me ("STOP!"), oncoming vehicles.... then a few seconds later the thumbs up ("ALL CLEAR").

Top man!

 

[upsidedown]

That's really interesting, every vehicle that witnessed the exemplary pass from the transporter did the same. All but the first of the second wave of cars were much closer.

 

[clarion]

Cool video. I made it 64 vehicles overtaken in your direction. That's a lot. Must be miserable stuck in one of those boxes.

I like the transporter one.

 

[benb]

It's not normally this busy - there's a diversion due to another road being closed in the area. Same again today.

 

[661-Pete]

The shared use path is terrible. I usually go on the road, and do sometimes get gestures, including recently from a driving instructor.

That's bad - especially if it was during a lesson. One thing to be inconsiderate. Quite another to be indoctrinating the 'next generation' with one's bad manners...

Personally I don't like filtering past jams - much prefer empty roads. But that's my 'rural' prejudice I suppose! One particularly irritable 'hot spot' is here - when they're having a Sunday car boot sale in the field on the left (which is frequent). In contrast to the google view of a quiet empty country road with little traffic, it becomes an urban nightmare with nose-to-tail traffic both ways, and little opportunity to filter past on the narrow road. I label it 'no-go' for cycling on such days .

 

[snorri]

The 2nd one I was thinking of was the motorbike running through a red light at 2:07

I thought it was a reference to the hesitant pedestrian, you gave him a pleasant surprise by stopping to allow him to cross in front of you.

 

[benb]

I thought it was a reference to the hesitant pedestrian, you gave him a pleasant surprise by stopping to allow him to cross in front of you.

No, he was fine. He'd already started to cross, so it was the right thing to let him go.

 

[benb]

The green car at 1:43 seemed fair enough, the Audi seemed very pushy, Audi drivers can be prats.

Camera lens angles make it difficult to tell speeds closeness etc and obviously I can not tell the focus of your attention. But felt some of your passes of larger vehicles, 0:22 - 0:23 - 0:32 - 0:51 - 1:00 - 1:03 could have posed a fair bit of danger to any unsuspecting pedestrian crossing, and peds rightly or wrongly do cross between vehicles and would not be expecting a cyclist on the wrong side of the road.
On the first three I would have equalized my dangers and took a much wider pass, no reason for you not to be further right. Of course in in the few incidents that I am being over pedantic with, you may well of being given 100% attention to these dangers with hands on brakes.

Good vid enjoyed watching it.

I think I was going slower than it looks, and I was keeping an eye out for peds with the brakes covered, but you do have a point.
I like your idea about being further right; it didn't really occur to me. I suppose I instinctively don't want to cycle on the wrong side of the road, but if there's nothing coming then there's no reason not to.

 

[benb]

Have just re-read my post; Hope it didn't come over as a bit of a "know all" or a criticism of your cycling, I am very unexperienced of cycling in such a busy environment, my thoughts were more "Should You" rather than "You Should"

Not at all. I'm always open to suggestions - I'll tell you if I disagree!!

 

[DamoDoublemint]

The shared use path is terrible. I usually go on the road, and do sometimes get gestures, including recently from a driving instructor.

If an instructor can't drive appropriately around cyclists, what hope is there for the future generation?

Is there somewhere you can complain about this? A driving instructor not obeying the rules should have have extra consequences...

 

[DrSquirrel]

Sorry but im going to be honest: These videos (#1) are boring...

#2 personally I would have just ridden up the lane regardless, visibility is good, no holes, no people, you're not exactly a 1 tonne car risking the work men. I'd rather "take the risk" riding up the cones than the risk (although small) of pulling in front of a lorry, even one this good.

 

[benb]

If an instructor can't drive appropriately around cyclists, what hope is there for the future generation?

Is there somewhere you can complain about this? A driving instructor not obeying the rules should have have extra consequences...

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on, and didn't take note of the company.

 

[benb]

Sorry but im going to be honest: These videos (#1) are boring...

#2 personally I would have just ridden up the lane regardless, visibility is good, no holes, no people, you're not exactly a 1 tonne car risking the work men. I'd rather "take the risk" riding up the cones than the risk (although small) of pulling in front of a lorry, even one this good.

Never apologise for being honest!


1) Fair enough - everyone finds different things interesting.
2) Yes, I could have done that, especially as they hadn't done any work yet. I was going to do that if the road hadn't been clear, but it was obvious that the lorry was waiting, and was a fair way back in any case. It didn't really seem like a risk, but I'll bear it in mind in the future.