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In my younger days (when I was a cyclist) it was accepted practice for cyclists to glance over their shoulder before changing position on the road, e.g. passing a parked vehicle. Even if they're not taught to do it, I would have thought it would be obvious it was essential for self-preservation.
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One would think so, yes....
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there too busy dodging pot holes and drain covers
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They don't need to when they are on the pavement. ;)
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They don't need to when they are on the pavement. ;)
Or when they're going up a one-way street the wrong way........
Or when they're on the wrong side of the road......
Or going through red lights when they expect everyone else to stop...............
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The lifesaver, still taught at cycling proficiency and used by all four cyclists in this household.
OTOH there's the young lady going down Kingsway at 09:45 yesterday. No observation other than in front, wooly hat and Mp3 player to ensure hearing useless. Loose rear mudguard ready to jam the rear wheel at any minute, nearly squashed scooting down down the nearside of a bus.
And while the short skirt showed off a nice pair of legs it was hardly suitable wear!!
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Last week I came up behind a cyclist who had good lights and was wearing a hi-viz vest over his dark clothing and gloves. As we were in the only wide, straight stretch of A road (about to go into a winding narrow stretch) I signalled and pulled out to overtake. At that point he swerved straight in front of me to turn right ..... did I miss him? just. IF he had glanced over his shoulder I would have seen it and been aware he was about to manoeuvre and he would have seen what I was intending to do.
Oh, yes, and thank you driver behind me for your quick reactions too.
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While I completely agree that cyclists should be checking over their shoulders before changing lane position, it is the car driver's responsibility to avoid them.
Eg, if you decide to pass a cyclist in the usual fashion (about 3 inches away), and they swerve to avoid something then you are completely in the wrong. Highway Code says that they should be given the same space as a car... which to me means the entire lane.
If I'm riding down a street where I consider riding in the gutter is dangerous, then you'll find me in the middle of the lane and I'm afraid I couldn't give a flying fish for the car delayed for 30 seconds or so behind me. Want to overtake? Use the other side of the road.
Something handy when you know you have a car behind and you suspect they're going to squeeze past between you and oncoming traffic is to put in a couple of deliberate wobbles. They assume you're drunk or incompetent, and give a lot more space.
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"I couldn't give a flying fish"
That's an attitude that no-one should take onto the roads -- cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, car drivers, everyone.
"if you decide to pass a cyclist in the usual fashion (about 3 inches away),"
From what I see, that's far from "usual".
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"if you decide to pass a cyclist in the usual fashion (about 3 inches away)" From what I see that's far from "usual".
Try the view from a bicycle saddle. Highway code rule 163 to "give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car" is very rarely observed.
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Highway Code says that they should be given the same space as a car... which to me means the entire lane.
Does it? Cyclists are narrower than cars. If I move entirely into the other lane to overtake a car, I might pass two or three feet outside it. If I move entirely into the other lane to overtake a cyclist, I might pass two or three yards outside them. That's not the same space I gave the car, it's loads more.
In the absence of a cycle lane, I'll usually cycle in the left-most third of my lane. In that position I don't feel it is necessary for an overtaking car to be all the way over into the other lane to pass comfortably. Maybe a bit more than half way over, but not all the way.
Obviously I don't mind if someone wants to give me even more space, but on balance, since being followed by a car is uncomfortable in itself, I'd rather they got on with the overtake (as long as they don't cut me up) than over-cautiously waited for more space than necessary.
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Damn it GJD, you got me with your legal mumbo-jumbo. I'm going to have to think about this now... ;-)
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"Cyclists don't glance over their shoulder nowadays"
This one does... ;-)
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>>This one does... ;-)
It's probably why you're still here.
As an occasional cyclist I see the argument from both sides.
As a driver, if I see a cyclist look over their shoulder, then I'm half expecting them to move right, and will give them space.
As a cyclist, I wouldn't dream of signalling before moving right without a good look over my shoulder. Perhaps it's why I'm still here. ;>)
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This guy has got some good videos on youtube, filmed on a helmet camera. Gives you a really good view of some poor driving from the cyclist's perpestive.
tinyurl.com/6gzvlb
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looking at a few of his videos I would say, he likes taking up most of the width of the road, which does wind up other faster road users, and I am left wondering if he ever uses his brakes / ever stops at give way signs?
ie the vid where he pulls out in the path of a van, then wobbles around a roundabout, then wonders why he gets overtake closely? (too close I do admit!)
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He is a bit ott, but some of his vids do illustrate the poor attitude some motorists have towards cyclists.
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looking at a few of his videos I would say he likes taking up most of the width of the road which does wind up other faster road users
Trouble is ST that if you don't "take your lane" you might as well be invisible.
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"Cyclists don't glance over their shoulder nowadays" This one does... ;-)
And this. I wish car passengers, especially school children, did as well. In queues of traffic at school run time they often open the door without looking as I am 'undertaking'.
As a regular 'utility cyclist' the vast majority overtake me leaving plenty of space. My main grouse is with the infrastructure - there are far too few marked urban cycleways and far too many useless lengths of grass verges. They seem to do it far better in mainland Europe.
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As a regular 'utility cyclist' the vast majority overtake me leaving plenty of space. My main grouse is with the infrastructure - there are far too few marked urban cycleways and far too many useless lengths of grass verges. They seem to do it far better in mainland Europe.
Hmm. Most cycleways I have encountered, whether in the UK or in Europe, are worse than useless: too narrow, inadequate surfaces, and broken flow. Some of them are lovely for a leisurely day out, but useless if trying to make a commuting or other time-pressured journey.
Worst of all, though, the significantly increase the injury rate amongst cyclists. In general I think that apart from the excellent long-distance leisure trails, cycleways have not developed much since their introduction in 1930s Germany as part of campaign to clear non-vehicular traffic off the roads.
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I find that in spite of the increased density of traffic, car drivers leave plenty of space, HGV drivers are especially considerate. The inconsiderate ones are those who park illegally in a cycle lane, usually "Road safety camera vans", forcing me out into traffic so making it difficult to avoid clipping their door mirror with my elbow.... ;-)
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I find that in spite of the increased density of traffic car drivers leave plenty of space HGV drivers are especially considerate. The inconsiderate ones are those who park illegally in a cycle lane usually "Road safety camera vans"
Where on earth are you encountering that many camera vans? They are pretty rare round my way
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You're very lucky then....it's Gatso and camera van overkill where I live. They don't seem to catch many drink drivers though, as long as they aren't being irresponsible by speeding ;-)
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You're very lucky then....it's Gatso and camera van overkill where I live.
Lottsa Gatsos here, but sadly few vans. We need more.
They don't seem to catch many drink drivers though as long as they aren't being irresponsible by speeding ;-)
Different job. Getting rid of the cameras won't catch any more drunk drivers.
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More Gatsos = less traffic police=more drunk driversLottsa Gatsos here but sadly few vans. We need more.
Speed doesn't cause accidents. Accidents are caused by driver error
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More Gatsos = less traffic police=more drunk drivers
Nonsense. More Gatsos does not mean less traffic police
As we are constantly reminded by those who whine about them as revenue-raising devices, the cameras raise more than enough money to cover their own costs. That revenue stream will stop if they are scrapped, so getting rid of them will not mean any extra traffic police.
In fact, if those who call them "revenue cameras" are correct, profits from Gatsos could fund more traffic police.
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In fact if those who call them "revenue cameras" are correct profits from Gatsos could fund more traffic police.
Does that come from the same source as "more taxation means more Government investment?" Yeah, right......
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They could but they won't, will they? It's just another tax. Nothing to do with safety either,as has been proved and admitted. I'll be glad when the oil runs out and we go back to the horse and cart. Then they can throw away the Gatsos and bring back the window tax
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HGV drivers are especially considerate.
A rare compliment; thank you, some of us do try! ;-)
I do agree with the OP, and also with regard to the use of personal stereos etc.
Being a biker, and furthermore one who regularly rides older machines not blessed with flashing indicators, I'll offer another observation; even fewer cyclists give hand signals than look behind thm before manoeuvering.
To return the compliment to cyclists; I went to Leicestershire this weekend, and was pleasantly surprised to see that the vast majority of cyclists out on a dank and foggy Saturday afternoon had more than adequate lights. A welcome improvement and long overdue.
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Me too.
Also, given than most of my interaction with other traffic (cyclists included) is being overtaken, I have a nice pair of mirrors too.
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I sometimes look over my shoulder when changing position on the road ;-(
....but I *always* look in my mirror ;-)
I am surprised that more cyclists don't use these useful aids to safe progress, the sort that fits into the end of the handlebars gives a reasonably unobstructed view.
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New ones who've passed their cycling proficiency test ought to...
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Last time I glanced over my shouolder when cycling I needed a new pair of shorts due to how close the car behind was.
Maybe ignorance is bliss is cycle world.
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