Courteous (or cautious) drivers are dangerous

I have more problems with people just stopping in the middle of the road or roundabout to let me go than I do with people cutting me off, etc. I'm not sure if they are being courteous or cautious but it can be dangerous.

I have a rule (and it is the law) never to pass someone on the left if they are indicating and moving even if they have slowed or stopped to let me go. In order to maintain speed I will often move across to pass on the right as the car is turning. So when someone just stops I have to brake heavily and usually end up in a hard gear trying to get going again. I have seen other riders continue on through and I think this creates confusion. In order to let drivers know we are aware of their indicating and we follow the road rules no one should pass in these situations.

What are your thoughts and experiences ?

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Permalink Reply by Tim on May 21, 2012 at 19:21

I always find it a bit disconcerting when people in large cars with tinted windows wave me and my children across the road when they don't need to give way to us - sure its for the best of intentions and I can see the driver (just) and their intent. But my small children don't have the same understanding of the situation and getting in the habit of crossing in front of cars which unexpectedly stop seems like a very bad thing to teach them. If the driver had stopped because they were answering the phone, typing an important Facebook update or Twittering an earth shattering tweet and weren't even aware of what was in front of their car then the outcome could be very bad.

Permalink Reply by Tim B (the running man) on May 21, 2012 at 20:43

I refuse to go, if I have to give way to them I won't move until they go. I think it is also an offence to do so.

Permalink Reply by Michael G on May 22, 2012 at 9:55

What is worse about these situations is that the driver often has no idea about cars coming from other directions. The children just head out onto the road because someone has waved them out. I've even seen other cars overtake the stopped (courteous) car.

I also refuse to go.

Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on May 21, 2012 at 21:31

Perhaps it is unpredictable drivers who are dangerous.

To overtake someone so you can cut them off is not being courteous.

Permalink Reply by Lucas Pittaway on May 21, 2012 at 21:54

I had my first run in with a car at a pretty low speed last week. On a three laned road I was in the centre of the left hand lane occupying space and cruising along at about 30k's. A soccer mum van about a car length in front of me began indicating into the left lane and then proceeded to turn immmediately after entering the lane. There wasn't enough space or time for me to go around so I broke and body slammed against the side as they turned, they drove off, I hurled profanity. The bike was fine, I was fine and I continued on.

Now what confuses me is that they expected me to understand their outrageous maneuver and combat it in time. I'm also forced to ask is there a set time length that they must be in the lane for before turning left?

Permalink Reply by heather on May 21, 2012 at 22:08

Study Title: Naturalistic cycling study: Identifying risk factors for on-road commuter cyclists (cyclists using helmet cams)
Presenter: Marilyn Johnson (MUARC, VIC)
Cyclists number 35 (88% males). Recorded travel time 408 hours.
54 events (2 collisions, 6 near collisions, 46 incidents)
-- Most frequent was side-swipe 40.7% (group with drivers left turn type 72.2% of this).
-- 87.0% drivers at fault.
-- 3.3% drivers gave no post event reaction, e.g. no braking or slowing.
-- 77.8% where indicator required and visible
-- 56% indicated
-- > 50% indicated only 1-3 seconds (insufficient)
-- 70% occurred at intersections.
Safer road users are cyclists, generally safe and legal. Anticipatory, defensive or reactive to vehicular traffic. Frequent head checks so high situational awareness. This contradicts authority view that cyclists unaware and that cyclists at fault.

So LESS THAN HALF of the drivers indicated and/or indicated properly.

Actually a hit-run. Lucky you and the bike were OK. At times like that one wishes one had a helmet cam.

Have added a link to your incident on AC group Look For Cyclists at http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/forum/topics/collisions-1

Permalink Reply by Michael G on May 21, 2012 at 22:09

There is nothing courteous or cautious about that. The situations I am talking about are those where the driver has done nothing wrong other than to just stop in the middle of the road.

By the way did the van have one of those stupid family stickers on the back window? I've had more trouble with that demographic than anyone else.

Permalink Reply by Lucas Pittaway on May 22, 2012 at 14:14

Yeah, my soz. Definitely the wrong spot for the post.

Permalink Reply by rossmg on May 21, 2012 at 23:10

That would classify as a hit-run I'd suggest. Did you get the rego?

Permalink Reply by Just another psycho-list on May 21, 2012 at 23:51

I really hope you did get the rego and put in a nice little report to the local police.

Permalink Reply by Tim on May 22, 2012 at 15:23

Yeah and if you had video of the incident that would be even better. You could get it on the news and then the police would be forced to give the driver a super duper double serious slap on the wrist. And everyone would know that what they suspected was true - you can hit a cyclist and drive off and the police won't prosecute you - is true.

http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/forum/topics/15-mar-2012-6pm-on-ch-...

Permalink Reply by Torsten Bunge on May 22, 2012 at 0:02

probably didn't even know you where there!

 

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