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@dooks
i'm pretty sure being a cyclist makes you better driver too. or at least a driver who's more aware of what a cyclist is likely to do.
i remember my driving lessons and my instructor teaching me things like how to "talk to other drivers with the position of your car" and "always expect the worst". that's got a lot of value in the world of cycling in traffic i think.
to be honest i do i under and overtake lorries BUT
BUT BUT BUT
only if i'm pretty sure (you do a quick internal risk assesment always right?) if there's room and they're not going to move. i take into account the lights, the other traffic at the junction, is it still moving? blocking the path of the lorry? is there a filter? has the other traffic stopped? and if so why? pedestrians crossing? you also take into account the length of the queue at the lights which tells you something about how long they've been waiting you take into account which way they're positioned themsleves. subtle things like this all make a difference. AND
AND AND AND
i only then go for it if there is an escape route should the quick internalised risk assesment turn out to have been misguided. i.e. i'll only do it if i can see that should the lorry unexpectedly turn in on me there is somewhere to hurl myself out of the way.
having said that i've arrived at work with a bruised shoulder or elbow from cutting it too fine more than once.
and of course freak accidents do happen to the most careful of riders and drivers. and people driving (especially in london) do do horribly unpredictable things like suddenly lose patience and throw a violent u-turn without looking behind them (nearly took me out on the way home last night) and narrowly overtake cyclists only to slamm on the brakes and turn off left right in your path nearly taken me out on several occasions on park lane).
it terrifies me how many people don't take into account cyclists (or motor bikes) when crossing the road. so many times people assume that if the main flow of traffic is stopped on the side of the road nearest to them it's ok to step out without looking. even if no-one's coming up the inside they'll so often step into the middle of the road looking to their left to scope out the opposite lane and appear in front of OVERtaking bikes and motorbikes. whilst looking completely the wrong way. happens to me pretty much every day.
sorry. ranted off topic a bit there. swam 3k, rode home then had a couple of beers with no dinner.
really saddedned to hear about yet more avoidable carnage on the roads. it's beena bad week for it.
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