The Lowest Common Denominator
Stupidity is a powerful force never to be underestimated. Geese are a good example; a more stupid vertebrate one would be most challenged to come across yet should you wander into a flock of them pecking about peacefully in a field, one is likely to erupt from its grazing to grab a billful of your ass and commence beating you savagely with its wing. I witnessed such an event in Minneapolis, where a goose goosed a friend of mine. To our collective dismay, he showed off his buttockian bruise proudly for many weeks.
I’m not immune my own stupidity, which is unfortunate because if you already have to deal with other people’s stupidity, you should at least be free of dealing with your own. Tragically, the opposite appears to be true. In point of fact, a dominant portion of my life is spent recovering from my own acts of idiocy. For example, I recently rode an Imperial century on Whidbey Island in scorching heat. To combat dehydration, I carefully prepared my usual two bidons – one with electrolyte and one with plain water as is my custom – and proceeded to leave them in the car rather than place them on the bike. I was gleefully unaware of this oversight until I was well over an hour into the ride and I reached down for a drink in my usual Casually Deliberate style and found the cages mockingly empty.
Stupidity is also why I believe the iPhone has always been designed to be a one-handed device, to allow its user to send messages with one hand while driving, leaving the other hand free to drink coffee or wave the bird at other drivers. This leaves plenty of bandwidth for the vehicle to swerve off the road and stack up bicyclists on its hood.
There is no courage without fear, and no intelligence without idiocy. The problem with the latter in both cases is that they are much easier than the former and it feels a lot like easy win on the push with most of the population. Which means that in the majority of cases, we are dealing with idiotic cowards which is not an encouraging scenario, especially when taking your own stupidity into account.
Last year, the New York Times published an essay on the mentality of motorists when it comes to Cyclists. Its a terrifying read, the sort of writing that makes you question whether its smart to keep riding on the road. My personal conclusion is that the road is where I find my soul; to stop riding would be its own kind of death. Nevertheless, it is frightening thought that not only are many motorists inattentive, but some feel bicycles don’t belong on the road in the first place, and that should they be struck and killed, it is somehow their own fault. A truck driver in Seattle recently killed a female Cyclist who was commuting downtown. The local news celebrated the driver’s integrity for not leaving the scene of the accident.
Which raises the question of how one is to stay safe while riding. Personally, I’ve found myself riding ever more defensively aggressive when I’m on the road. I’m riding farther out from the side on narrow roads to keep cars passing at dangerous points and I’m avoiding the highest-trafficked roads whenever possible. In the rain, I’m even riding The Reflective Bike of Authority. (I draw the line at donning a YJA; we’re not a savages.)
These are easy things to do, but the fact is we are still at the mercy of our peers on the road who may not be watching for us, or – worse – not care if they hit is or – worst of all – feel it is somehow our own fault by being on the road in the first place. Changing this begins with us, the Cyclists, through the idea that we are ambassadors for our sport. With that, I felt it an appropriate time to remind us of our Urban Riding tips and update them a bit.
- Lead by example. Always obey traffic laws, taking special care to avoid violating hot-button laws like running stop signs. Every time we break a law, we send the message that the rules of the road don’t apply to us.
- Don’t escalate. You will invariably be placed into a dangerous situation by a driver who is either ignorant of the danger they caused you or is simply an ass. In both of these cases, screaming obscenities at them will only serve to put them on the defensive and make them hate cyclists even more than they already do. If you absolutely must say something, do your best to let them know why what they did was dangerous; if you’re polite and assertive, the message is much more likely to find it’s way home.
- Be gracious. If a car does the right thing, wave at them in thanks. If you know you are holding them up because you’re obstructing their path, move the side as soon as it’s safe and gesture your appreciation of their patience.
- Avoid telepathy. Always signal your intent and try to make eye contact with drivers whenever you’re not sure if they see you or not, especially in scenarios when you’ll be crossing their lane of traffic.
- Pay attention to the cars around you. Take note of the subtle signals the drivers are sending you. Are they overly fond of the brake pedal? Are they speeding? Are they swerving, texting, or otherwise distracted? Or do they drive predictably and use their turn signals properly? These things will tell you a lot about how safe you’ll be when they’re close to you.
- Ride predictably. When out training in town, consider yourself to be riding in the bunch, except the other riders are cars that can kill you. Just like riding in a group, when in traffic, hold your line, signal when there’s a hazard or when turning, and generally ride as predictably possible.
- Ride towards the side of the street. If there is a shoulder, ride in it, but if not, stay as far to the side as you safely are able to. Don’t ride so far to the side that it means you’re riding in debris that might cause a flat or might cause you to move erratically; there’s nothing safe about suddenly flying out into traffic while trying to avoid an object. Never ride through a puddle you can’t see the bottom of; it could be a much deeper hole than you think.
- Ride aggressively defensive. If there’s a narrow section of road coming up where it will be dangerous for a car to pass, signal to the cars behind and swing out into the middle of the lane until it’s safe for them to pass.
- It’s helpful to be able to accelerate quickly to move with traffic if necessary. In the event that you’re riding in a lane in order to discourage cars from passing, it’s good to move as close to the speed of traffic as possible.
- Avoid overly dangerous routes. Ride on the roads you need to in order to train properly, but also avoid unnecessarily dangerous areas or only ride them when traffic is at it’s lightest. Roads with good shoulders are preferable and, counter-intuitively, bike paths are not always safer places to ride; these are often filled with people of a variety of skill levels who may not be paying attention.
The best rides are those you come home from; always ride to proactively avoid placing yourself in dangerous situations and have a plan if you find yourself needing to take a risk. Stay safe and always remember we’re all brothers and sisters on the road. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
I agree with the sentiments with everything you wrote. However, the paper didn’t seem to celebrate that the driver stayed, as this extract from the linked article reads:
“The driver was hysterical,” Lennox said. “He had opened the door, and he was pacing around, screaming that she came out of his blind spot. He was pretty broken up.”
Assuming the eye witness wasn’t lying, the driver wasn’t capable of leaving.
I was at a bike event recently where three lorries of various sizes were parked and we were invited to sit in the driver seat while a police cyclist cycled around the vehicle. I had not appreciated how little these guys see. And weirdly, what they do see is hugely distorted so where they see a cyclist is not where they actually are.
I cycle daily in central London, and have always given lorries a wide berth. Following my experience that berth increased in size.
Ride safely,
David
PS I come from a sailing background, and there’s a famous poem that talks about the situation where small sailing boats may encounter large steel ships:
Here lies the body of Captain Wray
Who died defending his right of way.
He was right, dead right, as he sailed along.
But just as dead as if he’d been wrong.
@davidlhill Brilliant idea by the local constabulary to provide perspective to cyclists (or those who merely ride a bike). Having operated a number vehicles of different shapes and sizes I can firmly attest to those experiences making me a more aware driver and cyclist.
Please note: I said aware, not better. Important distinction as everyone out there tends to think they’re a great driver until the empirical evidence of fucking up demonstrates to them otherwise.
And for the Love of Merckx and Memory of @ItBurns get a RoadID… and wear it.
@frank – love the Urban Riding Tips. In the SF Bay Area where you can’t swing a dead cat and not hit a cyclist, there is a decidedly love/hate relationship between the two camps. While many of us follow these tips religiously, there are many cyclists who ride as if the road is theirs and the autos are the intruders. These guys tend to ride in packs of 5 or more and invariably are two abreast or more. A little common sense goes a long way. Ambassadors of the sport can still die at the hands of a reckless auto driver, but doing the right thing to project some understanding of the rules of the road can have an impact and maybe even tamp down some of that driver frustration.
@davidlhill I like your poem David. Too often I’ve heard from drivers and cyclists ‘but I was in the right. It would have been their fault if they hit me’ That may matter only to insurance companies, courts and fatal accident enquiries when assigning blame.
@Frank another damn fine article, it had me thinking of many things but surprisingly the Scottish Independence Referendum leapt out with ‘There is no courage without fear, ……….The problem with the latter …… much easier than the former and it feels a lot like easy win on the push with most of the population.’
Have courage – Vote Yes (and this is the first time and place I’ve published my opinion)
Now back to the bike and making it reflective. Dark morning commutes are upon us once again.
A big asset to our Saturday morning gruppo route is that we consider all input and have steadily eliminated highways before any dangerous issues emerged. By trial and error we keep uncovering better roads with hardly any traffic — and usually that means extending the route. This also brought up an issue of getting too remote for our own good. So far there has not been really a perfect balance.
Avoid Telepathy – I like that!
Frank,
Correct on every count!
Geese aren’t stupid. People who invade their space are stupid.
Kinda like motorists and cyclists. There’s a frightening mindset among both; a lot of motorists in Australia and New Zealand have an attitude that cyclists are fair game, and openly state that they’d rather run over them than be held up for a few seconds more on their journey. And there’s a lot of cyclists who put themselves in situations that increase the chances of said aggressive drivers of carrying out their threats.
Even when shit like this happens, there are some who find it funny, or that justice has somehow been done.
Then you have morons like this…
And this…
@davidlhill
The local news were the ones making a big deal out of him sticking around because most of the incidents involving cars hitting (and even killing) bikes sees the driver take off never to be heard from again.
@davidlhill
Even more frightening is how callus their driving style is then, given they can’t see! When its foggy and I can see fuck all, my reaction is to slow down, not speed up!
@DeKerr
HERE HERE! They even make an orange wrist band, so there’s no excuse!
@JohnB
Your Scottish independence thing is very interesting to follow for those of us for whom it has zero impact.
@HMBSteve
I saw an interesting graphic the other day on why its either safer to ride two abreast or why its more dangerous. Obviously it wasn’t a good graphic as a good one would have me remembering which it is…but in any case there are times when going two abreast is safer because you keep cars from passing in dangerous areas and a long single file of riders can be very dangerous to pass in almost all circumstances. But as always, use your head.
@unversio
Finding a good remote road is so rewarding! Like finding a good climb or a perfect spot for intervals. And that part about being “too remote” does not compute. Just FYI.
@brett
You obviously don’t keep birds.
Brilliant Frank! Thank you. I actually believe that the situation is getting worse, what with increased coverage of motorists who are praised – not charged – for staying with the father, mother, sister, brother they just killed.
A some things I’ll add as an urban cyclist, road cyclist and League Certified Instructor:
1. Refuse to let drivers wave you through an intersection. Safety for all on the road depends on consistently following the rules of the road.
2. Use hand signals. Make BIG gestures to communicate your intended direction – like you’re my Italian ex-wive arguing on the phone with her mother. Never, however, greet with the “Welcome to Providence” single-digit wave.
3. Wear clothing that contrasts with the backdrop. Seriously, wearing Berserker Green while riding through the wilds of Western Connecticut in the summer is suicidal. Try red instead. But, Berserker Green is great when the season is late, after the leaves have turned.
4. Use blinkies – front and back – all the time – regardless The Rules (sorry). The iPhone addled are addicted to bright, flashy things like dogs are addicted to squirrels. They will see you. Further, if you are riding in an area where you are in and out of a canopy of foliage or riding through narrow underpasses, a blinkie light can save your life.
5. Use your head. Don’t put one goddamn thing into your ears! Listen to the music of the birds, your rhythmic breathing and any untoward sound your bike is making (even though you may need a Xanax later). Under inflated truck tires are a listening cyclist’s best friend.
6. Remember, the Law may give you rights, but Newton’s Laws rule and Bob Mionske can’t bring you back from the dead.
Cheers!
@frank
Chickens are pretty smart actually…
@brett
Depends on the intelligence of the person doing the evaluation, probably. Also, children are stupid too, so your study is invalid. Most children I know can’t even do math. I even saw an infant who couldn’t even even talk.
Seriously. Dumbest animals. Their purpose is purely to be food to something else. But to the opening point of the article, just because they are barely able to stay alive without intervention, doesn’t mean they can’t do some rad-ass cool shit occasionally.
@Durishin
There was some construction on a recent ride; they blocked off the bike lane across a drawbridge, and gave no forewarning other than to merge the bike lane with traffic and send them across the metal grate which would be lethal even without sharing a lane with traffic (not to mention the lane of oncoming traffic.)
The construction worker was totally oblivious and belligerent as to my request to use the bike lane (which was still vacant).
It comes down to people not having any clue what its like to be on a bike in traffic. Its not (usually) aggression, its ignorance. We will have to do the educating.
@frank
Agreed, I hope for the day when I can somewhere possibly considered too remote as I am now stuck in the urban morass of the Philadelphia. There a few places of solace, but not as many as I would like. Until that time, I ride defensively aggressive and pray for Good Luck. Once, on a commute home a van pulled out in front of me. I was able to swerve out of the way, but gave a fist bump to the side window. The driver did not take kindly to this action and proceeded to chase me down, driving threateningly, and yelling at me. I vowed to never repeat this kind of instigation, realizing how stupid it was for me to do anything to provoke a person driving a weapon.
Great article as always Frank. Timely with Autumn setting in, and all the attendant hazards.
Agree with @Durishin that visible clothing and lights are important. Some rules might get violated as a result, but being dead should also be considered a rule violation.
I think of commuting as a risk management exercise. Identify, score, prioritise, mitigate. Do this continuously in real time, until you have arrived safely at your destination. Get better at identifying and mitigating. And repeat.
I remember a recent-ish documentary that was shown in the UK which covered the ‘road war’ between cyclists and motorists. The keynote was that many people (cyclists and motorists alike) see the roads as a competitive space, where it should be a collaborative space. Competition is pointless and dangerous, especially for the cyclist. Collaboration requires skill, give and take, and the absence of ego. But it does work well and gives you a better chance of getting home in one piece. And that’s the most important thing.
Take care out there chaps.
This is frightening and interesting at the same time:
http://youtu.be/wzL0Kyk4m-8
@frank
Steve Martin would agree.
@frank
One welcome side effect is that we can all now spell “independence”
@Chris E Dub
OH HOLY FUCKING FUCK FUCK.
@frank
Hoh Lee Shit.
11. Beware the Blue Hair….The roads in Arizona may be glassy smooth but the blues hairs in their 80’s Cadillacs that patrol them are frightening!
@Chris E Dub
How? Are they too close? I mean, why don’t they show up in the mirror(s)?
@cognition
Because the mirrors are stupidly-designed?
@brett
The woman in the first Video has actually posted a follow up vid where she offers her apology and retracts her point of view. She was invited to go cycling with a dude so she could see it from a cyclist point of view. Some say it was done only to calm the anger of the public and the police alike. I’m not casting a judgement on that but did want to make mention the apology video is there. I can’t seem to find it at the moment.
@frank
Arr yes well that is why the right side (In Aus/UK etc) is labelled “Overtakers” and the left side “Undertakers”
@Chris E Dub
At that when it is not raining/foggy. Add rain and the mirrors become covered in spray and cease to show anything at all.
Timely article, I do a lot of night riding and although I am stupid, Im Australian after all , Im not so stupid as to realise my pissy little carbon frame and spindly bones are going to be able to go on a rampage against a 10 tonne truck.
So , whether im in the right or wrong, in those situations im always going to be wrong.
Road ID – Check
Rear flashing red light – check
white flasher front at dusk and AY-Ups at night – check
Idiot factor reduced but not eliminated
The sailing analogy with the big and little boat is spot on !
@Puffy did not see the apology vid but she was fired from her job – a police officer! What a twat.
@Frank, Im not sure I want to play nice anymore? Back in the dark ages as a lone commuter for 4 years in London I had to obey all traffic rules and cars were, for the most part, respectful. Fast forward to these days, bikes as anarchists and cars pissed off, I choose to follow the lead of the cars and act like them – which in Miami is give them as much shit as they give each other and me. The translation for those who do not know is every one is freakin riding and driving like turds so I will be aggressive, offensive and ride very visibly as defense against their dumb, aggressive shit.
Yes I probably piss off some good gentle folk but I do not care when 3-4,000Lbs of impatient asshole is shut down just a little, it feels good. What I’d really like is a law that allows us to carry Samurai swords, the long fuckers on our backs and when the next Caddildo Escalade cuts me off or can’t find the 10 seconds to wait before it comes close enough to nick me with the wing mirror then its time to chase it down and at the next light slash its hood/bonnet, chop off the offending wing mirrors and deflate all four tires.
Ok, I feel better and of course, especially here in “hey everyone has a gun” Miami, I am just taking it all with the attitude that unless they make contact or threaten me I let it go. Its just bad driving. But I am serious about being Offensive, aggressive and visible as the best defense.
@frank
Road ID actually have a smartphone app, you add a couple emergency contacts and your own details, then take a screenshot and set it as your lock screen.
One more urban riding rule – Don’t undertake!
Cars are very unpredictable and one time I was undertaking, a car just verred directly into my path without indication. Learned my lesson big time.
@Chris E Dub
The clip makes a good point about blind spots but…
1. The camera angle is way too low – like at or below the steering wheel – you could expect the “real” point of view is much higher – 40 – 50cms? Over a foot.
2. Adjust the mirrors.
3. If the truck is at the light first, and signalling left, the bunch is at fault for not recognising the driver has swung wide to make the turn.
4. If the bunch is at the light first, the (professional) driver knows they are there and will wait for them to move off before turning.
5. I think I can see one of the fluro sashs in the mirror.
The heavy transport lobby in the UK and Europe has consistently opposed improvements to mirror and safety features designed to improve visibility and awareness of vulnerable users like cyclists.
Because it will add cost to the outfitting (and retro-fitting) of their vehicles.
The only reason those cyclists can’t be seen is because the people who own and run those companies don’t give a fuck. Even though in London the majority of cyclist deaths are from heavy vehicles. On construction sites in London they are not even obliged to make health and safety assessments about the impact of vehicle traffic to and from the site.
As an industry they are cunts. And videos like that are designed to put the blame on the victims, not the people who could actually do something about it. Where are all the bike lanes – on the inside, so we are forced to undertake then told it’s our fault if we get run over.
I’m with Ron on this. Cyclists are too passive, and cycling organisations keep politely asking for things to be improved.
Why should I obey all those road rules and regulations? Are they necessary because of me, a cyclist, or because of cars? So why do I have to stop and start 30 times on a 10km ride into central London? Cars and trucks have fucked up the roads and the traffic system, not bikes. Every time they see a cyclist passing them it pisses them off and and they just want to take out their impotent anger on someone more vulnerable. I refuse to play that game.
@HMBSteve the two abreast people at least have some sense of what is going on around them. When I am driving I find it necessary to be more patient with the inexperienced riders who spread out with >1 bike length but <1 carlength between them. But if I am driving somewhere like that it is because I am out recreating and can be patient. If only the other drivers could be a little more zen.
Also, the secret benefit of East Bay riding is that the car/bike ratio is not as super crazy as it is in your neck of the woods or Marin, so for the most part the drivers are not hostile. Although they may be oblivious, for any number of reasons.
@ChrisO
I’m with Ron on this. Cyclists are too passive, and cycling organisations keep politely asking for things to be improved.
Why should I obey all those road rules and regulations? Are they necessary because of me, a cyclist, or because of cars? So why do I have to stop and start 30 times on a 10km ride into central London? Cars and trucks have fucked up the roads and the traffic system, not bikes. Every time they see a cyclist passing them it pisses them off and and they just want to take out their impotent anger on someone more vulnerable. I refuse to play that game.
Those very roads were never for cars at all, they were built for horses, they need to have rules for bikes and rules for cars, make it legal for bikes to roll through red lights if it’s safe, then the motorist isn’t going to be pissed off because you’re no longer breaking the law, you are safe and out of their way in the intersection, 100kg of flesh and bike that travels at 25-35 kph should not have to follow rules designed for 1500kg of metal that travels at 35kph and up.
@frank
That’s what I thought as I was getting in and out of those lorries, but kept it to myself as my 10yr old daughter was with me! Also, you have no idea too how far ahead a cyclist has to be before a driver can see them.
On an upside, though purely anecdotal so I expect to be shot down in flames (!) – I’ve been cycling in central London for many years now, and in the last 6 months I’ve noticed a small, but marked, improvement in lorry/bus behavior. I guess the various campaigns are beginning to work.
Though to be fair the improvement only means it’s gone from piss poor to poor and there is a long way to go.
David
@ChrisO
I’m personally torn on this issue. Are we not ALL road users subject to the same rules? Then again, as per Captain Wray, simply following rules could end up costing you everything.
Jump a light and you piss of a lunatic who drives into you to get revenge.
Stay at a light and you piss off a lunatic who thinks you haven’t accelerated fast enough or shouldn’t be there.
Then again you have junctions like Commercial Road/Aldgate in East London that on your very first approach you will crap yourself as it’s both badly laid out and has unusual signal timings meaning you *will* be out of position and you’re screwed whether you follow the rules or not.
Another short, but sweet, pithy comment from the sailing world which summarises the International Regulations for the Avoidance of Collision at Sea (and if you think cyclists get worked up about whether we should follow road rules or not you should see equivalent sailing forums and the debate whether small sailing boats should follow the CollRegs above):
Might is Right
David
I always think that I’m a tractor on the road. Motorist don’t curse a tractor going 25km/h, compared to a cyclist going 30+km/h. Bike riders do 20 tops. If a motorist gives me verbal and I happen to catch them at the next set of lights, I ask them to swap places.
I’m yet to start my daylight savings commute to work, after last daylight savings time, Melbourne, being hooked by mum’s dropping off kids at a bus stop or school crossing. Five seconds is waaay too long to wait for a cyclist to get past stop. They seem to run over whoever to get their kids there, then their own kids get run over by another mum doing the same thing.
Last couple of months been out the door at V:30am back by 7 – 7:30am to get a uninterrupted ride in. I could go to work at that time, but them I’m stuck with running the end of school gauntlet.
Hmmm running red lights?
Pedal power: VicRoads considers allowing cyclists to run red lights
I do quietly enjoy lane splitting when cars are stuck in gridlock. Gaps are left from drivers still texting/updating social status and can slot in front of them along with the moving traffic.
Yet to try something. When traffic lights are red rolling up to them, instead of picking my way to the front, stop about five to ten car lengths back, preferably clicked in holding onto a sign post. That way I’m not trying to click in while cars a giving 4/5ths of stuff all lane to get through the intersection. I do pull to the side, pedestrian permitting, to click in and get some speed up before continuing on.
“Don’t escalate” makes total sense. I’ve tried the sweary, aggressive method and it has done no good.
If, instead, you catch up with a bad driver at the next lights and say something like “Can you give a bit more room please, mate? That was scary back there”, you achieve so much more. By staying polite, you don’t trigger a confrontation. By drawing attention to your vulnerability you appeal to their better nature (everyone has one somewhere) and by asking them to do something differently – this is the key bit – they might actually do something differently.
A big row changes no one’s behaviour. Think about the actual outcome you’re trying to bring about: better awareness, one driver at a time. Not tribal war.
@Tobin especially this time of year. Enjoy the snow birds and the weather
@frank I finally purchased a road id this summer and I wear it all the time.
@blackpooltower
This.
Years ago had a car passenger jump out with a knife after my mate gave them the bird. He gave the bird because they were being smart arses when driving past us really, really close with the passenger door open. My mate did a U-ey, while I was cut off by the car driving onto the nature strip. That’s when the passenger pulled the knife on me a said,” tell your mate to keep his finger to himself!”
We were about 16 years old back then, riding in a suburban back street.
@sthilzy Blimey. Terrifying!
I first started commuting by bike in London in the 80s, and boy was it scary at times, with drivers obviously aiming to knock you off. I admit to making use of a D-lock more than once, leaving a broken windscreen in one case after someone sheared off a pedal (just got my foot out in time).
Wind on 30 years and I now finally an adult, and realise it’s pointless to confront those who are incapable of empathy. I can say that the majority of drivers are far more aware of cyclists, and many do make efforts to accommodate us. There also far more bike on the road and I’m afraid the standard of riding is dropping. We expect motorists to drive with care and caution – so should cyclists. That said, most of the deaths this year have been caused by large dumper trucks working piecemeal on construction sites who get paid per trip and therefore take risks. Pertinent to note that they are not allowed to manoeuvre around a site without a banksman directing them (construction industry has done a lot to tidy up what was a woeful health and safety record), yet it’s ok for the same vehicles to hurtle around the congested roads at will.
i usually get out of the saddle (if not already out) when I know I’m holding someone up (taking the lane to avoid impact-crater potholes, getting back in motion after a red light,etc.)–not sure how much it does for PR, but it might at least send the message that I’m putting a bit of effort into it.
Loads of great tips and stories, thanks!
There, it seems, is nothing quite like a “Car vs Bike” article to polarise opionions. Particularly so in the UK. Urban Riding Tip 1 is the most important. I’ve shared many a shaken headed look of disapproval with motorists at red lights as we’ve watched another cyclist sail through with gay abandon. Those moments we can share the road and our feelings can go some way to letting motorists no we aren’t all wankers on wheels, just as motorists are not all pathological cycle hating mentalists.
@davidlhill Were I given the opportunity to drive a large vehicle, be it lorry or bus, I would brick it at every major junction – sure the video exaggerates the principle somewhat, but the point is; how can you ever been sure it’s clear before you turn? Hats off to the drivers, it must take nerves of steel to go about your job safely.
Yes, there certainly has been a marked improvement by drivers of HGV/PSVs in Central London, but I’m always left gobsmacked by how idiotic cyclists (or ‘bike riders’) are in their nonchalance around them.
@Chris E Dub
I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s noticed an improvement, as because any improvement has to be celebrated. I’m with VeloJello too – there are some red lights where going trough them is sheer stupidity and sharing that thought with drivers is my modus operandi too.
The video wasn’t exaggerating. I can’t tell you enough what a shock it was to me when I sat in a driver’s chair and realised how little I saw.
Another famous ‘death-trap’ in East London is the Bow Roundabout. The last cyclist death was caused by a both a cyclist and a lorry jumping a red light, except the cyclist wanted to go straight and the lorry wanted to turn left (as per newspaper reports post the coroner’s inquest). There was only going to be one loser.
Both at fault – but only one paid with their life.
I tend to get wound up on this subject. I recently saw a youngish girl on a bike with full motorbike type helmet sail through a red and turn right while other traffic was moving. All I could do, while stopped on the red, was to think ‘lady, that helmet will do diddly squat to save you should you be sideswiped, so don’t act like it does.
DAvid