BBC News wrote:
This means that if the lorry turns left, the driver cannot see the cyclist as the vehicle cuts across the bike's path.
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I absolutely agree that this is fascinating, and I think I might understand it a bit.
When I cycled in London, I was confident and when passing stopped traffic was extremely careful and made carefully well thought out predictive judgments especially. This was particularly true of things about to happen and I'd ride accordingly. Many riders were good and bad from my view.
Many riders might wait behind a lorry which I thought was less safe as I could pull away at lights much more easily and I would always choose positions for the best get away and if possible good positioning to be seen as I waited and IF I wasn't sure a lorry could see me then I'd WAIT for him to pull out and turn if that was the sensible thing to do.
The article forgets how easy it is to stop on a bike and if you have a 26T or 40T or even big van going left one of your priorities is to ensure they have the road and you are second.
Women are prone to hesitating and being less confident and so less predictable. They often don't 'command' presence, they submit to others actions and in doing so make them selves less assertive and more vulnerable.
They need to learn how to understand the road and all manner of vehicles and how to ride sensibly and confidently.
I stay as close to the side of the road as I can often using the double yel lines as a cycle track to stay between - although avoiding the gully's maybe necessary at times. (And with less traffic a position outside of the DYL can be taken.)
It is not only about spacial awareness but also general vehicle movements and actions, other perspectives and predictabilities, so by (again) obtaining a greater knowledge, and improving skills and abilities anyone can improve. But I would also add to this assertiveness and road awareness especially positioning. If I was going R at the articles lorry example then (if lorry indicating R) be on his left. (Why have they got a cyclist's position behind the lorry - even as if that had been their path!)
If the lorry is not moving then going up the front and 'ready to go' (Correct gear / clear path / checking lights cycles as you approach from 'way' back to learn the timings etc) on the left hand side keep you away from the main traffic flow.
I think to be up front and on the right is wrong and makes other traffic un-necessarily wait for you when the light turn green. You would then cross their path to turn right. Teach that system for small roads and on the big important one's the cyclists are then in real danger and have (by this action) think they hold more importance than other road users, and that is not a good idea. perhaps this is why we are seeing and increase in cyclists pulling out across other traffic paths - it has 'become' normal and expected that all have to wait for you - awful and as is prooving - deadly!
I like the idea of women getting into lorry's to obtain other perspectives, that's great.