http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Left Hook, swearing and resolution en Wed, 13 May 2026 03:31:25 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110803 Fri, 17 May 2013 08:42:40 +0000 Instography 110803@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I sometimes use a variation of the right turn signal with my arm low, palm towards the driver. More of a "stay where you are. I can see something you can't" signal than a right turn. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110793 Fri, 17 May 2013 07:37:50 +0000 gembo 110793@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@559 I also indicate I am turning right at the WAP junction. A very badly laid out junction where turning left onto the WAP is like going straight on and going straight on is like turning right. Shoulder check, indicate turning right, adopt primary for turning right and continue on, usually works. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110792 Fri, 17 May 2013 07:30:56 +0000 Dave 110792@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Simply indicate that you're going to turn right, even if you are going straight on. That should discourage overtaking, but may encourage undertaking, depending on the situation...</em></p> <p>This would be my advice too. People are inherently less likely to overtake something indicating right, regardless of its road position (but especially if it's not in the gutter).</p> <p>It's irrelevant whether you turn right or not. The worst that will happen is someone's nose will be put out of joint because they failed to cut you up when they had the chance.</p> <p>I often use deceptive signals to get my own way, for instance signalling right when the road narrows on the QBC at the pinch point just north of Summerhall. </p> <p>Ultimately I figure a safety signal that prevents an extremely expensive (and possibly injurious) crash is worth making, even if it's not actually the correct signal. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110790 Fri, 17 May 2013 00:16:58 +0000 Instography 110790@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If it's common for most cars to turn left then I'd be in the right turn position to go straight on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110786 Thu, 16 May 2013 22:51:58 +0000 559 110786@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Agree absolutely totally that we shouldn't have to signal for going straight on, but if its a choice between some sort of signal and becoming embedded in a vehicle !</p> <p>When heading east on Dundee Street, at the Approach road slip, I always do a kind of half right signal and look round, so far it has worked, when I remember. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110777 Thu, 16 May 2013 21:54:44 +0000 Focus 110777@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I approach all roundabouts as if I am in a car. "</p> <p>You mean too fast and probably in the wrong lane? ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110740 Thu, 16 May 2013 16:40:42 +0000 AKen 110740@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I do the same. I even make the noises. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110712 Thu, 16 May 2013 13:08:19 +0000 Bruce 110712@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I approach all roundabouts as if I am in a car. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110704 Thu, 16 May 2013 12:50:59 +0000 Min 110704@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Why on earth should we have to signal if we are going straight on? It is totally ridiculous. Drivers have no right to mow someone down just to turn left. Is turning left over a cyclist who is also turning left any less dangerous? No. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110703 Thu, 16 May 2013 12:49:42 +0000 PS 110703@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Deploying the "long hard look over the right shoulder" might work in place of a "going straight-on" signal? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110700 Thu, 16 May 2013 12:37:40 +0000 neddie 110700@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>this is why i wish there was a 'i'm going straight on' signal</em></p> <p>Simply indicate that you're going to turn right, even if you are going straight on. That should discourage overtaking, but may encourage undertaking, depending on the situation...</p> <p>[Edit] <em>Of course, taking one hand off the handlebars sometimes doesn't help in these situations, esp. if the road surface is poor.</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110698 Thu, 16 May 2013 12:16:54 +0000 Min 110698@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>So, what do I take from this? That left hooks are scary, and that bad road design puts cars in a position where they're forced to choose between overtaking a slower road user, and maybe cutting them up if they mis-time it, or hanging back and waiting. </em></p> <p>What is the problem with hanging back and waiting?</p> <p>The thing I always take from these events is that it is fine for a driver to almost kill you but it is never fine for you to get angry about it. </p> <p>They have a fundamental and absolute right to get to where they are going 0.2 sec faster and you have no right to life. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110692 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:52:56 +0000 Coxy 110692@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That was for the friendly neighbourhood bobby directing traffic, wasn't it? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110685 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:04:06 +0000 Blueth 110685@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There is actually an "I intend to go straight on" signal but it's meant to inform those to the front rather than behind and would probably not be recognised by anyone anyway. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110683 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:00:42 +0000 Coxy 110683@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm not that keen on that roundabout either. I keep the primary line on that one.</p> <p>Worse, I think, is the junction and gateway at Telferton further up. Drivers assume they have right of way, even though cyclists are going straight on to the shared path. They either pull out through the give way lines into the estate, or pull out of the estate gates without giving way. If there something coming, I always get ready to stop. Normally they're trucks too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110682 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:58:41 +0000 SRD 110682@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>this is why i wish there was a 'i'm going straight on' signal :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10188#post-110681 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:53:04 +0000 bdellar 110681@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was cycling up Fishwive's Causeway from Porty High Street this morning, heading for the crossing over the Harry Lauder Road. I try and avoid this route normally, because what often happens is what happened this morning. A car behind me wants to turn left at the first roundabout, so they accelerate, just make it past me or alongside me, slam the brakes on, and turn left without indicating. I would normally go straight over the roundabout. </p> <p>This morning's one caught me a bit by surprise, and I came pretty close to going under the car. I slammed the brakes on and shouted/screamed at the car, as it drove off. I paused for breath, then went to see if they'd stopped in the industrial estate there. They had, and the driver was just getting out. </p> <p>I was shook up, scared and angry, so I probably didn't come over as politely and civilly as I meant to. She was, I suspect, a bit guilty and defensive, and caught off guard, so the conversation did not go well. She insisted she'd seen me (which I didn't doubt) and that she'd left me plenty of room (which I did doubt). She apparently assumed I'd turn left as well, because the road straight ahead is a dead end (it is for cars, not for bikes). </p> <p>She brought up the fact that lots of cyclists ride dangerously on pavements when I accused her of driving dangerously. That didn't really help me calm down.</p> <p>I said she'd knowingly nearly run me over, and she called me a f*ck*ng arsehole. </p> <p>At that point I got my phone out and started videoing, and I think that helped to calm things down. </p> <p>She explained that she had genuinely thought she had space to get safely past me, and was very sorry if she'd scared me. I accepted her apology, and apologised for the bad way the conversation had started. </p> <p>And then I carried on with my journey to work.</p> <p>So, what do I take from this? That left hooks are scary, and that bad road design puts cars in a position where they're forced to choose between overtaking a slower road user, and maybe cutting them up if they mis-time it, or hanging back and waiting. I've been there in a car myself, and I understand the decision that needs to be made.</p> <p>A fun start to the day.</p> <p>See you all on Sunday at POP! </p>