Was it the weather?

[Boris Bajic]

I don't believe drivers are getting more and more aggressive.

It's a perception thing and has led to you buying one of those.

If I had a camera, I'd probably have the video evidence to prove you wrong.

If I wore a helmet to mount it on.

We'd be able to compare it with earlier video evidence I also don't have and make a calculation supporting my point of view, which I haven't decided on yet.

Which makes you wrong whichever way it plays out.

Carry on.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

One thing I have noticed is how driving and drivers attitudes vary, my commute takes me out of Coventry through Ash Green and Bedworth into Nuneaton and I normally see slightly better driving and a better attitude in drivers outside of Coventry than I see when I'm cycling in Coventry, I can be a little more relaxed outside the city but have to be very much on my toes inside the city.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I don't believe drivers are getting more and more aggressive.

It's a perception thing and has led to you buying one of those.

Come ride with me?

 

[Boris Bajic]

Come ride with me?

I am with 400 bhp (in my serious moments).

I do not believe drivers (as a group) are any more thoughtless, inattentive or aggressive than they were at any time in the past.

I have something more than four decades of cycling pleasure behind me. Most of that time has been made up of a long series of very enjoyable rides punctuated by brief moments of anxiety, terror or pain. Not entirely unlike like life or eating poorly-filleted sole.

If it had got worse, I'm not sure how one would measure it. Over what timescale? Measured how?

My OP was really just a comment on one part of a ride on one day, which seemed to include all the close passes, swervery and flying eggs I'd expect to encounter in a decade. I was not trying to suggest that things were any better in my day, although of course they were.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I think it is a perception thing to be honest. Yes I had a couple of bad passes yesterday, but nothing major and note worthy. What I do remember is the lorry... I was caught up by a lorry that was stuck behind me for the best part of a mile. Initally I had to block him at a brigde over a canal that is single lane, my side of the road is giving way at the embankment and there was no way I was going anywhere near it - even the road surface is lethal at that point. After than he was stuck behind me with no option to overtake until he had a very small window of opportunity to overtake me that would have left me swearing at him and the oncoming driver having to slow down/stop - I heard his engine start to rev and decided I had to act. I knew I was turning off left very soon, so to prevent the issues, I indicated left way too early. I had nowhere to go to, and it was clear there was no left turn for me to go straight into, no pavement nothing. He picked up that I meant I was turning off at the next left - probably 1/3km away and waited behind me.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I think it is a perception thing to be honest. Yes I had a couple of bad passes yesterday, but nothing major and note worthy. What I do remember is the lorry... I was caught up by a lorry that was stuck behind me for the best part of a mile. Initally I had to block him at a brigde over a canal that is single lane, my side of the road is giving way at the embankment and there was no way I was going anywhere near it - even the road surface is lethal at that point. After than he was stuck behind me with no option to overtake until he had a very small window of opportunity to overtake me that would have left me swearing at him and the oncoming driver having to slow down/stop - I heard his engine start to rev and decided I had to act. I knew I was turning off left very soon, so to prevent the issues, I indicated left way too early. I had nowhere to go to, and it was clear there was no left turn for me to go straight into, no pavement nothing. He picked up that I meant I was turning off at the next left - probably 1/3km away and waited behind me.

Yeah, had the same experience once: was thinking "he's not gonna wait here, I'm gonna get squashed"
so I indicated way to early, fortunately the lorry driver got it

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Whereas in deepest Sussex one learns never ever to signal a left turn until the very last moment, if at all, as it has the same effect on drivers in these parts as the report of a starting pistol on that charming Mr Bolt, it is a veritable invitation for a squeeze pass even if one has taken primary beforehand.

But it is the weather. When the rain falls so do driving standards.

 

[User269]

It doesn't do any harm to pull over and let 'stuck behind' vehicles pass, or indeed oncoming. I and my riding companions are hardcore racers out for a high speed blast but regularly get out of the way when necessary, just like our tractor drivers..............oh hang on I'm talking nonsense aren't I?