Safety Tips for Noobs

I'm thinking: I go UP high holborn every day, on the wrong side of the road if there's backed up stationary traffic. And you say you're going down High Holborn. Do you mean up (westbound) or down (eastbound), in the sense that its a slope going down eastbound? I have NEVER seen traffic backed up there eastbound except some at the lights with Grays Inn Road.

Anyway, I think you're probably travelling the same way as me, westbound.

I would suggest that you need to be aware that a lot of people 'jaywalk' (horrible amercian term) between stationary traffic up there, so if you're going to do the filtering thing, do it slowwwwly, unless there's no oncoming traffic so you can go really wide towards the middle of the oncoming lane. USE a bell if you have one, or whistle loudly or call (nicely) out to peds as they're generally looking the wrong way when they do this. Expect them to be there, basically. Also watch out for the really bad surafcing all along the section with a junction at Chancery Lane. And PLEASE complain about it here, I have many times but nothing seems to be done about it.

Also, on a general level, you've had some good advice here^^ I would add weight to the ones that say: OWN the road (but don't dawdle) when you feel you need to, right in the middle of your lane. THANK drivers, peds and other cyclists for any consideration shown to your existance. It's karmically good for all of us out there, and good for your everyday mental health. DON'T get wound up about idiotic road users, or try to intervene unless you're cool, calm and to the point. And last, but not least** ALWAYS** indicate well and **ALWAYS **look over your shoulder A LOT.

And Smile and have fun. It's not meant to be torture.

See you on High Holborn, burning past me whilst I gently, serenely glide in to Soho.

Hi There,

Thanks for your comments, Yes I do mean Westbound. And funnily enough Ive also noticed the ped problem too - but thanks for it. I actually really enjoyed the riding in heavy traffic; there is some satisfying about the amount of concentration it requires.

Ive been reading 'City Cycling' by Richard Ballantine, which is good too. Already I am learning the need to be assertive and treat yourself like a vehicle and psotion yourself correctly in lanes. To be honest, I fail to see how any can do it ay differently without shitting their pants. I feel safe there, stuck out on the side I feel anything can happen.

I also found bus and taxi drivers to be quite courteous, so I am trying to repay them when I can. The problems I faced in some of the drivers on the outskirts, in Peckham and paradoxicaly, on some of the quieter residential roads. I suppose everyone is so accustomed to bikes in central London and much less so outside. Even more so, they probably feel cyclists have no 'right' to be there.