Stormy_ll
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Manchester
and if your going straight forward in a crossroad? I can never remember if you go to the right (or is that to go right) left? (to go left?) and do I need to filter?
Starting with positioning?
- Thread starter Stormy_ll
- Start date
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guitarpete247
Just about surviving
- Location
- Leicestershire
Also if you're passing a junction on your left make yourself more visible to drivers. Look at anyone coming out of the junction and be aware of anyone who looks like they may be turning into that junction, either from behind or wanting to turn across you from in front.
- Location
- Glasgow
For maximum visibility one should enter a junction in primary (middle of the lane) and proceed in primary until clear of the junction.
This is achieved by taking the position well before the junction: if you are on the left, in a cycle lane or not, look backwards, try to make eye contact with the driver behind, clearly signal and move to the middle.
If the first driver does not let you move, try again with the next one.
Sometimes there are Advanced Stop Lines (ASL) or bike box where you can filter to, but filtering is not obligatory, indeed sometimes is safer to wait behind a car or two.
Whatever your intended direction, you should always arrive at a junction in the middle of the lane, even when turning left.
It can get a bit intimidating, because cars don't like being slowed down by cyclists, but you'll get there!
sidevalve
Über Member
No don't - You might find another bike carrying straight on to your left [yes I have seen this] No it doesn't mean he was riding in the gutter - just that he had no need to block the lane and was carrying on without hindering anyone else - you are the one in the wrong position.. The correct position is not always in the centre it is the position that gives other road users the clearest idea of your intentions. Further if there is no need to be in the middle of the lane why do it ? Just to tick people off ?
Ps - Don't forget to read the highway code it is quite helpful.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
You want to be in a position that would block people going the same direction as you or trying to turn across/through you. By looking and signalling if necessary you don't often get people undercutting you when turning left if moving, though if you have to stop to give way at a junction or at lights it is a more frequent occurrence, but still better than being left hooked by a vehicle.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
Wherein rule 167 says not to overtake at junctions, so you're not holding any good road user up by taking a central position, which is the safest thing to do.
Andy_R
Hard of hearing..I said Herd of Herring..oh FFS..
- Location
- County Durham
National Standard advice is to take primary position when approaching any junction, and to signal intentions in advance if necessary. All round observation is the key - how many times have you seen riders taking turns without even look whats around them
oldstrath
Über Member
- Location
- Strathspey
The Highway code is indeed helpful. Would be great if some people could be bothered with the bit about being able to stop in the distance they can SEE to be clear.
Anyway, back to road position. There are two good reasons why you might indeed want to be in the middle of the lane ( neither is to 'tick people off'). One is to prevent left hooks, the second is to ensure you are in the part of the road drivers entering from the side will actually bother looking, because this is where the threat to them comes from. The same applies going past driveways, into roundabouts and so on. Most drivers don't look properly at the entire road (doing so is quite hard), so being centre lane puts you in the zone to be seen.
winjim
Smash the cistern
I consider primary to be my default position, and only move to secondary when I deem it safe and appropriate. Of course in reality this means I do spend most of my time in secondary, but it's just a switch in mindset.
Bear in mind that primary and secondary positions are not defined relative to the static road structure, but rather to the dynamic traffic flow.
Bear in mind that primary and secondary positions are not defined relative to the static road structure, but rather to the dynamic traffic flow.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
Could someone quote the actual definitions from cyclecraft, please? I'm not near my copy right now.
winjim
Smash the cistern
Is this legible enough?
Primary: centre of the leftmost traffic lane
Secondary: 1m to the left of the lane but no less than 0.5m from kerb.
- Location
- Glasgow
Don't be cheeky
This is the way I have been trained, rules according to Cyclecraft, which, I understand, is the National standard for cycling in the UK.
I also have seen cyclist on my left wanting to go straight: because I'm aware not everybody has received the training, I ask them what direction they will be going: crash avoided
adamangler
Veteran
- Location
- Wakefield
I dont think you need any training.
If you drive a car then you know what to look out for how to change lanes etc.
If you can ride a bike then thats that sorted so just put the two together.
All you really need to be aware of is checking over your shoulder before you change lane or turn right.
Make sure you command the lane if you dont want anyone passing you but dont be an arse and do it too early before a turn and cause a queue
As long as you do your bit your then relying on people not to run you over which is out of your hands.
If anyone beeps at you then shout fark off at them, if they want to get physical bang em out
If you drive a car then you know what to look out for how to change lanes etc.
If you can ride a bike then thats that sorted so just put the two together.
All you really need to be aware of is checking over your shoulder before you change lane or turn right.
Make sure you command the lane if you dont want anyone passing you but dont be an arse and do it too early before a turn and cause a queue
As long as you do your bit your then relying on people not to run you over which is out of your hands.
If anyone beeps at you then shout fark off at them, if they want to get physical bang em out
