Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => On The Road => Topic started by: JJ on 25 March, 2009, 09:59:43 am

Title: tnaR
Post by: JJ on 25 March, 2009, 09:59:43 am
You there.  Yes you, John T Evans driver, crossing the railway bridge leaving Shelford, and heading for Trumpington in your artic.  Me fighting the headwind on the comedy cycle lane.  You could probably have squeezed through that gap.  It wouldn’t have left much room, but you could just about have made it, and anyway, why should you care?  Instead you chose to hold back, and back, and back until it was really well and truly clear, and then you overtook with more than adequate clearance.  What can I say.  I want to cry. [Edit: Company emailed]

But that’s not all.  Welch’s driver, you could so easily have cut in front of me at the lights by Waitrose.  It wouldn’t have been dangerous, just inconvenient, yet you held back and waited until I was clear before turning left.  That’s it.  I’ve lost control now  :'(
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Wendy on 25 March, 2009, 10:33:02 am
LOL, that's awesome!  I like the way you did the rant backwards and how you wrote this post.

I had an artic driver like this on Monday, I wish I'd got his details as he was exceptionally considerate.  I thanked him at the lights, he was chuffed, but it would have been nice to email his company too.  As David Martin says, the carrot is far more effective than the stick.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Regulator on 25 March, 2009, 10:36:19 am
"tnaR"

As well as being 'Rant' backwards, it could also stand for "this is not a Rant" or "the not a Rant" thread...
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 25 March, 2009, 10:39:06 am
Gah!  I got this this morning as well.  I have to cross a busy road to get onto Figges Marsh.  It acn be a long wait.  This morning,  a car stopped to let me out, and a man in a RAV4 in the other lane only saw me from his position four back in the queue, stopped well back and waved me across with a smile.  How can we maintain the quality and ferocity of the rants when that kind of thing is going on?
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Regulator on 25 March, 2009, 10:42:41 am
I have the same thing in Cambridge.  I'll be turning right off East Road into Adam & Eve Street on my way home and some car will invariably stop and let me turn.

Buggers!
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Julian on 25 March, 2009, 12:11:14 pm
That reminds me, I was going to send an email to the lorry company, one of whose employees sat behind me almost all the way up through the Nasty Industrial Pit of Doom because there wasn't really enough room to over take.  Not that this stops anyone else doing it.  And he gave me a friendly smile and a wave when he finally did overtake.  And let me get ahead at the lights and gave me plenty of time to set off.

The only thing stopping me emailing his company is that, er, his numberplate was missing so I didn't get it.  ::-)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 25 March, 2009, 12:35:03 pm
Makes me wonder if some cyclists drive motor vehicles sometimes.

Nah.  Can't be.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: LEL on 29 March, 2009, 06:14:30 pm
Let us know if you get a reply fromt eh company.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: JJ on 30 March, 2009, 12:24:55 am
I got an email back from the MD and another from the ops director, with the driver's monbile number, so I sent him a text to say thank-you for being nice.

Now while I'm here.  Whoever looks after the A38 round Bristol, we've got by perfectly well for ages with a cycle lane 13 3/4 inches wide, so how come suddenly it's changed to about a yard and a half?  At least it has for the section we used on the Dean.  Now I'm not a fan of cycle lanes or paths, but if we have to have them, wider is definitely better, so hip-hoorah.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: ed_o_brain on 30 March, 2009, 12:32:34 am
:)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Tourist Tony on 31 March, 2009, 09:26:51 am
[Struggles to think of comparable incident. Thinks about Gatwick taxi drivers. Epic fail....]
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 07 April, 2009, 02:47:50 pm
Obvious dodgy driver on Burntwood Lane last night.  I was heading down the cycle lane, and he - in his battered red Civic sporting a sideways baseball cap, all of fourteen or something he looked - wanted to turn left as he pulled alongside me.

Shit!  Anchors on (for it is a speedy descent).  But no.  This was not a left hook.  Teenage Asian driver was smiling and waiting for me to go round the corner safely before executing his move :o

Thank you, anonymous driver, and for the way you were careful not to swing across into the cycle lane as you went through the chicane at Aboyne Road.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Wendy on 09 April, 2009, 02:48:52 pm
Passed by a dark blue sedan last night, with Met Police Safer Neighbourhoods last night, several times.  Beautifully, with exceptional courtesy and care.  The first time was near Camberwell, and the second up Bromley Hill, we were both southbound along the A21.  I wish I'd blipped record on the camera so I'd have his details, as it was so good it deserved a letter of compliments and thanks.  Bet he was surprised that he was travelling at the same speed as a bike though.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: GruB on 09 April, 2009, 04:16:32 pm
Mike Garbutt Transport (MGT) artics have been ace to me for years.
I also appreciate the two coaches I see each morning - we even wave now.
And Rygor Transport of Salisbury - you too are mega brill in your coureous driving around and not over me.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: TheLurker on 09 April, 2009, 04:38:01 pm
Mike Garbutt Transport (MGT) artics have been ace to me for years.
<snip>
Yeah, but everybody in Mkt Lavington is nice. :)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: GruB on 09 April, 2009, 05:55:12 pm
Mike Garbutt Transport (MGT) artics have been ace to me for years.
<snip>
Yeah, but everybody in Mkt Lavington is nice. :)

 ;D
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Wendy on 10 April, 2009, 08:43:34 pm
Passed by a dark blue sedan last night, with Met Police Safer Neighbourhoods last night, several times.  Beautifully, with exceptional courtesy and care.  The first time was near Camberwell, and the second up Bromley Hill, we were both southbound along the A21.  I wish I'd blipped record on the camera so I'd have his details, as it was so good it deserved a letter of compliments and thanks.  Bet he was surprised that he was travelling at the same speed as a bike though.

Turns out this was my mate from a few doors down, who is also a keen cyclist.  We live in keyworker accommodation, so at least half the flats are coppers.  What a surprise!
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: GruB on 10 April, 2009, 08:46:39 pm
Yes, a surprise.  A positive post about the police !!
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: ed_o_brain on 10 April, 2009, 10:55:01 pm
Passed by a dark blue sedan last night, with Met Police Safer Neighbourhoods last night, several times.  Beautifully, with exceptional courtesy and care.  The first time was near Camberwell, and the second up Bromley Hill, we were both southbound along the A21.  I wish I'd blipped record on the camera so I'd have his details, as it was so good it deserved a letter of compliments and thanks.  Bet he was surprised that he was travelling at the same speed as a bike though.

Turns out this was my mate from a few doors down, who is also a keen cyclist.  We live in keyworker accommodation, so at least half the flats are coppers.  What a surprise!

Just goes to show it can be done!

I recall building up a rapport with a coach driver in Telford who used to catch me each day as I was en route to work. It's quite nice knowing someone is watching out for you and overtaking you with care consistently each day.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: GruB on 10 April, 2009, 11:17:47 pm
Passed by a dark blue sedan last night, with Met Police Safer Neighbourhoods last night, several times.  Beautifully, with exceptional courtesy and care.  The first time was near Camberwell, and the second up Bromley Hill, we were both southbound along the A21.  I wish I'd blipped record on the camera so I'd have his details, as it was so good it deserved a letter of compliments and thanks.  Bet he was surprised that he was travelling at the same speed as a bike though.

Turns out this was my mate from a few doors down, who is also a keen cyclist.  We live in keyworker accommodation, so at least half the flats are coppers.  What a surprise!

Just goes to show it can be done!

I recall building up a rapport with a coach driver in Telford who used to catch me each day as I was en route to work. It's quite nice knowing someone is watching out for you and overtaking you with care consistently each day.

I have several coaches in the morning like this. It is a nice feeling.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Wendy on 14 April, 2009, 11:06:09 pm
Had a chap tonight wind down his window and apologise.  This after he almost moved into my lane without looking, and was dissuaded by the airzound.  I could have been a little more defensive in my riding, but I was still impressed that he acknowledged his mistake.

I was a bit naughty though, an American tourist started having a right old rant at a cyclist behind me, so I jumped off and started filming it.  The Merkin was swearing and shouting, spittle flying, and threatening argy bargy.  My naughty bit was egging him on to do it on camera.  Dunno what got into me!!
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Regulator on 15 April, 2009, 06:53:20 am
You're a bad boy, Mikey!  Go to bed without any dessert!




 ;D
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: ed_o_brain on 29 April, 2009, 07:20:00 pm
I was filtering past slow moving traffic which was queuing for the motorway yesterday morning when an entire stream of drivers pulled left one by one so that I could pass them!!!

I thought I was dreaming until unseen pothole brought me back to my senses!
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Wendy on 06 May, 2009, 10:42:25 am
Had a brill ride in last night, a fast one in spite of all the wind, so glad I was on the 'bent!!  I rode with a chap on a ss along much of the A202/A20, we were doing 23-25mph for most of the way having a good chat.

Then had lots of people give me thank yous for helping them to pass me, and had one overly close overtake.  Caught up to that lady at the garage in Biggin Hill and nicely mentioned that perhaps she came a little closer to me than she'd realised.  She gave a lovely apology, but had to mention that apparently "I'm very hard to see".  At least she also had the grace to look extremely sheepish when I said "What, you mean you couldn't see this light", and shone the BLT Fantom into her eyes.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 19 May, 2009, 05:04:47 pm
:-[

Sorry. 

You might have the right to rant at me for being such an idiot, and scaring you, but no harm was done.

You see, that graunching noise as I passed your van in the filter lane up to the ASL reservoir was not anything coming into contact with your vehicle.  No, it was me freewheeling close to the kerb.

Except, you see, you can't freewheel on fixed; the wheels go round but so do the pedals.  And the left crank might catch the kerb.  And it might make a horrid noise.  And I might do this: :-[   In fact, I did.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Butterfly on 20 May, 2009, 10:31:30 am
Hello Mr Big Bus Company driver. Thank you for waiting nicely behind me where the road is narrowed and not hassling me where I chose not to use the unsafe bike lane. And for smiling and waving when I thanked you as you passed with enough space. Could you pass on the techniques to your colleges please. Ta :D.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Wendy on 20 May, 2009, 10:50:58 am
Thanks to Mr Bendy Bus driver on the A202, waiting nicely and then thanking me for letting you pull out.  That and other careful courteous driving along the way, and the nice conversation at the lights.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 20 May, 2009, 11:00:07 am
It's dark, and we're riding along a fairly straightish road, reasonably wide, with cars parked down the side.  Proper boy racer territory.

Ay up.  Here comes one.  Four young lads in an old BMW coming up to a junction on the right.  Fingers over the brake levers, ready for action; arms relaxed but ready to take evasive action. 

Phew.  They waited.  Brace for the screaming overtake before the rapidly approaching pinch point.  Hold the line.  Hold the line.  Hold...on, where are they?  Waiting behind?

It's a trap.  Lulling us.  I won't fall for it.  Stay alert.  And then, suddenly...

...nothing happens.  Again.  So we turn off, and they go on their way.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: JJ on 21 May, 2009, 12:51:22 am
You: Parcel force driver
Me: Barelling down the slope from Newton to Hauxton with two kids in the trailer.   Wanting to turn  right atthe bottom.

I waited for you to hammer past, and I waited for you to squeeze past.  You did neither.  Instead you stooged around a few car lengths back,until after we'd both made the turn, and then passed with all four wheels in the other half of the road.  What's more about 8 cars after you followed your example.  I began to feel quite lonely over on my side.

May all your parcels be light, and every addressee present and ready to take delivery.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Wendy on 05 June, 2009, 02:01:07 pm
Richard Burbidge driver yesterday!  Thanks for your driving as in this video:

YouTube - 20090604 richard burbidge excellent driving (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBwhOTK5AHA)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Julian on 10 June, 2009, 10:15:44 am
That was my first fixed commute, you see, and I had a mental block on fixing in heavy traffic.  So when I saw you pull out of the side road I'm afraid I did bellow at you.  Cos my heart rate had just shifted up to about 300.  You were a bit wide and it looked exactly to me as though you were going straight on (through me) whereas actually you were turning right to pull alongside me, where there was indeed plenty of space.

But when you caught me up at the junction with the A40, it was really good of you to pull up next to me and take the trouble to explain to the lunatic shouty cyclist that you'd seen me back there and that there was no danger.  Especially since you did it with a smile on your face.  And you understood why I'd shouted and you weren't upset, you were just keen to let me know that I'd been mistaken in thinking you'd missed me.  And then we had a lovely chat about bikes before the lights changed. 

Positive interaction.  We haz it.  :D
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 10 June, 2009, 10:19:59 am
If you drive a BMW 6-Series, it is very confusing if you let cyclists out and then drive sensibly behind them, leaving a suitable gap and not trying to overtake in dangerous places.

I can only assume this is not your normal car, and that you have not had the opportunity toi read the manual, especially Section One, where it clearly states:

Quote from: BMW
1.1   Yes, you do own the road.
1.2  You are faster than cyclists, therefore you must do everything you can to pass them

Never mind, I appreciated it this morning :)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 16 July, 2009, 11:05:01 am
Fabric Warehouse, I shall be taking the time to call your manager to complement the exemplary behaviour of one of your drivers yesterday.  It's unlikely that you'll be able to identify who it was, being so close to the depot, but I hope that all of them have the same attitude.

To explain: The busiest part of our commute is London Road/Carshalton Road between Mitcham and Hackbridge.  It's straight, tight, includes a rise over a railway bridge, and has a horrible surface.  After Goat Road, a lot of drivers try to push past, in a stretch where there are pedestrian refuges and parked cars along the edge.  And then we turn right...

But FW's driver hung well back, and waited.  For a long while, but any pressure I felt was generated by me, because the driver was nowehre near me.  He stopped before my turn, but I paused as I entered the next road to memorise the company name. :thumbsup:

Edit: Just called them, and they're pretty sure who it was. Excellent! :D
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 28 July, 2009, 03:09:43 pm
Travis Perkins, what are you doing employing a driver who not only notices that there's someone waiting to pull out but realises where they want to go (it's not a road trucks can go down) and checks to make sure its clear before waving them through?
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: alan on 28 July, 2009, 05:57:18 pm
Several years ago I wrote a complimentary letter to the Transport Manager of a local wholesale dairy relating to the professional manner of one of their driver's.
It seemed to me thereafter that all their drivers behaved similarly when I encountered them (it's a a small world hereabouts:if you kick one,they all limp).
I learned much later that the letter was posted on the drivers  canteen noticeboard & that the drivers were all giving consideration to all local cyclists to thank the right one.
Result :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 28 July, 2009, 06:14:14 pm
City of Edinburgh Council Health & Social Care Department transport section - the behaviour of one of your minibus drivers was so exemplary today that I have emailed you to ask you to thank him. If everyone overtook like that, cyclists would be much cheerier.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Deano on 29 July, 2009, 08:54:13 pm
You in the Sierra!  Don't you dare pull out on me up don't you dare don'tyoudare

Oh.  You didn't.  How good of you.  Have a thumbs-up :thumbsup: This is still Thornaby, isn't it? ;D
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 29 July, 2009, 10:10:15 pm
Serco van in Tooting. 

Didn't do anything especially good.

But it's the first time I've seen a Serco van without it breaking any of the Rules of the Highway Code. :o

Small mercies, I know... :-\
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: fuzzy on 01 September, 2009, 07:02:04 pm
Equetrianarian lady.

Riding your horse down the middle of the 2 lane, 1 in each direction carriageway and holding up all the traffic going the same direction as you was very noble of you. It was you that attracted all the WVM venom in stead of me.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 24 September, 2009, 09:50:47 am
Not a certificate of commendation, but the young Asian lad I saw in his Vectra waiting to pull out onto Balham High Road was such a picture of dejection that I really felt for him.  I'm glad he managed to turn shortly after I passed.  I would have stopped, but I had an idiot in a <deleted for fear of reopening an argument> ovetaking me in a particularly hazardous fashion at the time.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 07 January, 2010, 11:28:12 am
FL58NJJ

I took especial care to remember that number, and I'm pleased I did.

A BOC truck on Balham Hill heading south last night.  It's a fast road for cyclists (pedestrian crossings permitting), even though it's uphill.  There are three pedestrian refuges that create serious pinch points.  And there are an awful lot of motons who think they can barge past in the space, and end up almost squishing a rider.

Well, this BOC driver had the amazing superpower of anticipation.  He looked ahead, saw what was happening, and decide that, yes, 20mph was just fine for the moment, and he would sit behind at a suitable distance, patiently, until there was room to pass.  As soon as there was, I pulled aside & motioned to him to come through.

I caught him a couple more times.  Each time he passed me, it was carefully and with plenty of room.  As it was when he passed another cyclist.

I've just rung BOC.  Sounds like they are frazzled with managing emergency orders at the call centre, so the resignation of 'Yes, I can take a complaint from you' turned to great joy when I let her know it was a compliment.

I suspect that it may have been the driver that delivers to work, but he wouldn't have recognised me, though it helps keep the customer sweet if you don't terrorise them on the road.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: JJ on 13 January, 2010, 10:18:51 am
Cambridge drivers one and all.  May your biscuits have chocolate on this morning.  Yes I know two of you broke my zen, but the rest of you  more than balance that out, and I feel so good that I'll let those two have chocolate as well.

That is all.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: vorsprung on 13 January, 2010, 03:11:22 pm
This is not just an artic, it's an....

Last week in the snow a Marks and Spencers lorry let me turn right across a box junction, halting it's progress

Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: RJ on 23 April, 2010, 12:41:41 pm
Person on the phone at Parcelforce's Embra depot:

Thank you for taking my complaint about one of your drivers seriously.  I hope being "dealt with" unmakes his day ...
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Clare on 11 May, 2010, 04:17:20 pm
Stagecoach 700 Coastliner GX 10 HBA driver.

I realised as I saw your bus moving off it's stand and I could see the entire bus and all your passengers, that the one person I couldn't see was you! I quickly figured that if I couldn't see you, then you probably couldn't see me, so I stopped. You were almost right across my lane before we simultaneously came into each other's view, you looked stunned and gave me a nervous thumbs up, I was glad that the bus actually had a driver, but probably just looked grumpy to you - it was cold and I had a headwind.

Thank you for stopping at the next bus stop to apologise for pulling out on me. When I saw you flagging me down I thought we were going to have a frank exchange of views and I was really not looking forward to that. I know it wasn't done on purpose, I know it was a door pillar issue and I am amazed how long I was invisible for, I am going to reconsider my positioning at the Clarence Pier bus stands now, but thank you for stopping and apologising, i really didn't expect that.


Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Riggers on 12 May, 2010, 02:56:46 pm
I might as well join in and share the email I sent in April to a local bus company, but sadly I've lost the nice reply that was sent back to me.

Dear Sirs,

First time I’ve ever put ‘pen-to-paper’ so to speak, on a matter of congratulating one of your bus drivers for his courteous and considered bus driving last Sunday 25th April.

I was cycling on the coast road from Brighton and approaching the Peacehaven mini-roundabout and became aware of the bus’s approach behind me. The driver held off so I could negotiate it ahead of him, and thereafter gave me a comfortably wide birth when overtaking (we seemed to play some cat and mouse) as I continued to overtake him at bus-stops. He last overtook me at the back end of Seaford.

So please pass on my thanks to whoever was driving that particular bus at around 9:45 Sunday morning in Peacehaven, and I think it’s important that other road users should be aware that courtesy such as he showed me, should not go unrecognised by more vulnerable ones such as myself. I’ve been cycling on and off for around 40 years, so as you can imagine, have seen my fair share of ‘driving skills’ shown ‘out there’.

Anyway, your chap deserves a day off for his considered driving.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: hatler on 27 May, 2010, 10:13:07 am
To Taurus Waste Co - operator of skip lorries.

Quote
I would like to commend the standard of driving displayed by one of your skip lorry drivers yesterday morning. I think the vehicle plate was RJ58 OWU but I could be very wrong !  The vehicle passed me on the road between Hampton and Sunbury Cross and was heading for The George pub just by Kempton Park race course. It was there at 09.10.

I cycle to work every day and am subjected to some very poor examples of driver behaviour, not least of which is the impatient and bullying tactic of driving a few feet behind my rear wheel on sections of the road where there is absolutely no possibility to overtake. One such stretch is through the narrow section at Hampton. Your vehicle followed me through here at a very good distance and never once looked or sounded like he was going to get close. There are two short parts where less considerate drivers will try to overtake, but your driver didn't even give a hint that he might try. Instead he waited until the road widened out, and there was nothing coming the other way before he executed the perfect overtaking manouevre.

I felt compelled to write to you because, sadly, this behaviour is SO far removed from what I regularly see on display from other skip lorry drivers.

I would be most grateful if you could pass my comments on to the driver concerned. He brought a smile to my commute. I hope you have enough information to identify him.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 27 May, 2010, 10:39:15 am
:thumbsup:

Especially good to hear of from a skip lorry. :)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: JJ on 11 October, 2010, 10:03:07 pm
Sainsbury's delivery driver, turning your enormous artic left into Regent Street at the Catholic Church lights in Cambridge.  Well done for correctly interpreting my "Lookout!" and thus not squishing the smartly turned out but unlit lady cyclist who thought coming up the inside of you would be a good plan.

I wasn't terribly coherent, but would have utterly spoiled my evening if you hadn't.  Hers more so.

Thank you
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 October, 2010, 10:39:06 pm
How appropriate to find this thread today, as I have three items to add to it from today's ride.

1. I'm crossing a dual carriageway with two lanes on the side nearest to me and one on the other side. I cross and then wait in the central reservation - just wide enough to stop a bike in. Coming towards me are a car and a lorry, both indicating to turn into the side road I'm heading for - and the car driver slows and indicates clearly with his hand that he is doing so to allow me across in front of him.

2. He overtakes me, leaving the tipper truck behind me. It's a downhill and I reach the heady speed of, ooh, 37km/h. Well, that's not going to satisfy a tipper truck, probably hurrying back for his last load of the day, is it? But the road is twisty and not too wide, he waits a decent distance behind me and only overtakes, with plenty of clearance, when we get to a straight section.

3. Coming back on a secondary road, it's fairly busy and getting towards dusk. Unfortunately I didn't get the number or name on the artic that went right over to the opposite side of the road to overtake me and, more surprisingly, didn't start indicating back in until he was well in front of me and only moved back in after indicating. Why, I do declare the driver even looked in his mirror to see how far ahead of me he'd got! Top chap!
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 October, 2010, 10:22:41 pm
Last Thursday I was riding along a narrow road when I hear a vehicle approaching fast from behind me. There was oncoming traffic and the gap between me and that was just big enough that some drivers would have squeezed through, but this one didn't. I was going slowly, fiddling with my water bottle, so I put it back in the cage, straightened up and tried to look as if I was putting some effort in.  :) When the oncoming vehicles had passed, the car behind me overtook, going right over to the other side of the road to do so.

So far, so normal - but this was a black BMW X5 with blacked-out windows. Sometimes it's good to break stereotypes.  :)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: matthew on 17 November, 2010, 01:03:39 pm
To the driver of the DHL tractor unit with a blue curtain sided trailer on the A30 this morning.

Thank you for your care and attention around me each of the three times you passed me. The first time you gave me loads of room but unfortunately I filtered past at the road works, then you hung well back as I negotiated the round about at Longacres before passing nice and wide again. Unfortunately the Notcutts building site was taking a delivery of Piles which blocked the road and I filtered past again. This time you even acknowledged me in your wing mirror. Finally you passed me one last time, right out into the hatchings of the third lane and were well gone when I reached the top of the hill.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 20 November, 2010, 08:45:46 pm
Rod Filmer Transport

of Shadoxhurst in Kent.

Driver seen on the A24/A3.

I pulled into the ASL and checked behind me to ensure that the driver coming up behind had registered my presence and was going to stop.

He did stop behind the line, made eye contact with me, and checked his mirrors regularly while we were stopped.

He even waited, patiently, for some numpties to complete some pretty marginal filtering manoeuvres before moving off and keeping his distance.

Great piece of driving.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 November, 2010, 04:19:40 pm
I just want to say how impressed I am with the behaviour of Britain's drivers at zebra crossings. They almost all stop as soon as it is evident you intend to cross the road, rather than wait until you are already on the crossing which is all they are obliged to do by law. This is the only place in the world I know of where drivers behave so well.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 April, 2013, 04:33:44 pm
And there's another one. A driver stopped to let us cross the busy road outside school in spite of being able to carry on to the junction a dozen or so metres with a clear road. And not just any driver - a driver of a white Audi TT!
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Basil on 15 April, 2013, 06:15:44 pm
I must have missed this first time round.  Well done for resurrecting a great thread.

Anyway, I'd like to thank the driver(s?) of the number 1 bus who so often seems perfectly happy to sit behind me as I grump up the Col De Priory Road in the morning. 

Thanks mate.  It's really appreciated.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Riggers on 16 April, 2013, 08:16:01 am
Gah!  I got this this morning as well.  I have to cross a busy road to get onto Figges Marsh.  It acn be a long wait.  This morning,  a car stopped to let me out, and a man in a RAV4 in the other lane only saw me from his position four back in the queue, stopped well back and waved me across with a smile.  How can we maintain the quality and ferocity of the rants when that kind of thing is going on?


Saw what you did there. Clearly clever Clarrers.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: fuzzy on 26 April, 2013, 10:21:01 am
You Sir, are a blot on the name of WVM!

How dare you start to pull out from a side road right into my path, see me late and realise you were about to cause me harm as I reached for the brakes, stop suddenly BEFORE causing me to brake, wave and appologise profusely through your open window AND, after I sad, "No,it's OK" reply "Nah, I'm a twat. Sorry!"

Go hang your head in shame.

 ;D
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 26 April, 2013, 01:04:55 pm
I must have missed this first time round.  Well done for resurrecting a great thread.

Anyway, I'd like to thank the driver(s?) of the number 1 bus who so often seems perfectly happy to sit behind me as I grump up the Col De Priory Road in the morning. 

Thanks mate.  It's really appreciated.
Tell the bus company. They'll tell the driver and he'll be happy.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 August, 2013, 04:55:41 pm
Yesterday, riding along a narrow, quiet country lane in woods somewhere west of Malmesbury, a van was approaching me. No other traffic around and the road was wide enough for both of us - but my side of the road was a mess of jagged potholes and fault lines. The other side, strangely, was smooth. The van man could have carried on driving but he realised why I was swerving around the road and pulled over till I had passed.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: tiermat on 22 August, 2013, 01:15:55 pm
I must have missed this first time round.  Well done for resurrecting a great thread.

Anyway, I'd like to thank the driver(s?) of the number 1 bus who so often seems perfectly happy to sit behind me as I grump up the Col De Priory Road in the morning. 

Thanks mate.  It's really appreciated.
Tell the bus company. They'll tell the driver and he'll be happy.

This, in spades, it will be brought up (usually) at his performance review too which, if it gets him a few more shekels in his pay packet will a) make him a really happy bunny and b) make him stay considerate to cyclists...
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 September, 2013, 10:09:25 pm
Two from yesterday. First, a narrow residential street, parked cars all along one side, too narrow for a car to pass a bike at any point. I'm approaching the T junction at the end, which is onto a very steep (but short) hill, when a car comes round the corner - and stops and backs a bit and waves me through.

The second was similar, except that the oncoming white van(!!!) definitely had priority in strict terms as was already in the narrowed (due to parking again) street whereas I was just approaching that section and intended to wait in a gap between cars, but the driver stopped and waved me through. Yes, even WVM goes out of his way to be nice sometimes!
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: hatler on 03 September, 2013, 08:41:48 am
I was approaching a right turn yesterday across two lanes of queuing traffic. Lorry driver in the outside lane stopped, signalled me to cross and then instantly checked his nearside mirror to check there was no-one tearing up the inside. Very cool.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: matthew on 10 September, 2013, 08:46:26 am
Nearly a rant this morning but the driver of the Vaccuume tanker realised what he was about to do and bailed out to the right of the pedestrian island.

Heard him coming, couldn't stop him overtaking and was already hitting the brakes when he suddenly went wider and left me the whole of the left hand lane rather than squash me by coming back to the left.

Here (http://goo.gl/maps/LUabr)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 January, 2014, 11:13:20 am
This morning, a cyclist said "Sorry" to me! And all because when I turned to use the zebra crossing - on a 'pavement' that is actually a barricaded-off part of the carriageway outside long-term buidling works, so you turn within its width (narrowness) and are immediately at the kerb, rather than walking towards the kerb - she was too close to stop! And the cyclist behind her - there were three bikes one behind the other, no cars - did stop. So I thanked him. Oh dear, what a lot of sorrys and thanks.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: hatler on 03 July, 2014, 10:22:15 am
To Cheam Scaffolding.

Quote
Good morning,

Some years ago I had a particularly scary close pass (whilst on my bike) from one of your lorries on the approach to Sunbury Cross roundabout. I contacted your office and spoke to someone there who really did sound quite upset that one of her drivers would act in this way.

Anyhow, moving on a few years to this morning, I was heading from Raynes Park to Kingston along Coombe Lane (and still on my bike) at about 8.20 and I am delighted to report that the truck which followed me at a nice distance and didn’t once try to overtake anywhere inappropriate was a Cheam Scaffolding truck.

Most truck drivers would try to get past along this stretch and such a manoeuvre always strikes me as a wholly disproportionate balance between the driver’s convenience and my safety, even more so because any overtake here simply gets the vehicle to the back of the traffic jam at the Kingston Hospital traffic lights a few seconds sooner.

Full marks to whoever was driving this morning. He’s good.

If you could pass this on if you can identify the driver I would really appreciate it.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: hatler on 03 July, 2014, 10:25:02 am
And another, from last year to Front Runner Logistics.

Quote
Good afternoon,

No need for a reply, I just thought I’d like to let you know that you have an ace driver in your fleet.

This morning at 08.17 I was on my bike was turning right onto Cadbury Road from Burgoyne Road. It was wet, cold and horrible and there was a long line of traffic approaching from my left.

One of your trucks heading North along Cadbury Road saw my predicament and flashed his lights to let me out, even though I would end up ahead of him. Clearly he had local knowledge as he knew that delay would only actually hold up his arrival at the lights at the junction with Chertsey Road/Grovelly Road.

Clearly a nice chap (I presume it was a chap) and a thoughtful, considerate driver.

If you can identify the driver for me I would be most grateful if you could pass my thanks on. Many thanks.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 July, 2014, 10:34:24 am
 :thumbsup: Hatler.

Minor ones, non-bike, from this morning: At both points where we cross the road on the way to school (separate roads) there is usually a jam and particularly on the second, impatient drivers. But this morning on both roads, a driver stopped to let us cross although there was no queue. And one of them was in a black Audi!
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: hatler on 03 July, 2014, 11:36:31 am
To Cheam Scaffolding.

Quote
Good morning,

Some years ago I had a particularly scary close pass (whilst on my bike) from one of your lorries on the approach to Sunbury Cross roundabout. I contacted your office and spoke to someone there who really did sound quite upset that one of her drivers would act in this way.

Anyhow, moving on a few years to this morning, I was heading from Raynes Park to Kingston along Coombe Lane (and still on my bike) at about 8.20 and I am delighted to report that the truck which followed me at a nice distance and didn’t once try to overtake anywhere inappropriate was a Cheam Scaffolding truck.

Most truck drivers would try to get past along this stretch and such a manoeuvre always strikes me as a wholly disproportionate balance between the driver’s convenience and my safety, even more so because any overtake here simply gets the vehicle to the back of the traffic jam at the Kingston Hospital traffic lights a few seconds sooner.

Full marks to whoever was driving this morning. He’s good.

If you could pass this on if you can identify the driver I would really appreciate it.
And a reply.

Quote
It was myself you spoke to previously, and thank you very much for the positive feed back I will pass your comments on to my driver.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: JJ on 03 July, 2014, 11:57:15 am
Now nice to see this thread again on a sunny morning.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: clarion on 03 July, 2014, 01:22:52 pm
This thread always cheers my mood.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: contango on 03 July, 2014, 02:41:25 pm
Just noticed this thread, and figured it was a good place to share my experience of a few weeks back, cycling up the steepest part Coombe Lane with a skip hire truck behind me. I was wary, having been all but forced off the road by a truck with a skip on the back in the past. This one stayed behind until it was clear, then conducted a pass as considerate as any cyclist could ever hope for. I think that was a Kappagh truck.

It's always good to see examples of drivers, especially drivers with their company names emblazoned on their vehicles, being so considerate.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: spindrift on 03 July, 2014, 02:45:32 pm
Good afternoon

 

Thank you very much for your e-mail and taking the time to contact us.  I will pass this onto the Driver concerned, I’m sure he would also be grateful of your comments.

Kind regards

 

Paul

 

Office Manager

FITZMAURICE CARRIERS LTD, NORWICH

 





 



 


Subject: Your driver -vehicle AU1

 

Dear Sir.

 

At about 11am today I encountered your driver at what is often a tricky junction, I was cycling under Grapes Hill and emerged on Pottergate, close to the Micawbers' Tavern. A car was stupidly parked right at the exit to the ramp so I had to swerve round it, and your driver patiently waited- he had also respected the Give Way sign, not many drivers do that there. Driver was a middle-aged male, close-cropped grey hair, I wish there were more drivers like him around.

 

Best regards
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 July, 2014, 09:41:17 am
I had an exemplary overtake from a *skip truck* on Monday, just before Stadhampton on the A329. Waited patiently then pulled right over to the other side of the road when it was clear. Given the general reputation of these drivers, it would have been worth a pink (that's the opposite of a grink - p for praise) if I had spotted a name.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: yoav on 10 July, 2014, 12:09:10 pm
I've just returned from a week's cycling holiday in Holland where this sort of behaviour from drivers is normal.

So I'm a bit stuck for a rant now ......
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: matthew on 14 July, 2014, 09:14:50 am
Many thanks to the driver of the RV1 bus between Blackfriars Bridge and London Bridge south of the river who alerted me to the fact that my work ID had fallen from the pannier this morning.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: contango on 16 July, 2014, 02:51:30 pm
Today on the road between Hampton Court and Walton-on-Thames a pickup started to turn right in front of me. As I reached for the brakes and prepared to shout some choice phrases at him he stopped abruptly, held up his hand in apparent apology. So I waved back in acknowledgement, and proceeded on my way.

ETA: And another Cappagh truck that followed me for a time before executing a perfectly considerate pass when the road was clear.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: trekker12 on 21 July, 2014, 09:19:52 am
Back in the winter (and I've only recently found this thread) I'd like to make particular comment towards the delivery driver from one of the major courier firms but unfortunately I cannot remember which. Who spotted I was having a mechanical issue outside the place he was delivering. On his way out offered to take my bike and I back into town where I could walk it home and get it fixed.

By then I had resolved my problem and was about to get on my way but thanked him very much.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: SteveC on 21 July, 2014, 07:29:27 pm
Coming home through the village today. Most of the main road has parking on both sides and it's not always clear who's turn it is to go first if two vehicles arrive at the constriction at the same time.
This time, there was a local service bus arriving as I and a younger chap on a road bike were about half way along. There was room for us to pull in and let him through, but he waited with the right hand indicator going until we'd passed. Cheery waves were exchanged. The roadie commented, as he overtook me, "the bus drivers are nice round here".
'Tis true. I very rarely have anything but very good behaviour from them.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: jogler on 22 July, 2014, 10:31:04 am
"the bus drivers are nice round here".
'Tis true. I very rarely have anything but very good behaviour from them.

Same hereabouts.
I have often been chaperoned in traffic by drivers on Route 32.(Hanley-Uttoxeter-Derby)
It probably helps being an ex-bus driver* & knowing many of the drivers :)

*dons flak jacket & tin hat
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: matthew on 02 December, 2014, 08:38:14 am
Thank you to the builders merchant lorry this morning who when he found me here http://goo.gl/maps/Q4WBy (http://goo.gl/maps/Q4WBy) riding off the carriage way to the left of the white line (to let cars flow past) and with stationary oncoming traffic realised that squeezing through was too tight.

Instead you hung back for the next half mile until I turned off.  :thumbsup:

unfortunately I didn't get the firm so I can't email them to commend you.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: matthew on 28 January, 2015, 10:03:34 am
Last night I had two vehicles approach behind me and think about overtaking:

the first had pulled out and then thought better as they wanted the approaching left turn and they backed off rather than left hook me  :thumbsup:

the second gained enough visibility through the bend to see the oncoming traffic and backed off, they then followed me for ~400m turned left behind me, followed me for another 500m and took a side turn,  :thumbsup: all nice and patient as I maintained a steady 15-18mph.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Reg.T on 30 January, 2015, 11:54:52 pm
On the A4 approaching the village of Saltford at 9am this morning, a Sainsbury's lorry backed-off as there was a pinch-point, then held well back (about 40m+ for most of the way) all through the village, down the hill and out the other side until the road widened - that's a total of 2km.
Unfortunately, riding East on a bright sunny morning meant I couldn't read the reg plate as it passed, or I'd have sent a message, but I did make my appreciation clear at the time.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: jsabine on 31 January, 2015, 03:22:16 am
Their vehicle tracking is probably up to the job of identifying the wagon and thence the driver from that level of detail ...
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Reg.T on 31 January, 2015, 02:41:17 pm
Thanks for that thought - I'll drop a line anyway.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 31 January, 2015, 05:49:56 pm
Interesting that it was a Sainsbury's waggon. I've found that riding up the A38 towards Gloucester, there are lots of articulated lorries from Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer - I think they have a distribution centre just outside Gloucester - and the Sainsbury's drivers are always much better than the M&S (who are sometimes horrendous). So the difference could all be down to a tracking system? Or perhaps just one or two drivers regularly working the same route?
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: jsabine on 01 February, 2015, 04:09:50 am
Probably down to differences in corporate attitude and training, at a guess.

(Google reveals that Sainsers has commissioned a truck, I think for urban use, that's intended to be safer around cyclists (http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/latest-stories/2014/0729-sainsburys-launches-lorry-designed-for-cycle-safety/).)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: SlowCoach on 05 February, 2015, 02:38:37 pm
Are you sure that they are actually Sainsburys or M and S drivers. Most of the supermarkets outsource their distribution to logistics companies. The give away for my local Sainsburys is that, whilst the trailer is done out in Sainsbury's colours - the tractor unit is plain white with no company logo. Christian Salvesen used to do a lot of Sainsbury's deliveries. I don't know if they still do though. I can't comment about M and S. Tesco don't even bother to hide the fact that Stobarts are doing a lot of their distribution. If the M and S vehicles and Sainsburys vehicles are both coming out of the same depot it points to the fact that they have probably both outsourced to the same logistics company in your area. The supermarkets usually have contracts with several hauliers so all their eggs aren't in one basket, anyway.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: jsabine on 05 February, 2015, 02:42:49 pm
The little bit of googling I did suggested that Sainsers do have quite a lot of directly employed LGV drivers. It surprised me a bit - and no idea about proportions.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 February, 2015, 12:43:42 pm
Don't know. I'll have to look at the cabs - I usually find the trailers more concerning! I'm not sure they're both coming out of the same depot either, they're simply using the same road, regularly, and I seem to remember seeing (or did I hear/read about it?) an M&S depot just outside Gloucester.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 February, 2015, 02:39:09 pm
Today, the driver of a white Fiesta pre-emptively obeyed the usually ignored Rule 170 (he was driving towards me and wanted to turn into the side road on his left, which I was approaching on foot; he stopped before I'd got there and waited for me to cross).
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Vince on 14 April, 2015, 01:54:00 pm
Riding out of Wickwar on Friday the car waited until we had negotiated the blind corner and gone over the blind brow.

I think the driver must have borrowed the Audi A6 from a friend.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Ham on 01 July, 2015, 04:07:35 pm
Just like to give a thumbs up to Gordon Haulage.

Saw one of their big dump trucks in town today, nothing happened.

However, they are plastered with stickers advising (1) cyclists to ride sensibly (2) drivers to give room to cyclists in equal numbers and advertising Cycle Training

I went over to their website and saw http://www.gordongroup.uk.com/news/Gordons+Get+On+Their+Bikes

It really shouldn't be news, but it is.

Oh ******

I was just about to hit "post" on the above when I thought I'd poke around a little more, and found

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/cyclist-dies-after-being-hit-by-lorry-in-victoria-10055594.html

and

http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/cyclist-death-plant-firm-had-gone-through-training-programme

Not much hope, is there?
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 February, 2016, 01:17:15 pm
Heading downhill out of a small town yesterday. The road would be wide enough for two cars to pass or even a car and a lorry, but of course it's made narrower by cars parked on the left-hand side. There's someone reversing into a space halfway down. Coming towards me is a car. According to all the general rules of the road, they have priority: the obstruction is on my side and they're heading uphill. But no, they stop and wait not just until I'm past the parking car but past them!

And maybe it was because of the weather but later, when I was having two off-bike moments, two separate drivers stopped to ask if I was ok. I was, of course: the first time I'd stopped to walk a bit in order to warm up my soggy toes and see what my rear lights look like from a couple of hundred yards (answer: the one on the saddlepack is very visible, the one on the seat stay is also eye-catching but obscured from many angles), the second time was to eat a sandwich (which I then decided to keep for later).
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: JJ on 17 February, 2016, 10:19:26 am
Top marks to the driver of the NHS-labeled double-length artic outside Addenbrookes this morning.  As he was waiting at the lights, signalling to turn left, I watched a middle-aged lady ride up the inside, admittedly on a (skinny) cycle lane, between him and the "safety" fence.  She got about half-way when the lights changed, and he started moving.  I watched, horrified,  as the gap rapidly shrank, before he spotted her and stopped.

I missed the lights as a result, but caught up and spoke with her at the next set.  She could see nothing wrong with what she had done.

As for him, he must have some kind of sixth sense. I don't know how he saw her.

Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 March, 2016, 01:33:50 pm
I nominate 95% of all drivers in Wales. Or at least, of those who were driving in the Chepstow, Hay and Abergavenny areas on Saturday. I don't know whether it's some Welsh cultural characteristic of care and compassion or just the quieter roads allowing them to overtake properly.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Kim on 15 March, 2016, 05:30:54 pm
I nominate 95% of all drivers in Wales. Or at least, of those who were driving in the Chepstow, Hay and Abergavenny areas on Saturday. I don't know whether it's some Welsh cultural characteristic of care and compassion or just the quieter roads allowing them to overtake properly.

Striking, isn't it?  They also demonstrate above average awareness of the size of trailers.

Combined with a less half-arsed approach to road maintenance (IME Welsh roads are usually either in decent nick, or utterly knackered - you don't get the same strata of bodged repairs as you do around here) makes for some pleasant cycling.  When the weather's behaving, anyway.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 March, 2016, 08:41:52 pm
It was certainly striking on Saturday. It's true about the roads, too, or at least the llovely llittle llanes. Though some of them which were perfectly smooth a couple of years ago are beginning to wear out now.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: matthew on 17 March, 2016, 09:22:07 pm
feedback just sent to Reading Busses to compliment the driver of the number 4 who this evening chose not to overtake when they were stopping at the bus stop 100m down the road and then when they caught me at the top of the hill gave me plenty of space.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 March, 2016, 03:04:54 pm
Yesterday, on an A road parallel to the M4 between Swindon and Wootton Basset, I hear the roar of a large vehicle and there is an HGV behind me. The road's fairly wide but not extremely wide, he's not going to overtake me on this left-hand bend is he? No. He waits until a long, straight clear stretch and then goes nice and wide. In these circumstances I always like to know what the trailer's doing (though you have more problems with a caravan or other car-drawn trailer in fact) so I glance behind me. No, the trailer is not drawing in to me. There are the back wheels, passing me now. And he's not pulling in. I give him a wave to say "you're clear" and he pulls in, giving a friendly indicator-flash as he does so.

Not only does this show that something as seemingly inconspicuous as a black-gloved hand can be seen in a nearside mirror if the driver is paying attention, but I think it helps to humanise lorry drivers for cyclists and cyclists for lorry drivers.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: delap on 22 March, 2016, 12:57:00 pm
Drivers of Glasgow (well, more Paisley and Erskine really) I've been sufficiently impressed with your overtaking these past six months to form that to form my the second* largest part of my impression of commuting around here.

*first is rain obvs.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Si S on 20 April, 2016, 01:17:52 pm
Last night constantly looking back trying to see a gap in the traffic to get into the right turn lane off the A57, here (https://goo.gl/maps/Szp4X3oubjA2), when a gap magically appeared without me signalling. many thanks BC van driver  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: JJ on 09 June, 2016, 02:01:29 pm
So here's a thing.

I was driving the gas-guzzling rust-bucket to work, which is not the norm, thanks for asking, and came up behind a chap in jeans and a CTC top, on a hybrid.  Now, I could have pressed on past him before the hump-backed bridge-over-nothing but it would have been borderline so I waited behind until after where it was easy.

And that's the thing.  I got a little friendly wave for my trouble.  Fair made my morning, it did.  I might do that again.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 June, 2016, 08:18:02 pm
Friendly bus driver on the A38 thanks me for letting him out, though in fact his stop was far enough ahead I didn't have to slow down at all, then a couple of stops down when I do slow to let him out he waves me on then sits very patiently behind me for a couple of miles. Mind you, bike speed is about traffic speed on that stretch anyway, especially as it's downhill! Also thanks to the 20 limit.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: matthew on 06 July, 2016, 05:33:04 pm
I am currently commuting by bus  :( due to recuperation from a cold. However it has meant that yesterday I was able to compliment the driver on his behaviour around a number of cyclists, demonstrating both anticipation and patience.  :thumbsup:

Seeing as I am normally cycling on that route anything I can do to reinforce good behaviours seems sensible.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Si S on 10 July, 2016, 07:49:30 am
The council large item rubbish van driver who had backed off a long way down the slip road of the A548 and so didn't run me over when I dropped it yesterday.

The severals of motorists who stopped to make sure I was ok while I was sitting at the roadside in the rain picking stuffs out my knee. Restores your faith in humanity.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 July, 2016, 10:45:44 am
Hope your knee's ok. And your bike!

My nomination goes to the driver who followed me well back without trying to overtake once on the single-and-a-half-track lane into Burton. That I was doing, very unusually for me, high twenties mph probably made it easier for him but even so commendable patience.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: hatler on 11 July, 2016, 08:39:57 am
We had a couple of pootles near Beccles this weekend. Every single driver that passed us did so with ample clearance and in a sensible place. Well impressed.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: matthew on 13 September, 2016, 09:50:11 pm
Fabulous driving by a transit van towing a mini digger this evening. First caught me when we had both parked cars and on coming traffic, he waited when I didn't expect him to. Then followed me through a right turn, past a recovery vehicle that was stopped with hazard lights, through a left turn and followed patiently round the bend and past a side turning before eventually overtaking when it was safe clear and with good visibility.  :thumbsup:

Unfortunately the vehicle had no livery to identify the company to communicate my appreciation.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 29 January, 2017, 04:18:45 pm
The two overtakes of me by the the 78 bus yesterday were exemplary. The two overtakes of the bus by me are for the bus driver to judge. If only their colleague driving the 75 showed the same care.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Peter on 29 January, 2017, 04:28:31 pm
Fabulous driving by a transit van towing a mini digger this evening. First caught me when we had both parked cars and on coming traffic, he waited when I didn't expect him to. Then followed me through a right turn, past a recovery vehicle that was stopped with hazard lights, through a left turn and followed patiently round the bend and past a side turning before eventually overtaking when it was safe clear and with good visibility.  :thumbsup:

Unfortunately the vehicle had no livery to identify the company to communicate my appreciation.

Stolen the digger and didn't want to draw attention to himself?!   :demon:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 February, 2017, 03:58:02 pm
Threading my way through the normal Stokes Croft traffic jam, there was a gap between a stationary bus and a car illegally parked outside the PO. There is always at least one vehicle illegally parked outside the PO and very often a little further down outside Miss Milly's Southern Fried Chickenoid Shack too. On this occasion there was plenty of space between bus (which wasn't going anywhere, the lights were red and at least half a dozen stationary vehicles in front of it) and parked car, enough for even clumsy me to easily ride through. Nevertheless, the woman in the car said "Sorry" as I rode past. Nice of her to be aware that she was potentially a blockage, even if she was actually not. Would have been even nicer if she hadn't parked there, but hey. I was in a good mood anyway cos I'd just had what I feared might be a misthreaded mounting hole on my fork cleared out for free with a tap at Jake's Bikes (it was probably just a bit of paint or something in there).
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: SoreTween on 16 August, 2017, 07:15:33 pm
Another instance today of a car coming up to a give way line on my left while I'm waiting to turn right, same location as this previous incident (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=63751.msg2183462#msg2183462).  On pulling away the driver was clearly aware of my presence, did not try to beat me out, did not try to turn right through me and gave me acres of room.  You sir need to update your CV because with considerate driving like that I can't see you lasting long at Addison Lee.

(Doesn't get much traffic this thread does it...)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Guy on 19 July, 2018, 08:31:57 am
One of the local couriers might get (OK, *does* get) loads of adverse comments on the town Facething site for his unusual and innovative delivery style, but when it comes to getting around the area he shows his belief that "DPD" stands for "Driven Properly, Dear". It's always a pleasure to share the road with drivers who understand the concept of "sharing". :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Peat on 19 July, 2018, 09:07:38 am
Good thread.

Thanks to the nice human who stopped to ask if i was alright as I lay in the grass at the side of the road upon a hilltop last week.  All I could muster was a thumbs up as thanks.

I felt a bit silly, I hadn't been hit or fallen off, this was just the result of a bit of over-exertion in training for the upcoming hillclimb season.... ::-)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Basil on 19 July, 2018, 09:26:11 am
I had that happen once when I was having  a sit down at the top of the last bastard hill before Long Itchington.  The guy looked quite concerned.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Guy on 29 October, 2018, 09:45:19 am
Young Asian chap, employed by Village Cars private hire firm, who took me to Hitchin station last Sunday.

A lovely sunny day, warm (for the time of year, lots of cyclists on the A600 between Henlow Camp and Hitchin. What does my driver do? Slow down to match cyclist's speed, puts on right indicator, waits about 2-3 car-lengths behind. When the road has cleared of oncoming traffic (including cyclists) pulls right over the white line, giving the cyclist the whole carriageway to play in, and doesn't pull back over until we're about a bus-length past the cyclist. He did this every time! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Kim on 28 January, 2019, 04:47:42 pm
Bus driver, who slowed down and straddled both lanes of the Pershore Road to allow me to complete a right turn.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: arabella on 06 June, 2019, 10:11:09 am
A1500 from Scampton - due to roadworks it was a 20mph limit complete with multiple cameras and so forth, so all the motorists were obediently sticking to 20mph. 
Which meant they had plenty of time and space to overtake as per the highway code.

So I saunter along at, say, 14mph, and the motorists were overtaking me wide and slow.
Surreally relaxed and so much nicer than the usual fast-and-close-pass-fest.  :)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 September, 2019, 02:05:06 pm
Lots of good driving encountered yesterday, for some reason – perhaps the late summer sunshine put everyone in a good mood? – but the best involved that old excuse for death and destruction, the low sun in your eyes. Country lane, but wide enough for a centre line. Due west into the low but bright sun. Uphill so I'm going slowly (even more than normal). Some bends. A yellow Fiat 500 comes up and instead of either wooshing by centimetres from my elbow or veering wildly over to the other side of the road on the blind bend, is content to sit a decent distance behind me at 6mph. Round one bend and another and... then round that bend there's another cyclist just ahead of me, who's even slower than I am (hybrid, basket). Car is still sitting behind so I give a little arm signal and overtake. Driver is now sitting at 4mph. And carried on at that speed for some time judging by the distance I'd gone before she (I saw the driver was a she when she overtook) caught up, paused again, and then I, seeing a clear straight road, waved her past. She not only entirely crossed the line but gave a little wave...

Of course all this really should be normal, I guess.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: drossall on 29 February, 2020, 02:52:53 pm
I always remember the Audax event a few years back, where I was heading towards the Notleys and saw a wheel-swallowing pothole in front of me. The driver coming the other way plainly saw it too, and my reaction, because she held back and gave the the whole road to get round it. She absolutely didn't have to do that - the hole was on my side and it was clearly up to me to give way - but she did anyway :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: SteveC on 19 March, 2020, 06:35:11 pm
Nice overtake on the ride home tonight. The car in question went completely over the white line onto the other side of the road to pass. And it was a learner!  :thumbsup: So at least one of the local driving schools is doing something properly. And the car following did the same.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: hatler on 19 March, 2020, 06:44:52 pm
Write to the driving school ?

There's nothing as good for reinforcing good behaviour as commending it.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Kim on 19 March, 2020, 07:11:07 pm
That's good.  I had some excellent holding back by a nervous learner on a twisty road the other day, followed by a decently wide overtake and ruined by cutting in as soon as I was level with the windscreen.  Hopefully they'll have received the appropriate lecture from the instructor.

I see a lot of driving school cars on my winter loop, and they mostly get the overtaking distance right.  Occasional poor judgement about when to do it and relative speed, but they're learners.  Seems like the instructors have the right idea, anway.

I'll generally give a thumbs-up to a learner after a decent overtake.  They're probably even looking in the mirrors and everything.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: SteveC on 19 March, 2020, 08:25:59 pm
Write to the driving school ?
I did think of that, but too late. I didn't recognise the school, and the overtake was on an NSL road so they were going at a fair speed. Shame.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: matthew on 23 July, 2020, 11:38:27 pm
There is a road on my current vehicular commute that is also regularly frequented by riders of four legged beasts of unreliable character.

This evening I rounded one bend and spied ahead two of said beasts and riders. Now I know the road, I therefore know I cannot catch and pass said beasts before I reach a blind left hand bend, with a right turn on it. I also know the right turn is common practise for these beasts as it leads to the bridleways rather than the road through the hamlet. Therefore it was an easy decision not to accelerate after the speed bumps and just wait for the beasts to meander to the junction and turn off of my route.

Hopefully somewhere on a forum frequented by those strange people who make beasts rather than machines carry them there is a similar post about a considerate driver.  :smug:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 November, 2020, 07:04:23 pm
Kudos to the chap on the path round the back of the Banbury Reservoir the evening for his cheery ”thank you” as he passed this keeping-well-to-the-left Pedestrian Unit.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: aidan.f on 08 March, 2021, 06:06:38 pm
Sent a thank you message to the van driver who parked and waited until I had time to take his details as witness after my pal Ken got knocked off by a car pulling out. Fortunately Ken's OK, just a slight sore knee and the bike needs some bar tape. I spent a bit of time taking pictures and informing the driver that Ken did not just 'fall off' but was pushed!
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 June, 2023, 06:24:23 pm
Shock horror!  Not only did a Thoughtful Motor-ist stop to allow me and the Perfectly Good Gentleman’s Mountain Bicycle to turn right across his path, but he was driving a BMW!

I need a lie down…
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: graculus on 09 June, 2023, 07:18:40 pm
From earlier in the week: The WVM who drew alongside after I picked myself up (pothole/bike interaction), wound the window down, checked I was OK and did I want a lift? (Not necessary as only 50 metres from home). Cheered me up quite a bit.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: hatler on 09 June, 2023, 11:46:13 pm
From earlier in the week: The WVM who drew alongside after I picked myself up (pothole/bike interaction), wound the window down, checked I was OK and did I want a lift? (Not necessary as only 50 metres from home). Cheered me up quite a bit.
:thumbsup:  (That's not in response to your off of course ...)
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Flite on 10 June, 2023, 01:54:38 pm
Grateful to a lovely group of young holiday makers who stopped on their walk to check I was OK mending a puncture caused by a two inch nail. Assured them I was OK as I confidently plugged the tubeless tyre. But they said that if I was stuck, they were staying in a cottage just along the bridleway.
Half an hour later, I admitted defeat (rim tape ripped) and walked to the cottage, where I left the bike and they gave me a lift back to my car. There are some really kind people out there.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 October, 2023, 07:43:47 pm
Big ups to the driver of the W15 who stopped dead in the middle of a mini-roundabout this arvo to allow me and the Perfectly Good Gentleman’s Mountain Bicycle off the shared use path and onto Larrington Towers Road.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 November, 2023, 01:55:25 pm
It's difficult to exit the car park of the branch of Kwik-Fit diwn by the Crooked Billet roundabout because Kwik-Fit prevents you seeing up the road.  Hence drivers need to pull across the pavement and cycle path to see approaching traffic.  So props to the Kwik-Fit Fitter who saw me and the Perfectly Good Gentleman’s Mountain Bicycle approaching and reversed his big van back into the car park to let me by :thumbsup:
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Kim on 06 November, 2023, 02:08:26 pm
Kwik-Fit Fitter

I've never knowingly frequented Kwik-Fit, but I like to imagine they really do that just-got-their-A-level-results leap after finishing the work on each vehicle.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 November, 2023, 02:19:53 pm
I've been an all-too-frequent customer of that branch in the past couple of years and have never noticed them leaping chiz.  I expect it’s been Cancelled because Elf'n'Safe Tea gorn mad innit.
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 01 December, 2023, 08:39:23 pm
Cycling to work this morning and have to cross the entrance to an industrial estate. Thankfully I know what's on the estate fairly well so have an idea which vehicles are entering it.

This morning got into the middle and a 18tonne truck held back to let me cross, there's just room for a vehicle to get past the truck on the blind side to me so I proceed with caution. A van was trying to come past on the blind side so the truck driver started on horn to alert I guess me and the van driver. Van stopped and I crossed before turning and giving the truck driver a big thumbs up
Title: Re: tnaR
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 13 December, 2023, 05:44:40 pm
Had a miracle of Christmas cycling home today. On a fairly large i think B road heading from Boreham to pass Crix for those in the local know. Aware a big vehicle is behind me, actually thought was a bus but turned out to be a lorry. They couldn't safely pass so as I passed a junction I moved into it and waved the lorry past. Got a few honks from the lorry as a thanks

I expected to then get stuck in the junction as was a fair bit of traffic which had backed up behind the lorry but no the first vehicle held back and flashed me out