Love one another
I'm often amazed by how thoughtless, arrogant, reckless and downright stupid both drivers and cyclists can be - Yes: both cyclists and drivers. We all let our minds wander at times when we're in the car or on the bike, and yes, we're often in a rush to get to our meeting, or get out of the cold, but for goodness sake, people...
As a driver and a cyclist, and someone who's been the cause and victim of various incidents both in the car and on the bike, I feel in a position to give my advice to you all.
As a driver and a cyclist, and someone who's been the cause and victim of various incidents both in the car and on the bike, I feel in a position to give my advice to you all.
Drivers (Arrogant, angry, mobile-phone-using, planet-killers who snarl up my beautiful country roads)
Oh, and pedestrians... (how can you bear to move so slowly?!)
- Give
way to cyclists. Do you know how hard it is to get going again after
you stop on a bike? You're in you a nice warm car and it really won't
delay you much to let us come through first
- Let us know if you're giving way -
if we have to stop before we realise you're giving way it's lovely, but
a bit pointless. A quick flash is all it takes (oo-er!)
- Say thankyou if we give way to you. We're road users too and need and deserve the same heart-warming wave as you pass by
- Give cyclists room. As much room as you can! If you can get onto the other side of the road to pass the cyclist, then do that. Many times I've whacked the side of a car that was driven so close I've feared for my life
- Stop laughing at our lycra. It may not look cool (mine does, obviously), but it's comfortable and it helps show off our bulging thigh muscles (admit it, you're jealous!)
- Give way to cars. I know I said that drivers should give
way to cyclists, but if everyone assumes they're giving way, things
will just work better...
- Keep checking behind you. Just like when you're driving a car, you should always know what's behind you. If you can't give a quick glance behind you without wobbling, find an empty straight road, or car park, and practice, practice, practice, because it's no good seeing the traffing behind you whilst you're falling into it
- A quick look behind you also signals to drivers that you might be about to do something radical like move in front of them, so use a quick glance to show drivers you're about to do something. The Highway Code says "Mirror, Signal, Manouvre", but I would actually suggest you use "Signal, Mirror (glance), Manouver", as the signal gives cars a chance to slow down/move aside before you glance/wobble
- Cycle defensively, but sensibly. If it's safest for you to stay in the middle of the road then do this, especially if you can keep up with traffic. Don't bounce or wobble around in the gutter: it's easier for drivers to avoid you if they can predict how your bike is moving, so the more stable you can be the better (even if you're in their way a bit)
- Stop at red lights!* Just because you're big and clever and "know when it's safe", it doesn't mean you can ignore the law. Imagine how annoyed you'd be if drivers kept jumping the lights "because they could see it was safe"
- Wear a helmet. It... just... makes... sense
- Stop criticising drivers all the time. They have feelings too, and a few bad eggs does not mean they're all wankers
Oh, and pedestrians... (how can you bear to move so slowly?!)
- Just
be aware that cars and bikes can go quickly, and both deserve a bit of
respect. It doesn't matter if I'm in a car or a bike if I hit you at
20mph - it will still hurt you and will annoy both of us.So look before
you leap
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