BBC video of cyclists with helmet cam

Mankysteve

I see driving like that all the time as car driver as much as cyclist. There should be more done to deal with bad driving in general.

Weird_Nev

Fluentcode wrote: »

All I can see in the video is a cyclist with a chip on his shoulder that is aimed squarely at the motorist.

It's great that he has the time and motivation to buy a camera, fix it to his bike and complain about motorists on the A133 driving too close to him. But he cannot take the time to cycle on the far less used, more peaceful and quicker route from Clacton to Colchester by bike using the back roads.

The A133 is also a great bit of road. It is a very wide stretch of road for a single carriage way. The white line you can see him riding alongside is not 'in the gutter', it is in fact almost 3 feet from the verge.

I agree with the Essex Police evaluation.

I absolutely agree. A big part of cycling safely is finding the best route and avoiding major roads where possible. If there is a quieter alternative the cyclist should take it ,to the benefit of everybody.

A roads are designed for fast moving traffic. Bicycles are slow moving in the context of a National Speed limit.

oldagetraveller

Quel surprise, he actually stopped at a red traffic light! Oh, hang on he had to really, there was a camera on his helmet. He no doubt cycles across PEDESTRIAN crossings, cycles on footpaths/pavements, traverses one way streets the wrong direction, doesn't "give way" at roundabouts too when the camera's off. Yes, I've seen many a cyclist do all of those and more.

thelawnet

oldagetraveller wrote: »

Quel surprise, he actually stopped at a red traffic light! Oh, hang on he had to really, there was a camera on his helmet. He no doubt cycles across PEDESTRIAN crossings, cycles on footpaths/pavements, traverses one way streets the wrong direction, doesn't "give way" at roundabouts too when the camera's off. Yes, I've seen many a cyclist do all of those and more.

Better than the car drivers drunkenly running people down, smashing into railings, etc.

Dave_C_2

Fluentcode wrote: »

All I can see in the video is a cyclist with a chip on his shoulder that is aimed squarely at the motorist.

All I can see in this post is a driver with a huge chip on his shoulder aimed squarely at cyclists.:)

... he cannot take the time to cycle on the far less used, more peaceful and quicker route from Clacton to Colchester by bike using the back roads.

But you have no way of knowing which part(s) of the A133 he is using. Nowhere does it say that he is going all the way from Clacton to Colchester.
This is the A133 that he is perfectly entitled to use as a cyclist. Roads that cyclists are not allowed to use are called motorways.

The white line you can see him riding alongside is not 'in the gutter', it is in fact almost 3 feet from the verge.

This is the edge line which strangely enough denotes the edge of the carriageway. Or do you object to cyclists daring to ride on the carriageway!

This still does not excuse drivers not giving cyclists enough room. Just to remind you:


Dave

thelawnet

Here's typical behaviour of motorists:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EuZSJCMMX8

Cyclist cycling straight on, right of way, motorist after motorist just plough into her path indifferent as to her position or safety.

Arfa__

Weird_Nev wrote: »

I absolutely agree. A big part of cycling safely is finding the best route and avoiding major roads where possible. If there is a quieter alternative the cyclist should take it ,to the benefit of everybody.

A roads are designed for fast moving traffic. Bicycles are slow moving in the context of a National Speed limit.

Yep, cycle safely - get off the big roads, out of your way, to benefit you putting your foot down.

Where in the highway code does it say cyclists shouldn't use an A road?

I agree, a quieter road maybe an easier and more enjoyable cycle. However, depending on your route, this isn't always feasible and there are times when an A road is the best/only route.

If a cyclist is using an A road, does that entitle cars to keep going fast, and squeeze past dangerously close? Cyclists can and do wobble (especially going up inclines). A high court judge famously ruled cyclists are entitled to wobble, after shown a bike with fixed handlebars was impossible to ride. It only takes a slight wobble/pot hole/drain and the wing mirror of a 40 mph car to kill a person. All for the sake of a few second delay and 2-3 foot space...

roddydogs

thelawnet wrote: »

Here's typical behaviour of motorists:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EuZSJCMMX8

Cyclist cycling straight on, right of way, motorist after motorist just plough into her path indifferent as to her position or safety.

Did she get a ticket for stopping on a hatched area?

thelawnet

roddydogs wrote: »

Did she get a ticket for stopping on a hatched area?

Best learn your Highway Code and road law before making smart-@rse comments.

"Box junctions. These have criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road (see 'Road markings'). You MUST NOT enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. However, you may enter the box and wait when you want to turn right, and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right. At signalled roundabouts you MUST NOT enter the box unless you can cross over it completely without stopping.
"

The exit road is clear, she's fully entitled to be in the box junction.

And the law:
"The road markings shown in diagrams 1043 and 1044 shall each convey the prohibition that no person shall cause a vehicle to enter the box junction so that the vehicle has to stop within the box junction due to the presence of stationary vehicles.
"

It would be nigh on impossible to breach box junction rules on a bike, since they could just filter up the inside or outside of traffic queuing in the exit road.

As there is no traffic in the exit road, it is 100% allowed to enter the box.

Marco_Panettone

He rides too close to the side of the road. Cyclists need to make themselves more visible by riding further out - this reduces the 'I think I can squeeze through that gap' attitude of some motorists, and gives riders an 'escape route' if someone does try a dangerous overtake.

The only dangerous manouvers were the bus-overtake and the attempted left-hook, which probably wouldn't have happened with better road positioning.

Sadly I now need contact from a vehicle to even call something a 'close call' personally, as long as I stay upright... :-(