Matthew's Journal

It is unfortunate that a small number of cyclists seem to think that all motorists are out to get them. Thankfully this mindset is mistaken. Yes, a few bad motorists may be out to get cyclists. Frequently they seem to be out to get other drivers as well.

I don't think Matthew could be included in this small minority (and I certainly hope you'd agree there), and I don't think Ian is either. Given that *some* motorists behave that way, and you can't tell by looking which ones, it's often prudent to behave when cycling as if that were true though.

Cars (and vans and lorries) who cut up cyclists are just as likely to cut up other larger motorised vehicles as well. They generally aren't out to just get a cyclist, they want the whole road to themselves.

Cutting up other vehicles is always bad, and can leave to accidents. Most of the time it doesn't. When you're on a bike it's *fucking* scary though.

I was just coming into work this morning, and coming up to a junction with a left turn lane I followed the bike lane to go straight on up the middle. The bike lane runs out before the bike box at the lights, leaving you just to the left of the white line. As I was approaching the bike box the lights changed, so I pulled slightly over right into the middle of the bike box, because I know that the left-turn lane has an earlier phase in the traffic-light sequence and that cars might need to pass me on the left. And as I did so the car behind me (in the straight-on lane) who had hit the accelerator on amber came hurting past me with 6 inches to spare. I wasn't hurt, but if I'd been trying to pull any further into the straight-on lane I would have been, because he left *no* room for error. I swore in reaction, stood holding my chest as my heart raced, and attempted not to burst into tears and get myself back under control before the lights came round again. That driver probably didn't even realise he did that to me.

You say you don't drive like that, and actually I believe you. But Matthew's original post wasn't aimed at you. It was aimed at making sure that drivers who *aren't* aware of how much space a cyclist needs become aware. And aware all the time when driving, not just aware in an abstract sense if asked about it. Aware even when they're in a hurry and trying to catch the lights. And Matthew made the post because of *several* incidents like the one I had this morning.

When this sort of thing is routine can you see why people coming along and complaining about the behaviour of cyclists and the fact they can cause minor scratches to cars might get someone's back up? The point someone else makes below that they hate to see bad cycling because they're scared of *hurting* the cyclists is much more compelling, even if it's equally irrelevant to Matthew's point.

Regardless of the behaviour of anyone and everyone else involved Rule #163 is still important, and it's still something that a lot more drivers need to be better aware of. And I think even driving *instructors* need to be better aware of it too, given how mine in the past have reacted to the amount of space I give bikes.

is subsequent response just demonstrates that he is nothing more than a militant who appears to like to stir up trouble and hatred. Indeed the type of person who put behind the wheel of a car would probably end up knocking a cyclist off their bike.

You're quite unbelievable! If someone you know gets burgled, do you go round saying "well I don't know why they're so angry, I bet if they had a crowbar they'd break into other people's houses all the time"?