Three foot is too much

[trsleigh]

Unfortunately there are far too many out there who have no respect for other road users or their right to use the road.

Too bloody right. Safety complaint email fired off to First Buses London yesterday evening.

I'm going slightly downhill between 20/25 mph, in primary to discourage silliness, traffic approaching in opposite lane about 60 yds away. Double decker goes for overtake, realises that this was a stupid idea and cuts right back in to lesss than a foot from the kerb while only halfway past me.

Either he did not notice the approaching traffic, in which case he should not be allowed out in any machinery, or he did and just didn't give a toss about anyone else on the road.

 

[Black Sheep]

It happens all the time, close passes but I must admit I get irked like you Archie when you get a really close pass when the neighbouring lane is completely empty or even worse it a dual cw with an empty outside lane.

OT I've found my cam distorts thing a fair bit making things in front look closer than they are but makes things to the side seem further away.

yup, i had a taxi last night pass me with two wheels in the bus lane (i was about 3ft from the white line due to a massive puddle that i was avoiding) as he overtook he went back into the normal road completely

it felt like he deliberately came close cos i was taking up his lane (based on what he said at the lights)

 

[Black Sheep]

i can do even better than that . had 3 incidents recently where drivers have tried to pass between me and the yellow bollards and all of them clipped their wheels on raised bollard platform. serves 'em right. one of em was a caravan, i thought it was gonna topple over!

lets hope they broke the plates etc in all the cupboards hehe

 

[Ben M]

On a related but slightly different note, I ride around country lanes now that I'm home (usually all have two lanes, not single track) and whenever someone shows decent courtesy with their overtakes, for example if they have to wait and then they overtake nice and wide when it's safe, I give them a nice thank you as they drive ahead of me. Does anyone else do this?

 

[purplepolly]

B: <PANT> <PANT> <PANT> <PANT> <PANT>
OB:...
B: <deep breath> Errr.... <PANT> <PANT> <PANT>
OB:...
B <PANT> <PANT> <PANT>

And if you did that to a woman she might call the police.

 

[Bman]

Perfect. Allows me ample time to catch my breath then report the dangerous driving to them when they arrive

 

[Cubist]

On a related but slightly different note, I ride around country lanes now that I'm home (usually all have two lanes, not single track) and whenever someone shows decent courtesy with their overtakes, for example if they have to wait and then they overtake nice and wide when it's safe, I give them a nice thank you as they drive ahead of me. Does anyone else do this?

Yes, and I insist the kids do too.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Yes, and I insist the kids do too.

I do too.

 

[Amanda P]

Does anyone else do this?

I alternate between good days when I do, and bad days, when I think, why should I thank anybody for simply obeying the rules?

 

[SoulOnIce]

It's a jungle out there, and we are the bottom of the food chain and truck is at the top... youu don't see many mice try to fight a bear do you? or live to tell their wifes!

Indeed.

It's not the folk who overtake you leaving little room who get me. It's the oncoming ones who overtake and then head straight towards you.

Something that happens to me at least twice a month on my commute gets my goat is on coming cars and lorries overtaking and just ignoring the fact that I happen to be cycling in the lane in the opposite direction and they are now heading straight towards me and the lane is too narrow for us both to continue in our respective directions of travel.

This happens on a country road and every time it happens I have no choice but to ride my bike off the road and onto the grass verge. I've tried to keep cycling on the road heading towards the car/lorry on the other side for as long as possible to see if the driver will choose to pull back in. But no, every time they continue driving straight towards me even though they've seen me.

As Jim says we are bottom of the food chain so I just throw myself and the bike into the grass verge. I've always thought that helmet cameras were a bit of a daft idea but if this type of behaviour continues I am going to get one cos surely the Police would prosecute someone who drove so dangerously.

 

[SoulOnIce]

On a related but slightly different note, I ride around country lanes now that I'm home (usually all have two lanes, not single track) and whenever someone shows decent courtesy with their overtakes, for example if they have to wait and then they overtake nice and wide when it's safe, I give them a nice thank you as they drive ahead of me. Does anyone else do this?

Always.

Also if I'm on a narrow road where a car behind me is holding back overtaking cos they can;t see the road ahead I can often see further ahead because I am sat higher up. If I can see the road is clear I wave them through.

I all road users should treat one another with respect regardless of what type of vehicle.

 

[semislickstick]

Agreed on all the posts here but I've also noticed another one when you're given the utmost courtesy. A vehicle waits patiently behind me and only overtakes when safe to do so and gives me maximum room. I can almost guarantee that whoever was behind the courteous vehicle will then pass me very closely. This is so often the case it no longer surprises me. It's like they get the hump with the vehicle for showing me courtesy and me for being on the road, double whammy.

Obviously I fully understand that my presence, and some good manners from another driver, have added a massive 5 seconds to their journey time. It can only be right that they then take it out on me for my very existance.

I was thinking about this the other day when it happened to me AGAIN, car waiting instead of trying to squeeze past, overtook nice and wide, then the following driver shows the driver in front how closely you can actually pass cyclists without wasting those 10 seconds to make a point but scaring the crap out of me by passing with less than 6 inches spare, which is really not good with the potholes everywhere.
I'll try the screaming technique next time.

 

[Chris Sirrus]

Also if I'm on a narrow road where a car behind me is holding back overtaking cos they can;t see the road ahead I can often see further ahead because I am sat higher up. If I can see the road is clear I wave them through.

Careful with that, what if you get it wrong and wave them into oncoming traffic?

 

[SoulOnIce]

Careful with that, what if you get it wrong and wave them into oncoming traffic?

Of course. I only wave them on when I'm sure. Actually it's only at a couple of places on my commute in on a down hill where it is quite windy and car drivers sat low down don't get a good view but someone sat high up on a bike can see over the hedges and see the road properly.

 

[SoulOnIce]

I was thinking about this the other day when it happened to me AGAIN, car waiting instead of trying to squeeze past, overtook nice and wide, then the following driver shows the driver in front how closely you can actually pass cyclists without wasting those 10 seconds to make a point but scaring the crap out of me by passing with less than 6 inches spare, which is really not good with the potholes everywhere.
I'll try the screaming technique next time.

I have to say, that since reading Cycle Craft I've become a lot more confident about riding a metre from the edge of the road and holding my space.

If I'm going on a fast downhill bit I ride primary and take the centre of the lane as it gives me more room to manoeuvre in case I get into trouble and it keeps the cars behind me.

Generally I've found on the country roads, that make up 10 miles of my commute, if I hold a strong secondary or primary position, most (but by no means all) cars overtaking treat me as if I am a car and cross into the other lane to overtake me.

As I posted earlier, its the oncoming fools who are overtaking and come into my lane and seem to ignore the fact I am cycling head on into them, that cause me the most angst.