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

[Origamist]

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


Oh, and by-the-way...

I'd like to buy that postminimalist streetscape. I'll open the bidding at 4p.

 

[jonny jeez]

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

hmmm, (eyes looking off into the middle distance)

 

[magnatom]

I avoided the use of the words primary and secondary intentionally. I find that I get nearly as much hassle being in secondary (in certain situations) as I do in primary. General aggression and impatience on the roads is certainly a contributor, but I think ignorance is important too.

 

[Crankarm]

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

SHARING THE ROAD WITH CYCLISTS

........

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.

WTF! I don't like this final paragraph. The advice was reading well until this ending was shoved in which is totally at odds with the advice above it.

 

[magnatom]

WTF! I don't like this final paragraph. The advice was reading well until this ending was shoved in which is totally at odds with the advice above it.

I can understand why it is in there, though.

Imagine a driver reading the proceeding paragraphs....imagine how infuriated they are getting,....'but these bl**dy' cyclists are a law unto themselves...' and then he reads the last paragraph that confirms his stereotypical view of cyclists (although it does say some, not all), and he calms down and thinks all is well again.

I can live with it as long as he follows the advice.

 

[jonny jeez]

WTF! I don't like this final paragraph. The advice was reading well until this ending was shoved in which is totally at odds with the advice above it.

Crankers, I've read that para about 5 times now, looking for the element that offends you.
It all seems pretty factual and states opinions that we seem to share. they are irresponsible, they do put others at risk, it is against the law etc.

The only bit I can see is the last line advising drivers to give "BAD" cyclist a wide berth. further cementing the view that its okay to drive close to the ones that seem to know what they are doing.

IMO this adds weight to BM's feelings that a good wobble works wonders.

 

[Matthames]

There are a couple of reasons I would like to add.

Solid wall at the side of the road. I need to be further out, because if somebody decided to overtake too close I need somewhere to go and not be squashed between solid concrete and a ton of metal.

Left hand bend. A lot of drivers tend to cut in whilst going around left hand bends, by moving out slightly drivers will have to widen the line they take to overtake me. This gives me room if the driver passes me close. Going down country lanes I would normally ride on the offside around left handers if it is safe to do so, so that I have good visibility around the corner.

With the drains, there are some drains on my route that are sunken and need to be avoided like the plague.

 

[stephenjubb]

I agree entirely with all of above. I do all of what Magnatron does and this year in all my cyxling (including 2500 miles on tour in UK this year, 1300 Southern England, 1200 miles Scotland) I never got any hassle whatsoever apart from once where I was confused on a large roundabout and got the fingers from a driver - fair enough.

The second time was when I was going up a hill in portree and a car was too close and I stopped as I was knackered on the hill, got the finger.

I wonder why I get no hassle but Magnatron does, possibly it is because I do not cycle in rush hour?
and thus do not experience stressed out drivers?

 

[stephenjubb]

mistake post

 

[jimboalee]

I'd like to buy that postminimalist streetscape. I'll open the bidding at 4p.

Received with thanks.

 

[potsy]

I agree entirely with all of above. I do all of what Magnatron does and this year in all my cyxling (including 2500 miles on tour in UK this year, 1300 Southern England, 1200 miles Scotland) I never got any hassle whatsoever apart from once where I was confused on a large roundabout and got the fingers from a driver - fair enough.

The second time was when I was going up a hill in portree and a car was too close and I stopped as I was knackered on the hill, got the finger.

I wonder why I get no hassle but Magnatron does, possibly it is because I do not cycle in rush hour?
and thus do not experience stressed out drivers?

Who is this Magnatron that you speak of?

 

[Andrew_P]

I was thinking this yesterday, I was considering a Hi VIs with this on the back "is it worth killing me to save 30 seconds?"

Trouble is my back is not big enough by the time the can read it it would have been too late.

I do think some club runs or partnered cyclist do not help the cause merrily cycling two maybe three a breast whilst a queue of traffic is trying to overtake. I also understand it may frustrate a non cycling driver stuck behind me or anyone else who has decided that the cyclepath at the end of a 30mph hill with those huge trees over it and the leaves all over it is a wee bit too dangerous, might not understand.

I have had two bad driver epsiodes that I wish I had a camera for, one was a clear attempt to dismantle me and my bike at speed in to a parked car, and the other was someone offering me out for a punch up becuse was was hogging a left turn lane but going straight on, maybe held him up for all of a minute.

Strangely mistake do not bother me so much, after all none of us are perfect, what really pees me off is the deliberate ones and abusive ones

 

[yello]

Going down country lanes I would normally ride on the offside around left handers if it is safe to do so, so that I have good visibility around the corner.

Caveat! Tricky one, the above, because the visibility aspect is sound advice. Think of the blind left hander. The problem comes when you have some twonk coming at you and cutting the corner. You've potentially put yourself right in their path.

If you have the visibility you will see the car sooner and perhaps be better placed to take evasive action... maybe. But with limited visibility you're also less likely to be in their path (sadly not guaranteed though!) in the first place and so avoid an incident altogether. It's a bit of a catch 22 really, since if you can see it's "safe to do so" then you also potentially don't need to.

I think each situation has to be dealt with on it's own merits, and the sound advice people are offering here needs to be treated as guides - it's not carved in stone. Be aware of the potential for problems in such places (and on the open road generally) and decide a course of action as the situations befit.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

<snip>
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 too 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.
</snip>

Well put, Mags... we can only hope that some of the muppets can actually read and will take it in. One minor alteration above though (sorry to be pedantic).

 

[BSRU]

Who is this Magnatron that you speak of?

Was he in Transformers.