Another cycling hazard – fluff fall

shadow boxer said :

As I understand it he was travelling in the car parking lane along Moore st at presumably about 20kmh when he chose to pull out into the main lane travelling at about 40-50 kmh causing the traffic going about its business to brake to avoid an accident and wait 6 seconds for Al to pass his parked car.

You dont think it would have made more sense to wait for a clearing in the traffic before pulling out and “taking the entire lane” while he passed the parked car ?

Here’s some practical advice that recommends planning to pass a parked car 30-5- metres before it happens.

http://www.envirowiki.info/Vehicular_bike_skills

That said Al may have done this, it’s hard to tell from the post

He indicated he did do this in post #17.

I find it interesting (and this is not meant to be inflammatory) that car drivers are supposed to be patient and wait, but cyclists not so.

shadow boxer said :

Clown Killer said :

…if feel that there isn’t room for a car to safely pass I simply remove that option by actively taking up more of the lane.

Well I guess that answers my question, I guess it also permanently puts to bed the notion that is only car drivers behaving like selfish idiots out there.

A cyclist occupying a whole lane is not being selfish, Shadow Boxer, it is perfectly legal, sensible, and in many cases encouraged.

It is not difficult nor particularly time-consuming to anticipate another road user’s actions and give them a few seconds grace. I don’t understand why some people find it so difficult to just let stuff like this go; heart-attack candidates the lot of you!

tidalik said :

shadow boxer said :

Not if they swerve into traffic without due care and attention you don’t, if that was the case we could all just pull out of our parking spaces with no thought to oncoming traffic.

Unless you are a bus of course.

But bicycles ARE traffic. Al was not parked by the side of the road, he was travelling. Why the constant denial that bicycles are road users?

As I understand it he was travelling in the car parking lane along Moore st at presumably about 20kmh when he chose to pull out into the main lane travelling at about 40-50 kmh causing the traffic going about its business to brake to avoid an accident and wait 6 seconds for Al to pass his parked car.

You dont think it would have made more sense to wait for a clearing in the traffic before pulling out and “taking the entire lane” while he passed the parked car ?

Here’s some practical advice that recommends planning to pass a parked car 30-5- metres before it happens.

http://www.envirowiki.info/Vehicular_bike_skills

That said Al may have done this, it’s hard to tell from the post

shadow boxer said :

Not if they swerve into traffic without due care and attention you don’t, if that was the case we could all just pull out of our parking spaces with no thought to oncoming traffic.

Unless you are a bus of course.

But bicycles ARE traffic. Al was not parked by the side of the road, he was travelling. Why the constant denial that bicycles are road users?

Not if they swerve into traffic without due care and attention you don’t, if that was the case we could all just pull out of our parking spaces with no thought to oncoming traffic.

Unless you are a bus of course.

Is this thread still going?

I really don’t understand why there is any debate at all. Surely one of the most basic road rules is that you have to give way to all road users in front of you, and yes, that means bicycles too. I’m with Gungahlin Al on this one.

Clown Killer said :

“So you are not a fan of the whole showing respect, good manners and sharing the road concept ?”

I’m a fan of finishing my ride like I started it – alive.

I don’t drive my car along the car park bays – likewise I don’t ride my bike along them either. I ride in the lane, on the left – if feel that there isn’t room for a car to safely pass I simply remove that option by actively taking up more of the lane. That way everyone’s a winner.

Well I guess that answers my question, I guess it also permanently puts to bed the notion that is only car drivers behaving like selfish idiots out there.

I recommend you Google pedal power or any of the cycling advocacy groups for the correct procedure.

“So you are not a fan of the whole showing respect, good manners and sharing the road concept ?”

I’m a fan of finishing my ride like I started it – alive.

I don’t drive my car along the car park bays – likewise I don’t ride my bike along them either. I ride in the lane, on the left – if feel that there isn’t room for a car to safely pass I simply remove that option by actively taking up more of the lane. That way everyone’s a winner.

Clown Killer said :

GA, I avoid the problem of having to pull out by simply sticking to the lane rather than riding through the parking bays. Occasionally a car or two gets held up but that’s not my problem. They can simply choose to wait patiently, or wait impotently – either way they’ll be waiting until I’m clear of the hazard.

So you are not a fan of the whole showing respect, good manners and sharing the road concept ?

GA, I avoid the problem of having to pull out by simply sticking to the lane rather than riding through the parking bays. Occasionally a car or two gets held up but that’s not my problem. They can simply choose to wait patiently, or wait impotently – either way they’ll be waiting until I’m clear of the hazard.

Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Australian Road Rules Incorporation 2010

253:

Bicycle riders not to cause a traffic hazard. The rider of a bicycle must not cause a traffic hazard by
moving into the path of a driver or pedestrian.
Offence provision.

Gungahlin Al said :

shadow boxer said :

I think we need more information Al,

If you were in the bike lane or gutter and pulled into the traffic to go around a parked car she would be in the right wouldn’t she ?

No cycle lanes on Moore Street Shadow Boxer. And I don’t pull out as in veer – I move out gradually so any drivers behind me know well in advance what is happening. As for your post #13, so you are suggesting that someone in front (irrespective of vehicle) should pull over and stop in order to let the vehicle behind them past, then carry on? Yeah right. On which particular planet?

AI, you’re right there aren’t cycle lanes on Moore Street – meaning maybe you shouldn’t be riding a bike there.

The beauty of riding a bike is that you can actually dismount it and walk the bike around an obstacle or a particular stretch of road that may be hazardous, instead of being, as you put it being “SO busy that you had squeeze between me”.

Watson said :

shadow boxer said :

shadow boxer said :

I dont really care about the whole car bike thing, it never really seems an issue when I drive around but I can’t believe people are seriously suggesting it is o.k. for a pushbike travelling at 20kmh to pull out into traffic travelling at 60kmh when there is insufficient claerance to do so without causing the traffic to brake and wait 6 seconds.

Get some manners and share the road.

I googled this because I was curious, it appears the correct procedure is for the cyclist to wait for a break in the traffic and then “take the lane” some distance from the parked car. this avoids the unexpected and people making late decisions, apparently it can lead to the cyclist getting abused though.

There are plenty of small streets where it is dangerous to overtake a cyclist in ceratain spots (ie. just before a bend) even if there is no parked car. Are you suggesting that the cyclist should get off the road each time a car has to stay behind them for a few metres too?

Also, if you are behind a car going 20kph in a 60kph zone – usually looking for a house number – do you overtake them recklessly when there is oncoming traffic too?

Well no, I said nothing of the kind. Did you read my post ?

The advice about taking the lane well in advance when clear and safe to do so appears to be coming from the cycling community more than anyone else. It’s like if you want to turn right, you dont just hook across in front of traffic.

Lady driver, next time you go to overtake this cyclist, can you please move 10cm to your left? Then I won’t need to read this whinging crap.

HTFU Al, you know the risks every time you ride on the roads.

shadow boxer said :

shadow boxer said :

I dont really care about the whole car bike thing, it never really seems an issue when I drive around but I can’t believe people are seriously suggesting it is o.k. for a pushbike travelling at 20kmh to pull out into traffic travelling at 60kmh when there is insufficient claerance to do so without causing the traffic to brake and wait 6 seconds.

Get some manners and share the road.

I googled this because I was curious, it appears the correct procedure is for the cyclist to wait for a break in the traffic and then “take the lane” some distance from the parked car. this avoids the unexpected and people making late decisions, apparently it can lead to the cyclist getting abused though.

There are plenty of small streets where it is dangerous to overtake a cyclist in ceratain spots (ie. just before a bend) even if there is no parked car. Are you suggesting that the cyclist should get off the road each time a car has to stay behind them for a few metres too?

Also, if you are behind a car going 20kph in a 60kph zone – usually looking for a house number – do you overtake them recklessly when there is oncoming traffic too?

shadow boxer said :

I dont really care about the whole car bike thing, it never really seems an issue when I drive around but I can’t believe people are seriously suggesting it is o.k. for a pushbike travelling at 20kmh to pull out into traffic travelling at 60kmh when there is insufficient claerance to do so without causing the traffic to brake and wait 6 seconds.

Get some manners and share the road.

I googled this because I was curious, it appears the correct procedure is for the cyclist to wait for a break in the traffic and then “take the lane” some distance from the parked car. this avoids the unexpected and people making late decisions, apparently it can lead to the cyclist getting abused though.

I dont really care about the whole car bike thing, it never really seems an issue when I drive around but I can’t believe people are seriously suggesting it is o.k. for a pushbike travelling at 20kmh to pull out into traffic travelling at 60kmh when there is insufficient claerance to do so without causing the traffic to brake and wait 6 seconds.

Get some manners and share the road.

wildturkeycanoe said :

troll-sniffer – I didn’t know I ever had credibility to start with. I’m just here to stir the pot with everyone else and see what soup we end up making.
As for the traffic scenario, I’m not making things up, just sharing some observations I’ve made.
Also, because you haven’t provided any serious argument against my hypothesis, but instead stooped to personal attack as last resort, perhaps I’ll try another example.
Looking at this from another perspective, if we had a car pulling out from the kerb to go around another parked car immediately in front of the cyclist, would the cyclist be within his rights to ring his bell in disgust? Who do you think would be in the wrong?

Your soup smells fishy and tastes irrational is all I can say.

troll-sniffer – I didn’t know I ever had credibility to start with. I’m just here to stir the pot with everyone else and see what soup we end up making.
As for the traffic scenario, I’m not making things up, just sharing some observations I’ve made.
Also, because you haven’t provided any serious argument against my hypothesis, but instead stooped to personal attack as last resort, perhaps I’ll try another example.
Looking at this from another perspective, if we had a car pulling out from the kerb to go around another parked car immediately in front of the cyclist, would the cyclist be within his rights to ring his bell in disgust? Who do you think would be in the wrong?

It’s always fun seeing the children thow their toys out of the cot during a good old cyclists versus drivers bout.

Neither party is going anywhere, and a bit of courtesy and common sense goes a long way.

wildturkeycanoe said :

Al – that 6 seconds of patience to allow you the entire road, can on a busy day cause a chain reaction through the vehicles behind as they respond to the brake lights of the one in front. Even though the lady driver may only slow down by 30-40km/h, the sixth or seventh car has come to a complete stop. This happens at give ways, when cars turn into side streets and whenever something causes a driver to slow down but not come to a complete stop. Now if every cyclist traveling through Civic does this regularly, it is no wonder that there is no flow of traffic but a bumper to bumper slow moving car park.
Maybe, the courtesy could have been reversed, you could have waited for the car to pass before getting in the way and annoying possibly several vehicles. After all, it’s only 6 seconds!

Ah, I thought slow traffic in civic was caused by the high number of cars. Didn’t realise at all that it was actually the fault of a few (or one possibly) cyclists not stopping for every parked car to wait until the road is completely clear before they continue on their merry way!

wildturkeycanoe said :

Al – that 6 seconds of patience to allow you the entire road, can on a busy day cause a chain reaction through the vehicles behind as they respond to the brake lights of the one in front. Even though the lady driver may only slow down by 30-40km/h, the sixth or seventh car has come to a complete stop. This happens at give ways, when cars turn into side streets and whenever something causes a driver to slow down but not come to a complete stop. Now if every cyclist traveling through Civic does this regularly, it is no wonder that there is no flow of traffic but a bumper to bumper slow moving car park.
Maybe, the courtesy could have been reversed, you could have waited for the car to pass before getting in the way and annoying possibly several vehicles. After all, it’s only 6 seconds!

wtc isn’t it time you realised you’re on a hiding to nothing, You lost your credibility a long time ago and no amount of ridiculous made-up maths or scenarios will restore it?

Al – that 6 seconds of patience to allow you the entire road, can on a busy day cause a chain reaction through the vehicles behind as they respond to the brake lights of the one in front. Even though the lady driver may only slow down by 30-40km/h, the sixth or seventh car has come to a complete stop. This happens at give ways, when cars turn into side streets and whenever something causes a driver to slow down but not come to a complete stop. Now if every cyclist traveling through Civic does this regularly, it is no wonder that there is no flow of traffic but a bumper to bumper slow moving car park.
Maybe, the courtesy could have been reversed, you could have waited for the car to pass before getting in the way and annoying possibly several vehicles. After all, it’s only 6 seconds!

BenMac said :

Sgt.Bungers said :

Yet another RA post has dissolved into a cyclist vs car rant!

There’s no issue with a street sign here Sarge. Move along, nothing to see…..

🙂

onlytt600 said :

Why is it so hard to consider another road users actions, in this case the motorist approaching a cyclist who is himself approaching a parked car uses a bit of forward planning & eases off the gas, cyclist moves around the parked car & then back in, motorist re-applies accelerator & passes car then cyclist & proceeds happily on his way – its not difficult, is it?

And that is all there is to it. Anticipation, respect, care, patience.

And Wildturkeycanoe (or just “turkey” for short): under your “rules” a cyclist should not even turn a pedal whilst any motorised vehicle is visible within 100 metres either direction. Sounds perfectly fair… What I like about this sort of thread on RA is that there is a certain type of person who can’t help but out themselves in response. And you would be one of them it seems.

wildturkeycanoe said :

You must obey the Road Traffic Law at all times. Concentrate, try to anticipate what is going to happen ahead of you and think safety. Do not take risks. Do not disobey ‘One way’, ‘Keep left’, ‘No entry’ and other road signs.”

If only drivers followed these rules themselves before breaking into an anti cyclist rant.

Seriously, for every idiot cyclist breaking the road rules there are a dozen drivers who do the same.

Sgt.Bungers said :

Yet another RA post has dissolved into a cyclist vs car rant!

There’s no issue with a street sign here Sarge. Move along, nothing to see…..

wildturkeycanoe said :

ex-vectis – see this site, http://www.islandbreaks.co.uk/site/sports-and-outdoor-activities/cycling/cycling-safety.
An excerpt from the Isle Of Wight’s Tourism page regarding cycling states “As a cyclist you are using a vehicle, like any other rider or driver. You must obey the Road Traffic Law at all times. Concentrate, try to anticipate what is going to happen ahead of you and think safety. Do not take risks. Do not disobey ‘One way’, ‘Keep left’, ‘No entry’ and other road signs.”
For Al’s benefit I extract the “Do not take risks” in context of this forum to mean – don’t go out into the middle of the road, somewhere between an opening car door, a car coming up behind you and a car coming the opposite way. This is a risk that may cause yourself either considerable pain through one of many sources. The first may be hospitalization or death, the second an embarrassing moment when a car horn alerts you to their imminent presence and near collision and the third, being hauled over the coals by the sensible people on these pages.

What a load of nonsense. It was the car who took unnecessary risk. By overtaking when it was not safe to do so. Or is the risk to cause injury to others not important?

Yet another RA post has dissolved into a cyclist vs car rant!

I think this video released by Disney over 60 years ago sums the whole thing up nicely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZAZ_xu0DCg

ex-vectis – see this site, http://www.islandbreaks.co.uk/site/sports-and-outdoor-activities/cycling/cycling-safety.
An excerpt from the Isle Of Wight’s Tourism page regarding cycling states “As a cyclist you are using a vehicle, like any other rider or driver. You must obey the Road Traffic Law at all times. Concentrate, try to anticipate what is going to happen ahead of you and think safety. Do not take risks. Do not disobey ‘One way’, ‘Keep left’, ‘No entry’ and other road signs.”
For Al’s benefit I extract the “Do not take risks” in context of this forum to mean – don’t go out into the middle of the road, somewhere between an opening car door, a car coming up behind you and a car coming the opposite way. This is a risk that may cause yourself either considerable pain through one of many sources. The first may be hospitalization or death, the second an embarrassing moment when a car horn alerts you to their imminent presence and near collision and the third, being hauled over the coals by the sensible people on these pages.

It does make me laugh that folk act like nincompoops without first checking to make sure the person they are about to run over and mame is not a regular on The-RiotAct.

Driver: Hello nice cycling person with stickyuppy things on your hat? Do you comment on the riot act website forum thingy?

Cyclist: Riot act? Whats that?

[Loud revving and screeching of tyres]

Driver: Whooohooo! Take that, fluff breathing cyclist scum who doesnt pay road-tax or insurance and breaks all the laws and gets in the way of my p3nis extension when I have to get home super quick as Neighbours is about to start…..

onlytt600 said :

t there was no reason for him to be there other than to p!ss off other road users.

As a regular and avid cyclist there’s not much that pisses me off more than these type of roosterheads… the lycra wearing tosser who, because the law somewhere in the fine print states that it’s legal for him or her to ride in the lane even if there’s a wide shoulder, and when tootling along a non-shouldered road such as Antill Street, demands the right to ride two abreast etc. Most motorists respect cyclists who attempt to do the right thing, and the more who do, the more the general respect grows. but it only takes one of theses ignorant arrogant self-obsessed ah soles to undo dozens of good deeds by the rest of the community.

And… what’s the point of placing yourself in potential danger just to assert a legal right? Makes about as much sense as standing in the middle of a slip lane on the Tuggeranong Parkway because technically cars have to give way to whatever’s in the road when turning… but not much point in explaining your position when St Peter is the only one to hear you.

OpenYourMind said :

Yet another cyclist/car post.
Whenever I hear the car driver’s rant, I can’t help but think that these are exactly the impatient, inflexible, wound up car drivers we probably don’t want on our roads.
I drive cars, trucks, ride bicycles, motorcycles. They all have their challenges, and there are random douche bags seen operating all of them. For the most part, your average treadly doesn’t offer that much of a challenge to a competent car driver. Just give us cyclists a bit of space, it’s really not that complicated – in the worst cases, you may be delayed by….seconds. Sure, some bike riders break the rules some of the time, but compared to what you see with car drivers, cyclists are angels.

+1

Saw a tradie run a red light at the Northbourne Ave Dickson pedestrian crossing only 2 days ago. Everyone who drives here knows a significant ratio of the other drivers behave like dangerous idiots on the road! And it’s not just the dangerous driving that gets me. It’s how inconsiderate people are. I am delighted when someone lets me in when I need to change lanes or turn onto a road in very busy traffic because it so rarely happens.

And even if the driver thought that the cyclist was breaking the rules by passing the parked cars in front of him, is that a valid reason to overtake when it’s not safe? I doubt that would hold up in court if that car would’ve hit the cyclist or the oncoming car. It was not as if they didn’t have time to slow down or stop. They chose not to because they couldn’t be asked.

Why is it so hard to consider another road users actions, in this case the motorist approaching a cyclist who is himself approaching a parked car uses a bit of forward planning & eases off the gas, cyclist moves around the parked car & then back in, motorist re-applies accelerator & passes car then cyclist & proceeds happily on his way – its not difficult, is it?

That said though, on my way to work this morning I encountered a pelaton of about 12 or so on the Barton highway cycling briskly along in the shoulder quite nicely – except one who was a metre or so into the inside lane, it was quiet so no problems moving into the outside lane to pass but there was no reason for him to be there other than to p!ss off other road users.

wildturkeycanoe said :

OpenYourMind said “but compared to what you see with car drivers, cyclists are angels.”
Pulling out into the path of a vehicle traveling 20-30km/h faster than you without giving way can definitely afford some assistance toward receiving this heavenly award.

You’re right. Cars do this to me all the time…

OpenYourMind said “but compared to what you see with car drivers, cyclists are angels.”
Pulling out into the path of a vehicle traveling 20-30km/h faster than you without giving way can definitely afford some assistance toward receiving this heavenly award.

inb4 cyclist VS car rant. oh wait….

Yet another cyclist/car post.
Whenever I hear the car driver’s rant, I can’t help but think that these are exactly the impatient, inflexible, wound up car drivers we probably don’t want on our roads.
I drive cars, trucks, ride bicycles, motorcycles. They all have their challenges, and there are random douche bags seen operating all of them. For the most part, your average treadly doesn’t offer that much of a challenge to a competent car driver. Just give us cyclists a bit of space, it’s really not that complicated – in the worst cases, you may be delayed by….seconds. Sure, some bike riders break the rules some of the time, but compared to what you see with car drivers, cyclists are angels.

shadow boxer said :

Yeh I see what you are saying but if I was travelling at 30kmh in the left lane with my trailer on and wanted to go in the right lane I would wait until it was clear and I could do so without forcing traffic travelling at normal speed to brake to my speed.

I could assert my rights, but I probably wouldn’t, still no need for her to beep the horn or endanger peoples lives though, it’s not that important.

But of course.

wildturkeycanoe said :

Well, if you are in the left hand side of the road in the same section as where the parked car is, “veering” out in front of a vehicle coming behind you is much the same as a car pulling out in front from a car parking space. Who gives way? The one pulling out. You are in the wrong if you don’t give way to vehicles coming from behind as you “veer” into the flow of traffic, especially considering you haven’t got mirrors to check for traffic nor indicator lights to show your intention. The horn blast is fairly deserved in my opinion.

This is how I understood the situation from the original post, and sums up my feelings as well.

You can’t expect to veer to the right of a parked car (1m to the right of, no less) and claim that the person you pulled out on shouldn’t be cranky about it.

I’m not a ‘you don’t belong on the roads’ type either. Quite the opposite, I usually empathise with my non motorised 2 wheeled bretheren, as they are the victims of a lot of the same stuff motorcyclists are. But in this instance, I’d have honked you too.

Canberra’s No1 Road Rule:

If you’re travelling slower than me then you don’t deserve to be on the road.

“patience only the road can help us all get where we are going in one piece” – Can you please convey this sentiment to all the cyclists who ride across pedestrian crossings, don’t stop at a red traffic light or no walking sign and complain about poles hindering their progress at the bus interchange. I mean, a pole is quite slow and if they are willing to wait a while, will eventually move.
FD10 nailed it – riding is a privilege, not a right, but the law hasn’t developed a method by which a privilege can be revoked from a cyclist yet. I think it’s about time someone started lobbying for equal rights for driver’s and cyclists, if your “right to ride” is valid.
Al – “As for your post #13, so you are suggesting that someone in front (irrespective of vehicle) should pull over and stop in order to let the vehicle behind them past, then carry on? Yeah right. On which particular planet?”
Well, if you are in the left hand side of the road in the same section as where the parked car is, “veering” out in front of a vehicle coming behind you is much the same as a car pulling out in front from a car parking space. Who gives way? The one pulling out. You are in the wrong if you don’t give way to vehicles coming from behind as you “veer” into the flow of traffic, especially considering you haven’t got mirrors to check for traffic nor indicator lights to show your intention. The horn blast is fairly deserved in my opinion.

Gungahlin Al said :

shadow boxer said :

And I don’t pull out as in veer – I move out gradually so any drivers behind me know well in advance what is happening.

Years of experience riding on the road (here and elsewhere) has taught me it is the only way to do it.

I’m definitely weird, but I kind of like encountering cyclists on a narrow road when I’m driving. It’s a good excercise in judging speed and space. I get pleasure out of considering the decision on when it is safe (for all road users) to go past them or when it is best to just hang behind them for a little bit longer. It only sucks when it’s an 80yo Chinese granny going 5kph (not racist, I just rarely see non-Asian people of that age on the bike on the road) . Fortunately most cyclists in Canberra go fast enough to enable you to stay in second gear while you wait for a safe spot to overtake.

That was a really lame comment, but hey…

Gungahlin Al said :

shadow boxer said :

I think we need more information Al,

If you were in the bike lane or gutter and pulled into the traffic to go around a parked car she would be in the right wouldn’t she ?

No cycle lanes on Moore Street Shadow Boxer. And I don’t pull out as in veer – I move out gradually so any drivers behind me know well in advance what is happening. As for your post #13, so you are suggesting that someone in front (irrespective of vehicle) should pull over and stop in order to let the vehicle behind them past, then carry on? Yeah right. On which particular planet?

FD10 said :

Keep this in mind next time you chivalrously take on something with 15 times the mass on the road. Maybe you should lower your social standing amongst the cycling world and use a cycle path instead?

Nice troll FD10. Not sure how one can be takiing on something that charges up behind them…
Cycle lanes? That’s why I’m using the back streets – because the Northbourne cycle lanes are a death wish – thanks it seems to people like you.

Yeh I see what you are saying but if I was travelling at 30kmh in the left lane with my trailer on and wanted to go in the right lane I would wait until it was clear and I could do so without forcing traffic travelling at normal speed to brake to my speed.

I could assert my rights, but I probably wouldn’t, still no need for her to beep the horn or endanger peoples lives though, it’s not that important.

I tend to move into the motorcycle friendly part of the lane in those tighter areas of Moore St, ie the right 1/3 of the lane. 99% of motorists are more than happy to tootle along behind me as long as I pull over to the left as soon as it is practicable, and the other 1% just have to cop it sweet.

Same thing with roadworks etc, turning right from most traffic lights and so on. Much safer to be in the line of sight, but ALWAYS get to the left as soon as possible once the constriction is passed.

Primal said :

If we can’t have snow, we need to protect our fluff at all costs.

fluff is good

shadow boxer said :

I think we need more information Al,

If you were in the bike lane or gutter and pulled into the traffic to go around a parked car she would be in the right wouldn’t she ?

No cycle lanes on Moore Street Shadow Boxer. And I don’t pull out as in veer – I move out gradually so any drivers behind me know well in advance what is happening. As for your post #13, so you are suggesting that someone in front (irrespective of vehicle) should pull over and stop in order to let the vehicle behind them past, then carry on? Yeah right. On which particular planet?

FD10 said :

Keep this in mind next time you chivalrously take on something with 15 times the mass on the road. Maybe you should lower your social standing amongst the cycling world and use a cycle path instead?

Nice troll FD10. Not sure how one can be takiing on something that charges up behind them…
Cycle lanes? That’s why I’m using the back streets – because the Northbourne cycle lanes are a death wish – thanks it seems to people like you.

errr “Maybe you should lower your social standing amongst the cycling world and use a cycle path instead”

He was on Moore street near Barry Drive – that’s hardly a major highway…. Essentially the point is, he was obviously honked and badgered by some digbat who didnt achieve anything, given he caught her at the lights 50 foot ahead. What did ms car driver honestly achieve? Except proving herself an idiot?

shadow boxer said :

Felix the Cat said :

Nice rant, Al! Unfortunately it will be wasted on most of the posters here. I’m surprised that no one has yet mentioned the no bike rego thing or questioned if you are a lycra wearing p00f. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time.

There is plenty of fluff of the Poplar variety at ANU as well.

So the correct procedure when cycling on the left and encountering a parked car is to veer into the traffic 1 metre to the right of the parked car (to avoid the chance it may open) and cause a car travelling in that lane to brake and wait 6 seconds.

Even if technically correct (which I doubt) it is sort of thing that really gives cyclists a bad name. As Al said whats the hurry stop the bike, wait for a break in traffic and move around the parked car.

What’s the hurry for the car driver? Why can’t they stop and wait?

It’s really very easy to navigate around cyclists and other slow moving traffic, I have no problems, I can’t understand why other people find it so difficult.

KB1971 said :

Its a thing that Canberra people cannot grasp, passing a slower person/bycicle/vehicle.

Busses a classic example, our suburb is the second last on a 3 series route plus a couple of 7 series expresso’s. Now, when a bus is stopped for passengers people overtake. Nothing unusual in this you might say. Well the fact is it is ok to pass a staionary but BUT NOT WHEN THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC! People seem to think that because the bus is stopped they have the right to cross the line, be it unbroken or not, and force oncoming traffic to the left of the road.

For the record:

140 No overtaking unless safe to do so
A driver must not overtake a vehicle unless:
(a) the driver has a clear view of any approaching traffic;
and
(b) the driver can safely overtake the vehicle.

This means if there is oncoming traffic, WAIT BEHIND THE BUS!.

Its not that hard & not particularly restricted to drivers. I see it all the time with other cyclists & pedestrians who just wont/cant wait the seconds it takes to pass safely. I dont know what it is about this particular skill but people are incapable of it.

Also happens if I am riding around the Cotter, people will pass you across double yellow lines in blind corners nearly causing accidents.

I am not directing this at drivers but at people in general. It just baffles me.

I read it as everyone travelling the same direction, if not you are right, dont cross the middle line unless safe to do so

Felix the Cat said :

Nice rant, Al! Unfortunately it will be wasted on most of the posters here. I’m surprised that no one has yet mentioned the no bike rego thing or questioned if you are a lycra wearing p00f. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time.

There is plenty of fluff of the Poplar variety at ANU as well.

So the correct procedure when cycling on the left and encountering a parked car is to veer into the traffic 1 metre to the right of the parked car (to avoid the chance it may open) and cause a car travelling in that lane to brake and wait 6 seconds.

Even if technically correct (which I doubt) it is sort of thing that really gives cyclists a bad name. As Al said whats the hurry stop the bike, wait for a break in traffic and move around the parked car.

Its a thing that Canberra people cannot grasp, passing a slower person/bycicle/vehicle.

Busses a classic example, our suburb is the second last on a 3 series route plus a couple of 7 series expresso’s. Now, when a bus is stopped for passengers people overtake. Nothing unusual in this you might say. Well the fact is it is ok to pass a staionary but BUT NOT WHEN THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC! People seem to think that because the bus is stopped they have the right to cross the line, be it unbroken or not, and force oncoming traffic to the left of the road.

For the record:

140 No overtaking unless safe to do so
A driver must not overtake a vehicle unless:
(a) the driver has a clear view of any approaching traffic;
and
(b) the driver can safely overtake the vehicle.

This means if there is oncoming traffic, WAIT BEHIND THE BUS!.

Its not that hard & not particularly restricted to drivers. I see it all the time with other cyclists & pedestrians who just wont/cant wait the seconds it takes to pass safely. I dont know what it is about this particular skill but people are incapable of it.

Also happens if I am riding around the Cotter, people will pass you across double yellow lines in blind corners nearly causing accidents.

I am not directing this at drivers but at people in general. It just baffles me.

Wow, switch to decaf.

The fluff is cool. Riding through the poplar clouds is like riding into Middle-Earth. Or at least, a fourth-level adventure of some sort. Cast yourself a Protection from Plants and carry on.

If we can’t have snow, we need to protect our fluff at all costs.

This sort of nonsense from tintops is not just restricted to you cyclists, riding my motorcycle to work yesterday morning I got an earful because my noisy bike interupted a phone call for a fellow in a tintop. He then proceeded to try and run me off the road, must apologise to this poor tintop twat because they now have a nice boot dent on their door.

H1NG0 said :

Since you are the mayor of Gungahlin and all, can you explain why the overhead sign on Gungahlin drive this morning said that I now have to share the road with cars, bikes and get this….PEOPLE!

That should have read “aim for” not “share” and then shown the points after each category.

Nice rant, Al! Unfortunately it will be wasted on most of the posters here. I’m surprised that no one has yet mentioned the no bike rego thing or questioned if you are a lycra wearing p00f. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time.

There is plenty of fluff of the Poplar variety at ANU as well.

“and finally, that witnessing the mess that you have made of someone through you own poor driving decisions, whether or not they survive, is a very hard thing to live with, but apparently this is the only way to learn, because learning that lesson before the fact is impossible.”

If sacrificing cyclists will make car drivers better, bring it on I say. I’d rather have an incompetent person in control of a 20kg bicycle than in control of a 1500kg car on the roads. Two birds, one stone!

Oh and by the way, I’d like to see your “right” to the road. Typical snooty lycra-brigade mentality (who seem to think of cycling as some favour they’re doing the world), but not shared by the “99%” of those who cycle. Let’s get this straight – the use of a vehicle – any vehicle – on the road is a privilegde, not a right. Keep this in mind next time you chivalrously take on something with 15 times the mass on the road. Maybe you should lower your social standing amongst the cycling world and use a cycle path instead? Or if you can’t stand the humiliation from lycra-brigade peers while waiting for your skinny-decaff-latte, shut the hell up and deal with the crappy drivers like the rest of the road users.

Obviously I meant poplars, not popars.

Woden is full of white popars. Riding along Adelaide Avenue or Athllon Drive must be pretty fluffy at the moment.

Since you are the mayor of Gungahlin and all, can you explain why the overhead sign on Gungahlin drive this morning said that I now have to share the road with cars, bikes and get this….PEOPLE!

Not only do I have to look out for moron cyclists pedalling on the road instead of their own perfectly fine road about 2 metres away, I now have to look out for people randomly walking on Gungahlin drive.

You need to get used to this new side effect of bike lanes.
Now there are some on-road bike lanes, drivers subconciously expect clear passage on all roads. This is especially dangerous on wider roads without bike lanes which naturally separate into a bike flow and a car flow, until something forces them to mix again …

I think we need more information Al,

If you were in the bike lane or gutter and pulled into the traffic to go around a parked car she would be in the right wouldn’t she ?

Now that is worth an award much greater than the usual flame of the week.
Hand the man a prize.