Twitter cyclists v Twitter driver video - who's right?

[Ken Figenus]

Conflict that gets no one anywhere but who is in the wrong here - many seem to think it 100% clear cut:

https://twitter.com/petemorristwit/status/13680179...

Edited by Ken Figenus on Sunday 7th March 14:13

[Ken Figenus]

the tribester said:

The cyclist on the left is stopping to turn back having just seen the cyclist ahead of him come off his bike whilst turning right.

The car driver maybe didn't see that.

Who's right in what??

Yes maybe its more who was in the wrong in almost causing a collision...

[Ken Figenus]

I cycle loads too - just come back from a fab 10 mile leisure run.

It seems beyond clear cut for some that the driver was 100% totally at fault though and they are raging. What I see is that the cyclist goes to do an U turn (since his mate washed out his front wheel on that right turn) but went to do it without looking first. This being the 'lifesaver' look as I was taught... I'd apportion 80% cyclist and 20% driver for being a bit quick with things.

The anti car sentiment in some cyclists on Twitter is something else - crazy statements like they wouldn't need helmets if drivers drove better. Quite a (sad) revelation to me

Edited by Ken Figenus on Sunday 7th March 16:19

[Ken Figenus]

monthou said:

Cyclists need to make good observations and they need to ride predictably. Taking the lane is fine, but not without looking.
The driving obviously wasn't great but I see worse from my saddle most days. I'd feel lucky to get away with what he (the cyclist) did there.

Great points; on the same page. It's quite a fascinating topic having a foot in both camps and watching this play out.

I'm an old motorcyclist and when I cycle I use loads of the survival skills from that (eg did the cyclist that fell off lean the bike over a wet smooth manhole cover..?). So, as much as I can, I never entrust my safety to civilian utility drivers . There is NO WAY I'd have veered out like that on a bike without looking in order to do an U'ie - it's a madness - plus I invested a tenner in a mirror which quadruples my situational awareness. I'd also like to think I'd have paused a couple of secs in the car before going past him too to give a little more space. Sadly there seems to be a lot of 'right but dead' blame game attitudes out there and survival by minimising all possible risk trumps them all.

[Ken Figenus]

okgo said:

Because they have an in-built hate for cyclists, like most of the UK. It really is an embarassing personality trait of our country (one of many).

This is a minefield of hateful tit for tat and it is all a bit tragic - wasn't really aware of it since plumbing the depths of Twitter. Absolute hate exists for cars and their drivers in the most vocal and militant cycling tribes - no doubt about it. Hate begets hate and then add to the (at times valid) impression that vehicle drivers cant be treated harshly enough or road re-appropriated from them quickly enough and it all ends in a mud slinging fest. It's so tragic really as for every cycle you see you probably are getting to where you want to go go quicker - will never forget beating an F40 from Crouch end to to W1 a good decade ago . This was always my 4 wheeled logic - these days maybe less - but every cyclist should be a positive on so many levels. Particularly me! But they DO alienate people and some drivers have a very $hitty impatient attitude towards cyclists and joke about pushing them into bushes etc.

I want to say something very calming, positive and hippy next but guess I can only control my own attitudes and approach. Peace out man!