I was traveling to work the other morning- got to the intersection of Williams and Fullarton Road in Norwood. Usually quite busy, but a good place to cross.

I pulled over into the right of the lane as I was going straight ahead and there was a 4WD wanting to turn left behind me, also had a car directly behind me wanting to turn right. Fair bit of traffic going both ways so everyone is holding back. A space develops, there is a convertible Saab coming from the right, has his left hand indicator on, but is a bit far to the right of the lane. The car behind him also has the indicator on to turn left up Williams. The 4WD on my left, turning left onto Fullarton starts to gun his engine to enter the break in traffic, but then holds back - I certainly wasn't about to head out in front of this Saab. The Saab cruises straight past the intersection, top down, left hand indicator still going, music on and the driver concentrating on shaving with his electric razor in the rear view mirror. I turned and looked at the guy in the 4WD who is shaking his head and gesticulating shaving gestures as we share this moment. What a joke, if he had gone for it, the t-bone mess of Saab vs. Prado would not have been pretty...

I see this sort of thing everyday, drivers distracted by the environment of their cars that creates a private world mediated through technology. For the cyclist it means that we have to be extra vigilant, ride defensively and read what people are doing around us. Some of these skills are learned, others develop over time becoming a 6th sense of anticipating others behavior.

I am sure that you all have similar stories. Please comment, I would be interested in knowing what your experiences are.

Cheers

Jeremy
http://www.bisa.asn.au/