How do you get motorists out of the Cycle lane?

CyclingBantam

Regularily on my commute home from work I am held up behind drivers who are not satisfied using the road alone but need to utilise the cycle lane as well. Now the road is not at all narrow so there is no need for them to take up the cycle lane. I often have no choice but to sit behind them and wait for them to move. Occasionally I can squeeze past but don't like to for fear of being run over. When I do get past them I will often push my palm slowly out towards the middle of the road to indicate they need to move out in future but I never know if they take notice.

What does everone else do to get people to move?

tardington

Fold in their wing mirrors?

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

pst88

Just go round the outside.

CyclingBantam

tardie wrote:

Fold in their wing mirrors?

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

CyclingBantam

pst88 wrote:

Just go round the outside.

I can't often due to the queue of cars behind leaving little room to get to the other side. :evil:

prj45

pst88 wrote:

Just go round the outside.

Yup, go round the outside, if you're lucky you'll be in front of them when they want to move again and perhaps they can realise that there's room on the road for everybody and if they'd allowed you space to filter up the left hand side in the first place, you wouldn't be in front of them when they wanted to move (three inches forward).

tardington

Yeah, they are right, I'd reckon. Or maybe go on the pavement?

I have a junction which is bad for that sort of thing, but I know the lights, and will either squeeze up the inside, go on the outside, or just cheat and go pavement - all of these to get to the red 'cycle advance' area. Not sure I'd get away doing all that at a plain junction. I don't want to be caught shimmying up the inside when the traffic starts moving, so if I'm in doubt I just stop.

attica

Wouldn't recommend the wing mirror option, I once tried it and nearly took some chaps wing mirror off (left it dangling by the elecrtical control cables), he gave chase and I managed to loose him by riding between some nearby bollards. Not exactly my finest hour, very much doubt it changed his attitude to cyclists either!

(I was VERY provoked though)

tardington

heh! That is BRILLIANT! more details please!

Though for the record I was kidding about folding the mirrors in... Maybe 8)

attica

I was matching speed with a line of traffic in York a few years ago, some pratt thought it acceptable to pull out to overtake even though he only managed to get himself dead level with me (not the car him, we were side by side), I wanted to turn right so started indicating, I practically put the back of my hand on the windscreen.

The driver decided at this point to develop tunnel vision, I gave him an "Oi!", no response.
Gave another Oi and tapped on his window, still no response. again another Oi with a knock on his window - not hard, just like knocking on a door.

Still no response, so I took a swipe at his wing mirror hoping to just do the classic fold back and the damned thing gave up the ghost completely and ended up dangling there like a tooth by it's nerve. It truly looked quite comical.

Thinking on my saddle I quickly gave up all thoughts of making the right turn, it was into the road I worked on so this chap would've followed me straight to work. Took the next left instead - this was a cul de sac with a car park and shopping centre. Just this once I thought it might actually be acceptable to ride through the shopping centre. My last glimpse of my victim was of him shaking an enraged fist at me like someone in a 70's sitcom.

I live about 15 miles outside Bristol now, commute 3 or 4 times a week and take it on the chin when people cut me up, just enjoy overtaking them once I get into the centre, A cheesy grin as I pass them makes me feel infinitely better, or perhaps a schoolboy face usually diffuses the situation.

Gambatte

BenBlyth wrote:

What does everone else do to get people to move?

Airzound?

A - W

If the dividing line between the cycle lane and car lane is broken, doesn't that mean that cars have the legal right to use it also?

BentMikey

Don't undertake in the bloody cycle lane, overtake properly on the outside. At least one lorry driver calls the painted on road cycle lanes "execution zones". Overtaking properly is almost always safer, has more room, and is much easier.

On the knocking wing mirrors off, that's always bad, no matter what the provocation. Who remembers the post, either on here or on the old C+ forum, from one cyclist who got chased and caught, and ended up in court? You'll always be in the wrong if you damage a car on purpose.

karl j

A - W wrote:

If the dividing line between the cycle lane and car lane is broken, doesn't that mean that cars have the legal right to use it also?

I believe so, the HC states something like "...when unavoidable" . but how many motorists actually read it ? And if you say anything to them all you'll get is "fk off and pay some tax, its the motorists pay for the roads you know"

Unfortunately a lot see these gutter-lanes as cycle- freeways, almost an invitation to blast up the inside. Which you'll probably get away with most of the time til one day someone opens a door in front of you or cuts in turning left taking you under their wheels

Maybe try overtaking on the outside. Re. your last reply to going on the outside - get in the middle of the lane before you reach the point where you have change to the outside position

And if all else fails just get off and walk round on the pavement

But, please no, don't go down the wing mirror route !

terongi

BenBlyth wrote:

How do you get motorists out of the Cycle lane?

Anti-tank rocket launcher

(comes with attachments for handlebar or front fork mounting)

Gambatte

terongi wrote:

BenBlyth wrote:

How do you get motorists out of the Cycle lane?

Anti-tank rocket launcher

(comes with attachments for handlebar or front fork mounting)

Don't use the helmet mount.

the recoil will break your neck!!

SPOODZILLA

Overtake on the outside and spit on the windscreen as you pass always makes me feel better. How dare they hog the road. I've had a few drivers purposely move closer to the kerb as I approach. They get the full flem treatment.

patchy

don't go round - go OVER! use those obstacle jumping skills you learnt from this month's WMB...

BentMikey

SPOODZILLA wrote:

Overtake on the outside and spit on the windscreen as you pass always makes me feel better. How dare they hog the road. I've had a few drivers purposely move closer to the kerb as I approach. They get the full flem treatment.

Crikey mate, that's rather horrifying!! Even if the motorists' actions were intentional, that doesn't excuse spitting on their car. I'd bet that each spitting incident would have left many witness feeling disgusted towards you specifically, and towards cyclists in general.

cee

BentMikey wrote:

SPOODZILLA wrote:

Overtake on the outside and spit on the windscreen as you pass always makes me feel better. How dare they hog the road. I've had a few drivers purposely move closer to the kerb as I approach. They get the full flem treatment.

Crikey mate, that's rather horrifying!! Even if the motorists' actions were intentional, that doesn't excuse spitting on their car. I'd bet that each spitting incident would have left many witness feeling disgusted towards you specifically, and towards cyclists in general.

And remember spitting at someone is in fact common assault. If the plods see you, technically they could do ya.

towedhaul

I concur
Don't undertake. The red paint is made of herrings :shock:
No violence against wing mirrors.
No spitting.
Just overtake when there's room. And there usually is room 'cos you're not wide. If there isn't room, wait a moment until there is.

prj45

SPOODZILLA wrote:

Overtake on the outside and spit on the windscreen as you pass always makes me feel better. How dare they hog the road. I've had a few drivers purposely move closer to the kerb as I approach. They get the full flem treatment.

Grow up SPOODZILLA.

prj45

cee wrote:

And remember spitting at someone is in fact common assault. If the plods see you, technically they could do ya.

And they've got a lovely big DNA sample as well...

attica

I agree with Towed Haul (not sure about the herrings though - what's that all about?)

My theory is that if you look like you're having a good time as you overtake the sedentary fools then maybe they'll get the message and by a bike themselves!

If people do get nasty at me, I pull a stupid face at them - at the end of the day they just want to vent their frustration. Better to diffuse it than give them an excuse to have a pop. makes me laugh at myself as much as them as I gurn like a pratt.

:oops:

Drfabulous0

Usually I would just be going around the outside, but they shouldn't be in the cycle lane and I find it annoying. My commuter hack is pretty well equipped for this kind of thing so I would get their attention with the Air Zound then point out the Action Cam and inform them that they shouldn't be there, although I usually use this technique for the drivers on mobiles (or more recently watching videos). If I am feeling cheeky I may reach for the newly added water pistol which I keep in a frame mounted holster and loaded with disapearing ink, (available from your local toy shop).

always_tyred

BentMikey wrote:

Don't undertake in the bloody cycle lane, overtake properly on the outside. At least one lorry driver calls the painted on road cycle lanes "execution zones". Overtaking properly is almost always safer, has more room, and is much easier.

On the knocking wing mirrors off, that's always bad, no matter what the provocation. Who remembers the post, either on here or on the old C+ forum, from one cyclist who got chased and caught, and ended up in court? You'll always be in the wrong if you damage a car on purpose.

I'm not sure I fully agree (about the undertaking, not the wing mirrors)

If there are parallel lanes of slow moving traffic, it is not classed as undertaking when the inside lane temporarily moves faster than the one outside it. The situation is seen on motorways, with bus lanes, and on the approach to traffic lights. To my mind, the same therefore applies to bicycle lanes. I confess, I don't know what the highway code says about this. Nothing probably.

So there is no "properly" about it, just a judgement call on your part as to what is safer in practice, taking attitudes such as the above "execution zone" into account. There is no one answer.

I would caution that overtaking traffic on the outside is quite advanced. If you do it right, its a good way to go - its useful for when there isn't a cycle lane, when indeed you should not undertake at all. However. If you are not confident/assertive, and aware of the pitfalls, it might not be the best solution for you personally.

As such, you have to make a judgement based on your own abilities and experience - do you feel that you would be safer *slowly* progressing along a cycle lane alongside slow moving traffic, going around the outside of the odd misaligned car, or *carefully* picking off traffic on the outside? the answer may well be different on each part of your route.

Either way, try not to get annoyed - you have to save that for the times that drivers try to kill you.

BentMikey

That's fair enough, though I'm not sure I would be undertaking in the specific situation that the OP talks about. As you suggest, I do sometimes undertake, but in the instances I can think of me doing so there's usually far more space available on the inside, and/or there's good reason for not overtaking, such as busy right turns, traffic islands, or something along those lines.

I think the best way of preventing motorists using the cycle lane like the OP describes is to strip the paint off the road. That sort of cycle lane encourages bad practice from cyclists, makes it more dangerous to cycle whilst doesn't provide any real benefit, and can be the trigger for unnecessary conflict between drivers and cyclists.

Cunobelin

Only works with female drivers.....................

Overtake, politely knock on window, and ask a simple question......

"As you are in the bike lane and this is obviously a car ..................................









are you a bike?"

gtvlusso

Going back to motorcycling.....again!

I always opt for filtering down the middle (right) of the road if the cycle lane is blocked. People never learn and often don't care if they are in a cycle lane...it is frustrating, but I think that telling people "how to drive" as such just winds them up when they are in their traffic queue. Roll on cycle paths off the road!
A good shoulder check and make the move - otherwise you whack into other cyclists!

PrettyBoyTim

SPOODZILLA wrote:

Overtake on the outside and spit on the windscreen as you pass always makes me feel better. How dare they hog the road. I've had a few drivers purposely move closer to the kerb as I approach. They get the full flem treatment.

There's a bit of my commute that takes me along the past the Emirates stadium in North London, and there's a cycle lane there that is painted alongside parked cars. At one point there's always a couple of vans parked dropping some stuff off to local shops or something, rather inconveniently as it's right in front of a pinch point and they fill the cycle lane and protrude about 4 feet into the road. For most of the preceeding section it's safe to take secondary and let cars pass who wish to, but the parked vans always mean you have to negotiate your way into primary to pass them.

The other day a cyclist just ahead of me was passing these vans parked in the cycle lane, and there was a car following him between the two of us. As he passed one of the vans he spat on it's windscreen. I was quite surprised and made sure I passed him with a lot of room when I overtook later on!

Porgy

I tend to use my horn a bit, or go round outside. If I do get round the outside & have a bit of time, then I go back into cycle lane in front of offending vehicle and move off slowly in front of them, therby holding them up - and hopefully getting the message through to them that they should stay out of the cycle lane.

Mind you cycle lanes are pretty useless on my commute - the roads not big enough for two lanes of cars and a lane of bikes - which is what the markings on the road claim it can take. And guess what - its cyclists that lose out. I tend to take the middle of the lane all the way which means I get a fair amount of abuse from some idiots most mornings. Its funny though, even when they overtake me dangerously to make their point (whatever that is) I always manage to overtake them again.

I went belting along the inside of a jam a few years ago - plenty of space and absolutely no movement by the cars stuck in jam. It was OK until I went to go past someone who;d stopped slightly to the left of everyone else - and I didn't notice till I hit his wing mirror with my handlebar. He tried to give chase but couldn't get far - I ran becasue I was pretty sure he was going to hit me and it was a genuine accident.

Anyway got away with it - but don;t recommend belting down the inside any more.