Boy is that van really managed to keep up with slow moving traffic by bullying part the cyclist.
If a cyclist is going to take the lane (and we have every right to) it’s very dangerous to leave any room for drivers to pass because they inevitably try this sort of shit.
Ride out into the middle of the lane. Make them recognise you as someone taking the lane. They’ll still want to kill you for daring to be a cyclist, but they won’t want to damage their car.
I watched the video. Clearly the van is in the wrong.
Two points though:
-
Laws are different everywhere for cyclists. Everybody should know those rules in their jurisdiction, drivers and cyclists. Where I live you can take the lane but you still can be passed by vehicular traffic and you’re obligated to use a bike lane if available.
-
Being in the “right” isn’t a magical shield, always ride like everyone else on the road is trying to kill you. Better to end a ride in one piece than to end up dead or injured proving you were in the right.
-
Isn’t it a law in the UK that if there’s a bike lane going in your direction you’re obligated to use it?
At least that’s how it is in some other countries.
No, it’s not.
There’s no legal requirement, just as there’s also no legal requirement for drivers not to park in cycle lanes (unless there’s also double yellow lines), which renders most non-segregated cycle lanes more dangerous to use than not.
Well looking at that still image, it appears that that cycle lane is of a decent size and has double yellows. Looks like the safest place for a cyclist to be in that case as it allows people to pass safely. If I saw someone cycling out of the cycle lane in that situation I’d think they’re being foolish. Taking a greater risk than necessary and causing an obstruction.
Is someone not being in the cycle lane an excuse for road rage? Of course not. There’s no excuse for road rage.
It is not - but it should be.
Learn to share the road, mate. England’s not that big, you can slow down and get where you’re going with plenty of time to spare.
Being angry at a cyclist for not using a cycle lane is like basing angry for a blue badge user not parking in a disabled bay. It’s an extra provision, not a requirement to be used. There’s any number of reasons why it might not be safe to be riding in the cycle lane, the large number of bikes already being there in the clip are a perfect example.
“he should have been in the cycle lane”
No. He should have had a backwards facing lance, attached to the frame.
The only way they avoid you, is if they have something to lose by not doing so.
