Cyclists not using hand signals

Tilt

While I have been sat here reading this on going debate, (0026hrs) I noticed a silhouette of a cyclist pass by my window at speed toward the road junction at the end of my street. I only noticed him because the wall on the opposite side of the street is white. I shot up out of my seat to watch him/her and he/she hadn't got so much as a shiny button on him/her to show he/she was there... just a black silhouette traveling at a fair rate of knots. Did he/she slow down for the junction? Nah, just hurtled right across it and vanished into the night. Fortunately (for him/her) at this time of night, there is little traffic.

I'm afraid this is very typical where I live. Russian roulette springs to mind.

Norman_Castle

^ I agree some cyclists could be more visible, I have seen a cyclist on a country road wearing camo gear!, but a lot of accidents involve clearly visible cyclists being ignored and disregarded.

thelawnet

Tilt wrote: »

While I have been sat here reading this on going debate, (0026hrs) I noticed a silhouette of a cyclist pass by my window at speed toward the road junction at the end of my street. I only noticed him because the wall on the opposite side of the street is white. I shot up out of my seat to watch him/her and he/she hadn't got so much as a shiny button on him/her to show he/she was there... just a black silhouette traveling at a fair rate of knots. Did he/she slow down for the junction? Nah, just hurtled right across it and vanished into the night. Fortunately (for him/her) at this time of night, there is little traffic.

I'm afraid this is very typical where I live. Russian roulette springs to mind.

It might be typical, but it doesn't seem to be as dangerous as you imagine.

I wouldn't do it personally, but if they are really so invisible it's a wonder you manage to see them at all, let alone dozens of them from your bedroom window.

Tilt

thelawnet wrote: »

It might be typical, but it doesn't seem to be as dangerous as you imagine.

Whether or not it's dangerous, isn't it illegal?

thelawnet wrote: »

I wouldn't do it personally, but if they are really so invisible it's a wonder you manage to see them at all, let alone dozens of them from your bedroom window.

As I said, last night the cyclist rode along the street with a white wall behind him/her. And believe it or not, we do have street lights where I live. I live in a converted guest house with a huge lounge bay window which overlooks the traffic island where 3 roads converge, one being the start of a dual carriageway. The junction is fairly well lit so I have a grand-stand view of the passing traffic. Yes, I can see any cyclists riding at night who havn't any lights on, but I am static when I see them with enough time to concentrate on one spot, something a motorist wouldn't be able to do.

In any event, whether I can see them or not, if they havn't any lights on, then they are breaking the law. Simples.

cyclonebri1

I've noticed recently there is more of a tendancy for cyclists to stop on the left, wait for a gap in traffic then move from the kerb to complete a right turn.

Some would call them ditherers or lacking confidence, I call them survivers

Marco_Panettone

I haven't read the whole 8 pages, but back to the question in the OP, I tend not to signal when turning left as it's difficult to brake, steer AND indicate at the same time, let alone safely in traffic!

I'd also like to add that yes, SOME cyclists are idiots and ride illegally at times. SOME drivers (of all vehicles) are idiots and drive illegally at times. I'm in both groups, as are most people. Making the debate 'us vs them' does nothing to make the roads safer. After all we're ALL just human beings wanting to go home to our families at the end of the day. Stay safe out there (however you travel) and look after your fellow road-users.

thelawnet

Tilt wrote: »

Whether or not it's dangerous, isn't it illegal?


As I said, last night the cyclist rode along the street with a white wall behind him/her. And believe it or not, we do have street lights where I live. I live in a converted guest house with a huge lounge bay window which overlooks the traffic island where 3 roads converge, one being the start of a dual carriageway. The junction is fairly well lit so I have a grand-stand view of the passing traffic. Yes, I can see any cyclists riding at night who havn't any lights on, but I am static when I see them with enough time to concentrate on one spot, something a motorist wouldn't be able to do.

In any event, whether I can see them or not, if they havn't any lights on, then they are breaking the law. Simples.

So are all the motorists speeding by and for some reason you've mentioned not one word about them.

Funny that.

custardy

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I've noticed recently there is more of a tendancy for cyclists to stop on the left, wait for a gap in traffic then move from the kerb to complete a right turn.

Some would call them ditherers or lacking confidence, I call them survivers

why would you think there was more of a tendency?
could it becaause cycling is on the increase? drivers can't be trusted or what?
I do it sometimes depending on junction,road conditions,traffic etc

photogeek

It is a petty that the skill to indicate and cycle with one hand seems to be vanishing. Less surprising is, that the art of using an indicator is disappearing. Of course drivers hands are tied to their mobile phone entertainment system controls.

rev_henry

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I've noticed recently there is more of a tendancy for cyclists to stop on the left, wait for a gap in traffic then move from the kerb to complete a right turn.

Some would call them ditherers or lacking confidence, I call them survivers

Took me quite a while to master being able to judge the traffic and be assertive enough to pull out when turning right. I can understand why people struggle.