Self-formulated rules to keep you safe when cycling.

[betty swollocks]

......Some of mine:-
- Always expect a vehicle when you would least want it to be there.
- Never go up the inside of large vehicles even if there's a cycle lane.
- If you're stopped at the lights and a large vehicle draws up alongside, inch forward past the front of the vehicle and look the driver in the eye....especially if there's a left turn ahead.
- There is almost always a reason for a gap in a queue of traffic: don't go there.
- Never trust a car's indicators.*

* For some reason, I broke this one today. I was coming out of a side road and a car was coming up the main road on my right indicating to turn into the road I was coming out of. On the basis of this and that everywhere was clear, I stamped on the pedals to turn to my right and entered the main road, only to have the driver cancel her indicator and drive straight on. Luckily she saw me and slowed, which allowed me to complete my maneouvre. She even waved a hand in (I assume) apology, but had a collision ensued, it would have been my fault.

Never trust a car's indicators.

 

[tyred]

The only purpose served by indicators is to let people know that the bulbs are working.

 

[summerdays]

I was reading through your list thinking I would add the "never trust a car's indicator's" one ... but you had it already ...

It was last week for me (though went through the same junction today), and a car was waiting in the middle of the main road to turn right - I wanted to go down the same road but I was in the side road having problems getting out across the main A-road even to the middle. Car coming along slowly with a stream of traffic behind it suddenly started indicating left .. .so I went to go for it only to discover him going straight on (I think he was trying to indicate that he was passing the car in the middle of the road???). We both braked and he shook his elderly finger at me.... I put my hand up to apologise anyway since it was my assumption that he was turning and continued to wait a long time for a gap. Afterwards I decided I should have just used the zebra crossing 2 feet away to walk across the road.

Other rules ...

you don't HAVE to filter to the front (reasonably good at obeying that one)
stop in the right place at traffic lights depending on which direction you are going (but assume that others don't)

 

[Salad Dodger]

"The only purpose served by indicators is to let people know that the bulbs are working"

Yes they're working... Oh hang on no they're not... Oh hang on yes they are... Oh hang on no they're not...

 

[zacklaws]

I was coming out of a side road and a car was coming up the main road on my right indicating to turn into the road I was coming out of.

How do you know it was indicating to turn into the road you was coming out of? If you read the highway code, I cannot remember exactly what it states now, but it will tell you something like, just because a car is indicating to turn, it may not be indicating to turn into the road you are pulling out of ,but the vehicle may be pulling in just past the junction.

I know this rule quite well, it used to be paragraph 29 about 1990, I failed my HGV 1 test because of a driver who did not know it, the examiner told me to pull into the side of the road which was no problem, he sat sideways on watching me go through the procedures etc, but he was mainly watching me as it was a gear change exercise going down through the gears. All of a sudden a little mini appeared from the left in a little slip road and shot straight out in front of me, making me do an emergency stop and the examiner bouncing of the windscreen.

When I got to the end of the test, I had failed, my instructor who knew I should have passed in theory demanded from the examiner why I had failed. When the examiner finally told him why, my instructor hit him with para 29 and that I was in the right, and even got the chief examiner on my side.

I got a retest the next day and passed.

I have a road junction near me, close to a roundabout, traffic streams off it, most cars still have there left indicators still on as they get close to the junction from signalling to exit the roundabout, the amount of cars that pull out in front of the traffic is unreal as they all seem to presume they are turning left into the junction when in reality it is going straight on

 

[betty swollocks]

How do you know it was indicating to turn into the road you was coming out of? If you read the highway code, I cannot remember exactly what it states now, but it will tell you something like, just because a car is indicating to turn, it may not be indicating to turn into the road you are pulling out of ,but the vehicle may be pulling in just past the junction.

I know this rule quite well, it used to be paragraph 29 about 1990, I failed my HGV 1 test because of a driver who did not know it, the examiner told me to pull into the side of the road which was no problem, he sat sideways on watching me go through the procedures etc, but he was mainly watching me as it was a gear change exercise going down through the gears. All of a sudden a little mini appeared from the left in a little slip road and shot straight out in front of me, making me do an emergency stop and the examiner bouncing of the windscreen.

When I got to the end of the test, I had failed, my instructor who knew I should have passed in theory demanded from the examiner why I had failed. When the examiner finally told him why, my instructor hit him with para 29 and that I was in the right, and even got the chief examiner on my side.

I got a retest the next day and passed.

I have a road junction near me, close to a roundabout, traffic streams off it, most cars still have there left indicators still on as they get close to the junction from signalling to exit the roundabout, the amount of cars that pull out in front of the traffic is unreal as they all seem to presume they are turning left into the junction when in reality it is going straight on

I admitted I made a mistake. I broke my own rule.
I hope others learn from it, as did I.

 

[HLaB]

I trust car indicators all the time, I trust they are wrong 50% of the time or not working.

I think my main rule would be expect the unexpected!

 

[Fnaar]

Getting back to self formulated rules...
1 Don't try those two hills if your knee has started hurting again.
2 As ye scalp, so shall ye be scalped.
3 cycling to get rid of a hangover still works, but it isn't big and it isn't clever.

 

[betty swollocks]

Getting back to self formulated rules...
1 Don't try those two hills if your knee has started hurting again.
2 As ye scalp, so shall ye be scalped.
3 cycling to get rid of a hangover still works, but it isn't big and it isn't clever.

Whenever I try your number two, I bust a gut to get within spitting distance and the scalpee turns off!!

 

[kalaika]

"The only purpose served by indicators is to let people know that the bulbs are working"

Yes they're working... Oh hang on no they're not... Oh hang on yes they are... Oh hang on no they're not...

This isn't you, is it?
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=iTValEzRJI8

 

[pip ryder]

Never trust a car's indicators.

Yup. I've heard car drivers criticise cyclists because they have a reputation for not indicating when turning. I think some car drivers have a habit of indicating when not turning!

We all make mistakes, sometimes I get a turning wrong, but if I have indicated, I commit to the turn anyway, even if it means me having to do a U turn soon after. Changing my mind after indicating could be dangerous.

 

[Davidc]

Now lets get it right ....

Indicator use for cars:

If turning left - indicate right or not at all.
If turning right - indicate left or not at all.
If going straight on - indicate left or indicate right, it doesn't matter which.
At roundabouts - never indicate.

Other lighting rules for cars:

In clear conditions - switch on fog lights, especially rear ones.
In foggy daylight conditions - switch off all lights.
After dark - ensure your lights are mal-adjusted to dazzle everyone on all setings.

If parked illegally - switch on hazard warning lights, and make sure at least one light can't be seen so that it looks as if you're indicating (see above).

Flash your headlights frequently - especially if it will encourage someone else to move out in front of a cyclist or motor cyclist.


etc. etc. etc.

 

[I like Skol]

Not really rules, but techniques I find keep me safe while commuting

Use the Force. Its increased awareness allows you to avoid any conflict with those around you.

Use the Matrix. By manipulating the code you can bend the reality of what is going on around you and make sure you have an uninterupted and flowing journey. The best part of this technique is that you can ensure the rain never lands where you are and that the wind is always blowing from behind you!

 

[Wightdragon]

Don't trust any of the barstewards out there.