WE DON'T LET CARS IN

secretsam

Just a quick note to the driver of that oh-so-pious hybrid this morning: regardless of whether a car stops to let you in, bikes don't, hence my somewhat fierce look of anger as you tried to cut me in two.

(But at least I didn't gob on you :twisted: ).

BentMikey

LOL! I'm afraid I often let cars in, and WORSE still, buses too. :P

secretsam

BentMikey wrote:

LOL! I'm afraid I often let cars in, and WORSE still, buses too. :P

Yeah, but you're as big as a bus on your 'bent!

Clever Pun

that is a danger when filtering when other cars kindly allow other traffic to cross... noone is aware of the cyclist until the last minute

it's the job of the person making the turn to ensure it's safe to do so

ChrisLS

...forgive me Secret Sam, but you sound a bit like an oh-so-pious cyclist ...why don't bikes let cars in?...I mostly do, if I am able to...treat others as you would like to be treated and all that... :?

Totalnewbie

If I see a car is kind enough to stop to let someone out, I think it reflects badly on me if I insist on going (and also runs the risk of the person not seeing me and going anyway). So I let them out.

DavidTQ

Im 50/50 on letting cars in, if I see them waiting in advance I will often wave them on, If they pull up to a junction as Im passing I wont stop across the entrance to the junction to let them out. If its up hill the chances of me stopping to let a car out are next to 0... I feel kind of dissapointed with myself when I dont, because I would in a car. But on a bike Ive got to consider safety and the physical effort of starting off up a hill.

helz

I often let cars in too. I hate this "them and us" attitude.

El Gordo

helz wrote:

I often let cars in too. I hate this "them and us" attitude.

Too right. We're all just trying to get to where we're going. Cars will often let me out and I'll do the same back.

Bassjunkieuk

For me it depends mostly on my mood. The most dangerous situations I find is queuing traffic, wear a gap has been left for cars to get through to joining road. In these situations I usually approach quite cautiously as I was broadsided by a car doing this recently. Luckily I managed to slide sideways into her and only fold her wing mirror in :-)

Some drivers I have found actually are aware of my presence and will wait before turning across in front of me, usually I will wave them across if I have room!

The drivers that annoy me are those that don't look are can't seem to understand what a giveway line is. I've seen some drivers that think the bike lane is the line, or even the edge of the bus lane on 1 occasion! With these people I tend to try and make eye contact first to make sure they've seen me then ride round the front of them if I have room :-D

BentMikey

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

The drivers that annoy me are those that don't look are can't seem to understand what a giveway line is. I've seen some drivers that think the bike lane is the line, or even the edge of the bus lane on 1 occasion! With these people I tend to try and make eye contact first to make sure they've seen me then ride round the front of them if I have room :-D

You could always take a different point of view - that in many of these cases the driver can't actually see very well into the junction and needs to edge further out to be able to look properly. It's not always the case, but often enough that I have sympathy for them.

Besides, in most cases we shouldn't be riding to the left in a cycle lane when passing through a junction. That's a prime case to have moved out into primary, or even further right a little earlier. You want to be as far away from the giveway or stop lines as possible, as they are where most accidents take place.

Bassjunkieuk

I generally find it's usually on side roads joining main roads that I find most drivers creeping forward but I understand what you mean about needing to look properly. Most of the times that stick in my mind tho are when the road is clear, i.e no cars parked close to the junction.

cee

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

The drivers that annoy me are those that don't look are can't seem to understand what a giveway line is. I've seen some drivers that think the bike lane is the line, or even the edge of the bus lane on 1 occasion! With these people I tend to try and make eye contact first to make sure they've seen me then ride round the front of them if I have room :-D

Its almost easier in the dark with a helmet light on asoften staring directly at a driver with the ole halogens makes them notice you

Bassjunkieuk

cee wrote:

Its almost easier in the dark with a helmet light on asoften staring directly at a driver with the ole halogens makes them notice you

I've seen a few drivers swerve as I come past them with my lights on, got myself a nice bright Cateye triple LED on the handlebars, a LED headlamp and a high vis vest and wrist bands make me quite visible!

I work on the basis tho that I'd rather be seen and not hit, as both my previous accidents with drivers pulling in front of me happened in daylight!

cee

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I've seen a few drivers swerve as I come past them with my lights on, got myself a nice bright Cateye triple LED on the handlebars, a LED headlamp and a high vis vest and wrist bands make me quite visible!

I work on the basis tho that I'd rather be seen and not hit, as both my previous accidents with drivers pulling in front of me happened in daylight!

Actually, I don't think I have had as many close calls at night either. Like you, I am like Blackpool Illuminations coming along the road, (a colleague of mine reckons my lights are brighter than his motor bikes).

I was hit by a van at the start of December (at about 10 to 9 in the am.s so it was kinda just light) and I reckon if it had been darker he would defo have seen me

prj45

If I see a car pull up and look I'll more often than not let them in.

If I see them shoot up to and then pull over the give way line expecting to be let in more often than not I'll look away and pretend I've not seen said car's nose sticking out, let the driver think I'm going over their bonnet for a little bit I say.

Spread the love, a wave and a smile at somebody driving a car well goes a long way.

webbhost

I have absolutely no problem letting cars slip in. Shows respect to other "road users" (were not the only road users that deserve respect SecretSam). Besides if I let someone out, it can also mean the person behind you may take into account your courtesy and take it easier on you.

Busses are even better. Let a bus out, then get nice and close behind in its slip stream

Random Vince

Totalnewbie wrote:

If I see a car is kind enough to stop to let someone out, I think it reflects badly on me if I insist on going (and also runs the risk of the person not seeing me and going anyway). So I let them out.

depends if you're given 2 ft of braking distance like i normally end up with tho

if someone has stopped to let a car accross, i'll slow down to make the gap for them if given the choice

secretsam

El Gordo wrote:

helz wrote:

I often let cars in too. I hate this "them and us" attitude.

Too right. We're all just trying to get to where we're going. Cars will often let me out and I'll do the same back.

I'm a driver too...I don't have an attitude. But nearly being cut in 2 because someone was flashed in and didn't look to see if there was a cyclit/motorbike is cr@p driving. DON'T accuse me of hating cars...I don't.

secretsam

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

For me it depends mostly on my mood. The most dangerous situations I find is queuing traffic, wear a gap has been left for cars to get through to joining road. In these situations I usually approach quite cautiously as I was broadsided by a car doing this recently. Luckily I managed to slide sideways into her and only fold her wing mirror in :-)

Some drivers I have found actually are aware of my presence and will wait before turning across in front of me, usually I will wave them across if I have room!

The drivers that annoy me are those that don't look are can't seem to understand what a giveway line is. I've seen some drivers that think the bike lane is the line, or even the edge of the bus lane on 1 occasion! With these people I tend to try and make eye contact first to make sure they've seen me then ride round the front of them if I have room :-D

bingo-this was me (the car hater, apparently)

Bikedevil

Despite the number of "god damn car cut me up" posts you see the vast majority of the time there's no need to be "dominant" on the road, being courtious (sp?) takes a lot less effort than being an arse.

9 times out of 10 when I wave an oncoming car that's wanting to turn left when I'm turning right they either smile and say thank you or wave me through first to which a return a polite smile and nod. It also uses far less energy.

webbhost

no need to be "dominant" on the road, being courtious (sp?) takes a lot less effort than being an ars*.

I wouldn't call being dominant being an ars* as such... Its more a matter of putting drivers in their rightful place (behind you, until they can **safely** overtake you)

Sorry if drivers find this annoying, but my safety is more important than their convenience of possibly cutting me up.

Bassjunkieuk

webbhost wrote:

I wouldn't call being dominant being an ars* as such... Its more a matter of putting drivers in their rightful place (behind you, until they can **safely** overtake you)

I have to agree with you there, I get quite annoyed when I have a motor vehicle riding my back wheel trying to get passed! I've even had one driver go around a traffic island to get past me and my mate once on a residential street! To make matters worse I think we where in the 20MPH zone - and he must have saved himself all of about 2 seconds!

I don't think the term dominant is the correct word either, I think of it more as being a confident rider, if you are on a road that is unsafe to ride in the secondary position adopt primary until it is safe to return. I've found I'm using the primary position more now as it makes me more visible to motor vehicles and makes me feel safer. I have a couple of big hills in my area where I can easily hit 30 MPH so cars shouldn't *really* be overtaking me - I feel safer coming down them in primary as the road as it's generally in better condition and i'm much easier to spot for drivers joining from side roads!

El Gordo

webbhost wrote:

I wouldn't call being dominant being an ars* as such... Its more a matter of putting drivers in their rightful place (behind you, until they can **safely** overtake you)

Sorry if drivers find this annoying, but my safety is more important than their convenience of possibly cutting me up.

Riding in the primary position to stop drivers overtaking if it's dangerous for them to do so is a pretty sensible thing to do and not arsey at all.

What's arsey is never extending any courtesy to drivers by allowing them to pull out into busy traffic etc. just becasue they are cars and you're a cyclist.

secretsam

AAAARGGGHHH once and for all she pulled out in front of me didn't even check if I was letting her in nearly knocked me off, I can't see someone waving/flashing someone else in if I'm approaching from behind their flaming car, can I?

Car hater? I'm becoming a cyclist hater thanks to all the grief I'm getting on here

:evil: :evil: :evil:

<<SULK>>

Thomas Prior

Interesting reading here.

I'd love share my own tale of woe on the roads but frankly I've only had one near death incident and that was quite enough.

Not to be rude but if you ride a bike on the road you are loopy. You do realise that you are surrounded by a lot of arrogant idiots in large, heavy, fast metal boxes! In comparrison a helmet is not a worthy adversary.

I don't quite get it -why do it? nobody here seems to enjoy riding on the roads at all and there's just a whole load of finger pointing (it was her in the transit - she did it!).

I have a suggestion - get the hell off the roads!
They were not designed for us in mind, they won't become less crowded. You have all that off road to explore! Get out there and argue with some ramblers, they only have sticks with them...

el_presidente

Thomas Prior wrote:

Interesting reading here.

I'd love share my own tale of woe on the roads but frankly I've only had one near death incident and that was quite enough.

Not to be rude but if you ride a bike on the road you are loopy. You do realise that you are surrounded by a lot of arrogant idiots in large, heavy, fast metal boxes! In comparrison a helmet is not a worthy adversary.

I don't quite get it -why do it? nobody here seems to enjoy riding on the roads at all and there's just a whole load of finger pointing (it was her in the transit - she did it!).

I have a suggestion - get the hell off the roads!
They were not designed for us in mind, they won't become less crowded. You have all that off road to explore! Get out there and argue with some ramblers, they only have sticks with them...

**TROLL ALERT**

I treat it like a big game of frogger. Hours of fun

Thomas Prior

damn dude,

you is crazy...
at least you enjoy it though.

Anyone else?

Underscore

Hell yeah, I enjoy it... and even when I don't (like when I'm struggling to hit 10mph cycling up hill into a howling head wind like I have a couple of times this year), I still like it more than sitting in a queue of traffic in my car. When you say "they won't become less crowded", that's a compelling reason for me to continue cycling, not to stop!

_

P.S. Yes, I know it's a troll but sometimes I just can't help myself...

Bassjunkieuk

el_presidente wrote:

I treat it like a big game of frogger. Hours of fun

Same here really! I look forward to the area's with heavier traffic as I (rather strangely) quite enjoy the "challenge" of finding the quickest path through :-)

It's normally even more fun if I have another like minded cyclist in the area!!

Quite a few people I've spoken to think I'm mad for cycling into London, especially when I tell them I regularly use traffic heavy sections such as Vauxhall Cross and Elephant and Castle!

Also just saw Underscore post - I'd much rather be trying to pull myself and the bike up a hill with a headwind then sitting in traffic somewhere wondering when I'll actually get moving again - something that I really don't miss!!

Random Vince

i play in traffic

i love riding places, roads were origionally just routes people walked allong and rode horses allong

someone came up with the cunning plan of a cart / carrage to be pulled behind the horse

the roads were used for that too

someone invented the bike

someone else put a motor on it

someone figured that they could make a wider bike with extra wheels

we came before the car

as did a motorbike and canoe (believe it or not, someone manufactured a motorbike and canoe side car, the canoe comes off to go, well canoeing)

cars came later, so the roads weren't designed to have cars, they've been adapted.