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Nah mate, if you wanna change lanes and there's traffic in the other lane then you wait.
I partially agree with this, but there is a modal difference: if one vehicle driver decides to stop and allow the lorry to change planes then all other vehicles behind it have to wait, since it blocks the lane into which the lorry wants to change.
With bicycle traffic this doesn't follow as subsequent bikes can just nip through. It takes a lot of bikes to block a lane. (This is usually a good thing!)
Once the cycle traffic density reaches a certain point, such as Waterloo bridge at commute time, the lorry driver is very restricted in available options.
I'm not sure of what the best strategy is for the lorry driver in these circumstances. Probably suck it up and wait for a long time, with all attendant increase in frustration and ill feeling toward cycle traffic. Oliver?
mashton-
Ultimately cyclists have to consider themselves traffic. And while you might be able to sift through the highway code until something appropriate comes up, it's also just good sense/polite to allow an awkward vehicle get on with their journey.
There are many circumstances when I'd be of the opinion that the lorry driver is a cunt just for being there, but mid rush hour, massively overloaded junction it just makes sense to hold back for the 30 seconds required to allow the maneuver to be completed.
(Proper segregation of course negates these problems...)
Backstop
I'll take "blaming other road users for your vehicles blindspot" for $500, Alex.
Sounds like the driver was trying to change lanes and you expect other road users to let him do so? Nah mate, if you wanna change lanes and there's traffic in the other lane then you wait.