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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"It's a survival tactic yes Tom.
I've said on many of your previous threads regards cyclist's one thing I always do is approaching a junction or traffic lights sit up on to saddle try to gain eye contact.
These days drivers don't give a rat's arse about other cars,pull out at T-junctions jump lights, undertake.....
They certainly don't give a single flying fuck about a cyclist.
So yes making one's presence known on the road is a survival tactic.
Which sounds ridiculous if it's just someone trying to do a hobby to stay fit and healthy.
But you know all this already."
I'm (male half) a keen cyclist, i don't ride in tournaments or in a cycling club, etc, and only do it for pleasure, to stay healthy as much as possible and for a good workout! I can't say i've heard of this sitting up and making yourself look big thing though, but if it helps, then i'm all for it, having said that, when i go out for a ride, i wear the usual gear, a brightly coloured safety helmet, a florescent green high vis gillet or jacket, front and rear LED lights that are on even during daylight hours, regardless of the weather, and have now invested in a handle bar mounted go-pro, yet despite all the above, drivers still cannot see you?
Let me list the usual stunts:
Close passes where i've been hit by the wing mirror,
Pulling out in front of me at junctions, then stare at me like it's my fault for being visible from the fkn space station, yet they couldn't see me?
Racing past me and turning left literally ten feet in front of me,
Parking on cycle paths,
Opening doors without checking their side mirrors first,
.....to name but a few hellish risks when cycling, so i may just give this sitting up and looking big a try, miracles may happen and drivers might see me once they have stopped texting or come off social media, you know the score, their phone on their lap where they think that they won't be spotted?
Final rant:
Before all you anti-cyclist drivers throw a wobbly, i'm not anti-car or a just stop oil tree hugger, i have driven a car since i was 17, i've been a pilot for nearly thirty years (a million times safer being up there than down here) i cycle as you've probably gathered, and also walk hundreds of miles every year, so i see the story from all sides, but all i ask is that just because you're pretty much indescructable in that metal box, other road users haven't got that protection, be it motor cyclists, pedestrians and road cyclists are not as well protected as you, so please take time to think about your next move, and respect other road users? And yes, i've been sat at traffic lights and watched cyclists completely disregard a red light, ride on pavements, no lights on their bikes, etc, etc, they get the sensible and safe cyclists a bad name, just as bad car drivers do the same to the good ones, we've all been there and seen it!
Victor Meldrew rant now over.....waiting for the floodgates of abuse to now open!
Have a good weekend everyone (-:
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