Cycling Tips
- Thread starter Biddlybee
- Start date
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
On the RH turn, don't forget to indicate before you pull to a stop, so the vehicles behind and approaching know what you're doing.
ooo, I avoid routes that take me that way! Seriously, the only place I can think of, I try all I can do to get into the cyclist advance box, and sometimes that means waiting until the light turns red again so I know I can make it to the box safely without other cars taking off and running me over. Then I hold my right arm out flailing, looking over my shoulder, after having caught all the eyes of the drivers who are stopped, so they know I'm turning right.
I guess I always take the stance that it is better to be late than dead, and wait until it's safe or someone kind is letting me go. I feel like a loser sometimes, since there's other cyclists out weaving and passing me, but I just don't feel safe doing that.
ETA: Yes, as others have said, don't be afraid to take up the space as if you're a car at a junction. Some drivers get annoyed, but as long as they can see you they won't run you over.
I guess I always take the stance that it is better to be late than dead, and wait until it's safe or someone kind is letting me go. I feel like a loser sometimes, since there's other cyclists out weaving and passing me, but I just don't feel safe doing that.
ETA: Yes, as others have said, don't be afraid to take up the space as if you're a car at a junction. Some drivers get annoyed, but as long as they can see you they won't run you over.
JoePolitix
Gone
Is it normal to feel a lactic build up in your thigh muscles when you climb a long steep hill?
Bristol's full of the fuckers.
Bristol's full of the fuckers.
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
Unless you are very good at climbing very long steep hills then 'yes'.
To be fair, many scooter riders are car drivers on two wheels and regard themselves as such, especially those using it solely to commute. If it weren't for the CC and problems parking in town I doubt we'd see as many on the roads in London.catrina said:
Same "don't give a shit about anyone apart from me" attitude combined with the same lack of awareness we all know and love so much
At least they're easy to spot, and unless you're unlucky to be on the roads during the commute you'll hopefully miss the majority of them (and touch wood they'll miss you too !!)I see NYC is now looking at a CC. Apparently there's a scooter owners club in Manhattan, now that must take some balls riding a bike over there <gulp> Quality of driving is atrocious, the roads are in shite condition, the winter is savage and they park like they're driving a dodgem in a padded cell
I do like their right on red rule though. It keeps you on your toes as a ped, but really helps to keep the traffic moving. Having a regular street layout helps a lot too !!
Radar said:
So they should be even more responsible! I'm talking about the ones that weasle their way up to the cyclist advanced box, then turn left across you without even signalling when you're going straight. Except they don't turn left as soon as the light turns, because they're flirting with their girlfriend. No, they wait that extra 2 seconds so that when they do start to turn, they just about have run over your leg. [happened to me this morning.
]I see this quite often, though. I don't think scooters belong in the advance box, am I right?
You know what I think they could learn a bit of from the US over here, is traffic cops who actually enforce the laws. The driving here is pretty atrocious as well, it's just the streets are so narrow it's hard for cars to get going fast enough to do any real damage.
If they went on a ticketing rampage at red lights for a month, I think you might see some real changes and far fewer cycling accidents.
A shit driver is a shit driver.catrina said:So they should be even more responsible! I'm talking about the ones that weasle their way up to the cyclist advanced box, then turn left across you without even signalling when you're going straight. Except they don't turn left as soon as the light turns, because they're flirting with their girlfriend. No, they wait that extra 2 seconds so that when they do start to turn, they just about have run over your leg. [happened to me this morning.
We all like to point and moan at other types of transport being the lethal bogeymen, it all helps us to feel in control of what is a dangerous environment. The unpleasant truth is that an idiot can pop up on any form of transport and strike at any moment. That idiot might even be ourselves !!
I had some fucktard on a scooter riding up my arse today down Hounsditch. Fucker was so desperate to overtake me he missed the ped I'd emergency stopped for by inches and my bike by probably the same amount as he passed me on the inside
Scooter was in my nearside blind spot so ped probably didn't see him until he felt the breeze. At least I already knew he was hovering from London Wall - just not exactly where he was in relation to me, so as I stuck it I braced myself for a rear ender 
Another fucker who should stick to the pavements before he maims someone and let the grown ups who are capable of looking more than 10 ft up the road get on with it
Very important!
When passing a bus that has come to a stop to let passengers off it's important to take it wide, and if you can't then slow down to a cautionary speed. Fucking idiots have a habit of getting off the bus and crossing in front of it while not looking for incoming traffic.
Only the other day in front of me on my scooter I saw some lass on a townbike take a stationary bus - this college student got off the bus, crossed the road in front of it and walked straight into her, causing the girl on the bike to come off arse over tits (made me squirm to watch!). I stopped and helped the girl up as the other lass hurried off - she told me the girl who she collided with didn't even apologise.
When passing a bus that has come to a stop to let passengers off it's important to take it wide, and if you can't then slow down to a cautionary speed. Fucking idiots have a habit of getting off the bus and crossing in front of it while not looking for incoming traffic.
Only the other day in front of me on my scooter I saw some lass on a townbike take a stationary bus - this college student got off the bus, crossed the road in front of it and walked straight into her, causing the girl on the bike to come off arse over tits (made me squirm to watch!). I stopped and helped the girl up as the other lass hurried off - she told me the girl who she collided with didn't even apologise.
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
pootle said:
The only thing allowed in the ASL box is a cycle - and only then if it has entered the box from the L hand mini cycle lane thats attached to the ASL.
Certainly in London though the ASL is a free-for-all - but a technically illegal one.
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
cycle lane cameras to hit wayward drivers with £120 fine
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article2128011.ece
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article2128011.ece
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
Radar said:
MET too AFAIK
Point taken Radar. However, as someone who has only ever driven in the States, and only ever cycled in the UK, I find that the fear of getting a ticket at any moment stops me from running red lights when driving in the States, whereas there is zilch fear of anything happening if a driver runs a red light here, unless (s)he runs someone over in the process. I once ran a red light on my bike here, in front of a police officer, and he just shouted at me, but there were no consequences.
There have been studies to show that for some reason, some people are just crazy drivers and there is no amount of jail or fines that will change their behaviour. But that, for most reasonable folk, the fear of a penalty is enough of a deterrant.
It just seems there're no such penalties on the streets, at least in London.
The only thing I've seen anyone getting a ticket for is a cyclist riding across a zebra crossing.
It doesn't take very much to get the point across - a hefty fine and a months' worth of enforcing it.
There have been studies to show that for some reason, some people are just crazy drivers and there is no amount of jail or fines that will change their behaviour. But that, for most reasonable folk, the fear of a penalty is enough of a deterrant.
It just seems there're no such penalties on the streets, at least in London.
The only thing I've seen anyone getting a ticket for is a cyclist riding across a zebra crossing.
It doesn't take very much to get the point across - a hefty fine and a months' worth of enforcing it.
Doh, just reading that article now, seems like TfL are addressing the issue. But the fact that only 3 penalties had been issued in all of London in 6 months says quite a bit.
For whatever reason, motorists think that they have the right of way and the cyclist is a nuisance. I think hefty fines are the only way to get the point across that we deserve to be on the road as much as them, and certainly don't deserve to die on our commute home.
For whatever reason, motorists think that they have the right of way and the cyclist is a nuisance. I think hefty fines are the only way to get the point across that we deserve to be on the road as much as them, and certainly don't deserve to die on our commute home.
Velouria
Long time lurker
Hand signals on your bike, horse or (very very old) motor carriage (courtesy of the lovely Highway Code which you now can get for free off the Internet ):
I intend to move in to the left or turn left (Car signal shown too cause it's different. I think you are allowed to reverse the car signals around if driving a LHD car but it doesn't say):
I intend to move out to the right or turn right:
And the one that's so rare that some aren't sure how to do it:
I intend to slow down or stop:
Regarding turning right from the left: You are legally obliged to do so if on a bicycle with dynamo lights at night i.e. if you have to stop at the junction you must stop on the left (Naturally, this is because with a dynamo, when you stop so do your lights). This is so obscure that the Highway Code doesn't even mention it, but do be careful about this one at night because it possibly means you could be found liable if someone whacks into you ... edit: see this link, which also says flashing lights are legal now (something I never knew!)
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/
):I intend to move in to the left or turn left (Car signal shown too cause it's different. I think you are allowed to reverse the car signals around if driving a LHD car but it doesn't say):
I intend to move out to the right or turn right:
And the one that's so rare that some aren't sure how to do it:
I intend to slow down or stop:
Regarding turning right from the left: You are legally obliged to do so if on a bicycle with dynamo lights at night i.e. if you have to stop at the junction you must stop on the left (Naturally, this is because with a dynamo, when you stop so do your lights). This is so obscure that the Highway Code doesn't even mention it, but do be careful about this one at night because it possibly means you could be found liable if someone whacks into you ... edit: see this link, which also says flashing lights are legal now (something I never knew!)
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
Who has dynamos anymore though?
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
That reminds me - try to get other kinds of exercise - you'll look weird otherwise. I now have hams for legs and a flabby stomach and disco tits. Kinda disproportionate!
