Times Have Changed A Bit

[Igor73]

Just getting back into cycling after 23 year of being a couch potato and really loving it, well most of it anyway. First let me say I'm not a car driver but the wife is, also the vast majority of motorists are considerate and patient.
But I'm amazed at how much motoring technology has advanced in those 23 years, the total lack of any need for drivers to indicate when exiting roundabouts, with them seemingly relying purely on the power of telepathy to let you know their intended direction. This is merely one example, others included being cut up on downhill bends, pulling out at junctions and overtaking so close (buses & hgv) that you're nearly dragged off the bike to mention other examples.
I've experienced all of these in less than 2 month, it's virtually everyday on the bike, despite sticking to cycle paths as much as possible, thank God for cycle paths. I know there are now more road users but I'm convinced that the standards of driving are significantly worse now than previously, people seem so much more aggressive now, it's not only dangerous it's a crying shame!

 

[Drago]

Ye God's! You get cut up by buses and HGVs on the cycle paths!

 

[steve50]

I know exactly where you are coming from igor73, I too have found the same issues particularly with van and lorry drivers as well as some car drivers. I reckon as the traffic on the roads has increased so has the nature of peoples driving, more aggression, more of the "i'm in a hurry " type attitude and as a cyclist you are just an inconvenience as they push thier way through the traffic.I had a bit of a "scary" moment myself this evening, I was waiting for the traffic lights to go green at a junction in Halifax town centre. Dual carriageway, I am in the right hand lane waiting to turn right, again onto dual carriageway. The lights change I start to cycle across the junction when the twerp in a corsa behind me decides to undertake me halfway across the junction forcing me into the middle of the carriageways, what a complete and utter moron, all I could do was brake and filter in behind him / her.What did it achieve, nothing other than the corsa driver getting in front of the cyclist. As a car driver myself it just begs the question how some people ever got their driving licence in the first place.

 

[raleighnut]

Bus drivers are definitely getting worse.

 

[Drago]

In the interests of balance, the behaviour of a notable section of cyclists is also getting worse. Ride without lights at night in my day and the local Bobby would knock your block off, but now every 2nd rider seems to do it with impunity.

 

[steve50]

In the interests of balance, the behaviour of a notable section of cyclists is also getting worse. Ride without lights at night in my day and the local Bobby would knock your block off, but now every 2nd rider seems to do it with impunity.

Agreed but i do tend to find it is not the "serious cyclist" that rides without lights, more your average joe that uses his bike for work and young lads who don't give a monkeys about road safety.

 

[Drago]

I see plenty of guys riding bikes worth 4 times as much as mine with no lights, often in groups. These folks are enthusiasts and really should know better.

 

[classic33]

I know exactly where you are coming from igor73, I too have found the same issues particularly with van and lorry drivers as well as some car drivers. I reckon as the traffic on the roads has increased so has the nature of peoples driving, more aggression, more of the "i'm in a hurry " type attitude and as a cyclist you are just an inconvenience as they push thier way through the traffic.I had a bit of a "scary" moment myself this evening, I was waiting for the traffic lights to go green at a junction in Halifax town centre. Dual carriageway, I am in the right hand lane waiting to turn right, again onto dual carriageway. The lights change I start to cycle across the junction when the twerp in a corsa behind me decides to undertake me halfway across the junction forcing me into the middle of the carriageways, what a complete and utter moron, all I could do was brake and filter in behind him / her.What did it achieve, nothing other than the corsa driver getting in front of the cyclist. As a car driver myself it just begs the question how some people ever got their driving licence in the first place.

Orange Street onto Broad Street, or Broad Street onto Orange Street?

 

[steve50]

Orange Street onto Broad Street, or Broad Street onto Orange Street?

Pellon lane onto Broad St., you local?

 

[classic33]

Pellon lane onto Broad St., you local?

You'd be in the right turn only lane there. You can't turn right into Broad Street from Pellon Lane!


About 31/2 miles outa town

 

[steve50]

You'd be in the right turn only lane there. You can't turn right into Broad Street from Pellon Lane!


About 31/2 miles outa town

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.7235462,-1.8634727,21z
zoom in , pellon lane goes right down to broad street then onto Cow Green and yes i was in the right turn only lane but the numpty in the corsa still undertook me. I've lived in Halifax since 1971, I know the area very well.

 

[classic33]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.7235462,-1.8634727,21z
zoom in , pellon lane goes right down to broad street then onto Cow Green and yes i was in the right turn only lane but the numpty in the corsa still undertook me. I've lived in Halifax since 1971, I know the area very well.

I remember the roundabout there.

 

[classic33]

You want to try the A58/A629 roundabout, via Orange Street, staying on the A58.

 

[Sbudge]

OK, in the interests of balance...
I started riding again this year after an absence of only 8 years or so. First thing I noticed was how much more considerate I'm finding drivers. Black cabbies for example who used to be a nightmare now seem far more aware etc. I've even, dare I say it, encountered some non-feral white van drivers (though I suspect they may be just poorly disguised aliens)!

 

[raleighnut]

I see plenty of guys riding bikes worth 4 times as much as mine with no lights, often in groups. These folks are enthusiasts and really should know better.

Yeah but then you are talking about the sort of guy who doesn't want brackets cluttering up his handlebars (unless its a phone or GPS gubbins mount) and expensive aero seat post. They've also probably only got a crappy CO2 inflater (but the wife/mummy is at the end of a phone) and if they've got a spare tube then they probably haven't got levers (cos 'Bill' always has tools etc, that's why he's at the back whilst they're 'after segments')