Jourdain2,
//Then there are the lycra-clad loonies, often in groups, who speed along determinedly and silently and are a nightmare. Only a couple of weeks ago we were out for a walk, dog on extending lead, when around the bend behind us sped this idiot. Had I not turned to look at a bird we would not have seen him and had time to leap out of his way. He didn't have a bell to ring, he was cycling blind down a hill at high speed and around the bend. He didn't call out.//
Sadly you get idiots like this in every facet of road user.
Those who cycle dressed all in black on a black bike with minimal lighting thinking they look ‘stealthy’ get on my nerves just as much as anyone. Same with those who don’t use lights in the dark, they deserve everything that’s coming to them.
You can buy a set of lights in Poundland FGS.
Myself I’m lit up for miles around, can’t miss me. Bright colours in summer and winter, lights on bike and on the helmet, you’ve got to give yourself every chance.
I can say hand on heart that I and my mates cycle correctly at all times with a proper ‘share the road’ policy.
We’ll drop to single file when traffic is approaching and call drivers on when negotiating blind bends etc, we won’t hold anyone up unnecessarily.
In all honesty, how long does a cyclist hold you up for? 15 seconds maybe, 20 max? Contrast that with a caravan in summer!
That said I’ve had 56 prosecutions thus far(and counting) for drivers who’ve threatened me, spat at me, narrowly missed me and endangered me in order to save 3 seconds.
I’ve even had a Police vehicle driver prosecuted for passing me on the opposite side of a traffic island when 100 yards away from the Nick!
I use a camera on every single ride. It means that it’s encumbent on me to cycle to the Highway Code because if I don’t, I’ve got no comebacks, have I?
I ALWAYS tell pedestrians/walkers I’m passing them from at least 20 metres away, but most can hear my bottle-cage speaker from that distance anyway.
I’ve even got a jersey that tells drivers they’re on film and need to pass me properly at a safe distance and only when safe to do so.
95% follow the Highway Code, 5% see it as a challenge and think it’s ‘fun’ to endanger me.
I recently took part in a Q and A session for this study:
https://www.keele.ac.uk/hss/facultynews/2022/march/dash-cam/improving-road-safety.php
Results and findings next year apparently.
It’s all about education. If I cycle correctly and point out to drivers how they’ve endangered me then everyone learns to be a better and responsible road user, don’t they?