Well, if he was saying he had right of way, he was right
He seems to be implying that he had right of way [u]because he indicated[/u] - which is incorrect.
He seems to be implying that he had right of way because he indicated - which is incorrect.
Then with any luck he'll be reading this forum and will have a better comeback next time.
That's what we need - some good comebacks 😉
I'll start with: "you drive like my nan - she's brain-dead too"
I think he does pretty well in the circumstances. My mouth would be spewing rather more unpublishable wordage.
Then with any luck he'll be reading this forum
No, he'll be filming this forum and shouting the words out letter by letter. Like he's recording a "how-to-spell" audio book. Badly. It'll be on Youtube later, and we'll be able to [i]listen[/i] to a thread for the first time!
STW. The Audio Book.
Sounds like a good idea to me.
Excellent idea BenCooper, we need a load of good comebacks.
how about.
'Oh your horn works, what about your brain/brakes?'
This guy seems like a total bell end In my opinion. I've ridden enough miles on the road to be cut up a few times but wouldn't waste my time making a bloody video.
His main mistake was jabbering on about "indicating" and being in the right in a squeaky voice, rather than simply pointing out the van driver made an ill thought out overtake and regardless of the weight of his vehicle, was still responsible for driving it safely, according to the road conditions.
[quote=butcher ]
I'm assuming we're talking abotu this clip? I'm a bit cobnfused too because I don't know how anyone can refute this!
😳
Yep. In that clip, I can't see what else he could have done. IMHO there was never even a point at which indicating would be necessary. In fact, It would be confusing as it would appear he was going to make a right turn.
However, on the general point of coming up behind another vehicle and [i]having to pull out to pass it[/i], indicating does not give you right of way. If there isnt a suitable gap in the overtaking traffic and you can't pull out without causing other vehicles to slow down then the only option is to stop and wait. That's the same rule for all road users.
That's what we need - some good comebacks
BMW X3 merges from right - hand on horn because of some OAP
all line up at next junction
man on bike waves at car window
me "i was in front of you"
her "I didn't see you"
me "exactly"
her "you're a f..kwit"
no comeback not worth it
I cycle just within the door zone - far enough out that if I see one opening I can swerve to avoid it, far enough in to allow traffic to overtake me. Always worked for me.
when I'm the victim of bad driving on my bike I tend to give perhaps a dismissive glance or a shake of the head and then carry on, no need to escalate these morons.
What I thought might be cool though is if we could get a list of comebacks together we could present them to cyclingaz to use in his little videos instead of 'Oiiiii WHAT ARE YOU DOOINNN' - although I do reckon if he gains enough fame/noterity he needs to get that on a T shirt & make a mint.
I think cyclingaz's problem is that he seems to think motorists aren't all massive penises ...
I cycle just within the door zone - far enough out that if I see one opening I can swerve to avoid it, far enough in to allow traffic to overtake me. Always worked for me.
And what happens if both of those things happen at the same time?
And what happens if both of those things happen at the same time?
You're stuffed either way.
I've cycled in central london for years, never had an accident, because I'm always paying attention. You have to think for everyone else to be safe.
I've had my fair share of close calls, usually because of large trucks and blindspots etc.
You can't please everyone but I don't have arguments with drivers everyday. I have to shout at someone probably once or twice a week? Sometimes less.
You're stuffed either way.
Eh?
If you're not in the door zone you won't be doored, simple. If that means taking primary and 'holding up' someone else, then so be it. I'll not endanger myself for someone elses convenience.
Some shocking driving there... but not atypical for London and if you ride here regularly you need to learn how to cope with it or you'll spend your whole time angry...
A couple of points of view
1. he does seem to get himself in a lot of scrapes. I think he needs to ride more assertively - one on of the close passes (3.50?), he let a car through a pinch point - he could have stopped that happening with a proper primary position early on.
2. Cycling is supposed to be relaxing. I think he needs to focus on how he can enjoy his ride, just chill at people's idiocy and spend less time getting angry. Not all those incidences were that bad and a few IMO he could have stopped happening with better anticipation. Riding angry IMO is dangerous, it takes your focus off anticipating the dangers...
Whilst I sympathise fully with the treatment meted out to him I wouldn't ride with him, I think he's got the wrong focus for his own wellbeing...
Cycling like a boss eliminates 99% of these incidents. On the odd occasion it comes to a head, I find giving them a big sad puppy dog face generally gets an apology, which I take as acknowledgement of fault. I've yet to shout someone into an apology.
It's amusing how many people make presumptions about the kind of person I am and how I ride.
Am I an angry person? Not at all. Voicing my opinions is not angry. OK so I shout a bit sometimes, have you never heard of fight or flight response? It's human nature. Don't forget that the shouting is amplified by the fact that the microphone is close to my mouth.
So why read out the numberplates? You see, the great thing about filming what happens, is that I can then forward the footage to the police for them to take further action. But sometimes the footage does not clearly show the numberplate. Read it out and it is easy to listen to later on and confirm that you have the correct details.
Do I look for trouble? You know what would be absolutely insane? To go out on my bicycle, as a vulnerable road user and to put my self in danger. In the past 3 years I have done over 15,000 miles, most of that in central london at rush hour. I reckon I have had less than 50 serious incidences in that time. So that is 1 serious incidence in 300 miles. Factor in that I'm passed and pass over 5,000 vehicles in 100 miles, that means only 1 vehicle is putting me in danger out of 15,000.
Obviously I don't enjoy cycling because of what happens. I should just relax right? I love cycling, and I do enjoy it. What I don't enjoy is those people who put my life in danger. If I can record those, forward them to the police and let them take any action that they think is necessary. Then people can learn to be safer around cyclists. Note the police have prosecuted, fined, given points, section 59ed and written letters to drivers about their driving. They have also given me feedback on my cycling and how to position my self in a better way.
Read the road and avoid these things. Fair enough for some of them, we can't always see everything coming and i'm the first to hold my hand up if I could have done better. But if we slowed down at every junction because the car might pull out in front of us then I might as well stay in bed. Note that I use a wide angle camera, this does not show speed lost very well, so in situations where you think I'm not slowing down, I actually am on the brakes.
[b][url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/uk-cyclist-city-vid-dozens-of-incidents-recorded/page/3#post-4425157 ]bencooper[/url][/b] - You seem to be suggesting that form [url=
video[/url], that I believe I have right of way because I indicated. I'm just clearly stating that I did indicate and I made my intentions clear. Did I indicate and then just randomly swerved in front of him? no, I took a smooth line around the curve in the road. It's just stating the facts.
Good to see you post a response.
I have a question. Do you see this activity sustainable? Not cycling, getting angry with crap drivers? Lets say you argue with a hundred drivers, change the opinion of say, 5 because arguing with them doesn't really change they way they behave. It might even make them worse next time they see a cyclist.
You've missed 95, potentially made them treat cyclists worse and that's not including the hundreds or thousands who see you arguing and gesticulating and think similar of you?
I'm not condemning you by the way, I used to be very much like you. I would chase people down, open their doors, shout at them, be very confrontational. It achieved nothing, absolutely nothing at all. I've learned this now. What will change their behaviour is being calm, explaining why their behaviour is irresponsible, why they should treat cyclists with respect (it's one less car, right?), and how they might not realise how badly they drive.
The polarised opinions you elicit, even amongst the cycling community should suggest what you do, while admirable for your backbone, might not be the best approach to create long term influences to cyclists on the roads.
[i]Good to see you post a response.[/i]
I can't believe he bothered!
As for druidh believing that an overtaking car could have right of way on a 2 way street... he's must just be on the wind-up. Couldn't be that much of an idiot, surely??
It's all fake; there's no rain.
And expecting us to believe it's in London too.
I didn't see one street paved with gold and I'm sure at one point I saw a car older than two years old.
hahaha execllent, Hi Gaz, you're a star mate, well done on you, your videos are ace, keep it up.
[url= http://road.cc/content/news/71208-bbc-air-helmet-cam-documentary ]The War on Britain's Roads[/url]
This programme is on bbc 1 on wednesday 5th at 9pm, mentioned by benjim on page one. He suggests that it features clips from gaz's cycling journeys.
[i]“Now cameras installed on bikes and in vehicles will use heart-stopping footage of interactions between road users to reveal a shocking picture of life on Britain’s roads. The film will follow current cases as they go through the courts and revisit the tragic stories of some of those who have lost their lives on Britain’s roads.”[/i]
[url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/nov/30/cycling-documentary-bbc1-road ]Cycling groups and MPs condemn BBC1 documentary about road users[/url]
sorry about the multiple posts but link above is for a guardian article condeming the programme.
[i]the BBC has instead chosen to portray cycling as an activity solely for battle-hardened males with helmets and cameras. This hostile stereotyping merely scares mums, children and others back into their cars."[/i]
whatever, should be good watching.
I'm just clearly stating that I did indicate and I made my intentions clear. Did I indicate and then just randomly swerved in front of him? no, I took a smooth line around the curve in the road. It's just stating the facts.
It's hard to tell from a video, but I'd say the line you took is pretty much the same as the line I'd take - the primary position, well out from the kerb, able to pass parked cars safely. So why indicate?