Was I an Idiot on the road today? (short 40 second video)

[Firestorm]

The benchmark I tend to apply is what would I think if "the boot was on the other foot" .

 

[Racing roadkill]

That could have been a lot worse, had it not been for the whistle. It sounds like you are well aware of where you made errors, and have learned a lesson. Always be extra vigilant in these congested urban environments, and remember (like it or not) ped's have the R.O.W. and don't get drawn into a situation, because you're doing what the other cyclist has done. Don't beat yourself up over it. Some of the stuff I see cyclists doing in that bit of town is a lot worse than what you had there.

 

[GrasB]

A bad driver or rider doesn't make mistakes, other people do.
An average driver or rider makes an occasional mistake but it was unavoidable so doesn't really learn from it!
A good driver or rider will make genuine mistakes. However, they learn from them & adapt their driving or riding style.
A really, really, good driver or rider will never make the same genuine mistake twice.

The fact you asked the question puts you in one of the latter 2 categories

 

[Monsieur]

The taxi driver stopped as a courtesy to the pedestrians - reckon the cyclist could have done similar without much hindrance to his traveling time.
The road is shared by many and a little respect and kindness to others doesn't go amiss.

So, cyclist, you could have easily stopped or slowed down and just blowing a whistle is a little rude.

 

[broadway]

The taxi driver stopped as a courtesy to the pedestrians - reckon the cyclist could have done similar without much hindrance to his traveling time.
The road is shared by many and a little respect and kindness to others doesn't go amiss.

So, cyclist, you could have easily stopped or slowed down and just blowing a whistle is a little rude.

+1

A little more caution going into a gap with pedestrians waiting to cross would not go amiss either. From the video the cyclist in front seems to be more aware of them than you.

 

[Markymark]

I wouldn't be riding that fast wuth so many pedestrians around esiecially those facing the road waitin to cross.

You didn't do anything wrong as such but when the pavements are that busy you shoukd be ready to avoid people stepping into the road and that being a tourist area Id say it happens quite often.

Cars are told to drive carefully near schools as there's lots of kids doing stupid things. It's still the responsibility of the drivers to take care. It's yiur responsibility to take care near busy pavements.

 

[bpsmith]

I always think why the cars in front have decided to stop, rather than steam right past. Would I overtake if in a car. Etc.

Not that you have done a major crime here, but by simply asking the question you must think that you wouldn't ideally have done so and probably won't again without more thought?

 

[raleighnut]

I've had it a few times lately when on cycle paths that at a roundabout a car will stop and wave me across but not the car that's overtaking them Nobody should take a wave as meaning anything.

 

[bpsmith]

I've had it a few times lately when on cycle paths that at a roundabout a car will stop and wave me across but not the car that's overtaking them Nobody should take a wave as meaning anything.

I agree totally, but that doesn't absolve the person overtaking from any blame nonetheless.

 

[Sara_H]

You avoided the collision, so don't beat yourself up too badly. Maybe in similar circumstances in future a little warning blast on the whistle to alert them that you're coming?

As a matter of curiosity, do you ride with the whistle in your cake hole at all times?

 

[broadway]

You avoided the collision, so don't beat yourself up too badly. Maybe in similar circumstances in future a little warning blast on the whistle to alert them that you're coming?

Must remember to use a warning blast in my car when cyclists and pedestrians are about, just as a warning like

 

[Sara_H]

Must remember to use a warning blast in my car when cyclists and pedestrians are about, just as a warning like

A warning on a bike bell (or whistle in the OP's case) to alert others to your presence is recomended practice. When I'm riding on shared use paths, I'm generally tinking away almost continuously on my bell.
There's a difference between that and sounding your horn in a car, which is meant to be used as a warning, rather that an alert to presence.

 

[mjr]

I've been saying that we need something akin to the American jay walking law in this country for 20 years, the amount of people i see crossing the road within 10-15 yards of a legitimate crossing point is unbelievable. Also some sort of penalty for walking up to a pelican crossing and pushing the button then looking up and seeing no traffic and crossing without waiting for the green man, i reckon 50% of Londons congestion is down to these two factors.

If there's no traffic, why the heck hasn't the pelican changed anyway? A better solution would be to make pelicans actually respond to the buttons immediately (change if clear, wait if not, up to the configured delay) without the punishment delay that most of them currently have.

People crossing the road within 10-15 yards of a crossing point is quite believable once you realise that the designers have usually been told where the crossing desire line is, but they persist in their belief that you can deflect desire lines by many metres. We've told them this again in Norfolk this year but no, a crossing is going to be installed about 10 metres south of the desire line (there's no good reason for it, in this case - as far as I can tell, it only makes the drawings look neater by connecting the two sides of the road at right-angles instead of a slight diagonal) and then any pedestrians hurt at this junction will be blamed for walking the shorter route. A far better solution would be to put the crossings nearer to where people actually want to cross!

 

[broadway]

A warning on a bike bell (or whistle in the OP's case) to alert others to your presence is recomended practice. When I'm riding on shared use paths, I'm generally tinking away almost continuously on my bell.
There's a difference between that and sounding your horn in a car, which is meant to be used as a warning, rather that an alert to presence.

Rule 116:
"Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence."

Warning vs alert what's the difference?

 

[Sara_H]

Rule 116:
"Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence."

Warning vs alert what's the difference?

The difference is that it's recognised that bikes are quiet so peds can benefit from an alert to your presence, where as motorised vehicles are big noisy things which are much more difficult to miss.

There is a difference.