Don't be a pussy, don't be a dick

One issue, however, is problematic and that is speed, the 5mph pootler... Everything fits nicely into place if the speed differential between the driver and rider is minimal.

I was thinking about this recently, or just how being actually able to actually ride a bike really helps. Saw someone turning right at a crossroads; did everything right positioning-wise waiting in the middle of the crossroads but once the lights changed so the oncoming traffic stopped (and the traffic coming from the left started) there ensued a rather painful-to-watch push/wobble/attempt to get foot on pedal/wobble/pedal forward at 1mph sequence, then when they noticed the bus coming from their left (which was accelerating slowly, in a kind of anticipating the cyclist to actually be able to make it round the turn kind of way) they came to a dead halt and almost fell over. So the bus had to stop and wave encouragingly at the cyclist, who again attempted the push/wobble/pedal at 1mph sequence.

I do always wonder about this when people are complaining about roads being dangerous or whatever, as a lot of the reasons why I don't feel intimidated by traffic are due to being able to accelerate and turn effectively and ride at a decent speed, which many people don't seem able or willing to do.