FBinNY 

The video is self explanatory. Critically useful info for all road users, both cyclists and drivers.

Please watch, and if you agree with me about the message, please pass along to friends.

BTW- Possible technical help is coming, see here

Best wishes to all for a joyous holiday season, and a happy and healthy new year.

GeneO 

That was a pretty cool and educational video. Thnx

blakcloud

That was an eye opener, thanks for posting this.

Mr. Hairy Legs

The more I mingle with large trucks like that! the more I realize how dangerous it is. Nowadays I never pass them closely unless there is an escape route.

noglider 

Thank you for that. A few weeks ago I did something stupid near a big truck. He honked at me to make a
point, and I'm grateful for that!

Brannigan

Thank you for the vid. Reminds me of scary moments in San Francisco (NOT Frisco) back in the 80's when I was even more unwise than I am now. I will keep this knowledge and pass it on.

jeffpoulin

Very good video! Although I usually filter around cars at lights, when it comes to large trucks or buses, I stay behind them. I've read too many cycling-related obituaries due to large vehicles, especially involving right hand turns (or left turns in the UK and other countries that drive on the left). Truck and bus drivers are some of the safest drivers on the road, so for this happen as often as it does means it's truly a difficult situation for the driver and a dangerous one for the cyclist. Best to avoid it if possible.

FBinNY 

IME it's safer to cycle among large trucks and buses and smaller ones. The drivers of large rigs are usually more professional and skilled than the average motorist. However, the key is to understand what they can and can't see or do, and to respect them accordingly.

Even motorists don't get the problem, which is why you see signs like passing side and Suicide on the back left and right sides of the trailer. Or my favorite, "truck makes w-i-d-e right turns" over a graphic of a car crushed under the right trailer wheels.

I wish there were an effective way that everyone role play the changing places scenario. IMO understanding the nature of the hazards is the best way to stay safe. This is doubly important to me because I don't wear a helmet hoping it'll make up for my mistakes.

jyl

Good video. Thanks for posting it.

Seeing the cyclists threading into the two feet between lorry and kerb made my skin crawl.

tcs

You especially have to keep your wits about you when a bike lane places you in a large rig's blind spot by design.

bikemig 

I like this video; I esp. like how few cyclists in London wear helmets.

trafficdancer

I used to commute westbound on Roosevelt road in Chicago, which was lots and lots of trucks. I had one driver actually stop at a red light to talk to me about blind spots. He taught me a lot in those three minutes about how little they can really see.

acidfast7

Actually, this is a quite London-specific issue because the city refuses to ban large trucks during the working day like most European cities.

In fact, most European urban commuters never see a large truck like this ... London is very distinct ... so I would say that most of this information in the video is useless (i.e. doesn't apply in Paris, Frankfurt, Berlin, Stockholm ... etc ... as they ban trucks on the roads between 6am and at least 9pm). London doesn't want to wake people in the evening.

Also, most of the info is common sense in the video o_O

Note, sure how the laws are in the states. Also, I would classify London or the UK as European, if that matters to you guys.

Happy holidays.

acidfast7

Most people over here don't, except for the Germans.

FBinNY 

I don't know about other cities or London, but banning trucks in cities is a non-starter here in the USA. However, even in cities where trucks are banned at certain hours, there are still the other times, and places where cyclists share the road with trucks.

As for the info being common sense, it's only true for those who know. Those who don't understand truck turning circles or blind spots, don't know what they don't know, and/or don't think about it all the time. That's why just about every long truck here in the USA has some kind or "do not pass on right" warning in back. Not for bicycles, but also/mainly for motorists. Despite that right hook accidents remain high both for bicycles and cars.

Apparently common sense isn't that common after all.

chaadster

I can only imagine how glorious a life it would be to cycle so unencumbered with concern that I could tuck into a truck's blind spot on the inside of a turn. I worry to much about devastating injury; no wonder I'm stressed the f^^k out.

FBinNY 

I don't think most cyclists blithely ride into the blind spot of a turning truck, though the accident data shows some do. OTOH it's easy to do when not intending to, or thinking about it as we filter up at intersections. You come to a line of vehicles stopped on a red, and as per usual see an opportunity to filter up on the right. The light changes and traffic begins to roll out, and oops there you are, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

fietsbob

their left hooks are the right hook cut offs in the left hand drive countries ..


don't become a road frisbee.

chaadster

You're right that I shouldn't be so glib, but honestly, I cannot imagine myself being so out of it as to find myself in such a situation...I'm not saying I don't do dumb things, just that I ride wholly intentionally, deliberately, and and with awareness. I'd literally have to be drunk off my butt to have something like that happen, and given that it hasn't and that I have been (drunk off my butt), I'm not even sure I can say that much.

FBinNY 

Then the video isn't for you since you're already aware of the hazard. However the blind spot/right hook (left hook in the UK and OZ) accident data shows that large numbers of cyclists and drivers aren't aware of how large and complete the blind spot is.

BTW- blind spot right hooks don't only happen with trucks. I was right hooked by a police car who passed me incompletely while we were moving at similar speed. We ended up riding together about 100yards or so until he made his turn. Not seeing me he lost track and thought he'd put more distance between us.