I've only just started cycling on the road, after being a driver and motorcyclist, and in honesty, it's a complete nightmare working out the best way to be.

I mentioned it on another thread but I noticed immediately that if you try and keep over to give cars room to pass, they reward your generosity by scything past and brushing you elbow. But if you are selfish, and take up a whole lane, they give you a car's width.

Also, at traffic lights, I feel a sort of onus to get away from them as quickly as possible, and the move over, prepared for the onslaught of traffic that passes me. I think the key thing is to clear the junction and avoid left turners as fast as you can...

Difficult, with no easy answer I suspect.

But the only reason they don't hold the cyclist up is that he can filter!

My solution to London traffic is - as far as possible - to avoid the place like the plague!

Yes I was conscious of this and its a fair point.
BUt this was my suprise. This was not the minority by any means. It is a general school of thought that it is acceptable to do (which it may be, IM just yet to be convinced)

Me neither. Thats what I dont understand about it.

I'd rather take my place towards the front but not at the front of the queue.

far less pressure and far less exposed that way.

I drive in London almost every day. I used to ride a motorbike in London very regularly for my then commute. I have now had the pleasure of riding a bike in London as well as Boris Bikes for short trips around.

The general standards of cyclists and motorists are absolutely appalling. Truly awful! (Yes, sweeping generalisation)

I think it is the motorbike which made me a much better driver and in turn, cyclist.

Two lovely examples of cyclists 'pushing' to the front at lights:

Driving and sitting in a normal short queue to exit Regents Park, ASL at the front for bikes. Several bikes filter past and sit waiting for lights to change. I have been there for two complete phases as only 3 or 4 cars sometimes get out depending on traffic and muppetry etc.

I am now no 2 in the queue so can clearly see the bikes etc. Guess what? Another cyclist comes down the middle and squeezes right to the front of the bikes waiting - forget the cars - and sits there, unclipped.

Lights change and he isn't paying attention, no anticipation despite probably being his normal route every day I imagine. Faffs and fumbles on Green holding almost everyone up - including other bikes due to his wobbling and need to clip back in immediately rather than once moving. Muppet and selfish g1t to boot. I made it through the lights and was the last one to do so in a car....

Second regular instance of muppets pushing in is at the bottom of Wellington St waiting to cross over to Waterloo Bridge on a cycle specific light!!! FFS.

The 'queue' forms very quickly as quite a busy route for all sorts of bikes. There is in effect a signed bicycle lane with arrows for heading South and a lane for Northbound coming from Waterloo bridge up into Wellington street (Cant attach Google street view or would be clear).

I sat there one day for two pints (ahem) and pretty much on every single phase, the queue would form and maybe be 20+ bikes all two abreast in the Southbound lane waiting, then selfish pr1cks would glide down the 'up' lane pushing right to the front of other cycle commuters - not once did anyone say anything, despite it happening over and over again! On a couple of occasions, the back of the queue didnt even clear the lights and waited for next green - only for it to happen all over again!

I am not sure that it is the fact of cycling, I imagine these g1ts would do the same at a Petrol station, bar/pub or anything really - just is so obvious and annoying as a cyclist to see such utter disregard for other road users; let alone other cyclists!

wkers




(ps - Now take a breath....... )

Yes, yes, but if you had noticed we are talking about the ones that aren't.

I think you are confusing rush hour traffic volumes with cars holding up bikes. Traffic in general encompasses bikes.

So it's ok for you to single out some cyclists causing you delays (not, I notice, rush hour traffic in general, but cyclists specifically), but not ok for him to single out some cars as causing him delays.

There's no answer, is there? London is a capitol city, with capitol city congestion and standards of driving. It is the motorised traffic that is causing the congestion, the congestion charge, the accidents and pollution. It's all in an area of excellent public transport too, so very little car use is actually necessary.