Cycling Techniques

Ok, I live in Poland so these diagrams are the opposite from in the uk, but I guess the theory is the same.
Generally I am ok filtering but there are a few junctions where I hold back as I am unsure of the safest filtering method.

The first I want to turn semi left across the tram lines. Usually I go straight ahead so I don't have to cut across three lanes, but it makes my journey longer and I ride on a more dangerous road. Obviously I need the left lane, but should I filter to the right of cars in this lane, or the left. Position A or B? Or should I make my journey longer to avoid cutting through 3 lanes?
The second is a really bad road where a tram could come into the overtaking lane forcing traffic to wait, or cut in to the right lane(and me as once happened) Therefor I avoid point A. All cyclists seem to filter at point D although this clearly is the wrong lane. For me though B is risky as the drivers at this juction never see you and try to overtake on the inside when you want to pull in and C is hard as there is limited space.

Sorry if this isn't very clear I should try to take a photo next time I am there

google maps?

What is the speed of the traffic ncikyspagetti?

it is often best practise to move into the traffic steam and move through any multilane junction or roundabout in the middle of a lane in the position you would use if you were in a car. In fact riding in the middle of a lane in the traffic stream should be were you ride on any road where you can match the speed of the traffic. when the traffic slows or gets jammed overtake on the right (in the UK) like a motorcyclist would.

(The latest issue of London Cyclist Magazine LCCs mag has a piece about this,)

Definitely behave as you would in a car, in centre of the lane, cyclists are legally 6' wide to allow for overbalancing etc

googlemap coming in bit.
Unfortunately the speed of the drivers in the first instance is too high to join the stream - usually between 65-75kph(the limit is 50 and I can manage about 40 tops)
In the second I can push in but it pisses off the driver really bad, even if they can see the traffic up ahead!

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.094708,17.031397&spn=0.001213,0.002401&t=h&z=19

It is not really good enough quality to see unfortunately - too much shadow in the lane I am talking about(Interestingly if you go along the polish-german/czech border you can see an immediate change in quality!)

Oh and of course it is upside down!

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.099737,17.035887&spn=0.001213,0.002401&t=h&z=19
This one is better

In the second I can push in but it pisses off the driver really bad, even if they can see the traffic up ahead!

That's the nubb of the issue here.

Yes, until drivers get used to it and begin to understand WHY cyclists move in front of them and 'in their way' they do get pissed off, generally due to their expectations not being met. The most common reason for crashes is because cyclists are positioned where drivers don't see them ie not in front of the drivers field of vision but to the left of it (where cyclists are expected to be), hence SMIDSY

It is hard, I know, to move in front of drivers and many riders remain in a less visible more risky position so they experience drivers pulling out of junctions, peds stepping off the kerb in front of them, or drivers passing very close because of this fear. Lots of conflict riders tolerate because they fear pissing off drivers more than they fear the real risk of not being seen.

It does help to look back and acknowledge a driver behind you with a smile or a wave perhaps to minimise the conflict and the driver may realise that youre not talking the piss. and good to remind ourselves that the worst divers can do in such circumstances is hoot their horns (Though on the rare occasion that you get a nutter behind you who accelerates towards your back wheel get out the way!)

The safety in numbers concept comes into play because driver begin to expect cyclists and begin to just accept that we are sharing the road with them.

What cycle training does is help people get over this fear and move more into the traffic stream. If you look at comments made in dancing james' cycle training thread even he admits to having less conflict because of a slight change in his riding position.

Jeśli ruch nie jest zbyt szybki, to spróbuj zająć pozycje na drodze jak kazdy pojazd tj. środek pasa to zapewni Ci bezpieczenstwo bo kierowcy będą musili liczyć się z Twoją obecnością na jezdni. Masz do tego prawo jako pojazd. Jeśli ruch jest zbyt szybki to jest to zbyt ryzykowno i pomyśl o wybraniu innej drogi. Pzdr (Tomasz - Jason's friend)

It does help to look back and acknowledge a driver behind you with a smile or a wave perhaps to minimise the conflict and the driver may realise that youre not talking the piss.

tee hee. when drivers drive crap, drive in the wrong lane, and try to sneak past me I always give them a wave and say "thanks"...almost always ignored, but van drivers are kind enough to tell me to "fuck off!!" Silly men! Perhaps they think I am being sarcastic...

TILMF. TIKMF?

[quote]Jeśli ruch nie jest zbyt szybki, to spróbuj zająć pozycje na drodze jak kazdy pojazd tj. środek pasa to zapewni Ci bezpieczenstwo bo kierowcy będą musili liczyć się z Twoją obecnością na jezdni. Masz do tego prawo jako pojazd. Jeśli ruch jest zbyt szybki to jest to zbyt ryzykowno i pomyśl o wybraniu innej drogi. Pzdr (Tomasz - Jason's friend)[quote]

If the motion is not too fast, try to take a position on the road as any vehicle that is a measure that will provide you with a belt because drivers are security musili reckon with your presence on the road. You have the right to do as a vehicle. If traffic is too fast is too ryzykowno and think about choosing a different path. Kisses

translation software

"security musili"

Thanks guys - not quite sure why 'pzdr' was translated as 'kisses' as it is an abbreviated form of 'regards'
Musili is have to - so should be translated as drivers have to acknowledge your presence.

Yesterday I tried to be polite and the woman driving spent the next km trying to race me to the next set of traffic lights only for me to pass her. Somehow my passing her really made her feel inadequate!

Not sure about in London as I have only cycled in the westcountry, but here having a right to something and actually being able to do it are two different things. I am trying to be as assertive as possible here to get drivers used to cyclists, but sometimes I have to accept that safety is more important. Before I came here I think I had seen only one or two traffic accidents, now I see one about every other day!

I am trying to be as assertive as possible here to get drivers used to cyclists, but sometimes I have to accept that safety is more important.

Being assertive IS a safer way to ride nicky

Thanks guys - not quite sure why 'pzdr' was translated as 'kisses' as it is an abbreviated form of 'regards'
Musili is have to - so should be translated as drivers have to acknowledge your presence.

Yesterday I tried to be polite and the woman driving spent the next km trying to race me to the next set of traffic lights only for me to pass her. Somehow my passing her really made her feel inadequate!

Not sure about in London as I have only cycled in the westcountry, but here having a right to something and actually being able to do it are two different things. I am trying to be as assertive as possible here to get drivers used to cyclists, but sometimes I have to accept that safety is more important. Before I came here I think I had seen only one or two traffic accidents, now I see one about every other day!

Thanks for clarifying about the translation, I had a lengthy conversation about this with Tomas before his post.

No one has to try and intuit drivers feelings on the road!

The rules of junctions/ highway code applies to all, and when we ride assertively,
thats all were doing.

I sometime say to people that you can have an assertive conversation with people, without shouting at them, well you can be assertive on the roads, without being a raging lycra lout too.

This has been discussed previously (here), but I thought it would be good to get the subject under the cycle training umbrella.

For starters, who else uses the 'back the fuck off' signal when feeling threatened by another road user sitting on your tail, or making engine/horn noises that imply they think you should get out of the way?

• arm diagonally down and backwards, palm facing backwards, finger tips pointing down, hand 'pushing' at the air in short repeated motions.
  
  

I like it. Generally it has the desired effect of creating more space behind me, but if it doesn't, having communicated your feelings/wishes and been ignored, you get a clear message that the driver/rider is indeed being aggressive, and can take the appropriate action to increase your safety.

Mine is similar, foot unclipped, pointing diagonally down, 'pushing' through the glass in the front lights in short repeated motions.

Actually I turn around and stare before moving over further in front of them. At least they'll have to make a concious effort to run me down rather than an 'oh I didn't see you' clip into the gutter..

^good point - I forgot to mention that the signal is not in isolation. I'll have glanced over my shoulder a few times before resorting to the signal on most occasions.

Sometimes the signal is not used as a reaction, but more pre-emptively - in much the same way as you'd use it on a group ride to tell people behind you that you're slowing/stopping.

I like the idea, though I've never used a gesture exactly as you describe it. I'm finding that really looking them in the eyes makes a difference, much as Hippy says. Slows them down, often takes the tension out of the situation.

Getting eye contact is good. Makes it personal.. just two humans trying to get somewhere. Lets you and them know you are aware of each other.

I also think there may be a physical benefit to using this signal (when eye contact has failed to achieve the desired effect). By reaching slightly backwards, you're extending your personal space as perceived (if only subconsciously) by the aggressor. Even if their idea of a reasonable gap remains ridiculously small (a bit like their cock probably), you're buying yourself another foot or metre or whatever, by marking the increased personal space boundary.

I had to study proxemics for a while - communcation professional* and all that.

*I know, it's a joke

Being assertive IS a safer way to ride nicky

I think it's often understood as the same as 'aggressive'. Being assertive means 'I'm OK, you're OK with what's happening'. It doesn't mean getting your way at someone else's expense. In traffic, show presence, smile, give a thumbs up, etc. Sometimes just a question of how you feel and body language.

True. Trainees often give you a big clue as to how assertive they are when they say they worry about 'delaying the traffic' or 'getting in the way'. Then you know where to start with them and the perceptions that you will be challenging.

I was more worried about the fact that whilst I do have a right to cycle on certain stretches of the road, there are places that are exceptionally dangerous to do so.
I have a right to use the turn lane but no matter how assertively you ride it doesn't hide the fact that I am crossing three lanes of traffic, a lot of which is travelling at much higher speeds than me.
When going by car here, you really have to force cars to make space for you to change lane as the drivers are so inconsiderate that they won't let you in unless you physically move into their space. On a bike it is ok on slow roads, but when that traffic is going 20mph faster than you, getting a car to give you that space is not so easy!

Anyway, I have decided to avoid that particular junction now as the road surface has recently disintegrated due to flood waters and some bright spark laying 3cm of asphalt on top of cobbles!

I have a right to use the turn lane but no matter how assertively you ride it doesn't hide the fact that I am crossing three lanes of traffic, a lot of which is travelling at much higher speeds than me.
...
Anyway, I have decided to avoid that particular junction now as the road surface has recently disintegrated due to flood waters and some bright spark laying 3cm of asphalt on top of cobbles!

You need to do what you're comfortable with.

Just one point though, i find it helps when filtering right accross a few lanes of traffic to begin the moving really early taking it a lane at a time, riding from centre of a lane to the centre of the next lane, looking back and signalling at the same time.

Drivers should understand what you're doing and why and may be prepared to drive behind you at your speed until you get the opportunity to move to the next lane.

I get the theory about having eye contact, but find it difficult to do so in practice (moving traffic).

When are you suppose to attempt to get eye contact? When attempting to do maneuvers such as moving out to pass parked cars, junctions etc. or each and every time you take backward glances?

When is it there (if ever) no point in making eye contact when driving alongside moving traffic?