IAM urges cyclists to "claim their lane"

NickinBath mus be rich with all those golden rules!

Good tips, although I should point out that I have started to move into the 'primary' position approaching junctions, and just seem to get drivers pulling out to zoom past then pull back in right in front of me at the red light. This doesn't seem to be particular types of driver either.

The long term good thing about 10 year olds being taught how to cycle this way and why is that when they learn to drive they may well be more respectful

The Bikeability training given to 10 year olds at schools firmly touts this way of riding, and is very much in line with the Cycle Craft book that aims to promote assertive riding.

Hopefully this should mean future generations of cyclists will be taking up a more dominant position on the road, and will see the end of kerb hugging and riding around the outside edge of roundabouts!

I wish more of us cyclists were this way in thinking. It might then help bridge the gap between drivers and cyclists.

Good article, and very well written comment from NickInBath. Good advice! I wish more of us cyclists were this way in thinking. It might then help bridge the gap between drivers and cyclists.

Inr wrote:

Quote:

Taking primary position (in the middle of a normal lane) for junctions and round parked cars is pretty sensible. It's not really very new advice though, is it?

No, but it's the fact that the IAM are saying it.

What road users hate is dithering - sort of going but not quite having the courage to actually go - and car drivers (although, interestingly, not usually van or lorry drivers) are as guilty of this as anyone.

My golden rule for cycling survival is to make eye contact where I can. It's surprising how many cyclists (motorists do it as well, by the way) gaze like sheep at the spot midway between the headlights as if by mind-melding with the engine they can make it slow down.

As you approach a junction, looking over your shoulder and fixing your chosen windscreen with a laser-like look (think Lance Armstrong) does the job mostly. I have a hand-signal that turns into a thumbs-up move. By personalising the transaction, you will wake the driver up to the fact that it's a human in front of them and not a metal box.

My other golden rule is always to ride at a metre away from the kerb or parked cars when the traffic is capable of going faster than me and as soon as I sense that the traffic is cruising at my speed (or ought to be slowing to my speed, like approaching a junction) I take the lane. I also take the lane when I judge that an overtaking driver will put me in trouble. Thus, I get very few of those irritating "overtake and pull in" manoeuvres although I am always alert to the nutters who aren't going to take any messing from no goddam cyclist but you can usually spot them from the engine sound or the usual vehicle cliches (plain white vans, road reps in BMW318s, Imprezza Turbos with purple tinted glass, 306s with body kit etc etc)

By the way, my wife was convinced that this worked because I am a beefy six-foot bloke. However, as her confidence on a bike has grown, she is working her way through traffic with the best of them. I think any driver stupid enough to bully a girl on a bike is probably stupid enough to do the same to a big bloke so best avoided.

And speaking of which, my absolute and final golden rule is to avoid confrontation at all costs - all that shouting and yelling is completely counter productive. If you are lucky enough to see the driver again that's made a stupid mistake the raised-eyebrow smile that says "you t**t" speaks more eloquently than any abuse you can throw and I can honestly say that in nine out of the ten situations this has arisen in oooooh thirty years I have got a sheepish wave from the driver.

We're all just people, people.

I like the subtle wording of the last point..
“Remember it is not always sensible or appropriate to take the centre of the lane especially if traffic is heavy.”

I.e. this is where you have the distinct advantage of being able to overtake queuing/slow moving traffic

I note that when the IAM are advising you to stay by the kerb they explicitly mention secondary position: which I would normally consider to be about a metre out. You should almost never be riding any closer than this. 0.5m is a bit close in my opinion, so they're a bit contradictory there.

Taking primary position (in the middle of a normal lane) for junctions and round parked cars is pretty sensible. It's not really very new advice though, is it?

Much as I liked the Cycle Lane Fail pic I've switched it for one with a more representative cyclist in it + I like the pattern on that bus, can't think why

These are advice that makes a huge impact.
Well done on writing up on something truely worthwhile.

Staying at the kerbside means you get run off the road.

The trick BMX in the pic doesn't look like it has brakes and technically shouldn't be on the road.

I agree, thats what we teach youngsters to do and adults for that matter...we need to educate drivers to expect it though.

There's no debate about it as far as I'm concerned. Assertive lane-claiming is the only way to go.