Owning the Road ?

Biomech

Personally I have re-routed my commute to avoid a roundabout like this (and the main A road that it is on), but if I had to negotiate it, then perhaps waiting for a relative quiet period, or getting on the pavement and doing the pedestrian thing, or stick to the left lane (which you are entitled to do), making sure I've a good idea of what else is around, and hope they have all seen me!

There is one here actually that's a 4 laner, I avoid and reroute that one. The other 2 that I do have, they aren't huge, single lane and no pavement, but are on 60mph roads, rerouting really isn't an option.

In fact the worse of the two I did today and a woman in a car behind, noticing that I kept checking over my shoulder, stayed behind me until I was at the roundabout, so that was nice.

No educated motorcyclist would block a 4 wheeled vehicle in the way some cyclists seem to think is clever

To be fair though, a car driver doesn't always interact with cyclists the same way as bikes. Perhaps it's because we dont have the acceleration, but they seem far more inconsiderate to cyclists. When I out, I do often think, in times of need, "If I were a motorcycle, would this be acceptable"

debeli

Shared highways are occasionally a vexing issue for the enthusiastic or determined road user.

As a species, humankind seems blessed with the ability to judge others, jump to conclusions and react unhelpfully.

We also seem quite good at poetry and architecture, so it's not all bad.

But back to the point... In my experience, those road users who are frequent users of both cars and bicycles tend to be better able than some others to anticipate, react and respond appropriately and calmly in a shared-use environment. This is not absolutely so, but it seems to be a general rule of best fit.

Some may disagree, but they would be wrong.

zak3737

Update - same again yesterday.

Very quiet single lane roads, and we pull into single file as car approaches, keeping well left, but only serves to allow said idiot to pass us as stupid speed, 40mph+, with perhaps less than 12/18" between us & car.
It happened 2/3 times......

However, if we stayed 2 abreast, clearly in view on a straight road, they would 'have to' slow down, at which point we could single line past them.

It seems to me that for a lot of drivers, trying to be couteous and moving out of the way early simply invites more danger as they are less inclined to slow at all.

Thats it, on the roads i'm talking about, I'm definitely going to 'own the road' more from now on.

diy

Then you'll have less space when they pass you and more angry drivers waiving their arms at you for riding in the middle of the road.

Its all about shifting decision making from the amygdala to the rational or emotional brain. Threats get dealt with by the primitive brain - blocking, aggression, obstructing etc.. social gestures get dealt with by higher functions. The very reason road rage exists is because we dehumanise the other person and allow our vehicle to be an exoskeleton.

zak3737

On the roads I'm talking about, if we stay 2 abreast, or even slightly away from the side, there's no way any car can pass at any speed, therefore they'd have to slow/stop, and once they do, I'll move aside and we can both pass.

chris_bass

be careful, I find if you get a build up of cars behind you, when it is safe and the first one goes they will all follow regardless of if it is safe for the others behind. So just 'owning' the road regardless of the situation is not going to always be the best solution.

craigus89

Clearly you need to read the situation.

Whilst it isn't pleasant to have cars passing close at 40mph, it may be something you have to accept on that particular road, or you ride in the middle and 'own the road' but risk seriously annoying someone.

On narrow country lanes (there are lots round here, a good 20% of my riding is on them) I will acknowledge a car behind me by looking round and try to catch their eye, then if there is a passing place I will wave them through, or occasionally stop completely and let them past.

An attitude that SOME cyclists have that really does annoy me though, is that they expect drivers to adjust and make allowances for them, but they aren't unwilling to do the same for cars, like described above, not slowing or stopping for 5 seconds to let someone pass.

The other day I followed a guy through country lanes for about a mile, passing numerous places where, if I were cycling would have stopped to let the car through. I wasn't in a rush so wasn't to annoyed, but if I weren't a cyclist and were in a hurry, that would annoy me.

arthur_scrimshaw

Zak3737 wrote:

Update - same again yesterday.

Very quiet single lane roads, and we pull into single file as car approaches, keeping well left, but only serves to allow said idiot to pass us as stupid speed, 40mph+, with perhaps less than 12/18" between us & car.
It happened 2/3 times......

.

My understanding is that single file is the most difficult formation for a driver to get past safely and almost invites an ill judged overtake which leaves the driver nowhere to pull back in if an oncoming vehicle appears (without taking a cyclist out)? Of course many drivers would see the alternative of a bunch of cyclists far more irritating but if it was a horse and buggy (for example) probably wouldn't complain at all?

cougie

Its always a tricky one.

Say you have a blind bend coming up = sometimes I'll stay wide as I can see that there is no space for a safe overtake. Occasionally I don't and you do get people overtaking. One memorable time I was climbing a hill and there was space for overtaking before the blind bend. Unfortunately though - not from a slow moving horsebox - which is exactly what passed me. As he drew past me - I saw a cyclist appear heading towards me.

I had to throw myself into the hedge to avoid being sideswiped by the van as it moved over to avoid a head on crash. So I think it pays to read the road ahead and try to keep things as safe for you as possible - even if it might annoy drivers.