Worth buying to keep for reference for the pictures.
This month he is talking about urban cycling and whilst he does not actually use the acronym COAST in the piece - it's still within the body of his advice
Actually - posted this myself back in Oct 05 -ish when Paul opened this forum dedicated to cycling issues.
Richard Peace writes almost identically
Richard Peace in C+ wrote:
You should alwasy be alert and always have your thumbs hooked over the bars and covering the brakes. Opening dorrs is always a particular hazard so the primary position is often the most useful. , but don't neglect looking inside the vehicle to anticipate someone getting out. Try to predict what the cars will do next - for examply a stationary car may not have its indicators on - but exhaust fumes could tell you that it may pull out and the driver may not have seen you approaching.
Of cycling in bus lanes - the piece points out the obvious: check that you are allowed to ride in them and watch out for passengers. As with cycle lanes - danger arises when re-joining the streams of faster traffic - and again he stresses the need to
look for a gap to move inot and to indicate intentions to the other road users This article reminds cyclists that they are still a vehicle on the road: so the normal rules appley to them as to any other vehicle on the road


By gum - that's a brave man and a braver editor than the last one to publish this

(I think the new editor is making his mark - way to fella!

)
Quote:
The general principles of overtaking apply, Alwasy overtake oin the right, check behind before you pull out, indicate intent, make sure you have adequate space to pull into aftter the overtake ahead and take care not to cause a danger to other traffic during this manoeuvre
A cyclist can undertake in slow moving traffic. But Richard does rightly remind that drivers are more used to overtakes on their right and may not expect something to their left. He suggests undertakes are fine if using the cycle lane or riding up to the ASL lines.
If the cyclist does cycle in secondary and undertakes (I prefer to call it - er "filtering" Richard

if you lurk on 'ere and I think they do given the uproar on their own forum at times

to see what all the fuss is about

) - then this article very correctly reminds all cyclists to be aware of anything which may be turning left into a side street and may not be expecting something to whizz past on their nearside.
I disagree with "
Quote:
a car might suddenly decide to turn left into these side roads
Most folk - believe it or not - do actually use their indicators after all. So be on the look out for amber flashing lights as these do give a clue as to what the driver wants to do and adjust speed accordingly in good time so that you the cyclist can "stop safely and without skidding and going over the bars in the distance you can see to be clear "
Richard very rightly advises
Quote:
Never be tempted to undertake HGVs and buses because their length and high sides mean they really cannot see you - tehy may set off and move left whilst you are passing with disastrous outcomes. CTC have lanched a campaign highlighting how HGVs are involved in most serious cycling accidents for this very reason
He reminds all cyclists that whether overtaking or undertaking - they must be hyper-aware of all possibilities and re-inforces the need to glance inside the car to anticipate what the occupants might do, to be aware of the pedestrian who emerges from between the parked cars
Very importantly this pieces says

Quote:
If in doubt do not proceed You do not have an automatic right to pass stationary traffic, so only do so if you have sufficient space. Always be aware as you pass these cars that one might just set off and if in a traffic jam - be aware that this traffic can disperse as quickly as it jammed up Keep any eye on what is happening up at your limit point and be ready to move with assertive smoothness into the flow of traffic when it speeds up
The article concludes with advice as to how to avoid "getting cut up"
This occurs when traffic changes lanes or wants to turn left or even right.
You have three options:
1. Emergency stop (and on two wheels you lose traction and grip on the road - and can come off the bike with some force and gravel rash.

2.
acelerate out of danger
3. Change direction.
Well of the first one - Richard reminds us that a bike's brakes are not as good as that of the car's but accepts that this would be a learned response arising from car driving

( He would appear then to agree that a driver's natural reaction to a hazard is always to slow the car down

)
For an emergency stop on a bike - you have to make sure your weight is low down and as far back as possible to aid balance and back wheel traction - You pull both brakes firmly - but not so hard on the front one as you want to avoid a wheel lock.

As with any wheel lock should this occur - take the pressure off the brakes and re-apply to avoid a skid.
He reckons "accelerating away from the danger is probably the teh most useful tactic when avoiding a side impact on - say - a roundabout or side road junction,.
A change of direction to steer away from the pothole or to make a quick left to stay on he inside of the vehicle cutting you up from the left. Requires sharp reactions though
Quote:
to momentarily turn the bars right but lean your weight to the left and then turn the bars left to follow your bodyweight.

and well done to C+ for this very useful series.
The mag is worth buying for this piece and the useful information on the TOUR events along the London-Canterbury route.