Routemasters (again)
NY wrote:
"JNugent" wrote in message
...
I use a bike for most of my urban transport needs, and am also
allergic to being knocked off, involved in accidents or otherwise
squished. I also have no particular interest in "riling up" non-bike
riders, so I try to be visible and predictable, signal and use the bell
a
lot, stop before hitting someone or something, take the lane when
necessary for safety but as soon as possible afterwards pull over
to let other traffic pass, etc etc.
Sounds very reasonable and I'm sure that other reasonable road users
don't expect two vehicles to fit side by side through a space wide
eniough for only one.
I cycle as if were a human-powered car, in that I obey all the rules
that I would obey if I was driving and as if I were subject to the
same penalties for disobeying those rules.
I will normally keep as far left as I can without riding into drain
covers or being at risk of veering into the kerb if I'm blown by
passing cars or if my handlebars twitch slightly. I go a lot slower
than cars except when they are crawling along in a queue, so it's
only courteous that I try to make it as easy for cars to overtake me,
without endangering/inconveniencing myself.
I NEVER EVER EVER overtake a vehicle on either side if it is
indicating to turn in that direction.
I never overtake vehicles on the left on the approach to a junction
where those vehicles may turn left, even if no-one is indicating to
turn. I am also reluctant to overtake on the left at other times
because it would take me down a narrow gap between the LHS of the
vehicle and the kerb, with the risk of veering either into the car or
the kerb.
Normally if I am in a queue of cars, I will wait patiently, just as I
would if I was driving a car. I may dismount and walk along the
pavement if a) I can see that the pavement is sufficiently clear of
people that myself and the bike alongside me won't get in their way,
and b) I can see where there is a space for me to rejoin the road
further ahead. I may overtake on the RHS of the queue of cars if
there is plenty of space (eg there are no oncoming cars because they
are held at traffic lights). But normally I will wait.
I will wait in a position where I am visible to the cars behind me
and (via their rear-view mirrors) the cars ahead. Usually this means
being half way between the LHS and RHS of the cars.
When traffic starts to move, I remain in this position whilst traffic
is moving slowly enough for me to be able to keep up with it. When
the car ahead starts to draw away from me, I move back to the left
and expect cars to start overtaking me.
I ALWAYS ALWAYS obey traffic lights and zebra crossings because they
apply to me as much as to other road users. I am even more alert to
the possibility of a green traffic light turning amber and red than I
would be when driving, because the fact that I am going slower means
that it will take longer for me to be clear of the junction if I do
happen to go through on amber.
and then I woke up.
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