Drivers assuming they can pass you because you're a cyclist

redddraggon

Kaipaith wrote:

But the main question that strikes me, is why did your parents stand against you having a decent bike?

Traffic, on the whole they don't trust most of the scum that drive. They always said it wouldn't be me getting myself killed, but some idiot driving poorly.

BentMikey

CarKiller wrote:

A driver acknowledging they were being a nob?????

Where is this person? They are unique in the world!

I think you personally will never find a driver admitting they are wrong, because of your attitude. Chill out dude, and lose the username, it's not helping you.

StefanH

After months of conflict-free commuting I had two incidents in the past week.

1) The final approach to my place of work sees me on the main road, facing a pinch-point, a busy junction (drivers from my place turning right, across me, drivers coming to my place coming from behind and also from the left at a junction) with a shared cycle and footpath to my right.

I usually make use of a drop-kerb which is at the same position as the pinch-point and the point where our delivery drivers need to turn right. Vigilance is the key when manoevering in this area!

On Wednesday, I'm prevented using this usual 'hop-on' point by traffic approacing from behind (they have just exited a very fast road and come round a virtually blind left hand 270 degree left hand bend, so I make concessions). There's another point, 50 yards on where there's a right-turn for other industrial units, which I can make use of to get on the cycle path. I wait for another car to come past me, look behind, see another card a distance back. I make my signal and begin to manoever, only to hear the approaching driver put his foot right down (he hits the rev limiter).

I have no option but to abort my turn as he comes screaming past me, only to run right 20 yards later. I hop on to the cycle path and continue forward as he slows down during his turn so that he can get a good look at me making a rather provocative and derogatory hand gesture at him. Thankfully, he has sense enough not to get out of his car as he parks up.

2) At the mid-point of my commute I have to negotiate a crossroads. I'm turning right from a minor road onto a reasonably busy major. Not often is there traffic approacing from the opposite (staggered by about 5 yards) junction. Yesterday, there was. A young lad in some small black sleek-looking thing.

A transit van and a car approach from my right, both carrying straight on. I wait for the car to pass and I pull out. So does the lad opposite. He is not looking in my direction. He is still judging the speed of a car to his left, some distance away. I slow, ready to stop but his head swings my way in time and he brakes. He apologises, I acknowledge and carry on.

This could easily have been a nasty accident, but I cycle on without too much concern. Neither of us were really at fault, as it was neither of our rights of way. I guess I should have waited until i made eye contact with the lad and either got 'permission' to move first, or waited until he made his turn. Still, no harm done.

Buggi

I've found that if when indicating you glance behind and look at the driver and turn the palm of your hand towards them as if you are commanding them to slow down or stop, this helps quite a bit. i think it shocks them that i have the balls to do it (a mean feat when you consider i haven't actually got any balls being of the female variety). I find it particularly useful on one junction where I need to get into the right hand lane. But I always thank them after too by giving them the thumbs up when they slow down.

peejay78

on the few occasions that i hit 30/31mph or more in a 30 zone, cars ALWAYS overtake, often at much higher speeds.

it's as if they can't countenance the fact that i might be going that fast (downhill, always) so therefore must overtake at high speed. or that being stuck behind a bike, even if you're legally obliged to stay there, is an act of emasculation.

Eat My Dust

I had a cop car do this on Friday evening. I was doing a tad over 30 in a 30 zone. Cop car comes flying past me, then jams his brakes on for the speed bumps, slowing me down to around 25mph!!!! I mouthed "fu**ing c**k" to him when he looked in his mirror!!! :oops:

CarKiller

Not enough lip movements in that to be readable. I prefer "Pig-fücker."

delcol

i to travel to warrington on my 6 mile commute.
like everyother commuter out there i have my fair share of unlce knob head driver stories. what is it with drivers impatients to save seconds if that, they forget all the ruels of the road and risk killing or injuring you, ( i mean its not like we want to be going to work we go cause we have to) i have had drivers overtake me to indicate 15 yards up the road and turn cutting you up, women reverse off driveways infront of me cars pull out on roundabouts. and the most annoying of all overtake giving you an inch of room , i had on guy the other week on 40 stretch of road on a bend move out to over take me i was doing 20+ mph he coulnt see the car coming the other way into the bend i could he then sees the oncoming car and swerves left right at the side of packing me into the kerb. i wont repeat my words but i did screan at him to pull over and tried to chase him down to have words but he sped off....

every time i comuute i always wear a helmet high vis vest either yellow or orange have both( thanks to work) a highvis rucksac cover with a flashing led attatched i have a flashing led on my bike rear and also a led strip on my right leg and also have 2 reflective bands on my legs, not to mention reflectors on my bike..
my mates at work always joke at my efforts with lights and refletives comments like you look like blackpool iluminations and you can be seen a mile away dressed like that, thats what i want to be seen but yet drivers still seem to not see me weather through ignoreance or blindness who knows,. but iwont let them stop me from cycling to and from work.

redddraggon

delcol wrote:

i to travel to warrington on my 6 mile commute.

My original post was about Warrington actually. I Travel south out of Warrington to Daresbury. Where do you go in Warrington?

mrchrispy

I had some guy overtake me the other day and I swear his wing mirror went UNDER my right arm he was so close. He stopped in traffic couple of hundred meters later so I asked him why he passed so close and did he know how dangerous it was (quite calmly considering), his reply was…..”well I got past you didn’t I”. The dismissive way he answered completely sent me over the edge and I lost it with him…ended up shouting at him and belting his car before riding off. The trouble was I was absolutely fuming and ended up going back, I just couldn’t understand his attitude to nearly killing me!!! As I approached he was looking a little shocked and apologized for not giving me enough room, this had the immediate effect of calming me down and I ended up apologizing to him for hitting his car. A very weird situation where we were both holding up traffic saying sorry to each other. :oops:

delcol

im over the other side i work at birchwood risley.

CarKiller

mrchrispy that's exactly how drivers are and why they need to be castrated and then shot.

Porgy

CarKiller wrote:

mrchrispy that's exactly how drivers are and why they need to be castrated and then shot.

A bit harsh. I'm always pretty considerate around cyclists, being one myself. I haven't upset one yet as far as I know.

mrchrispy

yes that is a little harsh.....we'll only castrated male drivers

CarKiller

OK, let's omit the shooting bit.

Unless it takes more than an hour for them to bleed to death.