The primary position

JGS
JGS Posts: 180
edited January 2009 in Commuting chat
So this morning I was on my normal commute and through a busy junction I was taking the primary position in my lane, as I always do, and some idiot car driver tries to squeeze between me and the lorry on my right.

Unfortunately for him he didn't realise that about 50 yards up the lights are always on red at this point, and he'd have to stop. I didn't have much choice, but had to stop behind him (I don't try and undertake or filter at the lights). At this point he decided to get out of his car and give me a piece of his mind. Fortunately for me I am a lot bigger than he expected, and as he walked up to me he changed his mind.

I feel pretty pissed off about the whole thing, although I am happy that I did nothing except sit and wait without any reaction (which is rare for me, if I was in a bad mood this morning I'd probably have punched him). I can't help but think that if it had been another cyclist who isn't 6'3" and quite broad that he would have beaten them up "to teach them a lesson".

So anyway, that sets the scene, what I want to know is what would you do at this junction? The map is here: http://www.multimap.com/s/DJ4GzdPa

I come along Castle Boulevard, head up Grayfriar Gate onto Collin Street (Staying in the left lane) head down Middle Hill and round the corner onto Canal Street. All the time I am in the left lane, doing around 17-22mph (Grayfriar / Collin is a bit of an uphill).

Comments

  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    You cycle it the way I would, I think.

    He was just a one-off d!ck head, try to forget about it. Your reaction (i.e. no reaction) was probably the best thing to have done and he probably felt a bit of a pillock - the act of getting out to remonstrate and/or punch someone at a busy city centre junction isn't all that clever, after all.
  • Be safe in the knowledge that he has a small willy.
    <insert witty comment here>

    Also, I have calculated my FCN as 12...although I have no idea what that actually means.
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Next time he gets out somebody might steal his motor :D , try explaining that one away.

    PC: What were you doing when your car was stolen with the keys in the ignition and the engine running
    CD: I was trying to beat up the cyclist who I overtook on a narrow bit of road and nearly put them under the wheels of a lorry/bus. I didn't like them riding in the middle of the road, they should be in the gutter.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • prj45
    prj45 Posts: 2,208
    I was in primary coming round a corner in Paddington. A big well driven lorry behind me was staying well back, but some guy in a beamer decided to try and squeeze it, I didn't see this happen, but I heard it, as large wheel nuts ripped up the side of his very expensive car.
  • symo
    symo Posts: 1,743
    prj45 wrote:
    I was in primary coming round a corner in Paddington. A big well driven lorry behind me was staying well back, but some guy in a beamer decided to try and squeeze it, I didn't see this happen, but I heard it, as large wheel nuts ripped up the side of his very expensive car.
    Which lets face it is always funny.
    +++++++++++++++++++++
    we are the proud, the few, Descendents.

    Panama - finally putting a nail in the economic theory of the trickle down effect.
  • Tempestas
    Tempestas Posts: 486
    Take a note of his registration number and the time, inform the Police so they can view the traffic CCTV camera's at the junction. That may make him think twice about doing it to someone else.
  • Feltup
    Feltup Posts: 1,340
    That's a PITA junction in a car as people are jostling to get across from lane to lane to make their exit. I reckon you are doing about the safest route through that system for bikes.

    Primary is the only way to ride that otherwise you will only end up getting squeezed into another lane and under the nearest vehicle.

    Did the moron try and explain the error of your ways by blocking "his" lane? I don't suppose it occurred to him that he could have chosen the next lane over and gone past you if you were going that slowly? My guess is that you were probably doing a not too disimilar speed to all the other traffic and he is a one off idiot who doesn't like cyclists.

    Don't let it get to you because let's face there is nothing you can do to stop it but feel good in yourself that you took the moral high ground.
    Short hairy legged roadie FCN 4 or 5 in my baggies.

    Felt F55 - 2007
    Specialized Singlecross - 2008
    Marin Rift Zone - 1998
    Peugeot Tourmalet - 1983 - taken more hits than Mohammed Ali
  • JGS
    JGS Posts: 180
    Feltup wrote:
    Did the moron try and explain the error of your ways by blocking "his" lane? I don't suppose it occurred to him that he could have chosen the next lane over and gone past you if you were going that slowly? My guess is that you were probably doing a not too disimilar speed to all the other traffic and he is a one off idiot who doesn't like cyclists.

    To be honest the red mist was starting to descend at that point so I was just concentrating on doing as little as possible. When he went past me I was doing about 22mph and the large gap (which I always leave just in case of this) between me and the car in front wasn't growing at all. He probably would have tried to explain, but his reaction as I unclipped and stood up was priceless, he went from full on rage to "I think I may have made a mistake". I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't doing anything obviously stupid and that this guy was as much of a dumbass as I thought he was. Thank you all for your input, and I understand it's hard to comment on these things.