What has cycling done to your driving skills?

[Piemaster]

When I do eventually learn to drive (costs for car must go down first), I will probably be really good and pass first time. The reason being that as I have been cycling on roads wiith a lot of traffic and road obstacles, I have had to become very observant (if I get a head cam, you will get dizzy with the amount of times I shoulder check).

Costs to go down? You're more likely to be drawing a pension first. Biggest cost at moment seems to be insurance for new/yooung drivers so actually by the time you're ready for your pension....
Observation is good, but you'll have to remember a car is a bit wider than a bike and you can't filter!

 

[marshmella]

Frustrates me if i have to drive anywhere when I could have taken the bike. Typically going out with the other half (who doesn't cycle), or buying heavy things

+1 to this

 

[subaqua]

Positive: I give cyclists more room now than I did before, they get the whole lane most of the time now. Negative: I have a tendency to go into the bus lane on my commuting route before remembering 'Doh, I'm in the car'.

similar to this but not the bus lane bit as i try not to cycle in the deathtraps they are anyway. I also keep a lot further back than i used to.

 

[jonny jeez]

I have a tendency to go into the bus lane on my commuting route before remembering 'Doh, I'm in the car'.

I am constantly doing this. I also have to stop myself trying to filter the car in traffic...seriously, I just get this sense that its ok to move out.

I sometimes get my wife giving me a puzzled look and asking "why are you going so slowly?".

Ditto...

I also find myself;
- Shoulder checking as I WALK down the pavement.
- Feeling good about myself when I stop at the traffic lights (in the car?)
- Trying not to come to a stop at the lights (in the car?)
- Admiring other cyclists rides when at the lights (which probably unnerves them...sorry)
- Getting a fair amount of waves and thanks from riders as I refuse to enter pinch points with them (to the annoyance of following drivers)
- Feeling fat and lazy after more than two days of motorcycling or driving into work (for whatever reason)

 

[cyberknight]

I am OK for doing maneuvers like parking but my road position feels wrong as i am used to being where the passenger would sit on the road , i once did a hi speed swerve on the road when the nearside wheel caught the kerb .
When i get into the car which is normally once a week i have to get my mind into driving mode .

 

[Canrider]

If I'm honest, I'd say it's made me *less* tolerant of people who ride in the gutter! I'd much rather someone be doing 8mph in primary right in front of the car than 12mph wobbling along the double-yellows. I can see from their body language they're expecting me to roar past with inches to spare at any minute, and they can't figure out why I'm not doing what all the other drivers do, and so I have to sit back there watching their acute discomfort and nervousness, and hoping I can find enough space among all the traffic calming and oncoming cars to pass them correctly so they can get back into their comfort zone of being repeatedly buzzed by.

 

[slowmotion]

Cycling has made me loath driving even more than I loath public transport.

Absolutely. I used to drive everywhere, even a one mile round trip to go shopping. Now, I pretty much cycle everywhere. I've filled up my company motor three times since last Christmas. My wife has a car provided by her employer. On the rare occasions that I drive it, I find that my driving skills have atrophied quite alarmingly. My parking is now rubbish and every journey is way more stressful than it used to be as a regular petrol-head.

I would like to think that I always gave cyclists a wide berth when I was a regular WMV. Now, I virtually drive on the opposite pavement to give them more room.

Top tip about indicating BTW

 

[jonny jeez]

If I'm honest, I'd say it's made me *less* tolerant of people who ride in the gutter! I'd much rather someone be doing 8mph in primary right in front of the car than 12mph wobbling along the double-yellows. .

There is something to be said for this theory. I notice that I get far fewer "tolerant" passes when I am in a more commanding position. If I do, for what ever reason, move to far over to the left I get a greater number of close passes and a general sense that everyone cant wait to get past me.

I'm no expert in psychology but there almost seems to be some kind of dominance thing going on here...or perhaps humans, like us, prefer clear boundaries and are more comfortable to be "told" what to do rather than having to make up our own minds.

being in a strong position (not simply primary) seems to make my ride very uneventful...in a good way

 

[pshore]

I spend my commuting life cycling or motorcycling. You forget what it is like to queue for traffic lights and have them go red again before you get to the front !

 

[Andy_R]

I get more impatient with cyclists who aren't doing it right. If I see a cyclist approaching a pinch point with out moving out to take primary, I start shouting "Move out!" You silly Barsteward! Why aren't you looking behind?" It driveS SWMBO mad.