Was I in the wrong?

[phantasmagoriana]

(Apologies - this isn't strictly commuting because - well, I wasn't commuting - but this seemed the most appropriate place to put it...)

Nice day today, so decided to fit my SPD pedals to my tatty old Raleigh Pioneer to try them out. Came to a crossroads with traffic lights (not a route I normally use - I don't know the sequence of the lights), stopped in the ASL on the right hand side (I'm turning right), another cyclist is on the left hand side. When lights go green, I signal clearly and pull out. Car on the opposite side of the junction turns left slightly after me (I'm already out beyond the lights when he starts turning - he is the second car away from the lights), we nearly collide and he honks at me.

Immediately after the junction my route takes me up on to a shared foot/cycle path, but the driver decides to go slowly alongside me on the road, keeping to my speed. I just kept my eyes on the route and didn't look round, but I was rather intimidated by this behaviour; it spoiled what was otherwise a nice 15 mile pootle through country lanes. I've been honked at and sworn at before (usually for taking primary through pinch points), but never this. 

I've always understood that if someone else is already turning out of a junction, someone coming from the opposite side and wanting to turn the same way should give way. I have a similar junction on my regular commute and this is what generally happens (there's the occasional idiot, but...  ).

So, was I in the wrong here? I'm a bit worried by what happened afterwards. I'm not sure why anyone would do that  - was he just trying to frighten me?    

 

[HLaB]

If I'm reading you right (no pun in tended); you were turning right into a side road and a car comming the opposite way was turning left into the same road. Technically if there is a conflict the driver had the priority and you should have gave way but its all due to space and timing as to what actually happens. The afters from the driver are just unmerited.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

If I'm reading you right (no pun in tended); you were turning right into a side road and a car comming the opposite way was turning left into the same road. Technically if there is a conflict the driver had the priority and you should have gave way but its all due to space and timing as to what actually happens. The afters from the driver are just unmerited.

+1.
The driver was just being a pillock. It's quite funny how when some drivers make a mistake, cyclists are just expected to live with it, but when we do similar, most motorists resort to the horn, gestures and verbals.

 

[jimboalee]

An unwritten rule about junctions is "Don't manouver if it causes another roaduser to alter their speed or direction".

In this case, did the motorist turning left need to apply brakes to avoid you? Did he alter his line around the left turn to avoid you?

In a situation like this, both of you had the same destination exit from the junction. He was closer to the destination exit, so you should have given way to him.

The difference between bikes and cars is when cars cock-up, the cyclist has very little time to give the indignant stare. When cyclists cock-up, the motorist can bide his time giving allsorts of stares and gestures.

You'll know next time.

 

[jimboalee]

An unwritten rule about junctions is "Don't manouver if it causes another roaduser to alter their speed or direction".

In this case, did the motorist turning left need to apply brakes to avoid you? Did he alter his line around the left turn to avoid you?

In a situation like this, both of you had the same destination exit from the junction. He was closer to the destination exit, so you should have given way to him.

The difference between bikes and cars is when cars cock-up, the cyclist has very little time to give the indignant stare. When cyclists cock-up, the motorist can bide his time giving allsorts of stares and gestures.

You'll know next time.

I could have drawn a sketch.

 

[phantasmagoriana]

Thanks for clarifying. I feel bad now - I do try to cycle responsibly and don't want to contribute to any drivers' perceptions of cyclists as RLJ-ing, pavement-hopping idiots...I guess I didn't help the cause in this case. Ordinarily I would have stopped in this situation, but not being used to being clipped in I didn't feel safe doing so and carried on.  

 

[marmalade400]

So, was I in the wrong here? I'm a bit worried by what happened afterwards. I'm not sure why anyone would do that - was he just trying to frighten me?

I wouldn't worry about it too much, he may even have just wanted to talk to you about what happened, check you were okay or even apologise, you never know.

 

[Black Sheep]

The highway code generally says at junctions where right of way isn't clear and two vehicles are sat opposite each other at the junction, left turners and people going straight on have right of way over people turning right as you are crossing someone else's path.

having not been there at the time, there could have been enough time for you to turn and the driver could have just taken offence to being behind a cyclist

 

[Jaguar]

Technically ... the driver had the priority and you should have gave way

That's how I was taught to drive.

 

[Crankarm]

Where there is ambiguity a smaller vessel always gives way to a larger one. Common sense really and life preserving ...........

Welcome to cycling on the road. It's not for the faint hearted.

 

[Tynan]

staright on first, left hand turn second, right hand turn last