Effing Cylclists
Discussion
My it's annoying!
Travelling to work this morning along wide roads, with 2 lanes in both directions with a number of traffic lights.
Early morning so not very much traffic at all
At 2 sets of lights I am in the outside lane while the lights are on red, and there is either a bus or large lorry on the inside lane. So what does the cyclist I can see coming up behind in my rear view mirror do, but go down the gap between me and the other vehicle to my left, and then as the lights turn to green pull off slightly in front of me forcing me to slow down and then pull back into the inside lane forcing the large vehicle to slow down.
When I indicated my annoyance with his riding style he got most agitated. Was all I could do to restrain myself from doing something silly in my large vehicle compared to his chosen mode of transport!!
Travelling to work this morning along wide roads, with 2 lanes in both directions with a number of traffic lights.
Early morning so not very much traffic at all
At 2 sets of lights I am in the outside lane while the lights are on red, and there is either a bus or large lorry on the inside lane. So what does the cyclist I can see coming up behind in my rear view mirror do, but go down the gap between me and the other vehicle to my left, and then as the lights turn to green pull off slightly in front of me forcing me to slow down and then pull back into the inside lane forcing the large vehicle to slow down.
When I indicated my annoyance with his riding style he got most agitated. Was all I could do to restrain myself from doing something silly in my large vehicle compared to his chosen mode of transport!!
Edited by DuncanDisorderly on Friday 2nd December 14:12
Edited by DuncanDisorderly on Friday 2nd December 14:13
DuncanDisorderly said:
My it's annoying!
Travelling to work this morning along wide roads, with 2 loans in both directions with a number of traffic lights.
Early morning so not very much traffic at all
At 2 sets of lights I am in the outside lane while the lights are on red, and there is either a bus or large lossy on the inside lane. So what does the cyclist I can see coming up behind in my rear view mirror do, but go down the gap between me and the other vehicle to my left, and then as the lights turn to green pull off slightly in front of me forcing me to slow down and then pull back into the inside lane forcing the large vehicle to slow down.
When I indicated my annoyance with his riding style he got most agitated. Was all I could do to restrain myself from doing something silly in my large vehicle compared to his chosen mode of transport!!
Watch out for the cycling silk who rides with a go pro camera on his head recording every journey and publishing it on youtube etc Travelling to work this morning along wide roads, with 2 loans in both directions with a number of traffic lights.
Early morning so not very much traffic at all
At 2 sets of lights I am in the outside lane while the lights are on red, and there is either a bus or large lossy on the inside lane. So what does the cyclist I can see coming up behind in my rear view mirror do, but go down the gap between me and the other vehicle to my left, and then as the lights turn to green pull off slightly in front of me forcing me to slow down and then pull back into the inside lane forcing the large vehicle to slow down.
When I indicated my annoyance with his riding style he got most agitated. Was all I could do to restrain myself from doing something silly in my large vehicle compared to his chosen mode of transport!!
http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.com/
Classic Grad 98 said:
What do you propose to do, overtake him on the left, leaving him to cycle between two lanes of traffic on center lines/cat eyes?
Fair play to cyclist in this case I reckon.
What I propose he does is stay on the inside of the road next to the curb. As he deliberately rides between me and the other vehicle to my left he pulls away from the traffic lights in the middle of the two lanes effectively blocking both lanes of vehicles trying to move away from the traffic lights.Fair play to cyclist in this case I reckon.
Y'know they put those little green areas of tarmac with a cycle stencil in front of everything else for a reason...It's so the rest of us in our metal cans get the chance to allow cyclists to be seen and for us to give way whilst they get the hell out of the way.
It's unfortunate that the only way they can get to this 'refuge' is by travelling between already stationary vehicles. It's also unfortunate that they can't pull away in a straight line (like we can).
What's more unfortunate is that some people think they own the roads and a mere cyclist who doesn't pay any road tax should never be allowed on the road.
Chill out chap and let the cyclist get out of the way...it only adds a second or two to your journey. Getting all aerated about them does no one any good.
It's unfortunate that the only way they can get to this 'refuge' is by travelling between already stationary vehicles. It's also unfortunate that they can't pull away in a straight line (like we can).
What's more unfortunate is that some people think they own the roads and a mere cyclist who doesn't pay any road tax should never be allowed on the road.
Chill out chap and let the cyclist get out of the way...it only adds a second or two to your journey. Getting all aerated about them does no one any good.
DuncanDisorderly said:
My it's annoying!
Travelling to work this morning along wide roads, with 2 loans in both directions with a number of traffic lights.
Early morning so not very much traffic at all
At 2 sets of lights I am in the outside lane while the lights are on red, and there is either a bus or large lossy on the inside lane. So what does the cyclist I can see coming up behind in my rear view mirror do, but go down the gap between me and the other vehicle to my left, and then as the lights turn to green pull off slightly in front of me forcing me to slow down and then pull back into the inside lane forcing the large vehicle to slow down.
When I indicated my annoyance with his riding style he got most agitated. Was all I could do to restrain myself from doing something silly in my large vehicle compared to his chosen mode of transport!!
So you would rather he go ont he inside where theres a high cnace of him getting caught by the bus or lorry that cant see him? And its going to had what, wabout 10 seconds to your journey? Get realTravelling to work this morning along wide roads, with 2 loans in both directions with a number of traffic lights.
Early morning so not very much traffic at all
At 2 sets of lights I am in the outside lane while the lights are on red, and there is either a bus or large lossy on the inside lane. So what does the cyclist I can see coming up behind in my rear view mirror do, but go down the gap between me and the other vehicle to my left, and then as the lights turn to green pull off slightly in front of me forcing me to slow down and then pull back into the inside lane forcing the large vehicle to slow down.
When I indicated my annoyance with his riding style he got most agitated. Was all I could do to restrain myself from doing something silly in my large vehicle compared to his chosen mode of transport!!
oldsoak said:
Y'know they put those little green areas of tarmac with a cycle stencil in front of everything else for a reason...It's so the rest of us in our metal cans get the chance to allow cyclists to be seen and for us to give way whilst they get the hell out of the way.
Quite true. But OP said there was hardly any traffic about. Just imagine you're a cyclist riding down a dual carriageway. Stopped at some lights are some vehicles which are capable of travelling at the speed limit. Say you can ride at, say, half that. Either it's a new bike or your balance is not the best. No matter. Do you
a) think "hmmm, I won't get in their way, plus given the road is so empty, I'm at greater risk in front of them than behind, so I'll stop just behind them and keep left, that way I'll be safest, since they'll only want to pass me straight away when the lights change?"
or
b) "Hey they're stopped I can fit down this narrow gap between them and get in front".
So you pick option b). Then consider if by your actions you were being an inconsiderate
. Discuss (but without going off at a tangent into speculating on the behaviour of other road users 
).
jazzyjeff said:
Quite true. But OP said there was hardly any traffic about.
Then it was no great big deal for the OP to allow the cyclist to get out of the way then.....jazzyjeff said:
Just imagine you're a cyclist riding down a dual carriageway.
I'd rather not...I'm too old and errrm...'lumpy' to wear lycra...but anyways...jazzyjeff said:
Stopped at some lights are some vehicles which are capable of travelling at the speed limit. Say you can ride at, say, half that. Either it's a new bike or your balance is not the best. No matter. Do you
a) think "hmmm, I won't get in their way, plus given the road is so empty, I'm at greater risk in front of them than behind, so I'll stop just behind them and keep left, that way I'll be safest, since they'll only want to pass me straight away when the lights change?"
or
b) "Hey they're stopped I can fit down this narrow gap between them and get in front".
So you pick option b). Then consider if by your actions you were being an inconsiderate. Discuss (but without going off at a tangent into speculating on the behaviour of other road users ).
How about an option 'C'...the one that says I'd make sure everyone could see me and if that meant riding between stationary vehicles to get to such a point...I would do just that...rather that than end up squished by a big metal can whilst in their blind spot...what?a) think "hmmm, I won't get in their way, plus given the road is so empty, I'm at greater risk in front of them than behind, so I'll stop just behind them and keep left, that way I'll be safest, since they'll only want to pass me straight away when the lights change?"
or
b) "Hey they're stopped I can fit down this narrow gap between them and get in front".
So you pick option b). Then consider if by your actions you were being an inconsiderate
. Discuss (but without going off at a tangent into speculating on the behaviour of other road users ).How did I do?
I'm not much of a cyclist any more, but when I did a cycle commute I'd always keep to the inside unless filter lanes meant that wasn't safe. In the scenario described above I'd either hang behind (and to the left of) the vehicle to the left of the OP's car, or in front of and to the left of the same vehicle. I don't understand why you'd go between the two vehicles if the left hand lane wasn't a filter lane?
In my opinion, based on many years of cycling (CPT 
) the cyclist should have pulled up in the queue of traffic behind the Bus/Lorry in the left hand lane and waited for the lights to change.
Filtering to the front is all well and good on a motorbike which has the acceleration to get away quickly, doing it on a bike in the middle of the road is stupid.
Why would you need to get in front of vehicles "to let them see you" whilst you wobble across in front of them? stay behind them in complete safety!
The guy put himself in a dangerous position, why try and justify it?
) the cyclist should have pulled up in the queue of traffic behind the Bus/Lorry in the left hand lane and waited for the lights to change.Filtering to the front is all well and good on a motorbike which has the acceleration to get away quickly, doing it on a bike in the middle of the road is stupid.
Why would you need to get in front of vehicles "to let them see you" whilst you wobble across in front of them? stay behind them in complete safety!
The guy put himself in a dangerous position, why try and justify it?
Ms Demeanor said:
Watch out for the cycling silk who rides with a go pro camera on his head recording every journey and publishing it on youtube etc
http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.com/
That's a pretty interesting blog, actually.http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.com/
erdnase said:
Ms Demeanor said:
Watch out for the cycling silk who rides with a go pro camera on his head recording every journey and publishing it on youtube etc
http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.com/
That's a pretty interesting blog, actually.http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.com/
Yes I know he should have looked both ways but the cyclist was partly to blame there.
jagracer said:
Didn't bother with the blog but in his video where he says he was stationary he did ride down the wrong side of the road where the driver would've been looking in the opposite direction to see if it was clear.
Yes I know he should have looked both ways but the cyclist was partly to blame there.
AFAIK, in terms of the law, the car driver is 100% to blame. The argument can be made that the cyclist should have anticipated, etc, which he did to an extent and got away with a buckled wheel.Yes I know he should have looked both ways but the cyclist was partly to blame there.
I wouldn't ride a bike in busy city traffic for all the money in the world.
erdnase said:
AFAIK, in terms of the law, the car driver is 100% to blame. The argument can be made that the cyclist should have anticipated, etc, which he did to an extent and got away with a buckled wheel.
I wouldn't ride a bike in busy city traffic for all the money in the world.
Whether the law is an arse or not is one thing but the cyclist was still way over on the wrong side of the road and even if the cyclist is in the right being right doesn't help if you are dead.I wouldn't ride a bike in busy city traffic for all the money in the world.
DuncanDisorderly said:
What I propose he does is stay on the inside of the road next to the curb. As he deliberately rides between me and the other vehicle to my left he pulls away from the traffic lights in the middle of the two lanes effectively blocking both lanes of vehicles trying to move away from the traffic lights.
NO, riding up by the Curb is suicidal.On the inside you get people cutting too close, a big vehicle turning left can crush you etc. you either get to the front and cycle damn hard to get upto speed or you keep your place in traffic.
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