(22-05-13, 01:19 PM)steeeve66 link Wrote: not a counterpoint to the recent, pretty disgraceful, dumb bint who tweeted knocking a cyclist off - but i got ranted at by a cyclist on my trip home out of London yesterday - at Aldgate; the lights were red and I slowly filtered my way to the front - various routes so to speak but finished on the left, between the kerb and the lead car (not a cycle lane), and stopped short of the 'cycle-box' at the front of the line of traffic. Waited half a minute or so until I heard behind me:
"can you move forward mate?" a cyclist had filtered up behind me and wanted in to the cycle-box
"no, sorry" i replied "but i'm not allowed in there" i pointed at the cycle-box.
"you've got mirrors haven't you?"
"yes, why?"
"well, you can see I want to get past, can't you? - i'm supposed to be allowed in to the cycle area"
"allowed? you don't have right of way, the lights are red, i cant move forward and you'll just have to wait like the rest of us"
"but you've got mirrors! why don't you use them??"
"I am, and I can see you behind me - having to wait"
he followed up with a stream of abuse which continued after the lights went green all the way up to my turning right on to the A13.
here's a confession: I cycle. I used to cycle a lot in town when i lived near Waterloo and I don't ever recall hurling abuse at someone for getting to the lights first. He didn't have right of way did he? I didn't cut him up filtering on the left i just got there first - wouldn't he have complained more if i went in to the cycle-box? it's a possible 3 points isn't it??
Is it just me?
On a motorbike, I would have moved to the bloody box. I'm not German and bending rules to make life easier is OK.
On a bicycle I would have hopped on the kerb and moved in front of you... then give you the look ARRR!
(22-05-13, 06:39 PM)VNA link Wrote: That doesn't sound like a good place to be to me. I try to never sit anywhere a car can turn on me. If I filter to the front (always on the right hand side or between cars if there is space, but never between car and kerb) I will generally just about always stop right in front or partially across the lead car. If that means I'm touch over the junction line, or onto a cycle box so be it. I've had to many cars turn on me, and I don't mean just to take a turn some have intentionally tried to run me into oncoming traffic.
Many bikers get run over at the lights - so stats say it is not always wise to be in front either. :\ I sometimes take side of the lane, sometimes middle - depending on the situation.
Most things done in a hurry need to be done again - patiently.