Cycling home tonight I was more worried than I've been for quite some years. It appears that even though I was wearing a reflective jacket, had 2 back lights (one flashing the other solid - a dynamo rear lamp) and a nice Dynamo front lamp I had 3 cars attempting to pass where there wasn't space and one who objected to me being in the road and doing a properly considered punishment pass by slowing down, driving alongside me then veering across the centre line then pulling right into the kerb - where I would have been if I hadn't realised that he was a homicidal lunatic.
They're all out tonight.
It's not just cyclists, though - I use about 5 miles of country roads as part of my daily commute by car and, just about every single day, somebody coming the opposite way simply cannot wait 5 seconds for me to clear a narrow section and will drive into it too, causing us both to have to stop/fold mirrors in/drive halfway up a bank. (Which usually takes many times longer than if they'd just waited)
There really are some mentalists out there, and they're probably breeding, too.
I just regard everyone in a car/van/truck as someone who wants to kill me and ride accordingly.
This, unfortunately, is the rule I apply when walking, cycling or indeed driving. Just assume everybody is going to do something highly erratic or life threatening and you'll be okay.
I go with the approach of riding a bit further out well in advance when you see oncoming traffic, such that you obviously can't both carry on as you are.
Then, most drivers will slow down and move over as much as possible, and you can gradually move back over, probably further in than originally positioned, and pass with a cheerful wave.
Otherwise, you have a clear sign that the driver is one of the sociopathic variety, so you still move over in the same way but are better prepared for the option of diving into the hedge/ditch if necessary.
My regular local loop involved a few miles of single track road with passing places, some of which has banked sides making it virtuallly impossible to move far enough over to let anything other than a small car pass.
Never really had too many problems and in fact I use the psssing places to let traffic overtake me - most drivers take time to acknowledge this gesture too.
However was out with my son on Saturday morning when the local Morrisons delivery driver came towards us, drove straight past the only passing place between us so ultimately our only option was to turn round and ride back to the last gateway and let him past. From his reaction I don't think it was aggressive, I think some people just aren't very good drivers... which is a worry when it's their job.
I go with the approach of riding a bit further out well in advance when you see oncoming traffic, such that you obviously can't both carry on as you are.Then, most drivers will slow down and move over as much as possible, and you can gradually move back over, probably further in than originally positioned, and pass with a cheerful wave.
Otherwise, you have a clear sign that the driver is one of the sociopathic variety, so you still move over in the same way but are better prepared for the option of diving into the hedge/ditch if necessary.
This.
I have a theory that a lot of people essentially regress to toddler stage when they get in their cars, and they need clear, assertive leadership about how to behave. Give them that, I they often meekly comply. Let them get scared cos they're not sure what to do and you get panic and tantrums. Honestly - I've been on the receiving end of what can only be described as a tantrum many times - once it even ended in a sulk - pursed lips and everything 🙂
I go with the wave pre-emptively - as soon as they see me. It's a polite way of saying 'stay where you are, I'm here already' - most people reciprocate. But as John says you know pretty quickly if you're dealing with a psycho and because you've started the interaction early, you give yourself extra time to take avoidance action...
I treat it exactly the same way that I would if I was driving...
If there is space to pull over and let the other vehicle past then I do so (there's always space to let the other vehicle past if you're on a bike)
If you treat it any other way then expect confrontation
I'm with yunki.
At the end of the day we all have to share an inadequate amount of space. A bit of give and take and a heaped tablespoon of "it's not worth being dead over".
It doesn't stop the deliberately homicidal (inadequate?) but it does help reduce the effect of the oblivious (and goodness knows there's enough of them).
[i]I'm with yunki.[/i]
No! You're with ME, cos I said that on the first bloody page 😆
Sometimes there's not- especially so if the vehicle is going quickly.there's always space to let the other vehicle past if you're on a bike
Got screamed at for being a dangerous idiot on the wrong side of the road as I avoided a flooded section that I know is hiding some severe potholes the other morning. Driver then undertakes me through the flood before stuffing it into what sounded like one of the bigger holes. It also sounded expensive.
@Scaredypants, I suspect you needed a new set of pants after that!! Looks terrifying!
I've just been advised to report an elderly driver to the DVLA by my local police. He pulled out from my right and basically drove at me the other day; claimed he saw me. If he did then he's not fit to drive anymore. If he didn't see me then he's not fit to drive anymore.
I do tend to ride aggressively and rarely have cars force me into the verge as a result, but there are occasions you can tell the driver won't entertain consideration. I'm worth more dead than alive, currently, but I'm quite enjoying life at the moment!
I guess we'll all need to have GoPros or similar when riding on the road to capture the action.
