Why I don't cycle right at the edge...

[magnatom]

Over the last week or so I have had a few drivers behind me, tailgating me, gesticulating at me and occasionally swearing at me. I've not posted the videos as I don't always have time to post these low grade muppet videos. Also as they are often behind me, I don't catch much on video.

Why do they hate me so? Because I don't cycle right at the edge and hold them up for a few seconds here or there. So, I thought I'd put down in writing (I'll add this to my blog as well to direct youtubers to it) the many reasons that I don't conform to these 'drivers' wishes.

If I am not cycling over to the left of the lane it is because of:

Drains - They are slippery, and they have slots that wheels can catch in, leading to crashes.

Debris - Yes I can and do cycle through muck and debris, but at the edge of the road, it can hide potholes, be slippy, and can force a wheel off at a different angle leading to crashes and collisions.

Potholes - They tend to congregate at the edge of the road. Hit a deep one and your are off, even shallow ones can change a wheels direction leading to a collision with a car.

Wind - If it is windy, I can wobble due to crosswinds that can hit unexpectedly. Therefore, I sometimes need more room to deal with this.

Narrow Road - If the road is narrow then there is not enough space for a car to overtake safely without crossing the central line, even if I am over to the left (3ft is a minimal distance from cyclist to car as due to above issues I might wobble). If i do cycle over to the left, some motorists see this as an invitation to squeeze past far to close. Therefore, I take a central position to encourage you only to overtake when it is safe to cross the white line and give me room.

Parked cars - I'm cycling along at 20mph close to a parked car, it's door opens, boom, next thing I know I am knocked onto the road and into the middle of the lane. As you were too close behind me, you ran straight over me and my bike. I am dead. This is not hypothetical, it has and does happen. A collegue of mine had a friend who died in exactly this manner. 3 door cars have doors that open surprisingly wide.

Junctions - At junctions, people do stupid things. They pull out when they shouldn't. If I am cycling at the left, I am less likely to be seen, an so these 'pull outs' are more likely. Also if I am at the side of the road, I am closer to the junction (coming from the left) and thus when the car does decide to pull out, I have less time to react than if I was more central.

Pedestrians - They have a habit of stepping out onto the side of the road.

Left hooks - On approach to a junction on the left, cars behind me see me as a challenge. 'I can get past that cyclist and turn into that junction no problem. No you can't. Often the cyclist has to brake hard to avoid the car turning right in front of them. To prevent this, I will cycle in a position that discourages this type of overtake, i.e. not on the left.

Railings - Where there are railings at the side of the road the worst thing that could happen is for a car to pass close forcing the cyclist into the railings. So I will cycle away from the left to avoid that situation.

Light controlled junctions - Many drivers like to think of these as a racing grid, and to speed away. Who cares about the cyclist, I can squeeze past. Not if I am away from the edge you can't.

Fast moving dual-carriageway - If I am over on the left cars will pass close and fast. Very dangerous. So I ride out from the left. Anyway there is a second lane to move over into and overtake safely.

Combination of all of the above - Imagine I am on a fast moving dual carriageway with a junction on the left, with railings on the pavement, a few potholes and debris at the edge of the road, some drains and it is windy. Where do you think I should be?

So there are plenty of reasons for not being on the left. So please do not drive 20cm from my back tyre, shout or swear. I am not trying to hold you up, and I am just trying to get to work/ get home safely. You'll find your BP will be lower and that you will still join the queue up ahead before it moves past the lights onto the next queue beyond.


Thank you.

 

[Crankarm]

.............I am not trying to hold you up, and I am just trying to get to work/ get home safely. You'll find your BP will be lower and that you will still make join the queue up ahead before it moves past the lights onto the next queue beyond.


Thank you.

Hmmm ........... certainly not a shred of evidence of this Magnatom ........ even when you cycle down the outside lane of a dual carriageway at 47mph over taking slower moving vehicles on the near side .

 

[CharlieB]

So there are plenty of reasons for not being on the left. So please do not drive 20cm from my back tyre, shout or swear. I am not trying to hold you up, and I am just trying to get to work/ get home safely. You'll find your BP will be lower and that you will still make join the queue up ahead before it moves past the lights onto the next queue beyond.

Thank you.

+1 to all of that, the last point is particularly pertinent.

All those points are irrefutable, so thank you for putting it all into words.

 

[BSRU]

Sounds like you need a rear facing camera, I find footage from the rear camera useful for building up the whole picture of what happened plus it captures the numpty types you are experiencing.

Get a Dinotte 400R, that will make them give you more space.

 

[magnatom]

Sounds like you need a rear facing camera, I find footage from the rear camera useful for building up the whole picture of what happened plus it captures the numpty types you are experiencing.

Get a Dinotte 400R, that will make them give you more space.

Money! It all costs money!!

 

[fossyant]

Or two magicshine rears.....or practice your "hard mean barsteward look"................. didn't work last week with me when a guy tried to drive me off the road though.

Or ride faster

Or wobble a bit more

 

[magnatom]

I am disappointed in you guys! Your blaming the victim here! The answer is that drivers need to be more patient. The problem is that they are often ignorant of all of the things in my list. When in a car you don't notice the debris, drains, wind, etc. They can also often be ignorant of the dangers, i.e. railings, the effects of a close pass etc.

What we need is a leaflet like Jonny's cycle safety leaflet but aimed at drivers explaining why we do, what we do.

 

[BSRU]

I am disappointed in you guys! Your blaming the victim here! The answer is that drivers need to be more patient. The problem is that they are often ignorant of all of the things in my list. When in a car you don't notice the debris, drains, wind, etc. They can also often be ignorant of the dangers, i.e. railings, the effects of a close pass etc.

What we need is a leaflet like Jonny's cycle safety leaflet but aimed at drivers explaining why we do, what we do.

Unfortunately, the problem is the perpetrators don't give a sh1t. It is obvious to even the most mentally challenged motorist that driving too close is very dangerous but still they do it, to cyclists and other motorists, just look at all the tailgater's in the fast lane of any motorway.

 

[magnatom]

Unfortunately, the problem is the perpetrators don't give a sh1t. It is obvious to even the most mentally challenged motorist that driving too close is very dangerous but still they do it, to cyclists and other motorists, just look at all the tailgater's in the fast lane of any motorway.

True, but there is also a large element of ignorance. If I had a penny for every time a motorist said, you should be at the side...

Just yesterday a driver was shouting at me for not being further over. As he stopped at the queue that we both reached about the same time, I pointed out that cars can open doors (lots of parked cars right where he wanted me). You could see a moment of realisation, followed by general cursing and swearing. He couldn't back down once he'd started, but he no longer suggested that I should be over on the left. Had he know about that before hand, the issue might not have arisen.

 

[BSRU]

True, but there is also a large element of ignorance. If I had a penny for every time a motorist said, you should be at the side...

Just yesterday a driver was shouting at me for not being further over. As he stopped at the queue that we both reached about the same time, I pointed out that cars can open doors (lots of parked cars right where he wanted me). You could see a moment of realisation, followed by general cursing and swearing. He couldn't back down once he'd started, but he no longer suggested that I should be over on the left. Had he know about that before hand, the issue might not have arisen.

Plus the "Car is King" attitude of some motorists, anyone on a bicycle obviously cannot afford to join the road royalty and should be treated like the peasants they are. Not great when combined with the "mad rush to get nowhere" lots of drivers are in these days.

 

[jack cameron]

Magnatom..I will take you serious here.....Your list has hit it right on the nail....Drivers just don't realise the dangers that we face riding too close to the left hand side.The dangers that you have listed are SPOT ON. Drivers really have to either use a bit of common sense,or better still,be educated on the dangers that we face every day on the roads.Excellent points.
Jack

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Combination of all of the above - Imagine I am on a fast moving dual carriageway with a junction on the left, with railings on the pavement, a few potholes and debris at the edge of the road, some drains and it is windy. Where do you think I should be?

Queueing at the post office paying your road tax of course, duh!

Talk about asking a silly question

 

[Origamist]

I am disappointed in you guys! Your blaming the victim here! The answer is that drivers need to be more patient. The problem is that they are often ignorant of all of the things in my list. When in a car you don't notice the debris, drains, wind, etc. They can also often be ignorant of the dangers, i.e. railings, the effects of a close pass etc.

What we need is a leaflet like Jonny's cycle safety leaflet but aimed at drivers explaining why we do, what we do.

The IAM used to have the following factsheet on their website:

SHARING THE ROAD WITH CYCLISTS

Cyclists all travel at different speeds and have different levels of road experience. As a driver, you will need to take care to judge their speed as well as the road and weather conditions from the cyclist's point of view. Remember too that some cyclists, particularly younger ones, have never driven a car, and so don’t recognise the problems that they can cause car drivers. In an accident involving a car and a cyclist, whoever is to blame the cyclist will always be the more vulnerable to a serious injury. The following tips for motorists have been prepared with the National Cycling Strategy Board to avoid adding to the 2,500 cyclists killed or seriously injured each year.


Cyclists don’t have steel armour round them like we do. Passing them at speed within a foot of their elbow may feel perfectly safe from where you are, but it is very disconcerting when you are the cyclist.

Sounding your horn when you are close will startle them, maybe into swerving in front of you. They will usually be aware of you already! Slow down around cyclists and drive smoothly. Keep within the speed limit.

In traffic, make sure that you don’t cut up a cyclist who is about to pass you on the near side. Don't try to cut across a cyclist when you need to turn left at a junction. Wait behind the cyclist until the cyclist has either turned left or passed the junction.

Park with care and prevent any passengers from opening a door until you are sure that there is no cyclist coming up on either side. Likewise, check over your shoulder to see there’s no cyclist approaching before opening the driver’s door

Cyclists are advised to take a prominent position in the road well ahead of any manoeuvre to ensure they are in the right place at the right time. If they ride in the middle of the road it is probably not to obstruct your path, but to ensure that they are seen by you and by other motorists. Cyclists often ride at some distance from the kerb to avoid drains and potholes and to discourage motorists from squeezing them on narrow roads. It is not in their interest to delay motorists deliberately. Remember too that their ability to signal is limited compared to ours, so try to anticipate what they might do from the position they have taken on the road. Please be patient.

Advanced stop lines are for cyclists alone and should be respected, so leave the space between the two sets of stop lines empty, whether or not cyclists are occupying it when you arrive.

Be aware of where cycle lanes terminate, because this often means road space is more scarce and that in turn can make a cyclist more vulnerable.

Give young riders even more space than older ones; both old and young riders may swerve suddenly to avoid debris or potholes, but young people are more prone to forget your presence when they do.

Remember to use all your mirrors with extra care before changing direction when there are cyclists about. There might be a cyclist in your blind spot. Pay particular attention on roundabouts, as many accidents to cyclists happen at these junctions. Always signal at roundabouts.

Finally, every motorist has seen some irresponsible cyclists use the pavement, road and zebra crossings, seemingly at random. This is not only dangerous for pedestrians but unlawful, and the police can and do issue penalty notices for such offences. The police take a serious view of such careless or dangerous cycling, particularly when it puts other road users at risk. Responsible motorists give such irresponsible cyclists a wide berth.

​

 

[jimboalee]

Or two machinegun rears.....or practice your "hard mean barsteward look"................. didn't work last week with me when a guy tried to drive me off the road though.

Or ride faster

Or wobble a bit more

Dyslexia again.

 

[jimboalee]

Today's midday ride. A short 50km jaunt to keep my city riding skills honed to perfection.


Oh, and by-the-way...