... to challenge road users who drive badly

[Bennifer]

I cycle a lot around the town I live in.

On the way to work today, I come up to a junction and want to turn left. There's a car in the advance box, not signalling, so I pull to the side of the car. As the lights change, I go off, and the driver starts signalling to go left. By being over the line, and not indicating, she's causing a hazard. The driver overtakes me, and we meet at the next junction, again, they're past the line, not indicating. This time I hang behind them, thinking they may turn left. Lo and behold, as the light changes, they go to turn left.

I was sorely tempted to cycle on, tap on their window and explain how badly she was driving, but I thought better off it. As I cyclist, you're "outside" in a way that drivers aren't. Would I have been unreasonable to have explained to her the way she drove put people at risk.

PS: The point isn't to be a car v. cyclist thread, it's just that cyclists being outside are often freer to speak to other motorists.

Emmmm I think you shouldn't have pulled up beside her, aren't you supposed to be behind her?

I was past the Advanced Stop line. It was more she was supposed to be behind me!

The point isn't to be a car v. cyclist thread

This is what will happen anyway though.

There are a lot of drivers who need to invest in a pair of indicators. I muttered this on my drive to work this morning.

I also followed a mother and child cycling (in my car) who didn't look behind her once, not even when she was turning right and had to cut across me.

I wouldn't say anything. I cycle a lot too, but most people don't react well to being told they're morons. Which she clearly is, I hate when cars do that. It's dangerous for pedestrians too! But on your bike you're very vulnerable and if she just moves her car a tiny bit you could get hit. And whether it's an accident or not, you're still hurt or dead.

As a pedestrian it annoys the hell out of me that drivers are too lazy to indicate.

A lot of car drivers don't signal at all at roundabouts. Ok, sometimes you might be a bit lost or something but I think a lot of people don't actually know how to indicate properly.

I wouldn't try to confront a motorist verbally, you're just too vulnerable to road ragers.

My brother's solution to the hazards of cycling in London was to have a bloody big horn on his bike so that idiots could be made aware of his presence.

Oooo it annoys me when motorists are going straight on at a roundabout and indicate left. Especially when there is no left turn!

For the safety of everyone concerned I refrain myself daily from commenting (too loudly or boldly) to the numerous cyclists who cycle through intersections/pedestrian crossings while babies, toddlers and old people are crossing.

I did ask a fully grown 6 foot man to stop cycling on a busy footpath in Kensington last weekend. he shot me a filthy look, muttered something rude but obliged. I was validated very clearly by the next few people to walk past us on quite narrow path (in other direction) - an old lady on crutches, Dad carrying toddler & pushing baby in buggy & 2 elderly ladies.

I'd say pick your battles wisely and don't expect a warm response.

Drivers who don't indicate are one of my pet peeves (but they are well behind cyclists who don't obey road rules or who cycle on footpaths).

Feel free to correct me if im wrong, but the ASL was introduced to stop left turning drivers from wiping out cyclists who had filtered on the inside. If someone ignores an ASL I'd either stop behind them or filter in front of the ASL. Probably wouldn't bother saying anything.

Well, it's fair enough to indicate left if they are going off at the first exit, even if the first exit is straight on rather than actually left. Lots of people indicate right for an exit past "12 o clock" - fine - but then they don't indicate again left as they approach the exit - v important when there are lots of exits!

It is also extremely rare to see a cyclist signalling a turn these days. I almost feel odd now when I do it (from habit) - no one else does.

inabeautifulplace, you're right, and the second time, having suspected a pattern I did stay behind.

Corgi, I'll try not to get into the whole motorists v cyclists thing!

Corgi - maybe because too many car drivers drive too close to risk a slight wobble which signalling can produce if you're going slowly?

Grimma, you've done it now!

Or, too many potholes and dog poos to negotiate one-handed?

The roundabout I have in mind is a particular one that has two exits, one straight one right. There is no need to indicate left. And if there's a left turn before your straight on exit you shouldn't proceed onto the roundabout indicating left!

"then they don't indicate again left as they approach the exit"

I do!

I cycle every day, to and from work but can only signal when it is safe to - steering the bike safely esp when slowing down for junctions becomes a bit of a priority, but where it's safe I always do.

I have two junctions where I am going straight on and there is a danger that car drivers will over take me and turn left, so mowing me down. When they do flash infront of me there is usually no indicator blinknig I'm afraid.

I have in the past tried to engage drivers in a conversation, but they generally like to keep their windows up, ime

the right hand signal gets a bit redundant in view of positioning yourself in the road to manage a right turn. Even the dimmest of car drivers could be expected to interpret your intent properly.

I tried to chase after a motorist who overtook me between me and a pedestrian island with about 3 inches to spare. Got up to almost 30mph (not for long!) but he still made his escape.

Lots of motorists drive to save five seconds but putting lives at real risk, overtaking on blind bends etc. Had a word with one driver who did this, right before a red traffic light too, he didn't say a word, but I think he was cacking himself because he was a delivery driver and I could have got him trouble with his employers had I reported him to them.

Lots of bad cyclists too, but the risk is not the same.

If turning left and cars are likely to be going the same way it's a bad idea for a cyclist to indicate as it just encourages some twat to try and cut you up going round the corner. Turning right it's always good to indicate however.

As a car driver i totally agree about other drivers not indicating. Just yesterday i was in the left hand lane to pull onto a roundabout (going straight ahead) there was a car in the right hand lane which i was assuming was turning right...but no they decided to go straight ahead which made me slam (well not slam as i was going about 15mph but press firmly) the brakes so as not to go into them. I was too busy correcting my steering wheel to honk but i wanted to...idiots.

OP - could she see you?

What about the part where you suddenly swing across the front of the car to position yourself in the road?

Before you do that is when you should indicate.

me, cock? I don't suddenly swing across anywhere.