This mornings idiot

[Cab]

What do the majority of cyclists tend to do when travelling in the other direction on this street?

10% or so dismount

10% or so would tend to ride on to the pavement (often with hilarious consequences)

About 30% will wait for oncoming traffic in the distance to pass, even though they have priority

Another 30% ish will ride down the narrow gap

And about 20% will be assertive, slowing the oncoming traffic down to create a safer space to use. Once a week or so I see someone berate a motorist in that scenario.

 

[domd1979]

The car gave more road space and slowed down because I was right in the middle of the road. Had I not been there, making him do so, he would not have done so. That is the experience of using that road day in, day out.

I created a safer situation by my actions, such would not have been the case otherwise.

I didn't argue with your use of primary to slow him down, because having slowed him down you could then make safe use of the gap. Did the standing in the road ranting "create a safer situation"? Or will it create one in the future? Just slowing him down might have been enough to make him think next time.

(remainder cut unread)

You mean, the one where when people stopped whining and simply making noise, the original poster accepted that the point I was putting to her was correct? The one where I was, according to the one eye witness we had, correct?

Yes, only to placate you and for no other reason I suspect. Think about how false confessions occur.

 

[Cab]

Having watched your other videos you love a row with drivers don't you. You say "it's all on video" - what are you going to do with the footage ? Go to the police if your that worried - Believe me they will do someone about it if the evidence is good enough.

Chill or one day some bloke is going to get out and lump the crap out of you.

Happy riding

Ahh, yes, the one where the taxi driver cut in between me and the traffic island. Yes, I did take that to the Police. Whats your point?

 

[magnatom]

10% or so dismount

10% or so would tend to ride on to the pavement (often with hilarious consequences)

About 30% will wait for oncoming traffic in the distance to pass, even though they have priority

Another 30% ish will ride down the narrow gap

And about 20% will be assertive, slowing the oncoming traffic down to create a safer space to use. Once a week or so I see someone berate a motorist in that scenario.

Have you ever thought of filming that section of road for a few hours? That might be informative, not only for us, but for anyone that you need to aim your campaigning at.

 

[Cab]

The test would be what does Cab do when he's riding the other way; wait, or squeeze through?

When I'm going out of town there (the other way) and there is a car behind me and an oncoming cyclist then I wait behind the line and hold the traffic up.

When I'm going that way and there is an oncoming car, van, bus etc. then I wait behind the line.

When I'm going that way and there is no other vehicle behind me but oncoming bicycles, I slowly advance over the line, making eye contact with the oncoming bike, and if the other guy has seen me and moved over safely then I go, otherwise, I wait behind the line.

Its a really simple piece of road; you give way to oncoming traffic.

 

[Cab]

Cab, any chance you might accept that perhaps you were a bit too militant here?

I stopped him because thats the safest option. I told him what he'd done wrong and asked him politely not to do it again. I didn't shout louder than was needed to be heard through his window.

Too militant? No, not really.

 

[Cab]

Taking a primary position to slow the oncoming car down - fine, but was it necessary to stop him and then stand in the road ranting?

Ranting? I told him what he'd done wrong and politely asked him not to do it again, told him he was on camera (which changed his outlook from aggressive to accepting; he knew what he'd done wrong and that he couldn't bully me), and asked him politely again. Ranting? This is some new use of 'rant', I believe, where you really mean 'politely and assertively stated the truth'.

 

[Riding in Circles]

Regardless of peoples conceptions about space, the rule at that point is to wait for on coming traffic, the driver was taking the view that a cyclist was not "traffic" and that is an attitude that has to be challenged if we are to get any respect and therefore any safety on the roads so I think Cab is justified.

 

[Origamist]

I have sympathy for Cab on this one. The driver had ignored the give way sign and by taking the lane Cab was able to make the situation safer for himself.

However, the "telling off" and the U-Tube threat was not how I'd have handled the dialogue...

 

[Cab]

I didn't argue with your use of primary to slow him down, because having slowed him down you could then make safe use of the gap. Did the standing in the road ranting "create a safer situation"? Or will it create one in the future? Just slowing him down might have been enough to make him think next time.

No, what you can't see (but I have alluded to here) is the angry look on his face and his rather negative attitude to me being in his way. I judged that the further impact of telling him he was being recorded might help there; he then went quite passive and accepted his error. So, I believe, it worked.

Yes, only to placate you and for no other reason I suspect. Think about how false confessions occur.

Or think about how people behave when they know they can't get away with being a bully. Often it only takes one person to stand up to a bully.

 

[Cab]

Have you ever thought of filming that section of road for a few hours? That might be informative, not only for us, but for anyone that you need to aim your campaigning at.

I've thought about it, and previously I've concentrated on filming busses there. That worked pretty well, the question really becomes where should my focus be now. I'm thinking taxis.

 

[Cab]

However, the "telling off" and the U-Tube threat was not how I'd have handled the dialogue...

What (if anything) would you have said?

 

[magnatom]

I have sympathy for Cab on this one. The driver had ignored the give way sign and by taking the lane Cab was able to make the situation safer for himself.

However, the "telling off" and the U-Tube threat was not how I'd have handled the dialogue...

Actually the youtube threat can be very effective at turning an aggressive situation into a calmer one. I have used it in the past and will continue to use it in the future.

If anything, you are actually giving them a chance to say that they would rather not end up on youtube. Although my conversation with the information commissioner suggests that permission is not required anyway, though it could be seen as being polite.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I've thought about it, and previously I've concentrated on filming busses there. That worked pretty well, the question really becomes where should my focus be now. I'm thinking taxis.

I don't like to imply anything, but are you really considering spending a few hours of your life filmimg traffic?
Why not go for a beer instead?

 

[Origamist]

What (if anything) would you have said?

I'd have opened with:

"Mate, cyclists have priority on this road - did you see the give way sign back there?"