Cars turning right at crossroads and cutting you up

jasonhill72

So... the clocks have changed and it's a commute home from Shoreditch to Tooting in the dark. And in the space of two days, I've already had three near-misses from cab drivers who, quite simply haven't seen me as they've been going about their business. First two were taxis approaching a main road (where I'm cycling) and simply pulling out, the last and far more worryingly was a crossroads on Bishopsgate where an approaching vehicle from the other side failed to slow and swerved right across my path, almost knocking my front wheel off. (And the light was most certainly on green).

Now, on the front have I led helmet light, plus LED and main light on the handlebar. And the hi-vis kit, so I can't say I'm not Mr Camouflage. So what do I do? Extra lights? Air horn? Or just assume there will be more 'blind manoeuvres' in the coming winter months?

corshamjim

Drivers will behave oddly sometimes. It's a fact of life we need to work-around. Try to make eye contact with other drivers if you can and always have a plan of where to go when drivers haven't seen you. There are some particularly awful junctions I will go out of my way to avoid particularly at peak times. 'Cyclecraft' has lots of good advice - it's a bit of a slow read but you'll be glad you did. http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk

schemieradge

My commute is part urban and part rural.. I was always worried more about being seen on the rural part since the traffic is going so much faster... but I'm beginning to realise that the worst bit is being seen amongst lots of other traffic where their headlights kind of swamp your bike lights, especially when it's wet and there's lots of reflection off the road surface.
I'm shopping for a more powerful headlamp that I can flash in the direction of potential trouble but not holding out much hope if it making a difference.. so I suspect your last option is the most realistic one.

Mrs_Ragbrutty

Car drivers just don't look properly, they just glance. I've spent 30 years on motorcycle and cycle and no amount of lights, hi viz clothing and even illegally loud pipes on the m/cycle have made a difference.
Sorry, but reading books isn't going to help - yeah I've read the series, it won't stop other people taking liberties with your safety. - simple point -
Making eyecontact at night isn't going to happen when you can't see faces.
But there's a whole lot more to it than that. Being hit from behind, the vehicle sitting to close to the one in front etc etc. That's just the unaware drivers. The ones who know that they are putting you at risk are worse.
The lady who overtook me this morning despite the fact that I was already in the middle of the road and indicating to turn right, the driver that overtook me round a blind bend only to find a car comming toward him - luckily for me he forced the other car off the road not try driving into me. Not so lucky for the other guy though.

Experience tells you that these things are going to happen, that doesn't make it right or acceptable. It's not something that we should just roll over on - well that's life. I really want to see action taken. I have a real bee in my bonnet about drivers taking risks with our lives.

Headhuunter

I try to position myself in the middle of the lane when there are turnings on the left or the right. If left, it prevents drivers from left hooking as they have to pull right out and then cut hard back in and if they are turning from a road on the right, they are perhaps more likely to spot you in the middle of the carriageway and realise there is not enough space for them to pull out and past you...

schemieradge

the driver that overtook me round a blind bend only to find a car comming toward him

I personally am gob smacked at how often this happens..!
What is it about having to get past a bike that makes people take unbelievable risks..? (not expecting an answer btw!)

Harley35

Stupid drivers doing stupid things.

alidaf

schemieradge wrote:

the driver that overtook me round a blind bend only to find a car comming toward him

I personally am gob smacked at how often this happens..!
What is it about having to get past a bike that makes people take unbelievable risks..? (not expecting an answer btw!)

Amen to that. My pet peeve - happens daily on my route with lots of blind s-bends. What is often worse is the driver coming the other way takes it out on me with the abuse. Bad drivers give cyclists a bad name!