What drivers do in traffic

[mustang1]

While filtering thru traffic, I've had drivers do the following:

Spit out their window at the exact moment I cycle past. Unsure if this is intentional but my cynical side thinks so. None has ever hit me, thankfully (for the driver).

When I'm filtering between the sidewalk and car, the driver intentionally pulls closer to the sidewalk to halt my progress. I just hop onto the sidewalk and continue on foot, get in front of the offending driver, smile at him and continue.

Same thing as above but on the opposite side of the road: as I'm filtering near oncoming traffic, drivers on both sides will make a point to squeeze me in. No big deal, safety first, I just stop.

Puddles. If a driver thinks they have an opportunity to drive thru a puddle when I'm next to said puddle, they'll go for it.

Fortunatley these events are extremely rare but its happened a couple of times over the years.

Anyone else notice this too?

 

[Roadrider48]

I am in London too.
Close passes are too many to worry about. You sort of get used to it. Not a good thing, but it is so frequent.
I have not really suffered from any of the other stuff you mention, so can't really say.

 

[summerdays]

I've noticed the one when they pull closer to the kerb to block that route.... Which of course opens up the route the other side, or the overtake you to pull in immediately in front at the back of a queue of cars. Both get the same response of a beaming smile and going past them even if I was about to wait patiently.

 

[Drago]

Filtering between vehicle and the kerb suicidal. Unless it's a cycle lane with a bit of clearance I steer well clear of the inside of motor vehicles.

 

[jonny jeez]

I've noticed the pinching thing, both on the bike and the motorbike...more on the motorbike to be honest.

Most often its drivers moving out to a central island in a traffic jam, (If I cant move, why should you) deliberately blocking my progress. Like you, I dismount, walk and jump back on. On a motorcycle...I cant, so just sit there and be sure to give a totally useless but somehow comforting "Glare" at the driver as I eventually pass, who by now will have found some reason to be looking in the opposite direction...funny these little dances we do, they are so well choreographed and practiced, we all know the rules.

However, there is a counter to this. I often drive in heavy traffic and in my effort to allow a cyclist more room on the inside (cyclepath or not) I can compromise space on the offside. I also see drivers (possibly who are also motorcyclist's) pull "in " to allow space for a motorbike to get through...and pinching a cyclist to the pavement in the process.

In truth, London roads were not designed for cars, let alone truck, bikes, motorbikes, mobility scooters and now...electric mono cycles! to all share the width of a single lane.

I try to remember that when I am sat at a central reservation... waiting to deploy the "glare"!

 

[ianrauk]

Yep, had all those. In fact, I think one of my very first posts on CC was moaning about drivers trying to stop you from overtaking

 

[MossCommuter]

I was riding down the offside of a 3 mile queue of stationary traffic once when the driver of one car made the swerve right (so I stopped). When I did eventually get by her, she shouted that I "should wait my turn" because "it wasn't fair".

I nearly wet myself laughing

 

[Glow worm]

All the above and a few cigarette butts lobbed just at the 'right' moment. Charming lot.
I do get quite a fair few who move to the right to give me more space when I'm filtering on the left, so they're not all evil bar stewards!

 

[Markymark]

Yep, had all those. In fact, I think one of my very first posts on CC was moaning about drivers trying to stop you from overtaking

Your first post? Was it the driver's flag waver that got in your way?

 

[jonny jeez]

I do get quite a fair few who move to the right to give me more space when I'm filtering on the left, so they're not all evil bar stewards!

Very true...and to be fair, this happens a lot more often than the opposite.

 

[jonny jeez]

Your first post? Was it the driver's flag waver that got in your way?

I thought he was complaining about trying to get a smooth round surface on his stone wheels!

 

[Markymark]

Very true...and to be fair, this happens a lot more often than the opposite.

Yep. This. Ride around 2k miles a year in central London (nowhere near as many as others, I know). More get out the way than obstruct. Think they realise little point and rather not have the scratch from a close bike.

 

[Arjimlad]

Mostly drivers, when stuck in a traffic queue are too busy on their smartphones, texting or facebooking or tweeting to notice me bimbling along on the inside or outside. At least three in ten in my experience will be phone-in-hand browsing adverts promising the open road to buyers of a certain brand of car, or tweeting about being stuck, or texting the wife/mistress/tanning clinic. Some may even be looking at cycling websites to see how they too can escape the traffic misery by joining we happy few.

If I find myself filtering on the inside, and I have a light on the bike, there are some who will kindly pull out a bit more to make some space. Not had many kerb-huggers in the 9 years I've been commuting.

 

[I like Skol]

While filtering thru traffic, I've had drivers do the following:

Spit out their window at the exact moment I cycle past. Unsure if this is intentional but my cynical side thinks so. None has ever hit me, thankfully (for the driver).

When I'm filtering between the sidewalk and car, the driver intentionally pulls closer to the sidewalk to halt my progress. I just hop onto the sidewalk and continue on foot, get in front of the offending driver, smile at him and continue.

Same thing as above but on the opposite side of the road: as I'm filtering near oncoming traffic, drivers on both sides will make a point to squeeze me in. No big deal, safety first, I just stop.

Puddles. If a driver thinks they have an opportunity to drive thru a puddle when I'm next to said puddle, they'll go for it.

Fortunatley these events are extremely rare but its happened a couple of times over the years.

Anyone else notice this too?

I think it is mostly in your head.
The only one I can possibly consider having happened to me is the odd car blocking a filter on the left, and even these are so discreet that I doubt they really intentionally block my path so give them the benefit of the doubt. Never had anyone actually swerve to the left as I approach, just occasionally get passed by traffic then find one of the cars at the back of the next queue has stopped a bit more to the left than the rest if the line. Maybe because I usually filter on the right? I don't recall ever thinking anyone is trying to block me when filtering on the right.

Maybe you should go and see a shrink because they are not all out to get you

 

[Glow worm]

Yep, had all those. In fact, I think one of my very first posts on CC was moaning about drivers trying to stop you from overtaking

Nah, I'm sure it was moaning about other cyclists who don't return your friendly wave