Hold the line

In article <[email hidden]>

Brian Drury' briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom said:

In the distance a shadow moves, faint and fleeting but I was sure I saw it.
Seconds later out of the gloom another cyclist riding on my side of the
lane. Dressed in black without lights she was hard to see but now what to
do? Stop, move to the right hand side of the lane or hold the line?

This time I just kept going. No collision but pretty close. Lots of verbal
encouragement to go away and some reference to my parental background
ensued.

This is Brighton on the dreaded seafront cycle lanes.

Is the trend to cycle on the right just a Brighton thing or does it happen
much elsewhere?

It's happened to me quite often - why anyone has a problem with the
concept of keeping left is beyond me.

Quoted message said:

I guess the poor woman was frightened silly

Serves her right really - if she keeps it up she might qualify for a
Darwin award.

Brian Drury said the following on 15/11/2006 22:24:

Quoted message said:

Is the trend to cycle on the right just a Brighton thing or does it happen
much elsewhere? I guess the poor woman was frightened silly but I am fed up
with the appalling behaviour of Brighton cyclists.

Must have been something in the air last night. In Weston-super-Mare,
twice last night I had the same thing happen. One totally black-clad
unlit cyclist in one of the few totally black parts of my journey home,
and he was on his right. Made me jump (and swear at him) because I
simply couldn't see him until the last minute! Then another almost
identical cyclist but this one had a flickery candle on his handlebars,
and it was at least slightly less dark, but this time I held my line on
the left. He chose the grass verge on his right instead of moving to
his left.

This follows up from a previous post where I shouted "Lights" to another
invisible cyclist (on a cyclepath), and his reply was "It's a footpath".
Hmmm... that logic suddenly makes you visible, does it?

I don't think there's anything that says you /have/ to stay left on
cyclepaths, but isn't it just in-born in this country to ride on the
left, or at the very least plain common sense? I just hope these people
don't drive on the right as well.

Also last night I had to cross a roundabout. Several cars streaming
round all going the same route. Half indicating left, half indicating
right and half not indicating at all (never was good at maths...) How
the hell is anyone meant to guess where each one is going? Then a group
of black-dressed schoolgirls (a bit late, I would have thought) totally
oblivious to anything around them, and half of them not even facing the
direction they were walking in. At least I didn't have any dog-walker
problems last night!

And my commute is only 2.5 miles! I really can see why it's safer on
the roads. Perhaps if "they" want us all off the roads, "they" should
create and enforce a few laws to make cyclepaths safer.

Quoted message said:

I guess I am becoming a grumpy old git

You and me both!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Rob Morley <[email hidden]> wrote:
| In article <[email hidden]>
| <"Brian Drury" <briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom>> wrote:
| > Is the trend to cycle on the right just a Brighton thing or does it happen
| > much elsewhere?
| It's happened to me quite often - why anyone has a problem with the
| concept of keeping left is beyond me.

I have speculated in the past that it is down to pedestrians on bicycles
thinking that they are not traffic, and that they must keep to the right
(as they would be required to do to face the traffic on lanes with no
pavement).

Geraint Jones said:

Rob Morley <[email hidden]> wrote:
| In article <[email hidden]>
| <"Brian Drury" <briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom>> wrote:
| > Is the trend to cycle on the right just a Brighton thing or does it happen
| > much elsewhere?
| It's happened to me quite often - why anyone has a problem with the
| concept of keeping left is beyond me.

I have speculated in the past that it is down to pedestrians on bicycles
thinking that they are not traffic, and that they must keep to the right
(as they would be required to do to face the traffic on lanes with no
pavement).

Good afternoon. I'm new here (but know a few of you anyway).

Unlit PoBs with no road sense are one of my bugbears too.

There's a cycle lane across Clapham Common in London. I use it on my
way home from work, going north (I live in the centre and work in a
suburb). Every time I use it, I come across riders going in the
opposite direction, with no or inadequate (i.e low-battery flashing
LEDs that are no more effective than a jar of pet glow-worms) and no
reflective gear, riding on the wrong side of the path.

And the buggers have the cheek to complain that my headlight's too
bright.

If I could be @rsed to turn 'round and chase them down, I'd say,
"Listen, numbtie, if you had decent lights in the first place I
wouldn't need a bright headlight to see you coming."

Brian Drury said:

In the distance a shadow moves, faint and fleeting but I was sure I saw it.
Seconds later out of the gloom another cyclist riding on my side of the
lane. Dressed in black without lights she was hard to see but now what to
do? Stop, move to the right hand side of the lane or hold the line?

This time I just kept going. No collision but pretty close. Lots of verbal
encouragement to go away and some reference to my parental background
ensued.

This is Brighton on the dreaded seafront cycle lanes.

Is the trend to cycle on the right just a Brighton thing or does it happen
much elsewhere? I guess the poor woman was frightened silly but I am fed up
with the appalling behaviour of Brighton cyclists.

The trend down here is about 50:50 with and without lights. Those with
lights often have reflective clothing as well. Those without lights
generally don't.

I guess I am becoming a grumpy old git but this is serious stuff. My other
grump now I have started is the traffic light jumping pavement riding
general law breaking stuff that is now becoming standard behaviour for most
Brighton cyclists. Defending the cyclist position against all the car
driving cagers in the office is increasingly difficult as I tend to agree
with them.

Anyhow, I feel better now.

Regards to all.

Brian

A few details please -
did you have lights?
were you wearing light/reflective gear?
did you call out 'go left' or 'keeping left' or something like that?

But I don't think the riding on the right thing is due to cyclists
thinking they're pedestrians and should face (ie run into) oncoming
traffic - I think it's somehow hard-wired. Very odd. Certainly not just
Brighton.

"John Snuggs" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Good afternoon. I'm new here (but know a few of you anyway).

<waves> like me. Hiya!

Quoted message said:

Unlit PoBs with no road sense are one of my bugbears too.

I feel very sorry for a friend who collided with one such a fortnight
ago, in Hyde Park, at night, and has not been able to ride his bike
since. My friend was lit. (Knowing him, he won't have used the latest
bright lights.)

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

[email hidden] said the following on 16/11/2006 15:22:

Quoted message said:

A few details please -
did you have lights?
were you wearing light/reflective gear?
did you call out 'go left' or 'keeping left' or something like that?

"No-one expects the Spanish inquisition." :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

In article <[email hidden]>
Geraint Jones <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Rob Morley <[email hidden]> wrote:
| In article <[email hidden]>
| <"Brian Drury" <briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom>> wrote:
| > Is the trend to cycle on the right just a Brighton thing or does it happen
| > much elsewhere?
| It's happened to me quite often - why anyone has a problem with the
| concept of keeping left is beyond me.

I have speculated in the past that it is down to pedestrians on bicycles

PoBs - a useful term that I will try to remember.

Quoted message said:

thinking that they are not traffic, and that they must keep to the right
(as they would be required to do to face the traffic on lanes with no
pavement).

I think you're probably right. I wonder how many of them also drive.

"Paul Boyd" <usenet.dont.work@plusnet> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] said the following on 16/11/2006 15:22:

Quoted message said:

A few details please -
did you have lights?
were you wearing light/reflective gear?
did you call out 'go left' or 'keeping left' or something like that?

"No-one expects the Spanish inquisition." :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

But he did say please!

I was lit like a christmas tree. Front and rear. The reflective stuff is
useless when the PoB has no lights, but yes I use it. Also, in case you are
wondering I was wearing one of those silly bicycle hats that stop you
getting killed in a crash.

Tonights journey was event free. Very odd.

Brian

Can't remember what I shouted.

John Snuggs said:

Unlit PoBs with no road sense are one of my bugbears too.

In the canon of cycle commuting, these rate as a minor and usually
non-threatening irritant. Every time I get cut up by an unlit PoB, I
thank the Lord that they were on a bike and not behind the wheel of a
car or van.

Brian Drury said the following on 16/11/2006 19:38:

Quoted message said:

But he did say please!

Fair enough!

Quoted message said:

Tonights journey was event free. Very odd.

'tis odd. Last night was also event free for me. What's more odd is
that in the 100yd dark stretch, I encountered not one, but three *lit*
cyclists coming towards me, all on their left. To say I was surprised
is an understatement - my previous post came back to haunt me!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Brian Drury said:

"Paul Boyd" <usenet.dont.work@plusnet> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] said the following on 16/11/2006 15:22:

Quoted message said:

A few details please -
did you have lights?
were you wearing light/reflective gear?
did you call out 'go left' or 'keeping left' or something like that?

"No-one expects the Spanish inquisition." :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

But he did say please!

I was lit like a christmas tree. Front and rear. The reflective stuff is
useless when the PoB has no lights, but yes I use it. Also, in case you are
wondering I was wearing one of those silly bicycle hats that stop you
getting killed in a crash.

Tonights journey was event free. Very odd.

Brian

Can't remember what I shouted.

No doubt that the unlit PoB was a moron then! I suppose it's just an
aspect of life we have to accept. I don't often shout but I try to make
it damn clear that I'm keeping left - usually they get the message.

Quoted message said:

I have speculated in the past that it is down to pedestrians on
bicycles thinking that they are not traffic, and that they must keep
to the right (as they would be required to do to face the traffic on
lanes with no pavement).

If they have to walk on the cycle bit, then facing the oncoming traffic
makes sense for them and me. If they're facing away from me and walking on
the left (my side) then they're more likely to blunder into a passing idiot
cyclist.

Quoted message said:

I have speculated in the past that it is down to pedestrians on
bicycles thinking that they are not traffic, and that they must keep
to the right (as they would be required to do to face the traffic on
lanes with no pavement).

A-ha, just re-read this and realised I've completely mis-read what you
said. Ignore my first reply if it shows up.

"Geraint Jones" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Rob Morley <[email hidden]> wrote:
| In article <[email hidden]>
| <"Brian Drury" <briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom>> wrote:
| > Is the trend to cycle on the right just a Brighton thing or does it

happen

Quoted message said:

| > much elsewhere?
| It's happened to me quite often - why anyone has a problem with the
| concept of keeping left is beyond me.

I have speculated in the past that it is down to pedestrians on bicycles
thinking that they are not traffic, and that they must keep to the right
(as they would be required to do to face the traffic on lanes with no
pavement).

By the number of walkers and joggers I come across whilst riding down dark
pavementless lanes, I wonder what proportion of pedestrians actually know
that rule. The joggers I've encountered have tended to have reflective
strips or tabards, but those who are just walking would tend to be black on
a black background, if it wasn't for my lights. The road safety public
information films tend to be aimed at kids, but, as far as I can make out,
kids are not the problem.

--
David Lloyd,
The pub is responsible for my opinions.

In news:[email hidden],
David Lloyd <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

By the number of walkers and joggers I come across whilst riding down
dark pavementless lanes, I wonder what proportion of pedestrians
actually know that rule. The joggers I've encountered have tended to
have reflective strips or tabards, but those who are just walking
would tend to be black on a black background, if it wasn't for my
lights. The road safety public information films tend to be aimed at
kids, but, as far as I can make out, kids are not the problem.

Indeed. Part of this morning's commute was on a narrow and twisty lane.
It's rare to see either a cyclist or pedestrian on it, but the ped I saw
this morning was carefully lit up in black on a black background, with his
back to the oncoming traffic.

--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk>
Funsize Mars bars? What could possibly be MORE fun about eating
LESS chocolate?

Dave Larrington wrote on 20/11/2006 09:28 +0100:

Quoted message said:

but the ped I saw
this morning was ..... with his
back to the oncoming traffic.

That way his demise will be quick and unexpected as opposed to preceded
by several seconds of terror watching it unfurl in slow motion ;-)

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dave Larrington wrote on 20/11/2006 09:28 +0100:

Quoted message said:

but the ped I saw
this morning was ..... with his
back to the oncoming traffic.

That way his demise will be quick and unexpected as opposed to preceded
by several seconds of terror watching it unfurl in slow motion ;-)

Sounds like a good idea then. :o

--
David Lloyd,
The pub is responsible for my opinions.