Safe Speed Forums

That's indeed exactly what the animation shows: regardless of hazards or traffic.

It's a law I break every day.

Ah right, that's the middle of the lane is it? With your eyes maybe!

Whoops, I beg your pardon... It was only 44.5% into the lane!

(pavement edge to first line = 119 pixels; pavement edge to middle of bike = 53 pixels)
What were others saying about nit-picking?

Yes, I rather thought that might be the attitude. Here's how I see it; of course the safety of all is the top priority on the roads, but while we might be well advised, as more vulnerable road users, to assume that all other road users are going to do the stupidest thing imaginable, that does not give us the right to go around treating them like idiots. By this I mean that the responsibility for our own safety is first and foremost our own, and our actions to defend again the possible shortcomings of others should be ours and ours alone as well, by which I mean that we should not be going around trying to impose ourselves on others, especially as more vulnerable road users.

You say that obstructing those behind you is the only way to defend yourself. I put it to you that this is far from the truth, and suggest that we try to avoid this attitude that we are entitled to put others out because we are more vulnerable and they have engines. This is not cooperation, this is a confrontational attitude that has no place on the roads. If we are concerned that another road user is likely to make an I'll-advised overtake then we have any number of other options that do not put us at odds with others; we could slow down to allow them to pass before the pinch-point, or we could stop completely if the danger is that great, cycle lanes are also an option, particularly if they are separate from the main carriageway, we could even speed up to clear the pinch-point more quickly, if our legs allow. I would suggest that pulling out to block other road users whilst we continue along in exactly the manner we desire, purely based on our own perception of what is safest, is in fact the most selfish of options, and taken only for our own convenience, so we don't have to significantly alter our own speed or direction.

If not: are you happy to make the clear distinction between 44.5% across and 50.0% across, where the latter is "middle" (obviously) and the former most definitely isn't by any reasonable definition?

Jesus Christ Weepej! I break the law too, although in a different area

So that makes us the same after all then. And you know what? It's a very big club

We are decent people who are not harming anyone but when the law is an ass....

Maybe we have just been two faces of the same coin all these years; so close but never seeing eye to eye.

Best wishes bud

Tone

...we have any number of other options that do not put us at odds with others; we could slow down to allow them to pass before the pinch-point, or we could stop completely if the danger is that great, cycle lanes are also an option, particularly if they are separate from the main carriageway, we could even speed up to clear the pinch-point more quickly, if our legs allow...

) who pop across a line, but don't continue across the junction are not.

...we have any number of other options that do not put us at odds with others; we could slow down to allow them to pass before the pinch-point, or we could stop completely if the danger is that great, cycle lanes are also an option, particularly if they are separate from the main carriageway, we could even speed up to clear the pinch-point more quickly, if our legs allow...

So let's be clear, you are saying that when we intentionally impede other road users behind us as a means to prevent them from potentially doing something which might increase our perceived danger to ourselves we have indeed failed in our attempts to practice good roadcraft, and are merely doing so for our own convenience and perception of safety, there being other options which protect us just as well or better without putting us at odds with others?

I admit I haven't read your blog, tldr I'm afraid dear chap, we are discussing one specific issue here, I'm sure you could be a good fellow and answer yes or no, no?