Cyclists in the inside lane

triggerhappy_2

Bound to have been posted several times before, but my searches proved fruitless on this subject.

Tonight, my brother was following me (both driving cars) as he wasn't sure where I lived. I turned left from a main road into a minor road, and my brother followed. Both turns were made from the outside lane but only because (with the exception of a few yards at each junction) the outside lane of this road is filled with cars.

Now I recognise that one should be careful of cyclists, and when I turned there was not a chance that the cyclist could have been anywhere near me. When my brother turned, however, there was a near collision between him and the cyclist.

There was never any doubt that both vehicles were intending to turn left, as we both indicated well in advance, but the cyclist chose to put himself in the firing line of a turning vehicle. Of course, he was able to avoid a collision, but chose to follow my brother for a good few streets, beating up his car as much as he could. I'd have had a little more sympathy for him if he was wearing some reflective gear, but he only had one tiny front light - no rear light and no helmet.

Car drivers can be as bad as cyclists and vice versa, I accept wholly, but if someone cuts me up on the road I don't follow them home! What I wonder is would it be just as expected to stop dead whilst indicating left from a major road to a minor as it would when turning right? I know what the highway code says, just interested in general opinions.

anewman

You have to watch out for such gormless idiots unfortunately. Drunks wandering in the middle of the road in dark clothes are worse.

maninthestreet

How could a near collision occur between a cyclist in the outside line, and a car turning left in the inside line??

neilmcl

Exactly, and why did you say you were in the inside lane ONLY because the outside lane was full. If you were turning left you would have been required to be in the inside lane anyway.

triggerhappy wrote: »

Tonight, my brother was following me (both driving cars) as he wasn't sure where I lived. I turned left from a main road into a minor road, and my brother followed. Both turns were made from the inside lane but only because (with the exception of a few yards at each junction) the outside lane of this road is filled with cars.

And hasn't your brother heard of mirrors.

maninthestreet

Quite - when turning left, always use your mirrors, especially the nearside wing/door mirror to check for cyclists on your inside.

blued

What do you mean by beating up his car? If he caused damage I'd have called the police and not let him out of my sight until they got there.

I cycle occasionally and always take the approach that cars weigh 1-2 tonnes and ALWAYS have right of way.

Mankysteve

Agreed with above post. but don't forget to check that blind spot as well as use mirrors

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Presumably you mean your brother turned left across a lane of traffic on his nearside, and across the path of the cyclist, who had right of way?

If so, your brother is a pillock. I'm not surprised the cyclist followed, because being almost seriously injured or killed is bloody frightening. Adrenaline can create some pretty big dents from a cyclists fist or foot.

Inactive

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Presumably you mean your brother turned left across a lane of traffic on his nearside, and across the path of the cyclist, who had right of way?

Indeed, it seems that way, no wonder the cyclist was not a happy bunny.

The_Banker_5

triggerhappy wrote: »

Bound to have been posted several times before, but my searches proved fruitless on this subject.

Tonight, my brother was following me (both driving cars) as he wasn't sure where I lived. I turned left from a main road into a minor road, and my brother followed. Both turns were made from the inside lane but only because (with the exception of a few yards at each junction) the outside lane of this road is filled with cars.

Now I recognise that one should be careful of cyclists, and when I turned there was not a chance that the cyclist could have been anywhere near me. When my brother turned, however, there was a near collision between him and the cyclist.

There was never any doubt that both vehicles were intending to turn left, as we both indicated well in advance, but the cyclist chose to put himself in the firing line of a turning vehicle. Of course, he was able to avoid a collision, but chose to follow my brother for a good few streets, beating up his car as much as he could. I'd have had a little more sympathy for him if he was wearing some reflective gear, but he only had one tiny front light - no rear light and no helmet.

Car drivers can be as bad as cyclists and vice versa, I accept wholly, but if someone cuts me up on the road I don't follow them home! What I wonder is would it be just as expected to stop dead whilst indicating left from a major road to a minor as it would when turning right? I know what the highway code says, just interested in general opinions.

Think Bike.

Tell your brother to pay more attention to other road users instead of concentrating on following you.

Oh and please learn the difference between your outside and inside lanes.;)

geri1965_2

blued wrote: »

I cycle occasionally and always take the approach that cars weigh 1-2 tonnes and ALWAYS have right of way.

No, they don't. Just because they are bigger doesn't mean they can do what they like and bully other vehicles on the road.