Safe Speed Forums

Negotiation Skills

The skill of negotiation is one of the vital “musts” if you decide to commute on your pushbike! We have broached on negotiation and courtesy in the motoring discussions and there is much for all road users to learn and be aware of.

However, this negotiation requires you to integrate with the traffic.

Oh dear…:yikes:. We seem to be touching on an “another thorny thread “ of the past.


Paul’s “ Planning a decisive course of action and working within the traffic around you and being in control of your immediate situation… Yet his views on that particular thread last year are mirrored on page 90 of Cycle Craft and within a Police Officer Training Manual.

Basically, as we have pointed out before – a cyclist is another kind of “driver” as he/she has just as much right to proceed as safely and as quickly as any car or motorbike user. But to do this, all road users must rely on good will and co-operation of other road users

Um- back to COAST which Mad Doc once posted how it slots into Highway Code rule 125 to 129.


C in COAST stands for courtesy and consideration as well as concentration

This consideration does draw together all the three C’s in COAST: we need to establish a co-operation between ourselves and the other road user to make better progress and keep ourselves out of danger. Does not matter if this is on the bike or in the car – this one is the overlap and road share system if you like.

The cyclists though are in a different situation. This chap does not have mirrors and indicators . He has to use his body – if you see him give a look back or even extend his look by a fuller twist – he is telling you something –:yesyes: he needs to change his position to a primary one. COAST drivers of course will have reacted decently – hence why this and not a single-issue focus should be the underpin of road safety policy.

Basically our cyclist has to appeal directly to a driver’s human kindness to let him move to a primary position and into the flow of traffic. (Um – why we like COAST as a safety lecture)

On busy roads – a cyclist just cannot wait patiently at the kerb for a suitable gap in the following traffic – he’d be waiting all day. On the other hand he should still be aware that he has to negotiate with faster moving traffic in the outer lane as they have precedence on their right of way. No road user whether in a car or
On bike should cause another to swerve or brake hard to avoid a collision.

So to negotiate you way …move to the right of your lane in good time (T in COAST) and look behind for a longer than average gap in the following traffic. Basically what we do in our cars only the cyclist has to extend his lifesaver glance by a slightly extended twist of his upper body.


Also the longer gap tells you that the driver may be a COAST driver

Always be aware of motor bikes and lorries – it can be more difficult for these drivers to slow down for your much slower means of transport.


As you spy your gap – and if possible – whilst the first vehicle is still passing – give a right signal and count to three. And start to move out about 2 ft to the left of the outer lane. The driver should be able to work out from this manoeuvre (and spelling it out here for the less experienced amongst us) that the cyclists intends to slip in front of him for some reason – like a right hand turn or to pass parked cars.


However, the onus is now on thy cyclist to decide whether or not the driver is responding to his/her request and he has to make this decision and plan quickly.


Listen carefully to the sound of the engine as well In practice, I am pleased to be able to say that my observations in this area have shown most drivers respond very positively to a very clear and confident negotiation request. And if the cyclist as the driver can manage a courtesy wave without compromising safety – I usually give a big smile if I can.

If you meet the selfish oik – not a lot you can do…other than return to lane and try again

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.