Who's in the wrong?

[XmisterIS]

Guess I wont be doing it again I was sh*ting myself undertaking him but was just going to fast and wasn't in the mood to follow him for 5 miles at 20mph

In that situation, I would hang back, wait for a suitable overtaking spot, then really give it some beans to get past him as fast as possible. Same theory as when overtaking on a motorbike (only doing it on the motorbike is a lot faster, obviously!)

 

[Svendo]

[QUOTE 1562068"]
<Sighs> No they don't. I have driven them I should know.
[/quote]
I'm happy to be corrected but the blind spots in the image,



if accurate do seem quite big, you might almost say HUGE in relation to the size of a bike.
Especially if using a bit of rhetorical hyperbole to make a valid point about undertaking HGVs without personally insulting the OP by, say, calling them an idiot.

 

[gaz]

Yesterday I was cycling down a main road into Manchester centre a learner hgv driver had overtaken me about 500 yards before and then we stopped at lights (I waited behind the lorry) then set off I was in a cycling lane and the hgv was going around 20 mph but I was going about 25mph as I was in a cycling lane I decided to undertake? Him just as I got past him he sounded his horn a few times and shouted some abuse was I in the wrong even tho I was in a cycle lane ?

You are a very silly cyclist for undertaking a lorry. Think about what happens if that thing moves to the left, you can't see what is happening in front of it so how can you predict what he will be doing?

 

[craven2354]

You are a very silly cyclist for undertaking a lorry. Think about what happens if that thing moves to the left, you can't see what is happening in front of it so how can you predict what he will be doing?

It wasn't a lorry it was one of The ones with 4 wheels that have solid backs like 20ft long not s huge lorry like everybody is making out

 

[Bromptonaut]

[QUOTE 1562068"]
<Sighs> No they don't. I have driven them I should know.
[/quote]


Intersting point Lee.

How come the in cab vids and publicity at bike shows and roadside safety events give the opposite message?

Surely even trucks festooned with mirrors to point that driver could be overloaded with information are not going to cover every moving scenario?

 

[twobiker]

Cycling through Plymouth an artic was in front of me I hung back and as he turned his trailer wheels ran over the pavement, glad I wasn't alongside him, the old saying "few minutes late in this world or few minutes early in the next" rings true. let them go, much safer.

 

[Svendo]

[QUOTE 1562086"]
Consider yourself corrected.
[/quote]


Nearly. However there does seem to be a widespread view, as mentioned by others, that HGVs do have large blind spots, and to shift the premises a little adding detail glossed over so far, lots of opportunity for a bike to be missed by a driver, even if not strictly invisible to the driver.
Given this is literally a life or death issue, I think an appeal to authority would be improved by a little more detail or corroboration, which would reinforce the underlying point that all agree on, i.e. don't undertake moving HGVs and similar. Thanks in advance.

 

[gaz]

[QUOTE 1562089"]
To create awareness, an artic turning left will have a blind spot. But driving along the road normally there are none.

As long as they are checked before turning, then they will.
[/quote]

Not strictly true, there is a pretty big blind spot behind a HGV. As they say 'If you can't see my mirrors, then i can't see you.

 

[apollo179]

[QUOTE 1562092"]
Right, ok. And what danger does this present to me, the cyclist exactly? Apart from riding too close to the arse end of a truck and going into the back of it should it brake all of a sudden.

If you or anyone else wants to be a pedant with respect to blind spots, then you should at least ask yourself who the onus of responsiblity is with - the road user in front or the one following.
[/quote]

One on the bonuses of being on a bike is that you can find your own space so dont have to restrict yourself to being next in line behind maybe a juggernaut.
Being behing a large vehicle is obviously potentially dangerous - i was on a motorcycle when a coach just reversed back crushing the front of my bike - happy ending with the overinflated insurance pay out for what was a complete rubbish bike.

 

[HLaB]

It wasn't a lorry it was one of The ones with 4 wheels that have solid backs like 20ft long not s huge lorry like everybody is making out

It doesn't matter if it was a old mini it'd still hurt you, but hopefully you've learnt a lesson without getting hurt this time. Safe cycling