Defensive Riding

Not the law, Grotley, old chap - simply a recommendation.

Says there that a bell should be rung if one is fitted.

Nowhere does it say that one must be fitted

sano,
TVM, i do get into such a tizzy sometimes.

1. it's like a chess game - you must think first, before you move
   
   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl6jwab3HWk

Not the law, Grotley, old chap - simply a recommendation.

Says there that a bell should be rung if one is fitted.

Nowhere does it say that one must be fitted
hence the frequent misuse, by inept cyclist wishing everything in their path to move aside for them, buses and HGV included.

Its the knobs that have just got there "cycle2work" bike, dressed in full fluro suit, havent cycled in 10 years and wearing an Iplop that annoy me, I had one of those fuckers cut me up twice today, so I stopped beside him and politely said "thats twice you crossed in front of me with out looking, maybe look next time or you'll have someone off their bike" to which he glanced at me chewing his chewing gum with an open mouth and said "Sorry mate cant hear ya" so I said "Fuck you you dumb cunt, ..did you hear that?" I heard him mumble fuck you or something as I set off ...wanker :D

hence the frequent misuse [of bells], by inept cyclist wishing everything in their path to move aside for them, buses and HGV included.

Exactly. Above all, remember that cycling is essentially a social skill for all those encounters with people you have in a day's riding. You're not locked away in a box and you have the opportunity to interact with the rich life of the city (yes, of course, you come across the odd person you wouldn't want to meet) much better than anyone who's on foot and dependent on public transport. There are many opportunities not to be missed by excessively fast or anti-social riding.

'Defensive' cycling isn't such a good word. Very few people set out to actively do you harm. They all know that that would be a lot more trouble for them than it's worth. If your communication with other street users is good, you should encounter very few sticky situations. If not, think of getting some cycle training (http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/ is a good place to start), even if you're a very experienced rider and pride yourself on your skills. You will be able to improve them.

It's better to cycle assertively. Assertiveness doesn't mean barging everyone out of the way, it means that you achieve a situation in which 'I'm OK, you're OK'. Why make anyone's day worse? When people become aggressive, they often do this because they are victims of motor dependence. Help them. Don't attack them. It's often much more difficult to remain friendly, and of course no-one can stay friendly in every situation, but aim to be a model ambassador for cycling and show people why it's such a great thing to take up.

As a bike rider, you're using the superior and more modern mode of transport. Carriages were invented much earlier than bicycles, and although they became motorised after bicycles had been invented, their basic concept is ancient and they are nowadays not used in a purposeful way the majority of the time. Many people are the victims of pointless accepted usage patterns.

And: Sail before steam--yes, pedestrians can step out unawares, but apply the same principle that you would want motorists to apply to interacting with you. Keep an eye out on what pedestrians are doing and don't cycle too fast for the conditions, especially in shared-use situations.

LCC pages on cycle sense:
http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=62

Happy cycling to all!

Oliver
LCC

heed the advice of SPROCKET MAN

and spit in the gutter not over yr shoulder

and don't be a cunt

I'm not sure about bikes being the more modern form of transport. Cars are radically different to carriages, whereas bicycles are pretty much the same as they were 100 years ago. Still it made me laugh.

Totally agree on sail before steam. Sure, some pedestrians are complete tits and probably deserve to be run over, but it is the job of us higher creatures to protect the lower ones.

I don't see what is wrong with calling it defensive riding. Assertiveness is a part of it, but we all know the best defence is a good offence.

Defensive riding is the wrong term, IMO.

Assertive riding is the way to go. That's not being a twat, merely asserting your right to be there.

I think most of us would like to assertively assert that assertiveness is the best policy.

I'm not sure about bikes being the more modern form of transport. Cars are radically different to carriages, whereas bicycles are pretty much the same as they were 100 years ago. Still it made me laugh.

I was talking about the basic concept of an enclosed vehicle compared to an open one.

I rode the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on the 2nd November. It was really fascinating that despite the fact that the old vehicles were all open to the elements, it was actually much harder to interact with the people in them than with the guys on motorcycle-like contraptions, even if it was a non-enclosed motorised quadricycle (and this was on a run where everyone was very friendly and there was a great atmosphere). The difference was made by the carriage body. In this respect, contemporary cars are even worse.

I'll leave it to the techies to contest your point that 'bicycles are pretty much the same as they were 100 years ago'.

We do sometimes need vehicles enclosed with a carriage body (e.g. for carrying large loads), but not most of the time.

I don't see what is wrong with calling it defensive riding. Assertiveness is a part of it, but we all know the best defence is a good offence.

Talk of 'defensive riding' comes from Cyclists' Inferiority Syndrome [(c) London School of Cycling]. Act as if you're on the defensive all the time and you're much more likely to be victimised.

Why would anyone want to be offensive while riding?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl6jwab3HWk

haha big up!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bC-mfShLNQw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl6jwab3HWk

http://www.wuchess.com/

Talk of 'defensive riding' comes from Cyclists' Inferiority Syndrome [(c) London School of Cycling]. Act as if you're on the defensive all the time and you're much more likely to be victimised.

It's no different to defensive driving, as taught by any "learn to drive" book, or defensive motorcycle riding. I don't pick up a victim vibe. Defensive in this context is not the same as 'scared'. It's about anticipation and control.

Anyway it's semantics.

Why would anyone want to be offensive while riding?

You may well ask, but an awful lot of cyclists seem to, as evidenced by some of the hideous lycra creations they impose on our poor innocent eyes.

My eyes are not innocent.

One technique I use for when heading straight on at a junction with multiple lanes:

Left lane: turning left only
Right lane: heading straight on

When heading upto the junction I sit to the right hand side of the left lane for two reasons.
1 the traffic in the right lane can get past you, meaning when you go through the junction there is less or no traffic behind you and taking the pressure off you and the traffic behind you.
2 The traffic in the left lane does not undertake you, thus sandwiching you between two lanes of traffic. They need to slow down anyway for their left turn.

You are controlling the flow of traffic in that lane and thus defending you position on the road, but being a courteous road user at the same time. Fact

Coming from Shoreditch High Street onto Bishopsgate, there is a small section of Bike lane which goes onto the pavement.

Be very very careful!!! Pedestrian lemmings will NOT be paying attention! If the traffic is stationary, as it usually is, they will not be paying attention!!!!

Big accident awaits!

Pete

I prefer to just stay on the road through that section. Rubbish transition from road to footpath, and its usually rammed with traffic through there during commute times anyway.

And remember kids, undertaking lorries often leads to the following predicament:

Ride like you're in a car. Works for motorbikes, works for bikes. Obviously, until you need to filter, as is our right.

Ride like you're in a car. Works for motorbikes, works for bikes. Obviously, until you need to filter, as is our right.

Which is fine as long as you don't behave like a cunt - that should be the preserve of car drivers (I know it isn't but it should be)

(this is so canadian of me, but what the f*ck...)

if someone in a car slows down to let you get in front or yields to you or whatever, give a little thank-you wave.

likewise, if you plow through a zebra crossing and cut up some pedestrians, a smile and a little "sorry!" bring smiles to the faces of the pedestrians. i'm guilty of doing this a lot, and it eases tensions very quickly.

Which is fine as long as you don't behave like a cunt - that should be the preserve of car drivers (I know it isn't but it should be)

Yeah, i was referring to road positioning rather than temprement, sadly. It's a sad fact that being in a car and being a prick seem to overlap too frequently.

(this is so canadian of me, but what the f*ck...)

if someone in a car slows down to let you get in front or yields to you or whatever, give a little thank-you wave.

likewise, if you plow through a zebra crossing and cut up some pedestrians, a smile and a little "sorry!" bring smiles to the faces of the pedestrians. i'm guilty of doing this a lot, and it eases tensions very quickly.

True say. I'm all for a quick thumb up in the air to the vehicle behind me for letting me in/through. I remember a messenger did it to me once when I was behind the wheel and it made me feel all warm and fwuzzy. It could be some underground messenger signal for "cunt!" but I'd like to think it was a "cheers fella!" So, depending on what potholes I have lying ahead, I try to dish this out as much as possible.

+1 on the thumbs up for good drivers