Although I don't buy into the "many shall be punished for the sins of the one" attitude, I do empathise with other safety advocates when we witness cyclists doing silly things on the road.
Today I had the pleasure (?) of a cyclist in a right filter lane deciding they wanted to be in the left filter while trying to overtake me... with a novel twist:
I wouldn't generally go in for the name and shame, but in this case I felt I had to stand by my offer.
If you're stuck at work without YouTube, the setting is Leith St to North Bridge (southbound), the highlights:
- I reach the ASL by passing a vehicle in the right filter lane, no indicators.
- when the light goes green, I have to palm off the bodywork of the car as the driver tries to force his way into the left filter lane
- what I would consider a fair swap of my snot glove over his paint VS nearly knocking me off takes a turn for the worst when he then lays into the horn
- we have a polite tiff in which the main line of defence seems to be "it's OK that I drove into you because I normally cycle" and "people like you are the problem" (which I found really bizarre. What sort of person did he think I was when he drove into me from behind? Instant judge of character based on brand of dynamo rear light?)
- he then drives into the cycle safety box at the top of the Royal Mile, again in the right-turn-only lane, no indicators (and goes straight on, cutting across the taxi in the straight on lane)
I've often said that you just get people who pose a danger on the roads and the manner of transport they use is quite secondary - perhaps this is a good illustration.
Assuming the "I cycle" defence wasn't complete BS, I'll be interested to see this chap on two wheels. Might make interesting video.
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