What drivers do in traffic

[classic33]

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.

Even a cycle lane is no guarantee

 

[robjh]

I don't remember any case when I think I've been deliberately blocked. In queues of (near-)stationary traffic you sometimes find cars that are out to one side or other of the main queue, but they're there before I get there so it's not about me as a cyclist. On the other hand, if I'm filtering between slow queues (don't worry, these are ones with wide separation and plenty of room) I frequently see people moving their cars out slightly to make way for me, which I think is quite decent. It's not all bad out there.

 

[clid61]

Had all them too , just keep riding at my pace and protect myself appropriatly , wheter agressivly or defensively . Get on with it ......

 

[Maylian]

I've had pretty much the majority now, and I'm a lot more relaxed about it. I still tend to find the most annoying thing is brake testing, especially when they do it at speed. Blocking never seems to be an issue since they're never as agile as a bike. Most of these just make me laugh now

 

[markharry66]

near me there is a set of lights with a cycle lane on plus a supermarket that feeds on to the road. Everyone thats going left just sits in the cycle lane (so no chance of using that then). There is also a keep clear box in the middle of the road which instantly means you can swing straight across traffic without looking. Great when you drive without giving a toss expect when I am not in the cycle lane of course then I need to be told.

 

[mustang1]

I've had pretty much the majority now, and I'm a lot more relaxed about it. I still tend to find the most annoying thing is brake testing, especially when they do it at speed. Blocking never seems to be an issue since they're never as agile as a bike. Most of these just make me laugh now

I'm completely relaxed about it, only the spitting bothered me for a few seconds.

Never had the brake tests but ibthat that would annoy me a bit.

 

[Milkfloat]

When I first read this thread I thought 'I have never had the windscreen washer shower'. Yesterday it happened to me for the first time in more than 30 years of cycling. I was coasting up to the red traffic light, when the car pulled around me and cut in so sharply that he could not straighten up before he got to the red light. After I had to use my brakes to avoid him, I gave him a very withering look and rode around him to the ASL. Nothing new here. However after he pulled away and got in front of me on came the washers together with the universal symbol of mispleasure involving wrist movement. At the next lights I caught him up and timed it beautifully with half a bottle of high 5 Berry flavour the entire length of his car. I did not hang around to see his reaction, but managed a couple of PB on some nearby strava segments.

Not big and not clever and thinking back pretty stupid, but my god it gave me a tremendous sense of satisfaction.

 

[Maylian]

Not big and not clever and thinking back pretty stupid, but my god it gave me a tremendous sense of satisfaction.

No........but bloody funny!

 

[Herbie]

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?

Yeah...happens to me all the time especially the sidewalk thing

 

[donnydave]

On my regular commute I never filter on the left and thankfully there are no cycle lanes that encourage it, I don't see many other cyclists on the main road part of my journey. I do occasionally get people wandering over to the centre white line in the usual walking-pace queue that I regularly encounter, I can see their heads bob to the mirror then the car drifts across, but the traffic coming the other way (away from town) is so light that its never a problem. I don't really understand what they are trying to achieve as they will slow me down for all of 5 seconds then I'll be on my way again.

One phenomenon I've seen is people overtaking as we are approaching the tail end of a queue, then pulling in extreme left against the kerb to cement their position in front of me so I can't re-pass, these drivers all make the mistake of assuming I'm going to try and filter between them and the kerb like some sort of imbecile. My strong road position (looking to filter on the right) very rarely causes slight consternation as people try and get in front but 99% of other road users on my commute are pretty good and realise that we are coming up on the tail end of a queue and that a cyclist will make easy progress (same time/place every day). The 1% who cause a bit of bother must think that I'm "cheating" or something, not queuing with everyone else or some other such nonsense. Don't hate the player, hate the game!

I've been actively blocked a few times on my motorbike when filtering - people in L2 of a dual carriageway moving left to sit over the white line, but few people appreciate how fast even a modestly powered motorbike can do 30-60 and just simply go round the other side . Sometimes I wave thanks - as if they moved left to allow me to pass on their right, rather than them blocking the filtering gap in between - but by the time my brilliant wit has soaked through their thick skulls I'm already reached home in time for tea and medals and they are still in traffic