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Bunged together a commuter from spares earlier this week and, as it was lying around unused, stuck a bar mounted video camera on it. On my commmute this morning I had a particularily close pass from a car:
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of close pass[/url]
The car numberplate can easily be read in the video - close enough to be worth reporting, or just typical day to day stuff you'd shrug off?
What's up with you steve, you could have used the opportunity to check your hair in the mirror 😆
That was a tad close. Not sure I could be bothered reporting it, but I would have knocked on the window at the time.
It was a bit close, but not too bad as they didn't cut straight back into the kerb in an effort to kill you. They're the scary ones, you'll get used to the rest 😉
you did seem to drift out towards the 'wet bit' as it went past too.
That was probably while I was waving 2 fingers...
It might look like a wet bit in the video but that the road was bone dry (other than some icy bits) and the transition was from dirty to clean road surface.
Nothing special. What would be more interesting is an Asian mini cab driver frantically braking and cutting into the kerb alongside you to force themselves through a width restrictor in order to gain about 2 seconds.
was the race of the cab driver critical to your point? It makes me suspect institutional racism in you aP
can't see anything wrong with it, sorry bud. Looked normal to me
It makes me suspect institutional racism in you aP
aP may be racist, or maybe not, but he's not an institution so it'd be hard to be institutional racism!
If I can touch the car I consider it too close. I've been tempted to video these things and youtube them myself.
That didn't look too close to you?! Christ, I hope you don't drive near me!can't see anything wrong with it, sorry bud. Looked normal to me
To me he is such an integral part of stw he is an institution
or
Sorry I forgot you must place a great big sign when you put in something sarcy when making a gentle dig at someone.
your choice 😉
you did seem to drift out towards the 'wet bit' as it went past too.
This is what people on bicycles tend to do, especially on ascents, and is precisely why people in cars need to give them plenty of room.
If you want the most consideration on the roads, wear a wig of long, blonde hair instead of your helmet. ([url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5334208.stm ]link[/url])
Sheesh. I live in London. Shall I walk outside and take note of the drivers of all the vehicles that go past with little green discs in the window and report back?
Some of you guys really need to lighten up. And when I mentioned an Asian minicab driver forcing his way through me to get to the width restrictor first it was because we ended up having a rather intense conversation after I'd picked myself up off the pavement and caught up with him in the queue of traffic 200m down the road.
you're making a video of a commute? is this some sort of cure for insomnia experiment? [i]interesting[/i]....
PS - 'too close' is when you get hit
you're making a video of a commute? is this some sort of cure for insomnia experiment? interesting..
Already had the camera (one of the crappy Oregon ones) so thought I'd bung it on the bars. I've no intention of viewing the video unless there is an incident.
How close is too close?
Tough to tell from the video, to me at least.
PS - 'too close' is when you get hit
Idiot.
you're making a video of a commute? is this some sort of cure for insomnia experiment? interesting....
Very interesting when being used to prove the driver was an idiot and not you when you report him for knocking you off.
PS - 'too close' is when you get hitIdiot.
I'm referring to law - reporting someone for driving 'too close' will not get much further than a smirk from plod. Although, you're quite right, I am an idiot.
can't see anything wrong there ❓
If you can reach out and punch the passing vehicle that has just skimmed you with its wing mirror then it is too close.
Didn't cause you to brake or swerve. I'm assuming you're a competent cyclist, what's the problem?
As a cyclist and car driver, I'll pass cyclists fairly close if it means I avoid a head-on crash with oncoming vehicles. Stop moaning.
Didn't cause you to brake or swerve. I'm assuming you're a competent cyclist, what's the problem?As a cyclist and car driver, I'll pass cyclists fairly close if it means I avoid a head-on crash with oncoming vehicles. Stop moaning.
Troll of the week, let the flames begin!
I commented in the other thread...... I know exactly where that piece of road is and I think you're cycling too close to the kerb. There is no way that a car should be able to get past you while there is oncoming traffic.
I'm not saying that he was in the right to try, but I ride more "defensively/aggressively" than that to minimize such opportunities.
And when I mentioned an Asian minicab driver forcing his way through me to get to the width restrictor first it was because we ended up having a rather intense conversation after I'd picked myself up off the pavement and caught up with him in the queue of traffic 200m down the road.
But what does the "Asian" part have to do with what happened? Why is is necessary to mention it?
The last car to overtake him gives him room too!
Doesn't bother me anymore but yeah it's dangerous if windy or should you need to avoid a pot hole.
Nice one shiboleth - I bet when you hit the cyclist you turn round and say "but I'm a cyclist too" and wonder why they lamp you.
Bloody Passat drivers 😉
I commented in the other thread...... I know exactly where that piece of road is and I think you're cycling too close to the kerb. There is no way that a car should be able to get past you while there is oncoming traffic.I'm not saying that he was in the right to try, but I ride more "defensively/aggressively" than that to minimize such opportunities.
That's the top bit of Lanark road between Currie bowling club and the Balerno turn isn't it? I'd be another foot or two out into the road so there was no room for someone to even try to pass you. Looks like you're almost riding on the mucky bit.
I know exactly where that piece of road is and I think you're cycling too close to the kerb
Yep. If you're riding on the 'dirty' bit of road, you're too far to the left.
Once flicked the vees after a car passed me at what I thought was too close (on an open national speed limit road - so pretty scary) & then got pulled by the police in the car behind & forced to appologise to the nice mr policeman (passing car didn't even stop or owt). Mind you was out on the Gower so was probably some relatives of his in the passing car in the first place 😐
If you don't think there is enough room for a car to safely pass you and leave enough room then ride out in the road like you're supposed to. There is either sufficient room, or there isn't - your job is to make the decision and position yourself in the road accordingly.
The default position in the road for a cyclist is in the middle of your lane - you then decide if you would like to move to the left to allow cars past.
Don't let bloody car drivers overtake you. Make them wait till they can overtake properly. Your safety always comes first, so make them wait!
The default position in the road for a cyclist is in the middle of your lane - you then decide if you would like to move to the left to allow cars past.
While I tend to take up a decent amount of hte lane, I'm not sure thats quite true - the HWC suggests you should ride out of the gutter (I think it gives advice as to a distance, don't have time to read it now) but not in the middle of the lane.
Yep. If you're riding on the 'dirty' bit of road, you're too far to the left
+1
if you were this far out he wouldn't be able to squeeze through.
not your fault though.
that looks fine to me, hard to tell from a camera angle though. I might have been a bit annoyed by that but not enough to take action.
The guideline is take the entire lane (the prime position I believe it is called) unless you feel that conditions allow you to let traffic by safely. Even then, never got closer than 60cm from the kerb. The rest of the "road" isn't for riding on - it is gutter.While I tend to take up a decent amount of hte lane, I'm not sure thats quite true - the HWC suggests you should ride out of the gutter (I think it gives advice as to a distance, don't have time to read it now) but not in the middle of the lane.
I usually go with riding in the polished bit of road from vehicles' near side wheels, since it is less distance for me to travel into the left side when I want to. I never go closer than the advised 60cm minimum to the kerb even when I am letting cars past. I will always get out to that near-side wheels line when coming up to junctions or any other hazard.
Didn't cause you to brake or swerve. I'm assuming you're a competent cyclist, what's the problem?
Other than waving two fingers and cursing it didn't bother me much, however I'd like to get my wife and kids into cycling more - even to the extent of doing a cycle touring holiday - but it wouldn't take too many of these sorts of incidents to put them off road cycling for ever.
As a cyclist and car driver, I'll pass cyclists fairly close if it means I avoid a head-on crash with oncoming vehicles. Stop moaning.
You're either a c0ck or a troll (possibly both), so no point replying.
You're either a c0ck or a troll (possibly both), so no point replying.
Fair enough. You asked a question, I answered it. And whilst I hate to be the pedant of the piece, you already did reply. Silly man.
I replied to your initial point, which was reasonable, but not too the later, which you clearly weren't serious about.
Shibboleth - you avoid head-on crashes with oncoming vehicles by refraining from overtaking until you have enough room. Not by senselessly compromising the safety of the cyclist.
You've already spent more time stirring in this thread than you would have to wait to overtake.
that looks fine to me, hard to tell from a camera angle though
stop it at 4 seconds. Cyclist clearly at the edge of the dirty bit, car tyres 6 inches out from dirty bit.
Not by senselessly compromising the safety of the cyclist.
If he didn't have to brake or swerve, and there was no danger of being struck by the wing mirror, where does senselessly compromising come into it?
I'm subjected to far more compromising driving every time I ride my road bike, cars cutting back in too early, overtaking then turning left, or overtaking and then braking hard.
That didn't look particularly bad at all to me. So in answer to Steve's question, closer than that.
And I have to say, name-calling is rather unnecessary.
Name calling?
If you drive so close that the cyclist has no margin for error you are senselessly compromising the safety of the rider. The rider needs room to wiggle and breathe. Other car drivers are doing that to you because you are not positioned safely on the road, I'd guess.
During rush hour traffic, if all motorists waited until there were no oncoming vehicles before overtaking, we'd ALL travel to work at the same speed as the slowest cyclist.
"Wiggling" is dangerous cycling. You should look far enough ahead to be able to adjust your road position to avoid potholes and grids WITHOUT wiggling.
If you ride so close to the curb that you have to swerve to avoid grids or gutter debris, then your technique needs work. But what the hell do I know, 250 road miles a week for 4 years didn't really teach me much.
You [b]should[/b] look far enough ahead to be able to adjust your road position to avoid potholes and grids WITHOUT wiggling
should but sometimes unavoidable.
should but sometimes unavoidable.
I'd be inclined to agree with you, but my eyes tend to work uninterupted practically all of the time. So I shan't.