Above all, be clear, be confident, be hyperaware, be visible. Make eye contact, make it obvious what you're going to do And if you make it home safely, then write to your council asking for fully segregated infrastructure so you don't have to do all this! - ThreadSky

isitabikelane.bsky.social • 25 days ago

Above all, be clear, be confident, be hyperaware, be visible. Make eye contact, make it obvious what you're going to do

And if you make it home safely, then write to your council asking for fully segregated infrastructure so you don't have to do all this!

Comments

gregwtravels.bsky.social•25 days ago

Great thread!

isitabikelane.bsky.social•25 days ago

Hey, I see you’re a fellow Hammersmith cyclist! Hi

gregwtravels.bsky.social•25 days ago

Hello! Hoping to get out tomorrow if the weather is nice enough.

isitabikelane.bsky.social•20 days ago

Another one I noticed myself doing yesterday on Oxford Street - moving to the centre of my lane whenever there was oncoming traffic, to discourage taxis behind me from overtaking when there wasn’t room

isitabikelane.bsky.social•20 days ago

And doing the same when a bus stopped in the opposite lane, to discourage the taxi behind the bus from pulling out into my lane and driving headfirst at me

purplemouse.bsky.social•23 days ago

I’m glad you posted this. It’s how I carry out my commute every day, but if I cycle with my partner he gets frustrated with me. He seems to worry more about the driver’s convenience than my safety and I can’t get it through to him. I’ll be showing him this thread!

isitabikelane.bsky.social•23 days ago

Yes, I sometimes think drivers need training in these cycling techniques too. Because if you don’t understand the reasons, protecting your safety can look like just being an obstructive git

purplemouse.bsky.social•23 days ago

If I’m taking the lane to go through a pinch point I make a dramatic manoeuvre back to the left as I emerge. I like imagine the driver behind thinking, “Ah, she was just making sure I didn’t pass her too close & protecting herself. I feel bad for muttering obscenities about her now that it’s clear!”

isitabikelane.bsky.social•23 days ago

Yes, go as fast as you can through the pinch point in the hope they don’t get impatient and kill you. Then once it’s safe make a show of moving back over and slowing, to invite them to pass like the VIP they think they are…

2-wheeled-wolf.bsky.social•23 days ago

Think you'll like this example. As a biker for many years I will use the lane, I will move nearer to centre of the road to try stop a dangerous overtake & I DGAF what if driver isn't happy. Unfortunately many won't do this & that's why we need more protective cycleways. https://youtu.be/gt73QbxnmoM?si=dwIHSb3C9MpWrsDb

isitabikelane.bsky.social•22 days ago

9 times out of 10 this ends with you catching up with them at the next traffic queue, and they’ve broken the law and risked your life to save exactly zero seconds

purplemouse.bsky.social•23 days ago

They are always going somewhere far too important to be worried about a cyclist!

ppushbike.bsky.social•23 days ago

This thread basically describes what we teach in Bikeability. Be seen, don't let drivers squeeze past you when there isn't space, keep away from car doors.

peterclinch.bsky.social•22 days ago

Yes, Bikeability (and the National Standards for Cycle Training it teaches) is based on Franklin's "Cyclecraft" which covers vehicular cycling.

If you are faced with the roads or nothing and aren't confident about it, look up some NS cycle training: it's for everyone, not just school classes.

peterclinch.bsky.social•22 days ago

As an instructor myself I maintain one, maybe two cheers for Bikeability. It gives a useful grounding for folk that would ride on the roads anyway but it'll never create a cycling culture.

ppushbike.bsky.social•22 days ago

I'm with you on that. Sometimes I think Bikeability's main benefit is that kids might go home and tell their parents "they said to stay away from car doors so we don't get hit" and their parents might learn from that and become more tolerant to cyclists.

fingerboardlies.bsky.social•22 days ago

Bikeability should be mandatory for all drivers before they can get / renew their licence.

ppushbike.bsky.social•22 days ago

But what we actually need is proper safe cycling infrastructure, so that even the most timid people feel able to use a bike as transport. That's why I organise Kidical Mass rides, to help promote it.

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