>> I agree with you that it's lethally dangerous to go down the nearside of a
>> lorry (though it can be OK if it's got no scope to move and you've
>> got an escape line to the pavement). However, and for whatever reason, these sort of
>> accidents still happen. By no means all are down to the cyclist creeping.
A lot of them happen at junctions. Cyclists need to be aware of this and look after themselves...in the same way that a motorcyclist has to forward plan for SMIDSY's. The bottom line for me is a cyclist (or pedestrian) does not under any circumstances want to be stationary at the front nearside of a lorry/bus, when it is likely to pull away. Stay out of that zone and you'll improve your chances of survival. It matters not what the road planners have done or what a cycling forum suggests or what the bloke down the pub said...it's looking after yourself in a vulnerable situation.
>> It's not just lorries that squeeze. Drivers see the cyclist but too many suffer from
>> 'funnel vision' ie they're focussed on 70 degree splay directly in front. As soon as
>> you're out of the funnel you're forgotten. That's why cars close pass even when there's
>> space not too.
You are right and that IS a responsibility of the car driver...however, how many cyclists allow for that properly...(again, in the same way as a motorcyclist allowing for a SMIDSY)...I've forgotten the amount of times when I've driven down an urban road, seen a cyclist in lane 1 or the nearside of a single lane road...seen them approaching parked vehicles...thought to myself they'll be pulling out soon...and witnessed no lifesaver whatsoever, they just pull out....they rely on my driving skill and forward thinking. In my case, no problem... trouble is there's plenty of dimbo driver's out there, (we all see them)..where there is a problem, a big problem. Who is the one likely to die out of those two?
You need to create your own luck, whether or not you are in the right, or have the right of way.
>> >> Are you able to rationalise the 'speed and momentum at all costs' that some
>> cyclists
>> >> deploy?
>>
>> I recognise it, messengers mostly but I rarely see it deployed egregiously. OTOH keeping up
>> with and integrated in traffic is good practice.
I'm not talking about messengers or those that match traffic speeds in a sensible fashion. I am talking about everyday folk, who regularly cycle...and for some reason think that momentum is more important than sense.
A couple of saturday's ago, I drove into a village on an old 'A' road, went into the 30's on a good straight bit approaching a hill, with a T junction to my nearside. The 'T' junction has a Stop sign and I had the right of way.
A plethora of cyclists (it is quite usual here on saturdays) i'd guess at a club outing or organised training session or similar. As I approached from a distance NOT ONE was stopping at the Stop sign. To start with didn't affect me at all, but as I got nearer, I had to factor in them as well as me (fortunately nothing coming the other way). As I got to the convergence point, with loads of cyclists still streaming out, a couple stopped for me...but loads didn't. One bloke didn't even look....so I carried on, mostly on the opposite carriageway...300-400 yards up the hill, I wished to merge left into a side road, trouble is you can't dive in there too fast as it's a bottleneck...plus there wasn't much gap in the cyclists...so what do I do? Wait in the middle of the road with my left indicator on, blocking the main highway in a semi-vulnerable position..or try to merge with the cyclists gradually, with a left indicator on hoping one or more is sensible enough to let me in...which is what I did. Several pedalled off a bit and let me in...however one dick was on a charge and he wasn't stopping for anyone...I saw him in the mirror and made sure it wasn't a problem and went in anyway...but saw him mouthing off all aggressively..why?
It annoyed me. It will annoy me next time and the next. There's no need for it, the roads can be shared by all...but it takes all to achieve that.
Oh and the other thing that irritates is those that stick up for their own regardless. If someone within your group, race, religion, ethnicity or whatever is being a clown...say so, then there'd be considerable more harmony.
Lastly when I say 'cyclists' I mean those whose actions bring their fellow cyclists into disrepute...not each and every being that ever gets on a bicycle.
Last edited by: Westpig on Sat 23 Mar 13 at 16:46
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