Would you overtake a cyclist whilst they indicate ?
Would you overtake a cyclist whilst they indicate ?
Author
Discussion

J4CKO

Original Poster:

46,824 posts

229 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
Happened to me twice in the last week, coming up to a roundabout to turn right this morning, checked over my shoulder, Black Lupo approaching but still at some distance so I could pull out, I indicate and hold my arm out for a few seconds prior to coming to the roundabout, I had moved out to the middle of the lane so she had to overtake right onto the other side (if anythign had come from the roundabout they would have found her on the wrong side), pulls in front then almost brakes to a standstill, then procees over the roundabout with a large angry cyclist riding almost alongside such was her turgid speed.

BMW, the other day, same scenario, looked, indicated and moved out, sails past and cuts in on me.

Do people not understand that an outstreched right arm means the same as a right indicator, do they think cyclists are having a good old stretch, would they overtake another car that was indicating right ?

Pannywagon

1,044 posts

215 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
Lupo/BMW

High proportion of stupid drivers found driving both of those vehicles.

They probably didn't even realise.

MadRob6

3,594 posts

249 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
More like they don't know what a bloody indicator means.

Almost got run over by a tt in a taxi yesterday who cruised up to a junction in a position to go straight on, no indicators. I started crossing and then he started turning at me whilst looking in the other direction.

In other words half the people on the road don't know what they're doing.

hurstg01

3,222 posts

272 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
Happened to me twice in the last week, coming up to a roundabout to turn right this morning, checked over my shoulder, Black Lupo approaching but still at some distance so I could pull out, I indicate and hold my arm out for a few seconds prior to coming to the roundabout, I had moved out to the middle of the lane so she had to overtake right onto the other side (if anythign had come from the roundabout they would have found her on the wrong side), pulls in front then almost brakes to a standstill, then procees over the roundabout with a large angry cyclist riding almost alongside such was her turgid speed.

BMW, the other day, same scenario, looked, indicated and moved out, sails past and cuts in on me.

Do people not understand that an outstreched right arm means the same as a right indicator, do they think cyclists are having a good old stretch, would they overtake another car that was indicating right ?
I think I've found the problem

pinchmeimdreamin

10,892 posts

247 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
But they pay Road Tax............





getmecoat forget I said that.


Torquey

1,957 posts

257 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
Give them them the benefit of the doubt it was probably 40 years ago they read that book that explains what your actions were for.
ranting

Pannywagon

1,044 posts

215 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
hurstg01 said:
J4CKO said:
Happened to me twice in the last week, coming up to a roundabout to turn right this morning, checked over my shoulder, Black Lupo approaching but still at some distance so I could pull out, I indicate and hold my arm out for a few seconds prior to coming to the roundabout, I had moved out to the middle of the lane so she had to overtake right onto the other side (if anythign had come from the roundabout they would have found her on the wrong side), pulls in front then almost brakes to a standstill, then procees over the roundabout with a large angry cyclist riding almost alongside such was her turgid speed.

BMW, the other day, same scenario, looked, indicated and moved out, sails past and cuts in on me.

Do people not understand that an outstreched right arm means the same as a right indicator, do they think cyclists are having a good old stretch, would they overtake another car that was indicating right ?
I think I've found the problem
yikesThey let them drive now?!? paperbag

J4CKO

Original Poster:

46,824 posts

229 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
hurstg01 said:
J4CKO said:
Happened to me twice in the last week, coming up to a roundabout to turn right this morning, checked over my shoulder, Black Lupo approaching but still at some distance so I could pull out, I indicate and hold my arm out for a few seconds prior to coming to the roundabout, I had moved out to the middle of the lane so she had to overtake right onto the other side (if anythign had come from the roundabout they would have found her on the wrong side), pulls in front then almost brakes to a standstill, then procees over the roundabout with a large angry cyclist riding almost alongside such was her turgid speed.

BMW, the other day, same scenario, looked, indicated and moved out, sails past and cuts in on me.

Do people not understand that an outstreched right arm means the same as a right indicator, do they think cyclists are having a good old stretch, would they overtake another car that was indicating right ?
I think I've found the problem
The BMW I am fairly certain was a male person.

monthefish

20,467 posts

260 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
Pannywagon said:
Lupo/BMW

High proportion of stupid drivers found driving both of those vehicles.
What a stupid comment.


ShadownINja

80,050 posts

311 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
Two issues spring to mind:
1) It's possible that she didn't see you indicate as she was watching traffic on the roundabout from the right. Your move to the right could have made her swear as it may have then been an unexpected move. And you should count yourself lucky she saw you move or you'd have ended up on her bonnet.
2) Signalling does not give you right of way whether you're in a car, bicycle or lorry thus when you made the move, it is up to you to make sure you're not hampering anyone's progress ie slowing them down or making them change direction.

That said, without being in her seat, it's hard to know whether it was blameless or she was a moron.

http://www.ukmotorists.com/highway%20code.asp?s=Si...

Edited by ShadownINja on Thursday 2nd September 17:07

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
in answer to the original question, I would aim only to overtake a cyclist when I could give them ample space, when I am as sure as I can be that I know what their intended route is and, in quiet traffic circumstances, when I know that they know I am there and about to pass them

but, as someones said ^^, signalling is just that, a signal - it doesn't give you the automatic right to make the manouvere you have in mind at the moment you want to

I cycle a lot and have learnt the hard way that most motorists wouldn't give a cyclist the steam off their urine on a cold day, let alone give them roadspace and any courtesy. Whoever is in the right or wrong when a car and cyclist collide, the cyclist is likely come off worst and being right doesn't mend broken bones or grazed skin and bent bikes

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

257 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
Had something else annoying happen on my bike last night. Was approaching a queue of traffic at a red light on my racer, riding a good distance from the kerb. As i'm approaching and slowing down I hear a car behind. I realise that this car isn't slowing down. Next minute they are alongside me (in a Seat Leon) straddling the white lines in the centre of the road.

As i'm on the racer i'm rolling at a fairish rate so the driver starts to try and cut across me (as we are now nearly behind the car infront). Cue the woman in the passenger seat glaring at me and gesturing me to move over. I ignore her and fortunately we reach the parked car before they have chance to cut me up even more.

I didn't want to be on the left side of a vehicle at that junction as there is a left turn. I don't like to be alongside vehicles when they are in a queue anyway. That is why I held my ground.

I can never understand why drivers try to push in or cut across you when you are approaching queues. If the queue was a fair distance away then i'm not going to impeed a vehicle's progress. But to try and cut in just as we're near the next vehicle? Silly.

Of more relevance to the op's post - I always signal when on the bike and always check for a clear moment to move into the right turn position. If people try to go around you or get annoyed then they really are stupid.

Edited by funkyrobot on Thursday 2nd September 17:15

ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
You just get some people who absolutely MUST overtake cyclists immediately, regardless of junctions, other traffic, width of road, etc. It's a bizarre attitude but not uncommon.

Rich_W

12,548 posts

241 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
As a cyclist I will just redress the balance.

Week or so back. Near wandsworth common. Guy on a bike, sticks his arm up to indicate. And AT THE SAME time just carves across the road, resulting in my nearly killing him. Would have been nice if he'd even looked! eek Shouted at him "Give me a fking chance, you !" He didn't even acknowledge me.

I'm sure Boris has some hand in this. As his promotion of cycling means you get all sorts of inexperienced tts thinking they have the first fking clue about safety and the way the world is. rolleyes I'm sure 90% of these divs think that I must be some evil car driver that's never ridden a bike too.

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

227 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
Car drivers who don't ride a push bike or motorbike are in general I'd say the worst drivers. As far as I can remember its always been said that motorcyclists make the best road drivers. Once you have spent some time on busy roads on a motorbike or pushbike you have far more respect for your surroundings.

cheadle hulme

2,502 posts

211 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
ShadownINja said:
it is up to you to make sure you're not hampering anyone's progress ie slowing them down or making them change direction.
I'm not sure I understand you. Are you saying a road user cannot make a valid maneouvre if it slows down following road users? How would I ever turn right on a busy road? Unless you expect me to wait at the kerb until all the busy car drivers have passed.

I'll quite happily force (yes force) following road users to slow down behind me if I need to make a turn or need more road space. No random or unexpected moves, just predictable, assertive cycling.

Munter

31,331 posts

270 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
quotequote all
On the other side of things. At a T-Junction the other day. Car in front pulls out, I move up towards the line while looking right. See a cyclist and stop.

Then the cyclist shouted (red face, spittle, very angry etc) "If you hadn't looked you wouldn't have seen me".

ummm...

Pannywagon

1,044 posts

215 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
monthefish said:
Pannywagon said:
Lupo/BMW

High proportion of stupid drivers found driving both of those vehicles.
What a stupid comment.
Oh, we're not allowed tongue in cheek comments anymore?


Vipers

33,501 posts

257 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
Slightly different slant, picture this.

I am cycling down the road, a car indicating left, overtakes me, no probs. She turns left, no probs, I follow as I am going that way also.

As SHE turns left, indicator still on, pulls over to the left hand side of road next to curb, (Me thinks, she is parking), so I pull out to overtake her.

HER still indicating LEFT, pulls out to the right and into her drive on the other side of the road, forcing me to turn right sharply, also ending up in her garden. (I was along side her when she started to move).

After calling her a fking stupid cow, she had the audacity to say "Well I was indicating".

"Yes", I said, "BUT BLOODY LEFT YOU STUPID COW".


frown

P.S. And yes I pay road tax, £210 a year as I recall, just in case the usual comments for cyclists.

Edited by Vipers on Friday 3rd September 09:08

Geoffcapes

1,287 posts

193 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
Doesn't your council tax pay for the roads these days?