Cycling Techniques

Trainers, I think, have to be honest with trainees and tell them they may get beeped at more often if they ride assertively; but that being beeped at does not hurt while being car doored hurts a great deal. I always add the caveat that if they encounter a truly aggressive driver, one who seems beyond angry, then they might as well pull over, when it is safe to do so, and let the miserable idiot go on his way. Otherwise they should not let themselves be bullied in to pulling over.

It's always worth repeating that if you get honked at, you've got a reaction. The driver has seen you. It's not necessarily a bad thing. The number of drivers who become aggressive in this situation are a very, very small minority. With the vast majority, the usual communication techniques will work a treat.

Of course you can't create an ideal world by riding according to the National Standard, but you can get very close.

to me assertive cycling is riding in the traffic stream either when you can match the speed of the traffic flow (most of the time in london) or if you need to to minimise risk such as when passing parked cars, a side road or riding in a bus lane.

Absolutely true (the second bit); I was just on the phone to Festus talking about this thread and trainees who find primary position such a liberating revelation that you have to remind them that riding in the middle of a narrow side street with parked cars on both sides does not mean they have to ride in the middle of every road from now on. As SkyDancer says, you adapt to the circumstances. I think Ed's pic is of the bus lane near Clapham Common - anyway it's the same - and it's an odd one because the Super Highway bit makes the bus lane far too narrow for a bus and any rider sticking to the cycle lane is going to be dangerously squeezed out if they do not discourage busses from overtaking too close. But as MF and Multi have said, there is nothing wrong in letting a bus pass if you can do that safely.

Exactly. You don't have to take primary position all the time; whether you do depends on your risk assessment of the situation. skydancer gives the basic rationale. Approaching a pinch-point? Take primary position. At a junction where you're at potential risk of being left-hooked? Again, take primary position. On a country road with consistent width and other road characteristics, no/few junctions? Take primary position when you feel it's necessary, but mostly you won't have to. Before taking primary position, during, and after, communicate as necessary so other road users understand your intention and the reason for it.

It's always worth repeating that if you get honked at, you've got a reaction.

Yes Oliver I do. If I think the trainee can take it I might even mention getting a sticker made that says "Honk if you like my primary position". Oh how they laugh.....

Can some one help me out, i'm still unsure what to do on rounderbouts(spell that right?)

I usualy just stay to the left side and i never had any problems with it, but would like to know if i should be in another lane or something?

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I find bus drivers tend to go mental when we cycle in primary position in bus lanes. The other week Mccarthy and I were coming back from the pub and one started to continually beep at us. I proceeded to do the go slow and the twat drove about 2 inches from my wheel.

Eggs-actly my problem earlier this week..... I don't know why bus drivers see it as a competition to see how close they can get to my rear wheel without actually driving over me....

A question now for the team.... long straight urban road, 30 mph limit, traffic stationary for as far as the eye can see..... lots of cycle lane on the LHS clear and unused. Steady stream of oncoming traffic..... as a general principle overtake the traffic using the cycle lane.... or on the RHS of the stationary traffic which would force me to cross the central (long-broken) white line.... and hence be most def. riding into the oncoming traffic. but.... is of course where drivers expect to see overtaking vehicles.

Neither side, left or right, going to give me the distance I'd usually want from either the kerb or stationary cars either....

I tend to go to the right in those situations, unless there is a wider than normal cycle lane. In both situations I slow down and take extra care to look for anything that might be coming out from between stationary vehicles, slowing right down when passing anything that I can't see through or past. I cross the white line if there is a gap in the oncoming traffic, as this gives me more space between myself and the vehicles I'm passing.

I would say that here in Poland the bus drivers seem to be the most considerate drivers - but in my city there are no bus lanes so maybe that would change if they added them.

A question now for the team.... long straight urban road, 30 mph limit, traffic stationary for as far as the eye can see..... lots of cycle lane on the LHS clear and unused. Steady stream of oncoming traffic..... as a general principle overtake the traffic using the cycle lane.... or on the RHS of the stationary traffic which would force me to cross the central (long-broken) white line.... and hence be most def. riding into the oncoming traffic. but.... is of course where drivers expect to see overtaking vehicles.

Neither side, left or right, going to give me the distance I'd usually want from either the kerb or stationary cars either....

Agree with Ardicus here. Overtaking to the right is generally much more efficient. There are always gaps between the queuing cars to move into if there is a large on coming vehicle. take it slowly checking behind regularly for other riders/motorcyclists, if passing a high walled vehicle check if pedestrian is crossing road. If the traffic stream speeds up move left back into the stream only moving right again when it snarls up

As above, RHS all the way. Biggest hazard is people ahead allowing vehicles to turn across the traffic out of a junction - as they'll not see you as you're sheilded by the traffic - stay vigilant of this.

You'll notice if you've a rider just ahead and they take LHS and you go RHS, you'll usually end up at the front of the queue first (I find this anyway, even with my skinny feeble legs).

Interestingly on old bike I used to do more RHS, latest bike more LHS (confidence issues initially due to bike set up a little out, and riding clipped for first time and slightly more unfamiliar routes) but I'm back going more RHS ftw now as brain returns to old state of play.

Saw this on another thread which amused me on the subject however....

http://www.lfgss.com/post1673496-546.html

I didn't bother to mention cycle training..... don't let me stop the team here jumpin' in however!

Interestingly just read this from Post elsewhere... kinda answers my own question....

NS Level 2.14. Deciding where cycle lanes can help a journey & demonstrate correct use

The cyclist should always take the position that will be safest for them. In judging this we should consider what manoeuvre they are undertaking and, in light of the guidance on individual outcomes, decide whether a cycle lane they could use would enhance or detract from their safety in each instance. Cyclists should be aware that it is their choice whether or not they use cycle lanes or facilities and that often it may be safer not to.
The quality of design of cycle lanes and facilities varies greatly. For example, where lanes are wide, (1.5 metres or more) these should be adequate for use when riding ahead. Where lanes are narrow, unless the cyclist can use them to filter past queuing traffic (taking appropriate care as they do so), they will undoubtedly be safer riding in the primary position outside the cycle lane. Cyclists should also avoid cycling in lanes where the surface is poor. Cycle lanes can often be blocked by parked vehicles and other obstructions or be so short and/or narrow that their use would be unreasonable and getting in and out of them expose the cyclist to more risk.

National Standard for Cycle Training, Guidelines for assessors September 2006

The National Standard recognises that cycle lanes are often not the safest places for cyclists to ride; many lanes are narrow and position riders where they are less visible. Riders may feel safer riding in a cycle lane whereas they may actually be riding in a more risky position.

Recent research supported by CTC has shown that drivers give less room to riders riding in cycle lanes than riders riding on roads with no cycle lane.

From here: http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/news/Briefing%20Paper%20Met%20police%20driver%20training.pdf

Now, how do I tell all that to an irate driver who thinks bikes should be in a cycle lane?

That has been discussed in another topic, and the general view (and from CTUK) Is to simply acknowledge them and carry on riding.

And as Will mentioned, if the road user is very aggressive and angry, best thing to do is pull over and let him get away, no point risking your life to just prove a point to them, especially one who's likely to use his vehicle as a weapon.

I've read that thread, Ed. I just find it annoying that there is no effective way to say "I know you are behind me, but there is a good reason for being in this position. See that pothole, there...". You can only convey so much in a look.

Oh there is a look, just look back and smile as if he was complimenting that derriere of your with such finesse, he need to use the horn to make that point.

Haha, maybe I should add a cheeky wink as well?

Exactly, do the exact opposite of what they'd be expecting.

Will did that to an animated corpse in a lorry, he managed to get some interesting feedback on his technique.

Ha, I saw that thread too! Whether this antagonises them further or if they find it funny and relax, you still haven't explained why you're in that position. So the next time then see a "bloody cyclist blocking the road" they start beeping again.
I guess you can't tell everyone, you'd never make it anywhere!

Put yourself in the driver's shoes.

How would you feel if you were told that he's (the cyclist) within his right to ride in the centre of the road for his safety? or that you should give him a car width when overtaking? etc.

And remember it's not easy to get a driving license (unless it's my grandfather) so being told what to do/should do by a cyclists whom doesn't need a license to learn how to ride doesn't make it any better.

Even with excessive beeping and the insult, it's still best not to get involved, you don't need to, there isn't any requirment in the Highway Code stated that you have to interact with other road user on how to proceed.

Oh there is a look, just look back and smile as if he was complimenting that derriere of your with such finesse, he need to use the horn to make that point.

Quoted for double entendres.

I'm not talking about telling drivers what to do, I'm talking about letting people know why* I'm* doing what I'm doing, that it's not just "because I can" but because it's necessary.

Well just says that you're taking the primary position as it's the safest option since other road user will see you and overtake you properly.

There's not really much you can say and almost no chance you will be able to explain. Educating drivers is probably not something that is best done from the road.

There's not really much you can say and almost no chance you will be able to explain. Educating drivers is probably not something that is best done from the road.

The best way of educating drivers is on the road will. If they see more cyclists riding in the middle of the traffic stream when possible or necessary they'll learn. The more of us who do that the more they'll get used to it. They may even begin to understand why as simple messages (such as** ride a doors length away from parked cars**) are becoming more mainstream