"you're only a cyclist"

What about not signalling left until the last moment when you're next
in a similar situation?

LSMike said:

What about not signalling left until the last moment when you're next
in a similar situation?

Yes, I no longer signal in that situation unless I expect the car to
take it as an invitation to turn ahead of me. Unless there is some
other reason to do so.
I am afraid that I have become one of those that shout very loudly at
them.I try to remember to stick to 'look out' or 'oi', but it's hard,
when someone deliberately threatens you with gbh or death, to be
reasonable.
Yuo were right to make the point to him, since although he was
defensive at the time, it might make him think twice next time.

TerryJ

In article <[email hidden]>

LSMike said:

What about not signalling left until the last moment when you're next
in a similar situation?

Or not signalling left as a matter of course? I often don't bother
unless I'm in the primary position with traffic close behind me, which
means I'm travelling at the same speed as the traffic and might need to
brake for the corner. I guess there wasn't anything close behind the OP
or the car coming the other way wouldn't have cut across. In fact
thinking about it I don't signal much at all, much less than in the car,
and I don't seem to have many near-death experiences or upset many
motorists. Humans are much more aware of body language than they may
realise, and cyclists' body language isn't hidden by a tin box. I
wonder if the OP was being assertive enough in his possession of the
road - in the situation described I think I'd have been near the crown
of the road, and turned fairly late so I had good visibility down the
side street. I wouldn't have indicated in case the oncoming car tried
to pull in front of me, and I wouldn't have given him enough time/room
to try to overtake once I'd started to turn.

LSMike said:

What about not signalling left until the last moment when you're next
in a similar situation?

IIRC Cyclecraft suggests not to left signal at all in a situation where it
might encourage a motorist to do something stupid.

Anthony

Anthony Jones <[email hidden]> of Customer of PlusNet plc

(urlhttp://www.plus.net/url) said:

LSMike said:

What about not signalling left until the last moment when you're next
in a similar situation?

IIRC Cyclecraft suggests not to left signal at all in a situation where it
might encourage a motorist to do something stupid.

My personal version is only signal left for pedestrians, other cyclists or
non-motorised traffic. Cars etc only get a signal if they are turning left
out of the road I am turning left into, so that their indicated path will
does not cross mine.
--
Steph Peters
Chorlton Wanderers Cycling Group
Monthly slow and easy rides from South Manchester
http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/cycling/chwan.htm

"al Mossah" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bright and sunny Saturday morning, on my bike approaching a junction on
my left into which I'm signalling to turn. Car approaching me on my
road is indicating to turn right into said junction.

My daily commute has exactly this type of junction. If someone is waiting
to turn into the side road from the other direction I will not only NOT
signal but try to act like I'm going straight on, as I was almost killed a
couple of years ago by a van that tried to cut me up in the way you
described. The only time I will signal left is when there is nothing
waiting to turn into the side road AND nothing close on my tail, as
signalling left can also encourage someone to overtake you as you are
turning left.

cheers adrian www.boliston.co.uk

"Adrian Boliston" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

The only time I will signal left is when there is nothing waiting to turn
into the side road AND nothing close on my tail, as signalling left can
also encourage someone to overtake you as you are turning left.

Slightly different view to me. I signal left when there is something behind
on the basis that if they wait a moment the cyclist will be out of the way
anyway.

But whether I signal also depends on the trajectory needed to take the
turn.

"DavidR" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Slightly different view to me. I signal left when there is something
behind
on the basis that if they wait a moment the cyclist will be out of the way
anyway.

My local traffic will overtake you straight away if you signal left, even
when not safe to do so.

I too only signal left for things moving slower than me, or If I'm turning
from primary with a motorised vehicle too close behind me.

Jc.

"Josey" <jc@nospam> writed in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"DavidR" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Slightly different view to me. I signal left when there is something
behind
on the basis that if they wait a moment the cyclist will be out of
the way anyway.

My local traffic will overtake you straight away if you signal left,
even when not safe to do so.

I've found this also to be true when riding a motorcycle - where it's
less of an issue.
I generally don't signal left when riding my bicycle, if I do, it's often
at the last minute, leving my arm stcuk out for slightly longer than need
be, pnce I've made the turn, hopefully giving the impression that I gave
a good signal.

LSMike said:

What about not signalling left until the last moment when you're next
in a similar situation?

You could probably justify not signalling at all. The oncoming traffic
would be unaffected, the following traffic too. Anyone crossing the
road has right of way, so you stop for them. The only person to benefit
from a left turn signal would be someone exiting the road that you are
entering. And from the description, there was no one there.

Josey said:

I too only signal left for things moving slower than me, or If I'm turning
from primary with a motorised vehicle too close behind me.

Jc.

Thanks all for the advice. You're all correct; had I not signalled,
then the incident would probably not have occurred. There was nobody
behind me.

I normally signal when there are vehicles, bikes and pedestrians around
who need to know what I'm doing. If there's nobody around, I don't
bother. In this instance I was informing the oncoming car of my
intention. I can't remember if he had time to get across well in front
of me; but if he did, he didn't make the most of his time.

As TerryJ says, although he (and his wife) were belligerant at the
time, they may think twice next time. Hope so. I think that if during
every journey at least one motorist will think / look twice next time,
then my work is done.

Peter.

Although not spoken yes. Stopped when I was on a main road whilst an
Indian gentleman was in his BMW pulling out of a side street only
looking left, I stopped, and asked can't you see me? Redundant
question really as he was only looking left. His look was - how dare
you, you low caste cycling scum bag this is a BMW and I can do what I
like. I put him right on this point.