Primary position

And that, I must say, makes me very happy.

I thought your SM relationship with Oli was only platonic.

Clive and let Clive.

I thought your SM relationship with Oli was only platonic.

He is more of an Aristotelian, very into his biology.

This morning..... What was his problem? Should I have done
anything diffferently?

Clive, we could spend forever trying to figure out the psychology of these people; damaged, angry, bitter, always looking for a chance to vent their frustration and sense of failure. But who, ultimately, can really ever hope to understand the inner workings of a lawyer?

another anti primary blog...

http://voleospeed.blogspot.com/2011/07/problem-with-assertive-cycling.html

Primary position work outside the cities.

In fact, even on the dual carriageway, they worked beautifully and at no point in the 600km tour I feel unsafe, you're safer in the countryside road as the motorists is likely to see you in a corner than further near the edge of the road.

The only time that the communication between me and other road user were poor was in cities that have bicycle lane, of which isn't where I should be riding on.

another anti primary blog...

http://voleospeed.blogspot.com/2011/07/problem-with-assertive-cycling.html

He makes a valid point that drivers are not taught to expect cyclists in the middle of the lane and cyclists are marginalised both by non cycling drivers and other cyclists who put themselves out of a drivers way all the time. How many times do we see see lines of cyclists witha foot on the kerb at lights to the left of the traffic stream while the whole advance stop box is empty apart from the odd motorcyclists.

I have posted this advice to the police in other threads but no harm in reposting i think

Here's a beautiful example why co-operational functional cycling is better than the other kind -- even for car users:
http://vimeo.com/23390727

Basically, safety in number?

Smug video. Pass fellow riders, say good morning end up getting flamed on youtube for not much at all.

He makes a valid point that drivers are not taught to expect cyclists in the middle of the lane and cyclists are marginalised both by non cycling drivers and other cyclists who put themselves out of a drivers way all the time. How many times do we see see lines of cyclists witha foot on the kerb at lights to the left of the traffic stream while the whole advance stop box is empty apart from the odd motorcyclists.

I have posted this advice to the police in other threads but no harm in reposting i think

Valid points yes, but being used to argue for segregation of cycling for all, as this is where this blogger constantly heads with his opinion.

People like the Blogger above, and the perculiarly named CEGB (currently popping at Carlton Reid on twitter) are seemingly dismissing all other initiatives in favour of a 100% "build it and they'll ride approach".

Frustrating, given the type of work many of us do, and the positive results we see, sometimes in areas with new infrastructure, often without.

Well stated rhb.
And while the point about how drivers must appreciate that cyclists are best positioned in the middle of the lane (when they need too or can match the speed of the traffic) needs to be made, it is ridiculous to conclude that cyclists should have a separate network`because some drivers don't get it. There are renewed calls for segregation of late which is of concern especially as the current London bike resurgence has been due largely to measures other than segregation.

it appear to me that the motorists are only annoyed if a cyclists is on the right position but not on the cycle lane (when one is presented).

When you're not on it, they'll shout at you, honk at you, even on those ridiculously narrow bicycle lane on Putney High Street/Tibbet's Ride (as narrow as a double yellow line).

But when one isn't presented, they're perfectly fine with you near the centre of the lane, it look 'normal' to them, and they don't see you being in the way.

it's down to the cycling Infrastructure that what made people think they should ride as close to the edge of the road as possible, and infrastructure play a massive roles in our behaviour.

another anti primary blog...

http://voleospeed.blogspot.com/2011/07/problem-with-assertive-cycling.html

TFL have been discussing giving taxi drviers training and raising awareness of cyclists' needs, but the campaign seems to be going through an interminably long gestation period.

I would have liked this taxi driver to have had a better understanding of why I was riding in the centre of the narrow bus lane in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m030uFpV14E

In the past couple of weeks I have had 2 drivers overtaking with minimum space, followed by a lecture on how I should cycle.

Number 1 incident.
Narrow road. I am cycling a good metre away from parked cars. Then tight corner, just in front of me is a lorry. A van overtakes me in the corner and starts talking to me (he can't go anywhere else as there is a vehicle right in front of us). "You should be riding there. I know I am a motorcyclist. Cyclists should be very careful". I summarised for him "So you want me to ride close to parked cars and you overtake me in a corner with no space??".

Number 2 incident.
A car overtakes me and pinches me. I signed at him later to give a bit more space. He opens his window. "`I saw you. You were in the middle of the road, you should know the rules, you shouldn't be in the middle of the road -* I obviously wasn't otherwise he wouldn't have had the chance to overtake* - I know, I look after 130 pushbikes in my job -* or something like that*. I told (shouted at) him that as a driver he should not overtake if there is no space. I also told him to stop arguing and that I was faster than him (so there). Anyway, I passed him again a km later and he shouted "have a nice weekend", "you too" I shouted back. Peace was restored.

I guess they don't realise how scary it is to have a vehicle pass you by so closely.

You are so angry, V. It's very worrying.

Yes, my self-cherishing mind needs to be squashed. Let's face it, all those drivers are doing me a favour.

the current London bike resurgence has been due largely to measures other than segregation.

What measures do you think are doing it? I am sure there are more riders about but I think they are being "pushed" onto their bikes by extenal factors more then specific measures. I'm pretty sure we are not training them as fast as they are turning up on the street, judging from the quality of the cycling.

I deffo think the message needs to go out to drivers... Bikes Belong! Loads of them just don't expect to see cyclists "in the way". That said, many of them seem to drive as if they are staring at the back of their thumbs!

Personally, I think there is a role for some good cycle infrastructure, if that's not too contentious... :-) I would like to see the Pooperhighways widened and segregated with proper junction priority treatments etc. If there are going to be lanes of some sort then they should be really well done or not at all. The inner ends should connect up across the west end and city too. Perhaps by closing some streets to motor traffic.

More importantly.... how do we get the taxi drivers on side?

I am always in primary position and never have any problems. Taxis just overtake as they would any other obstruction. I think it's swaying, unpredictable cycling which might get on nerves but then Im just speculating.

singspeed, what about riding on road with bicycle lane on them? do you get any problem (driver going 'go on the lane' and all that).

^ fucking driving instructor (mid lesson) told me to get in the bike lane today through his passenger side window, after I'd taken primary for my safety for a short stretch.

What hope when they're teaching folks we don't belong?

not the first time either...

One did that to me today, I decided to slow down to talk to him, I reminded him of the mirror, signal, manoeuvre technique, of which he didn't signal while changing lanes as well as keeping both hand on the steering wheel rather than putting his right hand on the windows tapping away to some dance music like he's Vin Diesel.

singspeed, what about riding on road with bicycle lane on them? do you get any problem (driver going 'go on the lane' and all that).

I've had the odd person tell me to move over and I'm pretty non confrontational so I just listen and move over if it's safe, then when the driver is gone I get back in primary position.

I liked the advice that if someone is shouting/getting angry it's a good sign because they know you're there and they're probably not killers who would intentionally run you over. Still, I swear by the primary position, and wave to drivers if they get too close. The other trick I use is to act like I'm a little bit unstable and purposefully wobble a bit. Drivers will stay well clear and on high alert.

Oh yeah, I'm also pretty careful (like a young grampa cyclist) and don't race down roads unless they're totally clear. Better to leave 15 minutes earlier and be a bit more cautious than to miss something and die/get seriously injured.