What is going on?

[2Loose]

On my way home today I was pleasantly surprised by large numbers of good drivers. Cars holding back behind me well before pinch points, very wide overtaking and even someone making a space for me in a queue of traffic.

A great commute was then spoiled when I got home to realise that I had left my door keys in my work locker. A lovely ten mile return trip for me to experience such good traffic manners was no consolation!

 

[mog35]

I had the complete opposite today! Loads of overtakes that were too close for comfort and people nearly pulling out on me, and a couple of pointless overtakes where the driver had an urgent need to join the queue of non-moving traffic just in front

Although this afternoon I cycled along a busy dual carriageway I don't normally use and happily most drivers along this stretch gave me lots of room, so many thanks to them

 

[kedab]

had a great ride in this morning with drivers giving me room and taking notice of my intentions - i've begun taking primary nice and early (i've only been commuting 2 weeks) and most drivers seemed perfectly happy to hang back today - it's probably a mix of me getting better and more confident which is giving drivers more confidence that i'm not about to do something mental in front of them...actually on that note, is there a 'correct' way to say 'thank you' to a passing motorist when they've been nice? i do get the feeling i look rather odd riding thumbs up and doubt very much that they see me

 

[briantrumpet]

actually on that note, is there a 'correct' way to say 'thank you' to a passing motorist when they've been nice? i do get the feeling i look rather odd riding thumbs up and doubt very much that they see me.

I splay the fingers of my right hand while still keeping the hand on the brake lever hood (road bike) when I can hear/see someone is passing considerately, or has been holding back for a safe place to pass. A significant proportion of drivers will wave a 'thank you' back as they pass (but maybe that's Devon for you.) I only do a thumbs-up if I've signalled right to pull into a lane of traffic and someone nice has let me pull out - the hand's already there, and the thumb just needs to be extended and the fingers curled.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

had a great ride in this morning with drivers giving me room and taking notice of my intentions - i've begun taking primary nice and early (i've only been commuting 2 weeks) and most drivers seemed perfectly happy to hang back today - it's probably a mix of me getting better and more confident which is giving drivers more confidence that i'm not about to do something mental in front of them...actually on that note, is there a 'correct' way to say 'thank you' to a passing motorist when they've been nice? i do get the feeling i look rather odd riding thumbs up and doubt very much that they see me

I think it's precisely the considerate drivers who are the most likely to notice the thumbs up/thank you gesture - I usually stick a right hand up in the air and finish the acknowledgement with a thumbs up. A few times I've even been given the thumbs up in return as the driver's pulled past me. I suppose I could be churlish and not acknowledge the fact that someone has just had the good sense not to knock me off the bike, but with the thanks, everybody gets a chance to feel a little better - it keeps the whole thing human.

(but maybe that's Devon for you.)

It even happens in south-east London

 

[upsidedown]

I think it's the ripple effect. More people now know somebody who commutes by bike so it makes people see cyclists as human, nit just another traffic item.

 

[TheDoctor]

I very narrowly avoided a nasty off as some nutter ran straight into my path, very nearly into my front wheel.
Bloody squirrels!

 

[JamesAC]

had a great ride in this morning with drivers giving me room and taking notice of my intentions - i've begun taking primary nice and early (i've only been commuting 2 weeks) and most drivers seemed perfectly happy to hang back today - it's probably a mix of me getting better and more confident which is giving drivers more confidence that i'm not about to do something mental in front of them...actually on that note, is there a 'correct' way to say 'thank you' to a passing motorist when they've been nice? i do get the feeling i look rather odd riding thumbs up and doubt very much that they see me

If I'm doing a right from a main road into a side turning, I'll have my right arm already sticking out. Sometimes (quite often, actually) a driver coming in the opposite direction will slow and flash his lights. I make a HUGE gesture of acknowledgement with my right arm, turn (with care .. he might have been flashing for some other reason) , then do a thumbs up with my left.

 

[BentMikey]

It goes both ways!


View: http://youtu.be/s0CRUpmypYk


..and letting out the golf driver (ignoring the clown on the phone)


View: http://youtu.be/-WAtDYwQVNw


...for some reason I came across 5 drivers on the phone yesterday. There are probably more than this on most commutes, but I tend only to spot the more obvious ones and not spend time and effort checking every car.

 

[RedRider]

I suppose I could be churlish and not acknowledge the fact that someone has just had the good sense not to knock me off the bike, but with the thanks, everybody gets a chance to feel a little better - it keeps the whole thing human.

Deffo. One of the great joys of urban cycling is being able to communicate easily with other road users.

 

[Wankelschrauben]

Yesterday I had a few idiots not moving over for me at all, I was cycling between the double yellow lines so not really taking a lot of room and some numb nuts drove past practically on the yellow lines also.

I had another person refuse to let enter the turn off lane, beeping at me as he passed calling me some form of profanity. He was followed by a long que of cars that were all oblivious to the fact I wast signalling to turn right. I had to get off and use the pedestrian crossing where I received more abuse for daring to use it whilst on a bicycle.

For all that, I did encounter an example of a nice guy who let me go infront of him and drove defensively to stop the self-gratification artists behind repeating what had just occured.

He actually stopped and let me get back into the lane I'd just been forced out of and then matched my pace behind me of 17 mph as if defending my up the incline until I reached the start of one of the very few cycle lanes we have in Maidstone.

 

[Cubist]

Set off late and ended up sharing with the school run Mums. I have only ever experienced this horror a couple of times before, as I'm usually at work by 8. Videos to follow, but car-doored and SMIDSY'd within the first couple of minutes, certainly sets you up for the day!

 

[2Loose]

Set off late and ended up sharing with the school run Mums. I have only ever experienced this horror a couple of times before, as I'm usually at work by 8. Videos to follow, but car-doored and SMIDSY'd within the first couple of minutes, certainly sets you up for the day!

Ah, running the gauntlet of the dreaded school runners. I changed my route to avoid passing two schools on the way to work, but your post brings up horrible memories.

 

[cyberknight]

They are going back to work after a long break and are full of the joys of the wedding

Was great at 5 am , hardly any traffic.