I did a Dr Bike on the horrifically 'designed' Vauxhall Junction (Beesborough Rd/Millbank NE side). It is incredible the lengths that many will go through to pass on the left, to get to the front. Several situations when there were HUGE vehicles waiting to turn left and to help the petrified drivers I and another mechanic felt forced to advise cyclists to be patient and let the vehicle (that was there before they arrived, and had big fucking flashing lights saying I'm turning left) manoeuvre rather than undertaking.
Note in the majority of cases these guys we're going straight ahead yet were looking to go down the left of the left turners...
Guess where the magic blue paint runs? With no prioritisation, it makes the junction a free-for-all. The layout is set up for confrontation :-(
At one point there was a HUGE tow truck towing a double decker bus turning left and one lone wolf decided he knew best....you could see the look of horror on many faces as he wobbled between curb and behemoth. WTF?
I'm honestly surprised there aren't more deaths at this site TBH. I pray I'm not there to witness it.
The more SUD courses I do, the more I work with HGV drivers, the more I ride amongst commuters, the more sympathy I have for HGVers.
The best thing I saw big vehicles doing was to totally cut off the cycle lane thus keeping the gutter huggers out of the way.
I did a Dr Bike on the horrifically 'designed' Vauxhall Junction (Beesborough Rd/Millbank NE side). It is incredible the lengths that many will go through to pass on the left, to get to the front. Several situations when there were HUGE vehicles waiting to turn left and to help the petrified drivers I and another mechanic felt forced to advise cyclists to be patient and let the vehicle (that was there before they arrived, and had big fucking flashing lights saying I'm turning left) manoeuvre rather than undertaking.
Note in the majority of cases these guys we're going straight ahead yet were looking to go down the left of the left turners...
Guess where the magic blue paint runs? With no prioritisation, it makes the junction a free-for-all. The layout is set up for confrontation :-(
At one point there was a HUGE tow truck towing a double decker bus turning left and one lone wolf decided he knew best....you could see the look of horror on many faces as he wobbled between curb and behemoth. WTF?
I'm honestly surprised there aren't more deaths at this site TBH. I pray I'm not there to witness it.
The more SUD courses I do, the more I work with HGV drivers, the more I ride amongst commuters, the more sympathy I have for HGVers.
The best thing I saw big vehicles doing was to totally cut off the cycle lane thus keeping the gutter huggers out of the way.