Avoid trucks!

[allen-uk]

Not a new story, just further evidence:

Experts call for ban on HGVs in Britain's cities to protect cyclists | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Seems the answer (at least until trucks are banned?) is to avoid large vehicles, and most definitely to avoid cycling up the inside of them in traffic. I know that to some extent it defeats the object of having a bike, but quite often I sit in traffic jams as I would in my car, i.e. waiting for the traffic in front to move.

Allen

 

[jbond]

While we're at it, can we ban buses and especially bendy buses as well. Oh and can we please ban cycles from cycle lanes because they hold up the traffic.

 

[Rad]

I try to avoid cycling up the inside of a line of traffic unless the road is suitably wide enough. I'd never cycle up the side of an artic.

I must say most of my encounters with artics have been on the positive side. They tend to hang back until they can see a clear (and safe) overtaking opportunity and I always acknowledge they've done so.

My major gripe is with van and car drivers. I've had to adopt a wider position on the road when cycling just left of centre to dissuade motorists from overtaking me into oncoming traffic. Doesn't always work though

 

[allen-uk]

I try to avoid cycling up the inside of a line of traffic unless the road is suitably wide enough. I'd never cycle up the side of an artic.

I must say most of my encounters with artics have been on the positive side. They tend to hang back until they can see a clear (and safe) overtaking opportunity and I always acknowledge they've done so.

Indeed so, I find just the same thing around north London. It seems (and I KNOW it's a crude generalisation) that professional drivers of lorries, artics, and the like, are in one league; cowboys tend to drive white vans (and buses), and car drivers span the range, from excellent (probably bike riders in their spare time) to the dreadful (texting, phoning, yakking, ignoring).

Allen

 

[CeeGee]

It is pedestrians that should be banned. Most of them just wander all over the place, stop and start or change direction without any signals. Get rid of them - then cyclists use the pavements, and you can keep the trucks and bendy buses on the road instead of banning them.

Colin

 

[Mussels]

Heavy goods vehicles involved in 43% of London's cycling deaths

Interesting headline, how about...

careless cyclists involved in 43% of London's cycling deaths, ban pushbikes

 

[flecc]

how about careless cyclists involved in 43% of London's cycling deaths, ban pushbikes

Yes, goodness knows they've been warned enough about the dangers of left turning trucks, but I still see cyclists creeping up alongside on the left and stopping under the mirror and indicator of the truck. Suicidal.
.

 

[Scimitar]

I've honestly lost count of the number of cyclists I've seen going up the inside of trucks waiting at lights. Whatever happened to common sense? The loss of a few seconds caused by hanging back in line with the tail of the lorry is as nothing compared to the (literal) end-of-life scenario that could happen.

 

[Mussels]

I've honestly lost count of the number of cyclists I've seen going up the inside of trucks waiting at lights. Whatever happened to common sense? The loss of a few seconds caused by hanging back in line with the tail of the lorry is as nothing compared to the (literal) end-of-life scenario that could happen.

That's ok as long as they don't block the way and stop me filtering down the inside. Most of the time it's not dangerous and cyclists don't stop until they are well in front of the lorry, bus drivers tend to move to the left before the corner to stop cyclists getting down there.

 

[allen-uk]

It is pedestrians that should be banned. Most of them just wander all over the place, stop and start or change direction without any signals. Get rid of them...
Colin

Understand the point - there are ALL sorts of groups I'd ban, both from the streets and from the surrounding houses, but my general misanthropy is probably best kept in check.

I think your problem with pedestrians, nuisances though they often are, is that they tend not to kill cyclists.

Mind you, neither do the truck drivers, at least not intentionally, as has been mentioned above. It's the risk-taking cyclists who take their 'ownership' of the road to lunatic extremes who tend to end up as suicides-by-truck. Pity the poor truck drivers.


Allen.

 

[Lloyd]

I got splatted by an artic who was impatient and overtook me on a bend, the very tip of his trailer taking me out as he thought he was past me. The numpty didnt even realise he had hit me at the time.

On the flipside I do cut up the inside of them when in stationary traffic, always maintaining my position infront before the traffic moves again. Maybe that's prrof that Karma exists!

 

[Scimitar]

That's ok as long as they don't block the way and stop me filtering down the inside. Most of the time it's not dangerous and cyclists don't stop until they are well in front of the lorry, bus drivers tend to move to the left before the corner to stop cyclists getting down there.

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough - I've seen it happening plenty of times as the traffic was just moving off and some numbskull would come charging up on the inside, little knowing or caring if the truck was turning left.
Regarding the buses... waiting at a bus stop in Princes St, Edinburgh, I was just about to board one when a cycling furiousisti came barrelling along twixt bus and kerb, jammed on his brakes when he realised there was a small crowd of passengers alighting/delighting, lost the front and went down hard, amidst a furious rending of Lycra, a cacophany of Michelin and a shower of Shimano.
Silly twat.

 

[flecc]

That's fine Lloyd, stopping in front so the truckie can see you. It's the chumps who stop right below the mirror and indicator so they can't see the indicator and the truckie can't see them who need a head examination.
.

 

[allen-uk]

It's the chumps who stop right below the mirror and indicator so they can't see the indicator and the truckie can't see them who need a head examination.
.

And often get one, courtesy of the local A&E department...


A

 

[flecc]

And often get one, courtesy of the local A&E department...

It would be nice if that were true, but sadly on the evidence of the London cycling deaths and a video of experiments on this, the left turning truck's rear wheels roll over their body, crushing them to death.
.