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Quote: WoodyJNR

maybe hogging the right part of the lane could be considered "stupid riding" kenzo....hmmmm

Do YOU hog/drift/ride in the right part of the lane if your turning right a coupla hundred metres away?

WoodyJNR

Yes - it would be stupid to hog the right lane so no I do not hog the right part of the lane - but I will move to the right of the lane if I believe there is sufficient space for other vehicles to move safely around me and I am going to turn right within the next 50 metres. I do this on Creek St in the CBD between Elizabeth and Queen Sts.

Had enough of trying to 'get' X and gunning for me now?

I started off by not being a lemming and patting X on the back for a job well done, and pointing out that I thought his riding was antagonistic to the situation and wasnt doing anything positive for the cause he claims as his holy quest. You guys jump in (almost instantly everytime I post) to his defense and either make random comparisons to the situation which have no relevance ("what if he was a car?" - well what if he was a ***ing zeppelin, I mean seriously) or trying to diffuse my seemingly valid opinion by attempting to discredit it by making a really vague connection to why I started this thread, and keep pointing to the driver and crying foul; which was never part of my criticism at all.

I think you guys (X's fanboys) are taking it all too personally, and are getting on your high horses a bit. You keep blasting the "everyone has an opinion" rhetoric, but when someone voices it, you make damn sure you ram yours down their throats over and over again.

Honestly, I couldnt give 2 ***s what X does with his own life. He's a big boy and makes his own decisions. It has absolutely no impact on my life whatsoever. But as Ive said before, I think there needs to be discussions about things like attitudes, laws, rules, survival and courtesy when riding in traffic etc - or you'll see kids end up under black mazdas all too often.

I stand by my opinion that he was riding antagonistically, trying to bait a situation that he got. If he'd stayed left until closer to where he wanted to get onto the footpath, then he could have crossed safely, without putting himself into the middle of the lane of a busy road. But, he feels its his right to ride like that, so I say good luck to him, and those who follow him. See you on the news.

Blue laser = black mazda. ive been modelling a blue laser in 3d all day... its burnt into my retinas.

Quote: X

I did type a response, session timed out, couldn't be bothered retyping it, suffice to say that funny how I was now hundreds of metres away from turning right, the driver was wondering what the cylist was doing all over the road when they were clearly signalling a right turn with their arm out. also wondering how many people here who drive cars know that there is a brake pedal and you are allowed to use it, particularly when you are "confused" about what is happening, or is the acclerator the only option?

You made a bad decision (in my, and going by my inbox, alot of other peoples opinions), and the car driver made a really bad decision. If your life is worth a few crazy videos and the feeling of being vindicated as you leave the local bacon shop - then good for you. I have better things to live for.

Dont remember saying you were baiting drivers, just the situation. There were a million safer and more courteous ways to cross that road, and you chose to do what you did, and what happened in the video was the result of some bad decisions all round, in my opinion. We all make them occasionally. Thing being, you're going to be the one paying for those bad decisions if it all goes awry; and all its succeeded in doing is making 1 driver hate cyclists more than before.

2 things I wanted to see in your rear-facing footage was 1. your distance from the black mazda when you decided to drift across the lane to see just how much courtesy/reaction time you gave them and 2. if there was another rider continuing straight ahead near/drafting you possibly a> making the driver think you're riding mates and youre just drifting and was potentially expecting you to snap out of it and get back in the bike lane or b> making it just as dangerous to pass on the left of you - either way, the car driver made the bad decision to overtake dangerously - but I wonder about the level of confusion, and wether your decision to do what you did, when you did added to it.

Ive had a driver pull up next to me and nicely say that he didnt see me hand signalling to turn until the last moment, because it wasnt a blinking light, like he was used to - and a human arm with a black glove on it isnt exactly attention grabbing when competing with other road signs/lights/cars/junk that drivers attention is drawn to. Sure, legally it falls under "undue care and attention" but thats little consolation when Im ***ing through a tube and being fed pureed carrot through a straw in hospital.

Unsure what some other dudes experience on another forum has to do with you, but again, if you think that fighting arrogance with arrogance is going to help anything - then good luck with that. I just hope that if you end up getting hit, that it was worth it; and that your wife/girlfriend/children/parents/family/dog/goldfish feel its worth it as well.

well Ky, then this guy had no excuse for not knowing what was hapening, I use these:

http://www.safeturn.com/

sort of takes the confusion out of the equation doesn't it. makes it real clear what the cyclist is doing, but any excuse for the driver to be dangerous and ignorant of road laws is OK. Oh and any reason for a driver to be a cyclist hater including their own ignorance is OK as well. as I stated some people don't need reasons, they just hate anyway.

I have had a look for for the other footage, as I suspected I have deleted it from the computer. I had to clear out a lot of files o make room on the PC as a media outlet has asked for video files from me of different commute routes of interest for Bike Week. collating these files in the limited space I have has been a nightmare.

Quote: X

well Ky, then this guy had no excuse for not knowing what was hapening, I use these:

http://www.safeturn.com/

sort of takes the confusion out of the equation doesn't it. makes it real clear what the cyclist is doing, but any excuse for the driver to be dangerous and ignorant of road laws is OK. Oh and any reason for a driver to be a cyclist hater including their own ignorance is OK as well. as I stated some people don't need reasons, they just hate anyway.

I have had a look for for the other footage, as I suspected I have deleted it from the computer. I had to clear out a lot of files o make room on the PC as a media outlet has asked for video files from me of different commute routes of interest for Bike Week. collating these files in the limited space I have has been a nightmare.

Well thats great. Good for you! That sure limits one part of the equation. One million to go.

I still say you have a bad attitude (clearly demonstrated here). So, good luck to you.

My original reason for getting a helmet cam was because I had a few genuine close scary calls (mainly because of where I was riding, which I now have alternatives for) and wanted something for legal standings later if I got hit - not riding with an attitude that baited situations like yours, then running to the cops and my mates to dob with just enough video to frame someone else.

Sure, your video shows a close call - but if you STILL feel you didnt do absolutely anything wrong, or contribute to the situation, then whatever. Your holier-than-thou attitude, and gaggle of fanboys are a waste of time to even bother offering an opinion to, which pretty much negates this as a public forum.

Im heartened to say all the emails Ive gotten since voicing my opposing opinion here has me glad to hear that not everyone has your attitude to using public paths and roads, because you are doing nothing for "our cause", and everything to propogate a bad view of riders using public roads and paths.

You're no better than them, you just ride a bike instead.

Quote: Ky

Im heartened to say all the emails Ive gotten since voicing my opposing opinion

Even Charles Manson got 'fan-mail'. It doesn't make you wrong or right, it's an opinion which others support.

I agree - the moving to the right will have added to the situation which occurred.

It is wrong to say the move was antagonistic or arrogant. The move was safe. The move was planned. The move was legal.

The problem comes back to the driver. Your problem with the move comes back to your problem with safety - issues of safety caused by - bad drivers.

[MOD]

After allowing people time to gather their thoughts on this thread and stop the childish 'name calling', this thread has been re-opened..

[MOD]

Can I make a lame politician-esque statement?

If we as cyclists can't agree on the right maneuvre in hindsight with video analysis of the above situations which satisfies legal, safety and courteous requirements, then how is a car supposed to interpret our movements and respond with minimal foresight?

X's videos serve as frequent reminders to me why I avoid the roads almost at any costs, and when I am on the road how damned careful I am because drivers are either idiots and menacing, or innocent but not paying attention.

I can't even remember the details of the video, but one vote for the videos to keep coming. I enjoy seeing these and I'm sure X doesn't mind his riding (as well as the actions of motorists) being critiqued in the hope that any changes, whilst immediately inconvenient, may just get him home a little safer.

One rider can change his ride, but no rider can change every driver.

Doesn't mean we shouldn't try.