So I take up cycling the last part of my journey to work
Discussion
Decided I better start doing something for my health, so now I drive 20 miles on motorways, park in the park n ride, just outside Nottingham and cycle the rest of the way, it's been the best part of 20 years since I biked anywhere, used to do lots of miles, in North Wales on and off road, some quite extreme stuff as well.
But my 5 miles commute is the most extreme ride I done for years.
Is it just me or do busses make a bee line for you and do everything they can to pressure you, squash you and generally just try to cut you up.
Taxi drivers well they can not drive for siht, they drive like loons and to top it off, one decided last night to t-bone me as he came out of a junction, the only saving grace was not a marke on me, but a buckled wheel, wish I had my GoPro on the bike would have make a good clip.
I am quite defensive both in a car and on a bike, but in only two weeks riding I get my first scary moment, that cold have been far worse...
So what tips do you all have, I do the usual, helmet etc.
But my 5 miles commute is the most extreme ride I done for years.
Is it just me or do busses make a bee line for you and do everything they can to pressure you, squash you and generally just try to cut you up.
Taxi drivers well they can not drive for siht, they drive like loons and to top it off, one decided last night to t-bone me as he came out of a junction, the only saving grace was not a marke on me, but a buckled wheel, wish I had my GoPro on the bike would have make a good clip.
I am quite defensive both in a car and on a bike, but in only two weeks riding I get my first scary moment, that cold have been far worse...
So what tips do you all have, I do the usual, helmet etc.
tough out there at times.
I don't scare easily but I ride as if I am invisible, especially when filtering or with cars pulling onto the main carriageway.
luckily I don't have any buses to deal with.
If threatened I just pull into the middle of the road and defend my space, for example I ride a very fast downhill at the bottom of which I turn right into another road. I always ride that section in the middle of the road.
I don't scare easily but I ride as if I am invisible, especially when filtering or with cars pulling onto the main carriageway.
luckily I don't have any buses to deal with.
If threatened I just pull into the middle of the road and defend my space, for example I ride a very fast downhill at the bottom of which I turn right into another road. I always ride that section in the middle of the road.
Really odd this as I've found the overwhelming majority of drivers to be courteous and sensible!
I used to live in Edinburgh, and my flat mate was always complaining of bashed elbows and scary cut ups.
I now live in the North East, commuting 15 miles into Newcastle and yeah, you'll get the odd bell end, but by and large most drivers are fine!
Everyone come live in the North East! ; )
I used to live in Edinburgh, and my flat mate was always complaining of bashed elbows and scary cut ups.
I now live in the North East, commuting 15 miles into Newcastle and yeah, you'll get the odd bell end, but by and large most drivers are fine!
Everyone come live in the North East! ; )
did you get the taxi driver's plate? They are, after all, liable for the damage (though without a witness or cam, he'll probably just bareface the insurers... 
)
although you haven't necessarily done anything wrong, cyclecraft by John Franklin is always a good place to start - it's pretty much accepted practise and will teach you to avoid common mistakes e.g. cycling close to the kerb at pinch points or junctions, going up the inside of HGVs etc. I'd even [flamesuit] recommend reading it over a helmet [/flamesuit]: neither are foolproof, but developing good road sense is largely free, generally gets better over time, will make you a better driver as well (and quite possibly a better pedestrian), and is satisfying rather than dorky. Naturally, there's nothing wrong with both.
It's a shame but many town-centre roads seem to only work for high speed traffic (due to the 1999 "mental deficients should drive too, preferably something big" act), so developing a turn of speed will help - e.g. part of my commute is a narrow high-street with one blind crest (double whites) on a bridge. If I was slower I'd feel guilty and probably get hassled about taking the lane very strongly - almost on the white lines - over the crest so nobody tries to get past in an idiotic place (believe me, any less and people have tried, then oh suprise THERE'S A CAR COMING OVER THE CREST QUICK SWERVE LEFT
), but when I am obviously keeping up with the traffic (usually a bus) in front, people generally work it out.
)although you haven't necessarily done anything wrong, cyclecraft by John Franklin is always a good place to start - it's pretty much accepted practise and will teach you to avoid common mistakes e.g. cycling close to the kerb at pinch points or junctions, going up the inside of HGVs etc. I'd even [flamesuit] recommend reading it over a helmet [/flamesuit]: neither are foolproof, but developing good road sense is largely free, generally gets better over time, will make you a better driver as well (and quite possibly a better pedestrian), and is satisfying rather than dorky. Naturally, there's nothing wrong with both.
It's a shame but many town-centre roads seem to only work for high speed traffic (due to the 1999 "mental deficients should drive too, preferably something big" act), so developing a turn of speed will help - e.g. part of my commute is a narrow high-street with one blind crest (double whites) on a bridge. If I was slower I'd feel guilty and probably get hassled about taking the lane very strongly - almost on the white lines - over the crest so nobody tries to get past in an idiotic place (believe me, any less and people have tried, then oh suprise THERE'S A CAR COMING OVER THE CREST QUICK SWERVE LEFT
), but when I am obviously keeping up with the traffic (usually a bus) in front, people generally work it out.Most drivers are good, the car drivers I find are really good. The taxi drivers are terrible though, in far to much of a rush.
There were plenty of witnesses, most of them from the taxi rank and the police are dealing with it on the basis of driving without due care to other road users.
He was well and truly busted I even made him take me home FOC with the advice of the police.
I am just happy there is no damage to me..
There were plenty of witnesses, most of them from the taxi rank and the police are dealing with it on the basis of driving without due care to other road users.
He was well and truly busted I even made him take me home FOC with the advice of the police.
I am just happy there is no damage to me..
acknowledge a driver if they let you out or if they give you room, even if they just delay setting off to give you time at a junction, if you ride the same route regularly you recognise people which is fun when its pouring with rain and you get that look that says "you do this in the rain as well....."
I MTB for fun / fitness at weekends, which is 99% off-road, so no problems.
I bought a nice 'roadie' for commuting and a bit of fun too - and like you, I found it to be something that may hasten injury and death quite quickly
So...if I go out on it for fun, I get up at the crack of sparrows, and give it some round deserted roads at 5am. Alternatively, I head out to the country and through a huge local national park's roads, late evenings for a similar result.
However, for commuting in rush-hour traffic - I ended up using a series of quiet back streets, pavements and pedestrianised areas.
I could not give two s
ts about people saying cycles should not be on pavements - if it means safe riding and survival, then I'm having it.
Incidentally, in all this time using pavements, if I come up to pedestrians, I slow or stop to go past - and I've never had and grief, abuse, or hassle from coppers, despite seeing them often drive past me when I'm doing it.
HTH
I bought a nice 'roadie' for commuting and a bit of fun too - and like you, I found it to be something that may hasten injury and death quite quickly
So...if I go out on it for fun, I get up at the crack of sparrows, and give it some round deserted roads at 5am. Alternatively, I head out to the country and through a huge local national park's roads, late evenings for a similar result.
However, for commuting in rush-hour traffic - I ended up using a series of quiet back streets, pavements and pedestrianised areas.
I could not give two s
ts about people saying cycles should not be on pavements - if it means safe riding and survival, then I'm having it.Incidentally, in all this time using pavements, if I come up to pedestrians, I slow or stop to go past - and I've never had and grief, abuse, or hassle from coppers, despite seeing them often drive past me when I'm doing it.
HTH
Use eye contact is my best tip.
It's much harder to run someone down if they've just eyeballed you.
15 years cycle commuting, 10 in central london and I have yet to actually hit or be hit by a car. Ride defensively and anticipate just as much as you would in a car.
The franklin book mentioned above is a great read.
Never, ever, ever go up the inside of a long vehicle - that's how most fatal bike accidents happen.
Refine your route to avoid pinch poins ,chaotic junctions and roads unsuitable for pedal bikes where-ever possible.
It's much harder to run someone down if they've just eyeballed you.
15 years cycle commuting, 10 in central london and I have yet to actually hit or be hit by a car. Ride defensively and anticipate just as much as you would in a car.
The franklin book mentioned above is a great read.
Never, ever, ever go up the inside of a long vehicle - that's how most fatal bike accidents happen.
Refine your route to avoid pinch poins ,chaotic junctions and roads unsuitable for pedal bikes where-ever possible.
WeirdNeville said:
Use eye contact is my best tip.
It's much harder to run someone down if they've just eyeballed you.
15 years cycle commuting, 10 in central london and I have yet to actually hit or be hit by a car. Ride defensively and anticipate just as much as you would in a car.
The franklin book mentioned above is a great read.
Never, ever, ever go up the inside of a long vehicle - that's how most fatal bike accidents happen.
Refine your route to avoid pinch poins ,chaotic junctions and roads unsuitable for pedal bikes where-ever possible.
Agree with every single word of this. I have not yet seen better commuting advice.It's much harder to run someone down if they've just eyeballed you.
15 years cycle commuting, 10 in central london and I have yet to actually hit or be hit by a car. Ride defensively and anticipate just as much as you would in a car.
The franklin book mentioned above is a great read.
Never, ever, ever go up the inside of a long vehicle - that's how most fatal bike accidents happen.
Refine your route to avoid pinch poins ,chaotic junctions and roads unsuitable for pedal bikes where-ever possible.
WeirdNeville said:
Use eye contact is my best tip.
It's much harder to run someone down if they've just eyeballed you.
15 years cycle commuting, 10 in central london and I have yet to actually hit or be hit by a car. Ride defensively and anticipate just as much as you would in a car.
The franklin book mentioned above is a great read.
Never, ever, ever go up the inside of a long vehicle - that's how most fatal bike accidents happen.
Refine your route to avoid pinch poins ,chaotic junctions and roads unsuitable for pedal bikes where-ever possible.
Agree with every single word of this. I have not yet seen better commuting advice.It's much harder to run someone down if they've just eyeballed you.
15 years cycle commuting, 10 in central london and I have yet to actually hit or be hit by a car. Ride defensively and anticipate just as much as you would in a car.
The franklin book mentioned above is a great read.
Never, ever, ever go up the inside of a long vehicle - that's how most fatal bike accidents happen.
Refine your route to avoid pinch poins ,chaotic junctions and roads unsuitable for pedal bikes where-ever possible.
Edited by Dave200 on Thursday 26th July 09:28
BliarOut said:
Own your space, get away from the kerb so drivers have to make a conscious decision to pass you. Don't be arsey, just ride defensively. If you're too close to the kerb you'll get squeezed all day long 
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_fi...
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