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croft
E&C this evening. Was happily rolling to a stop 3 or 4 bikes back at the red light in the segregated lane southbound from Newington Causeway. I like to take the middle of those lanes when I can - it just feels very cramped next to people I don't know/trust, and I prefer to have space to move away cleanly. Side-by-side just introduces extra hazards I don't like. That mustn't have been clear to the lady who decided to squeeze past anyway - almost brushing my shoulder with hers.
Gist of the conversation:
Me: Um...hi? What's the point in that? The light's red.
Her: You should pick a lane, left or right.
Me: [Pointing out lack of markings] There aren't two lanes here...Why did you pass me with so little room?
She apologised, I suspect more by way of ending the conversation than anything else. Fair play, it wasn't turning out to be a very pleasant conversation.
Lo and behold, as the lights went green, another lady pulled the same move, this time with a hand on my back as she went by.
I'm prepared to discuss the merits and otherwise of not allowing people to pass in those lanes, and I'm open to the suggestion that lane hogging there is a bit selfish, but ffs I'd really rather people didn't just squeeze past anyway. Nobody's gaining any time MGIF-ing at that point- not with the timings of the subsequent reds.
How to you lot deal with those lanes? Fast lane/slow lane or take the middle?