Cyclists in the inside lane

Mids_Costcutter

triggerhappy wrote: »

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.

No excuse for the cyclist not having a rear light: it's the law, but why have less sympathy for them because they're not wearing a helmet?

DaveMacD

Flossiesdoll wrote: »

There is nothing in the Highway Code forbidding cyclists from passing motor vehicles on their left. The motorist is the one at fault.

HC Rule 72 most definitely states that it's a bad idea on the approach to a junction on the left..... And Rule 167 also says you shouldn't pass where you are likely to come into conflict with other users, e.g. approaching junctions...

The_Banker_5

mikey72 wrote: »

If I ever pulled out in front of a cyclist I'd be at fault too, but what's that got to do with a cyclist undertaking a car indicating left?
I could quote loads of other examples were if I see a cyclist I wouldn't hit him.
Let's stick to the subject of this thread, were I am trying to get across the very specific set of circumstances were I may not see you, and if I don't see you don't rely on me to stop.
If you want to rely on the motorist in this case though, like I said earlier, go for it, feel indignent, blame me later if you want to.
Now though I give up, you can keep posting if you want to.

But if the car was turning left and the cyclist went into him surely the car must have just overtaken the cyclist just before the junction then cut across his path. Agree.

I'm a cyclist, I also have a 900cc motorbike and I also have a car.

I do however have to show a greater awareness when riding my bike and motorbike because of the downright carelessness of car drivers.

But because I have a bike and powerful motorbike it actually makes me into a very considerate car driver you see. Well that and also the fact that I am also a qualified HGV instructor (dont do it now though).


Now if that was me driving the car, I would have kept behind the bike and turned into the road after the bike had passed the junction.

But everyone isnt me sadly.

mikey72

OK, you have managed to suck me back in, if the bike was in front, which it wasn't, I would have seen him, and not overtook him.
So, would you personally guarantee you would have seen the cyclist in the situation below as described below, taken on face value, without other factors being brought into it, and then even in your HGV?
And this is the last post.

triggerhappy wrote: »

Right, I haven't explained this very well. I edited my post to reflect the fact that I had mixed up inside and outside lane, so was attemting to clear up any confusion, not to cover up any error (my reason for editing is noted on the post).

I'll try to explain more clearly. Road has 4 lanes, two going in one direction, two going in the other:
←
| ↑ | ↑ | ↓ | ↓ |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
→ | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Lane 1 is parked cars, as is lane 4. Brother and I travelling in lane 2, turning left at the left arrow. Cyclist joins road from left (indicated by right arrow) and travels up the edge of lane 2 behind us. He catches up with us as we are slowing to turn left, eventually ending up almost in the path of my brother as he turns left. At no point had we overtaken or passed him until this incident.

I agree my brother was wrong not to notice him as he was turning, but I think there is fault on both sides, and certainly the reaction of the cyclist following the incident was more than the situation really called for.

The_Banker_5

mikey72 wrote: »

OK, you have managed to suck me back in, if the bike was in front, which it wasn't, I would have seen him, and not overtook him.
So, would you personally guarantee you would have seen the cyclist in the situation below as described below, taken on face value, without other factors being brought into it, and then even in your HGV?
And this is the last post.

mikey I always check my nearside mirror and would have seen the cycle coming.

If the OP was aware of the cycle pulling out there he should have been aware of it on the nearside.

Regardless of whether the cyclist might be in the wrong for undertaking you cannot take the law into your own hands and teach him a lesson by just turning left anyway and knocking the poor bloke off his bike.

You have to be aware of what other road users may do.......you have to try and read their minds.......but it comes as second nature to me and I would have erred on the side of caution.

Ride a motorbike for a few months and you will see how many idiots there are on the roads.;)

The_Banker_5

mikey72 wrote: »

I'll put my hand up now then, I would have nearly hit him too, and if the prat chased me, I'd have hit him with the wheel wrench.
For the record, I don't check my mirrors, turning left, in case some idiot is trying to undertake me.
And before any cyclist tells me I should, tough, tell me after you've hit the car.
If you don't see something that big, with lights, don't depend on me to see you without any, and try to save your life if you don't care.

And that post actually says so much. Quite frightening really.

Lum

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

I suspect you have cataracts or some other medical problem. You should get your eyes tested. Being dazzled by a light in no way removes the ability of a person to see where that light is.

I'm only 31 :P Also, a fairly recently I was doing some installation work at a Police site, and they had a guy there giving eye tests to all the police drivers, a much higher standard test than the driving test one that includes things like being in the dark, flashing a pair of headlights in your eye then making you read the eyetest board within 5 seconds.

I asked if I could have a go, since I do so many miles and the tester agreed. I passed just fine thanks.

Like I said, it's not all lights, just some of the terrible aftermarket LED lights that are becoming popular with the barryboy fraternity, and some cyclists.