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@Hendrik
To get back to the turn left issue. The only time I've ever been swiped by someone was when I was one car back at the lights (no cycle lanes or box), set off and just as I was passing the junction a car overtook me and then immediately turned left into me. I've no idea how he could possibly not have seen me as the junction is narrow lanes coming off a bridge. No amount of cycle training would have helped there. The only thing I could have done to prevent the incident would have been to ride in the middle of the road and completely block the traffic! Even then, I suspect he would still have just rammed me from behind.
And to emphasise a point already raised - a very large number of cycle boxes (what does ASL stand for? Area of Sightless Lorries?) do seem to have cars parked in them. I even got side swiped once because I tried to stop in one but the car behind me was trying to RLJ.
The thing that annoys me most is the fact that the people who really need educating are the planners who put cycle lanes in the most useless and dangerous places. I particular hate cycle lanes that are merely a white line painted down the middle of a (not desperately wide) pavement. I have been very nearly pushed into an oncoming car by a ped who decided to gesticulate wildly as I was attempting to get past. Personally, I would rather take my chances with the cars than with pedestrians. Cars are at least vaguely predictable.