In message of
Thu, 12 Jan 2006 09:50:18 in uk.transport.london, Martin Underwood
writes

[snip]
first. But suppose he's a second or so later and is just behind me. Should I
delay setting off to let him overtake me or should he wait until I've
turned? I reckon the latter.

I reckon the former. You are turning across his path. He has right of
way. A similar thing would apply if you turn across the path of a bus in
a bus lane.


I think the problem stems from the design of the junction which
permits/encourages a lane of vehicles (cyclists) to the left of the stream
of cars that wants to turn left. A scheme that encouraged cyclists to
overtake on the right when there was a stream of cars waiting to turn right
would be equally absurd.

There is a tendency to have advance stop lines to favour cyclists. They
seem not to apply to motor bikes or taxis.

As a driver who occasionally cycles, I can see the problem from both points
of view. I recognise that when I'm cycling I need to do everything possible
to make it easy for drivers, by remaining visible to them and never, never
getting myself into their blind spot on the left of the car. In
dense/stationary traffic I usually take up a position behind the number
plate of the car in front so I'm clearly visible to the car behind me and
(via his rear view mirror) the car in front of me. While the traffic is
moving slowly, I'll stay there. As soon as it speeds up beyond the speed I'm
capable of, I'll move over to the left to let cars overtake me until I come
to the next queue of traffic. But I don't try to overtake slow/stationary
traffic - either on the left or the right - because I know that it may be
turning, either with or without an indicator.

Is there a blind spot for car drivers who glance behind?
I recently became aware that my practice of changing lane to the left is
unsafe for motor bikes passing on the left.
I am trying to teach myself to glance behind as well as use my mirror.
A collision is never a good idea regardless of right of way.
--
Walter Briscoe