2010-02-04 - Rider Down/Fatality, Belsize Park (London)

After cycle training i try to consider this as acknowledgement that the car has seen me, so its a good thing.

My safety is not to be compromised to save a fucking idiot 2 seconds on their overall journey time, they can wait, this is about assertive cycling, taking your place, knowing you have every right to be there, and as and when it is safe to do so you let cars go past.

You can actually control how traffic responds around you, it also helps to keep making eye contact with the driver behind, so they are aware that you know they wish to get by.

Totally, it's all about people. Traffic (which of course doesn't just mean motor traffic) is a social environment. Pedestrians and cyclists are traffic. 'The car saw me/didn't see me' is something people say all too often, though--it's worth checking oneself to avoid this.

I wouldn't necessarily say 'control'--it's about negotiating space with other people. Hence, as you say, plenty of eye contact, not to control them, but to reach an understanding with them.