Stupid Cyclist
- Thread starter support_bae
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If there weren't railings on the left, you might have a point.
The problem with going to the kerb in that situation is that if the van continues to squeeze you leftwards, you are probably going to die. Getting crushed against railings by large vehicles turning left is one of the biggest causes of cycling deaths.
[DOD]Asprilla;18372015 said:
Yes this is correct.
Just last week Police were giving fines to motorists and motorbikers who were using the ASLs nears where I live. It's pretty rare they do, infact on my commute in this morning there was a Police car that stopped halfway into one at King's Cross.
[DOD]Asprilla;18372015 said:
I didn't know, I think I'll take your word for it, I cba to route through the RTA/TSRGD to find the appropriate bit, one of my pet hates when drivers go in to the "keep clear" sections.
I agree though, motorists should be prosecuted for entering the ASL, same as any cross-hatched box at a junction for that matter.
I don't get why the ASL is all the way across the lane (sometimes 2 lanes) when the cyclist has to move back over the left anyway, I appreciate it's to give the cyclist a "head start" but it doesn't work, most that I have seen faff about or just aren't ready for the lights to turn green and it just irritates the driver waiting behind because he's potentially in the right hand side lane and is still stuck behind a cyclist.
Soldato
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im not saying they should slow down at all. its just imo this particular cyclist must have seen the potential incident as the van hadnt given way but instead decided to hold his position.
The highway code states that cyclists are legally allowed to cycle two abreast. If anything it's safer because two cyclists present a wider object on the road to pass, still not as wide as a standard car, but it means you have to make a proper overtaking maneuver as you would if it was a car.
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Soldato
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In most cases they are at light controlled junctions so you could have cyclists turning left, right or going straight on and the cyclists should position themselves in the lane or choose a lane according; you don't really want to be turing right from the left hand side.
Even if there is only a left hand junction then consistency of layout makes sure that everyone, should, know what they are doing. For the sake of four feet I don't think it's really anything to worry about.
Edit - Can't belive I forgot about left hooking, as Nexus points out below. Probably the most important.
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For a number of reasons:
(A) The cyclist may be turning right.
(B) The biggest cause of death in cyclists tends to be from when a vehicle turns left on them while they are going forward at a junction, especially with lorries. By being in the center it gives the driver clear indication behind that they can't cut you up as you make off and basically kill you.
It can still be quite an inconsiderate thing to do on a busy road even if it is legal.
Want to add any more wild generalizations?
While you are right that you don't have to have any kind of training to be on the road, a lot of kids in school will have done the cycling proficiency test, I know I did. Then the majority of cyclists are no doubt also drivers, so will have an understanding of the Highway Code, whether they choose to abide by it though is another matter.
Secondly claiming that all cyclists causing offenses are of the lycra clad kind is ludicrous because all kinds of cyclists do it. I'd actually argue that from what I see, the kind of person who spends some money on their bike and enjoys cycling as a hobby is far more likely to abide by the rules of the road.
In London, I'd say Cycle Couriers are the ones who break the most rules. But aside from that people breaking the rules can be anything from men in suits on Bromptons to old women on sit up and beg bikes etc...
[DOD]Asprilla;18372105 said:
Ok, specific example here that I have on a daily basis:
As you can see I am in the right hand side lane turning right, although both lanes are able to turn right, only the left lane is turning left. Lights turn green and pretty much every cyclist will stay on the right hand side of that white line until they get round the corner and then pull off to the side, across the left lane of traffic.
They are in the wrong, no?
Associate
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Russinating
And no car driver has ever sped, changed lanes without indicating, tail gated, run a red light, broke late or parked on a double yellow have they. Ever.
They don't have to, the governments transport department has been doing that to motorists for years, with great success!
I am both a motorist and a cyclist and act in the same manor regardless of my transport method. I am one of few cyclists that doesn't run red lights etc.
My opinion on this however is neutral. There are far too many bad motorists and cyclists that the argument is tit for tat. Was the driver in this video a tool? Yes. Did the cyclist antagonise the driver in to being a tool? Yes. Where do you draw the line? There needs to be a clear set of rules for both and both should abide by them.
Originally Posted by Russinating
And no car driver has ever sped, changed lanes without indicating, tail gated, run a red light, broke late or parked on a double yellow have they. Ever.
They don't have to, the governments transport department has been doing that to motorists for years, with great success!
I am both a motorist and a cyclist and act in the same manor regardless of my transport method. I am one of few cyclists that doesn't run red lights etc.
My opinion on this however is neutral. There are far too many bad motorists and cyclists that the argument is tit for tat. Was the driver in this video a tool? Yes. Did the cyclist antagonise the driver in to being a tool? Yes. Where do you draw the line? There needs to be a clear set of rules for both and both should abide by them.
I think ninja boy pretty much reacted to the van driver, who was being an ass and looking for a confrontation, he got the reaction he was looking for (ninja screaming like a girl and banging on his van) so the driver got out and gave him a slap.
Ninja could have slowed down, stopped, avoided, done mostly anything other than what he did, fact is that a lot of drivers and cyclists alike seem to be locked in a battle of wills because the flow of traffic they take is parallel to each other but not equal..
Bikes are slower, and smaller, and should have completely seperate lanes in which to cycle safely, see holland.
The way it is right now, snarled up roads in Britain cause a stressful enviroment which drives people to act over-aggressive and drive dangerously, it just happens that bikes are more manouverable, and their users less accountable than motorists.
Oh and I cycle, but I avoid the road most of the time because I don't like the pollution, stress, delays, congestion, traffic lights, and danger I associate with them.
Ninja could have slowed down, stopped, avoided, done mostly anything other than what he did, fact is that a lot of drivers and cyclists alike seem to be locked in a battle of wills because the flow of traffic they take is parallel to each other but not equal..
Bikes are slower, and smaller, and should have completely seperate lanes in which to cycle safely, see holland.
The way it is right now, snarled up roads in Britain cause a stressful enviroment which drives people to act over-aggressive and drive dangerously, it just happens that bikes are more manouverable, and their users less accountable than motorists.
Oh and I cycle, but I avoid the road most of the time because I don't like the pollution, stress, delays, congestion, traffic lights, and danger I associate with them.
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There have been a few times I have nearly killed cyclists.
Early morning, in the dark, in rush hour you have to check your mirrors every 2 seconds and before you do anything to make sure there's not a TINY flashing light indicating a cyclist....and that's if they're not already in your blind spot.
A month or so ago during the darkest part of winter I was going straight over a roundabout in the right lane, intending to continue in the right lane of the dual carriageway that the roundabout exited onto. I signalled left and checked my mirror, noted that it was clear only to have to brake as I looked forward because there was a cyclist going around the front of me on my left hand side (in my lane), turning right who didn't bother to predict that I might want to exit the roundabout at some point. I imagine he had entered from one of the roads on my left onto the roundabout. Either that or he'd sat in my blind spot the whole way round. In my book that's akin to turning right from the left hand lane which is just going to end in tears. So now it goes mirror, signal, CHECK FOR SUICIDAL CYCLISTS, manoeuvre.
I might not be a great driver but it's only a matter of time before I kill a cyclist. It could be that scenario again some time when I'm tired and not paying as much attention, it could be a cyclist that runs a red light or filters past me in the dark, who knows.
I also hate how one cyclist can slow a two lane road to an absolute crawl as everyone is forced over the middle line if they don't want to follow at 15mph.
There are many cyclists who aren't any trouble and I don't notice those ones because they don't nearly make me accidentally kill them.
I know I'll get attitude for this but If I was in charge they'd be on the pavement with the other people who don't want to pay road tax and fuel duty, mostly for their own good.
Early morning, in the dark, in rush hour you have to check your mirrors every 2 seconds and before you do anything to make sure there's not a TINY flashing light indicating a cyclist....and that's if they're not already in your blind spot.
A month or so ago during the darkest part of winter I was going straight over a roundabout in the right lane, intending to continue in the right lane of the dual carriageway that the roundabout exited onto. I signalled left and checked my mirror, noted that it was clear only to have to brake as I looked forward because there was a cyclist going around the front of me on my left hand side (in my lane), turning right who didn't bother to predict that I might want to exit the roundabout at some point. I imagine he had entered from one of the roads on my left onto the roundabout. Either that or he'd sat in my blind spot the whole way round. In my book that's akin to turning right from the left hand lane which is just going to end in tears. So now it goes mirror, signal, CHECK FOR SUICIDAL CYCLISTS, manoeuvre.
I might not be a great driver but it's only a matter of time before I kill a cyclist. It could be that scenario again some time when I'm tired and not paying as much attention, it could be a cyclist that runs a red light or filters past me in the dark, who knows.
I also hate how one cyclist can slow a two lane road to an absolute crawl as everyone is forced over the middle line if they don't want to follow at 15mph.
There are many cyclists who aren't any trouble and I don't notice those ones because they don't nearly make me accidentally kill them.
I know I'll get attitude for this but If I was in charge they'd be on the pavement with the other people who don't want to pay road tax and fuel duty, mostly for their own good.
He's not, though.
From the same link, I see what you posted above was in relation to cars overtaking cars, not bikes.
The van driver gave nowhere near as much room especially when it was clear the road ahead got narrower.
It says that where in the Highway Code?
Soldato
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I dunno without actually having ridden the junction.
I use a similar junction every day; two lanes, both turning right with only the left lane able to turn left. I always turn right out of the right lane and then slowly move into the left lane but stay on the far right of it.
I do this because there is another junction shortly after and many drivers in the right lane actually want to turn left at it; so much so that they will badly bully and cut up cyclists to get to the back of the left turning queue. There is always a queue because of the phasing of the lights. My positioning stops them from left hooking me (moving left before they have completed their overtake) and forces them to pull in behind me. This costs them no time because of the second set of lights.
Could be something similar?
Probably not though, they are probably just taking the shortest route.
You think that because I own a bike I don't own a car? I pay about £600 a year in VED and around £35,000 in income tax, which also pays for road building and maintenance. If I pay more towards the upkeep of the roads than you overall, does that mean I get priority over you?
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Is it? Looks like its in relation to being overtaken in general.
The fact remains, the van driver shouldn't have overtaken them there.
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