This mornings idiot

[Cab]

You were right to move out and herd the driver into slowing down - I'd fully agree with that. Take note, however, of how many people told you you were wrong for the lecture added on top.

Learning from your mistakes is a good thing, I'm sad to say seems not to be the case here.

I've had experience using this road all ways.

You can go down the side, which for reasons I've explained is dangerous.

You can hold traffic up and then go down the side, which can either lead to a tirade of abuse or can lead to nothing, but certainly you leave the motorist feeling like he's been held up by a bicycle for no good reason (and you can see this when you look at them, they're left just angry, they simply don't believe that the oncoming cyclist can validly do that).

I've learned from my mistakes on that road, which is why I now act there as I do. I'll stop the traffic, assess the situation, and either tell the oncoming motorist what they've done wrong or just cycle on, depending on the demeanor of the motorist.

She only did that to shut you up, not to admit you were right, so stop falsely claiming some sort of points victory on that.

I disagree, she agreed because I was right, and she did so when others stopped bellyaching that I was pointing out where she was in error and asking her not to behave thusly again.

I didn't raise this again here, so let it drop; I shall otherwise defend my stance there as I have always done, for the simple reason that I am correct.

 

[domd1979]

Are you in fact Judge Dredd....? "I AM the law"

 

[Cab]

If a word is necessary, I find a polite tap on the window and motioning (non-aggressively) for them to open it works wonders.

I had a case recently in the Stratford one-way system where a driver cut rather close to me while changing lanes. I caught him at the lights, knocked on his window, put a friendly expression on my face and motioned for him to open the window. Conversation:

Me: "A bit close back there, mate"
Him: "Oh, sorry, didn't realise"
Me: "It can be a bit scary for cyclists when you cut in close"
Him: "Ok, will look out"
Me: "Thanks!"

Which of the two encounters do you suspect did most good?

Ben

At the road in question, if you move up alongside for a tap on the window, the car will simply accelerate away. I've found that the safest approach is to stop the car entiely, to give enough room and time to pass safely. Really, I don't want to be leaning over towards a vehicle that is about to drive off in the opposite direction, that strikes me as a little unsafe. Where I've later caught up with someone who has cut me up, and he's opened his window, I entirely agree with your polite word method there, its more or less exactly what I do.

But here I had an angry bloke right in front of me, scowling through closed windows. The quiet, polite word wasn't appropriate, I simply needed more volume.

 

[Cab]

Are you in fact Judge Dredd....? "I AM the law"

So if you decide you want to be heard above the sound of an engine and through glass, do you raise your voice or not?

Or do you simply not communicate to the person in front of you (who is quite willing to endanger you again even though he knows he's in the wong) that he is in error and that he'll get caught for it?

The result here was the guy knows he's not to do that and that he'll get caught if he does so, he knows he can't get away with that and that bullying someone with a car is not something he can do there any more. Result.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Well, I can't claim I make a habit of it, but I must have done it about 20 times over the years, and I haven't yet had anyone accelerate away. I think the friendly expression on your face is a key part of the approach.

Ben

 

[Cab]

Well, I can't claim I make a habit of it, but I must have done it about 20 times over the years, and I haven't yet had anyone accelerate away. I think the friendly expression on your face is a key part of the approach.

Don't get me wrong, side on you're fine doing that, and I've rarely even had anyone take offense at such polite communication. A gentle tap, a request for a little more space next time, generally even if they don't like that you're talking to them they don't get uppity.

But head on? When you've just riled them by stopping in the middle of the lane? I don't find that works at this particluar location, and unless I've stopped the traffic and had some words there then as soon as I start shuffling to the side the car will come at me. Seems especially the case with taxis.

 

[domd1979]

So if you decide you want to be heard above the sound of an engine and through glass, do you raise your voice or not?

I was referring to your "I was right", "I am correct" quote.... never mind...

Or do you simply not communicate to the person in front of you (who is quite willing to endanger you again even though he knows he's in the wong) that he is in error and that he'll get caught for it?

Not saying anything is a perfectly sensible option. Taking primary (which I haven't disagreed with) communicates that you're not happy with his actions in itself without needing to say anything.

The result here was the guy knows he's not to do that and that he'll get caught if he does so, he knows he can't get away with that and that bullying someone with a car is not something he can do there any more. Result.

Result? You don't know that at all.

 

[Cab]

Result? You don't know that at all.

Of course I do. That motorist now knows that theres a fighting chance that any time he does that he'll be stopped and caught on camera bullying his way through where he does not have right of way. He went from quite forceful to entirely passive when informed that he was being recorded. That resolved the immediate situation and left the message that cyclists aren't pushovers. In what way is that not a result?

 

[joebe]

I'm following Mr Pigs lead and unsubscribing from this thread as it's pretty obvious Cab feels he's done nothing wrong and will continue in his ways. Ho hum.

I look forward to the next instalment, who knows what unsuspecting member of the public will be made to yield to the power of Cab cam.

 

[spindrift]

who knows what unsuspecting member of the public will be made to yield to the power of Cab cam.

Arf

 

[domd1979]

It may have resolved the immediate situation as far as you're concerned. But, you can only speculate as to whether or not he'll do it again. You also don't know whether your ranting has done more harm than good. It might (and you may consider I'm being overly charitable) have been a one-off for him. If your actions have made him more anti-cyclist then that hasn't done anyone any favours.

Cyclists with helmet cams are in a pretty small minority, so I don't think that's going to enter into his decision making process next time he decides to transgress the highway code somewhere.

Of course I do. That motorist now knows that theres a fighting chance that any time he does that he'll be stopped and caught on camera bullying his way through where he does not have right of way. He went from quite forceful to entirely passive when informed that he was being recorded. That resolved the immediate situation and left the message that cyclists aren't pushovers. In what way is that not a result?

 

[Cab]

It may have resolved the immediate situation as far as you're concerned. But, you can only speculate as to whether or not he'll do it again. You also don't know whether your ranting has done more harm than good. It might (and you may consider I'm being overly charitable) have been a one-off for him. If your actions have made him more anti-cyclist then that hasn't done anyone any favours.

Yet his demeanor changed dramatically, from hostile to accepting, on having been caught out on camera. He knew he was in the wrong when he went forward, he knew he was in the wrong when I stopped him, and he knew he was in the wrong when his first reaction was so negative. He now knows that when he's proceding like that, in the wrong such that he is inconveniencing and endangering cyclists, he can now get caught. If it was a one off for him then it was a really angry one, my assessment of the situation was that such was unlikely; he didn't hold his hand up or acknowledge his error until I challenged him.

Cyclists with helmet cams are in a pretty small minority, so I don't think that's going to enter into his decision making process next time he decides to transgress the highway code somewhere.

A small minority of cyclists in Cambridge is still a reasonable number of people though. If it doesn't change the way he acts then he'll get caught out again, and again...

 

[domd1979]

He knew he was in the wrong when he went forward, he knew he was in the wrong when I stopped him, and he knew he was in the wrong when his first reaction was so negative. He now knows that when he's proceding like that, in the wrong such that he is inconveniencing and endangering cyclists, he can now get caught.

Cab, you can only speculate as to his future actions. Do you know - for certain - if your actions have had a positive effect both on his attitudes and behaviour towards cyclists in the future? Yes or no?

If it doesn't change the way he acts then he'll get caught out again, and again...

The sad reality is that the chances of being caught for any motoring offence are pretty minimal.

 

[Cab]

Cab, you can only speculate as to his future actions. Do you know - for certain - if your actions have had a positive effect both on his attitudes and behaviour towards cyclists in the future? Yes or no?

No one can predict the future perfectly. My experience and observation says yes, probably.

The sad reality is that the chances of being caught for any motoring offence are pretty minimal.

And when more serious incidences than this ine are reported and logged, eventually (with any luck) something will happen. Or when enough such incidents are reported such that the stats start making police forces look bad, perhaps change will happen. Don't wear a camera, don't record incidents, don't stand up against people doing this kind of thing... Well, inactivity changes nothing.

 

[CopperBrompton]

as soon as I start shuffling to the side the car will come at me. Seems especially the case with taxis.

I'm quite surprised at that if you've politely gestured that you'd like a word. Can you show us a video of that - I'd be interested to see.

Ben