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Near Miss of the Day 168: Van driver crosses solid line, forcing cyclists out of way

Our regular feature highlighting close passes caught on camera from around the country – today it’s London

Today’s video in our Near Miss of the Day series perhaps isn’t the worst case of driving we’ve featured – but it is one of those things that for urban cyclists add up and make commuting an unpleasant experience at times.

It was filmed last Monday morning on Jamaica Road in Southwark road.cc reader Cycle London and shows a van driver crossing a solid white line into a bus lane where there are cyclists riding and then when one shakes their head in exasperation, they get a beep of the horn for their trouble.

Cycle London, who points out in the description of the video on YouTube that there are three separate offences committed, told us: “What bothered me as much as the forcing his way into a group of cyclists, was the petulant sound of his horn.”'

> Near Miss of the Day turns 100 - Why do we do the feature and what have we learnt from it?

Over the years road.cc has reported on literally hundreds of close passes and near misses involving badly driven vehicles from every corner of the country – so many, in fact, that we’ve decided to turn the phenomenon into a regular feature on the site. One day hopefully we will run out of close passes and near misses to report on, but until that happy day arrives, Near Miss of the Day will keep rolling on.

If you’ve caught on camera a close encounter of the uncomfortable kind with another road user that you’d like to share with the wider cycling community please send it to us at info [at] road.cc or send us a message via the road.cc Facebook page.

If the video is on YouTube, please send us a link, if not we can add any footage you supply to our YouTube channel as an unlisted video (so it won't show up on searches).

Please also let us know whether you contacted the police and if so what their reaction was, as well as the reaction of the vehicle operator if it was a bus, lorry or van with company markings etc.

> What to do if you capture a near miss or close pass (or worse) on camera while cycling

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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101 comments

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burtthebike replied to fizrar6 | 5 years ago
11 likes

fizrar6 wrote:

The van driver certainly gave plenty of notice of his intentions and he changed lane at the very end of the bus/cycle lane. He maybe hit the last few feet of the cycle lane but that is hardly a crime.

Yes it is.

Avatar
burtthebike replied to fizrar6 | 5 years ago
9 likes

fizrar6 wrote:

Gives us all a bad name.

We're cyclists not van drivers, so how does a bad van driver give cyclists a bad name exactly?

 

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to fizrar6 | 5 years ago
16 likes

fizrar6 wrote:

The van driver certainly gave plenty of notice of his intentions and he changed lane at the very end of the bus/cycle lane. He maybe hit the last few feet of the cycle lane but that is hardly a crime.

If CycleLondon had been a bit more courteous and aware of his fellow road users this incident wouldn't have happened. He could easily have slowed down and let the van into the lane but deliveratley speeded up to try and make a point of cyclists being vicitmised.

Gives us all a bad name.

Today I learned that cycling in a straight line along a road in a perfectly legal and proper manner is now giving cyclists a bad name if you don't defer to a motorised vehicle and maybe doff your cap to your road tax paying superiors.

Avatar
John Smith replied to fizrar6 | 5 years ago
3 likes

fizrar6 wrote:

The van driver certainly gave plenty of notice of his intentions and he changed lane at the very end of the bus/cycle lane. He maybe hit the last few feet of the cycle lane but that is hardly a crime.

If CycleLondon had been a bit more courteous and aware of his fellow road users this incident wouldn't have happened. He could easily have slowed down and let the van into the lane but deliveratley speeded up to try and make a point of cyclists being vicitmised.

Gives us all a bad name.

 

I agree. Yes, the van driver wasn’t perfect, but the cyclist could see that comming for miles and was looking for trouble or just totally unaware. Both were in the wrong there. The cyclist was never going to safely make it past before the end of the bus lane and the van driver went across fractionally early. Had the cyclist used a little bit of defensive riding and observation it would never have happened. Had the van driver waited until the end of the bus lane he would still have had a cyclist undertakeing him when he was changing lane.

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Hirsute replied to John Smith | 5 years ago
7 likes

John Smith wrote:

The cyclist was never going to safely make it past before the end of the bus lane and the van driver went across fractionally early.

That's just another might is right comment

Quote:

Had the van driver waited until the end of the bus lane he would still have had a cyclist undertakeing him when he was changing lane.

That's just speculation.

Avatar
Legs_Eleven_Wor... replied to John Smith | 5 years ago
5 likes

John Smith wrote:

fizrar6 wrote:

The van driver certainly gave plenty of notice of his intentions and he changed lane at the very end of the bus/cycle lane. He maybe hit the last few feet of the cycle lane but that is hardly a crime.

If CycleLondon had been a bit more courteous and aware of his fellow road users this incident wouldn't have happened. He could easily have slowed down and let the van into the lane but deliveratley speeded up to try and make a point of cyclists being vicitmised.

Gives us all a bad name.

 

I agree. Yes, the van driver wasn’t perfect, but the cyclist could see that comming for miles and was looking for trouble or just totally unaware. Both were in the wrong there. The cyclist was never going to safely make it past before the end of the bus lane and the van driver went across fractionally early. Had the cyclist used a little bit of defensive riding and observation it would never have happened. Had the van driver waited until the end of the bus lane he would still have had a cyclist undertakeing him when he was changing lane.

1.  Indicating does not give you priority.

2.  It matters not a fuck how long he had been indicating.  He waits until the lane is clear before he moves into it.  

3.  I didn't see the cyclist speed up.  His speed goes from 8 km/h to 6 km/h during the incident.  How does that constitute 'looking for trouble'? 

Are we inundated with driver trolls these days? 

Avatar
Legs_Eleven_Wor... replied to John Smith | 5 years ago
5 likes

John Smith wrote:

fizrar6 wrote:

The van driver certainly gave plenty of notice of his intentions and he changed lane at the very end of the bus/cycle lane. He maybe hit the last few feet of the cycle lane but that is hardly a crime.

If CycleLondon had been a bit more courteous and aware of his fellow road users this incident wouldn't have happened. He could easily have slowed down and let the van into the lane but deliveratley speeded up to try and make a point of cyclists being vicitmised.

Gives us all a bad name.

 

I agree. Yes, the van driver wasn’t perfect, but the cyclist could see that comming for miles and was looking for trouble or just totally unaware. Both were in the wrong there. The cyclist was never going to safely make it past before the end of the bus lane and the van driver went across fractionally early. Had the cyclist used a little bit of defensive riding and observation it would never have happened. Had the van driver waited until the end of the bus lane he would still have had a cyclist undertakeing him when he was changing lane.

Tosh.  The cyclist was not 'in the wrong'.  He broke no law, and did not behave in any way that was unlawful, discourteous or dangerous.  Unless of course you count 'not deferring to his betters who pay road tax' as 'discourteous'.  

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cycle.london replied to fizrar6 | 5 years ago
3 likes

fizrar6 wrote:

If CycleLondon had been a bit more courteous

Allow me to translate: 

'if Cycle London had known his place and got out of the way of the much more important motor vehicle driver....'

Avatar
atgni | 5 years ago
2 likes

Looking for conflict there me thinks.
Clearly avoidable.
Van indicating for some time before turn.

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hawkinspeter replied to atgni | 5 years ago
11 likes

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

So, do you think that indicating gives you priority?

Avatar
atgni replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
4 likes
hawkinspeter wrote:

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

So, do you think that indicating gives you priority?

Nope.
Share the road.
Slow for 2 seconds and don't go up the inside of something indicating.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to atgni | 5 years ago
11 likes

atgni wrote:
hawkinspeter wrote:

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

So, do you think that indicating gives you priority?

Nope. Share the road. Slow for 2 seconds and don't go up the inside of something indicating.

I agree with "share the road". I interpret that as meaning don't pull into a lane when it isn't clear never mind how long you've been indicating.

Why couldn't the van have slowed for 2 seconds to have made a safe maneouvre? Safety is more important than courtesy.

Avatar
atgni replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
0 likes
hawkinspeter wrote:

atgni wrote:
hawkinspeter wrote:

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

So, do you think that indicating gives you priority?

Nope. Share the road. Slow for 2 seconds and don't go up the inside of something indicating.

I agree with "share the road". I interpret that as meaning don't pull into a lane when it isn't clear never mind how long you've been indicating.

Why couldn't the van have slowed for 2 seconds to have made a safe maneouvre? Safety is more important than courtesy.

I think the van was slowing into a gap.
We don't see the rear veiw.

Avatar
Hirsute replied to atgni | 5 years ago
10 likes

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

Obviously trying to force your way into a mandatory cycle lane will cause conflict and was clearly avoidable.

Van indicating for some time before turn - I find that too when I am at a side road trying to turn right. What's your point?

Avatar
atgni replied to Hirsute | 5 years ago
2 likes
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

Obviously trying to force your way into a mandatory cycle lane will cause conflict and was clearly avoidable.

Van indicating for some time before turn - I find that too when I am at a side road trying to turn right. What's your point?

Share the road.
Slow for 2 seconds and don't go up the inside of something indicating.

Avatar
Hirsute replied to atgni | 5 years ago
11 likes

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

Obviously trying to force your way into a mandatory cycle lane will cause conflict and was clearly avoidable.

Van indicating for some time before turn - I find that too when I am at a side road trying to turn right. What's your point?

Share the road. Slow for 2 seconds and don't go up the inside of something indicating.

What you are saying then is that there is no point in any cycle lane, as it is not permissible to underake any cars who are queuing in their lane. This would extend to normal roads where there are 2 lanes and so the road user in lane 1 should not 'undertake' any user in lane 2.

Do you know what a mandatory cycle lane is?

Avatar
atgni replied to Hirsute | 5 years ago
2 likes
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

Obviously trying to force your way into a mandatory cycle lane will cause conflict and was clearly avoidable.

Van indicating for some time before turn - I find that too when I am at a side road trying to turn right. What's your point?

Share the road. Slow for 2 seconds and don't go up the inside of something indicating.

What you are saying then is that there is no point in any cycle lane, as it is not permissible to underake any cars who are queuing in their lane. This would extend to normal roads where there are 2 lanes and so the road user in lane 1 should not 'undertake' any user in lane 2.

Do you know what a mandatory cycle lane is?

No. And they weren't queing in this case.
And yes.
I didn't say the van was right. I said the bike could easily have avoided the conflict.

Avatar
brooksby replied to atgni | 5 years ago
11 likes

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

Obviously trying to force your way into a mandatory cycle lane will cause conflict and was clearly avoidable.

Van indicating for some time before turn - I find that too when I am at a side road trying to turn right. What's your point?

Share the road. Slow for 2 seconds and don't go up the inside of something indicating.

What you are saying then is that there is no point in any cycle lane, as it is not permissible to underake any cars who are queuing in their lane. This would extend to normal roads where there are 2 lanes and so the road user in lane 1 should not 'undertake' any user in lane 2.

Do you know what a mandatory cycle lane is?

No. And they weren't queing in this case. And yes. I didn't say the van was right. I said the bike could easily have avoided the conflict.

The van driver could also have easily avoided the conflict, and since the van driver was the one not just travelling in a straight line then I’d suggest that the onus falls upon them.

Avatar
atgni replied to brooksby | 5 years ago
2 likes
brooksby wrote:

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

Obviously trying to force your way into a mandatory cycle lane will cause conflict and was clearly avoidable.

Van indicating for some time before turn - I find that too when I am at a side road trying to turn right. What's your point?

Share the road. Slow for 2 seconds and don't go up the inside of something indicating.

What you are saying then is that there is no point in any cycle lane, as it is not permissible to underake any cars who are queuing in their lane. This would extend to normal roads where there are 2 lanes and so the road user in lane 1 should not 'undertake' any user in lane 2.

Do you know what a mandatory cycle lane is?

No. And they weren't queing in this case. And yes. I didn't say the van was right. I said the bike could easily have avoided the conflict.

The van driver could also have easily avoided the conflict, and since the van driver was the one not just travelling in a straight line then I’d suggest that the onus falls upon them.

Agreed.

Avatar
Legs_Eleven_Wor... replied to brooksby | 5 years ago
3 likes

brooksby wrote:

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:

Looking for conflict there me thinks. Clearly avoidable. Van indicating for some time before turn.

Obviously trying to force your way into a mandatory cycle lane will cause conflict and was clearly avoidable.

Van indicating for some time before turn - I find that too when I am at a side road trying to turn right. What's your point?

Share the road. Slow for 2 seconds and don't go up the inside of something indicating.

What you are saying then is that there is no point in any cycle lane, as it is not permissible to underake any cars who are queuing in their lane. This would extend to normal roads where there are 2 lanes and so the road user in lane 1 should not 'undertake' any user in lane 2.

Do you know what a mandatory cycle lane is?

No. And they weren't queing in this case. And yes. I didn't say the van was right. I said the bike could easily have avoided the conflict.

The van driver could also have easily avoided the conflict, and since the van driver was the one not just travelling in a straight line then I’d suggest that the onus falls upon them.

.. is the right answer. 

Van driver changing lane - van driver's responsibility to see that the space into which he drives, is clear.  

Nothing else to say, no more debate, move along.  

Avatar
Hirsute replied to atgni | 5 years ago
9 likes

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

No. And they weren't queing in this case. And yes. I didn't say the van was right. I said the bike could easily have avoided the conflict.

I see you believe might is right and it's ok to use a mandatory cycle lane if the alternative is to wait a few seconds, so little left to discuss.

Avatar
atgni replied to Hirsute | 5 years ago
0 likes
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

No. And they weren't queing in this case. And yes. I didn't say the van was right. I said the bike could easily have avoided the conflict.

I see you believe might is right and it's ok to use a mandatory cycle lane if the alternative is to wait a few seconds, so little left to discuss.

Still no to both your assertions.
Try reading what I write maybe.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to atgni | 5 years ago
7 likes

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

No. And they weren't queing in this case. And yes. I didn't say the van was right. I said the bike could easily have avoided the conflict.

I see you believe might is right and it's ok to use a mandatory cycle lane if the alternative is to wait a few seconds, so little left to discuss.

Still no to both your assertions. Try reading what I write maybe.

You realise the van driver instigated the confrontation by not obeying the rules of the road and illegally entering the bus lane while also putting a vulnerable road user in danger?

Maybe, when people are telling you that what you're saying is clearly wrong, you should review what you are communicating rather than tell people to read it again?

There is a good chance this van is one of those I saw that had concertina'd between other vans and lorries near Oval this week.

Avatar
atgni replied to ChrisB200SX | 5 years ago
1 like
ChrisB200SX wrote:

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

No. And they weren't queing in this case. And yes. I didn't say the van was right. I said the bike could easily have avoided the conflict.

I see you believe might is right and it's ok to use a mandatory cycle lane if the alternative is to wait a few seconds, so little left to discuss.

Still no to both your assertions. Try reading what I write maybe.

You realise the van driver instigated the confrontation by not obeying the rules of the road and illegally entering the bus lane while also putting a vulnerable road user in danger?

Maybe, when people are telling you that what you're saying is clearly wrong, you should review what you are communicating rather than tell people to read it again?

Yes and yes. And the cyclist decided to plough on saving no time as getting stuck behind the moped immediately afterwards.
Hirsute simply keeps claiming I think or say things that I don't or haven't. Hence it would be handy if they read what I wrote rather than making things up. See very first comment.

Avatar
Hirsute replied to atgni | 5 years ago
6 likes

atgni wrote:

 Yes and yes. And the cyclist decided to plough on saving no time as getting stuck behind the moped immediately afterwards. Hirsute simply keeps claiming I think or say things that I don't or haven't. Hence it would be handy if they read what I wrote rather than making things up. See very first comment.

Perhaps you should read what you wrote.

You said "share the road". In order to do this, the driver would have to enter the mandatory lane which they shouldn't do.

Your very first comment was "Van indicating for some time before turn" which you have never explained what relevance that has, then you go on to make an erroneous claim about "going up the inside".

You also claimed he sped up whereas the speed shown in the video is that he slowed down.

Seems you don't like people pointing the implications or contradictions of your comments.

Avatar
atgni replied to Hirsute | 5 years ago
1 like
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:

 Yes and yes. And the cyclist decided to plough on saving no time as getting stuck behind the moped immediately afterwards. Hirsute simply keeps claiming I think or say things that I don't or haven't. Hence it would be handy if they read what I wrote rather than making things up. See very first comment.

Perhaps you should read what you wrote.

You said "share the road". In order to do this, the driver would have to enter the mandatory lane which they shouldn't do.

Your very first comment was "Van indicating for some time before turn" which you have never explained what relevance that has, then you go on to make an erroneous claim about "going up the inside".

You also claimed he sped up whereas the speed shown in the video is that he slowed down.

Seems you don't like people pointing the implications or contradictions of your comments.

Where did I say this? "You also claimed he sped up whereas the speed shown in the video is that he slowed down."
I'll give you a hint - I didn't. That's where this reading thing comes in.

Avatar
atgni replied to Hirsute | 5 years ago
1 like
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:

 Yes and yes. And the cyclist decided to plough on saving no time as getting stuck behind the moped immediately afterwards. Hirsute simply keeps claiming I think or say things that I don't or haven't. Hence it would be handy if they read what I wrote rather than making things up. See very first comment.

Perhaps you should read what you wrote.

You said "share the road". In order to do this, the driver would have to enter the mandatory lane which they shouldn't do.

Your very first comment was "Van indicating for some time before turn" which you have never explained what relevance that has, then you go on to make an erroneous claim about "going up the inside".

You also claimed he sped up whereas the speed shown in the video is that he slowed down.

Seems you don't like people pointing the implications or contradictions of your comments.

Just to clarify your mis statements.
It's a bus lane not a mandatory cycle lane.
Going up the inside is not erroneous, the cyclist was behind the not queing van or you would not have seen the indicators before they got up the inside.
Incident entirely avoidable by regardless of whether the van crossed the lane marking just by the cyclist observing the indicators. Better if the van hadn't crossed the lane marking but avoidable either way.
Most of this comments section avoidable by you reading what I wrote or by me remembering I was reading a website where some people blindly believe cyclists can do no wrong.
I'm not in your gang obviously. Enjoy your riding.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to atgni | 5 years ago
2 likes

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:

 Yes and yes. And the cyclist decided to plough on saving no time as getting stuck behind the moped immediately afterwards. Hirsute simply keeps claiming I think or say things that I don't or haven't. Hence it would be handy if they read what I wrote rather than making things up. See very first comment.

Perhaps you should read what you wrote.

You said "share the road". In order to do this, the driver would have to enter the mandatory lane which they shouldn't do.

Your very first comment was "Van indicating for some time before turn" which you have never explained what relevance that has, then you go on to make an erroneous claim about "going up the inside".

You also claimed he sped up whereas the speed shown in the video is that he slowed down.

Seems you don't like people pointing the implications or contradictions of your comments.

Just to clarify your mis statements. It's a bus lane not a mandatory cycle lane. Going up the inside is not erroneous, the cyclist was behind the not queing van or you would not have seen the indicators before they got up the inside. Incident entirely avoidable by regardless of whether the van crossed the lane marking just by the cyclist observing the indicators. Better if the van hadn't crossed the lane marking but avoidable either way. Most of this comments section avoidable by you reading what I wrote or by me remembering I was reading a website where some people blindly believe cyclists can do no wrong. I'm not in your gang obviously. Enjoy your riding.

Dunning-Kruger Effect in full effect  1

Presumably the cyclist was also "behind" the vehicle two lanes over? I presume you haven't passed a driving test.

Avatar
Housecathst replied to atgni | 5 years ago
4 likes

atgni wrote:
hirsute wrote:

atgni wrote:

 Yes and yes. And the cyclist decided to plough on saving no time as getting stuck behind the moped immediately afterwards. Hirsute simply keeps claiming I think or say things that I don't or haven't. Hence it would be handy if they read what I wrote rather than making things up. See very first comment.

Perhaps you should read what you wrote.

You said "share the road". In order to do this, the driver would have to enter the mandatory lane which they shouldn't do.

Your very first comment was "Van indicating for some time before turn" which you have never explained what relevance that has, then you go on to make an erroneous claim about "going up the inside".

You also claimed he sped up whereas the speed shown in the video is that he slowed down.

Seems you don't like people pointing the implications or contradictions of your comments.

Just to clarify your mis statements. It's a bus lane not a mandatory cycle lane. Going up the inside is not erroneous, the cyclist was behind the not queing van or you would not have seen the indicators before they got up the inside. Incident entirely avoidable by regardless of whether the van crossed the lane marking just by the cyclist observing the indicators. Better if the van hadn't crossed the lane marking but avoidable either way. Most of this comments section avoidable by you reading what I wrote or by me remembering I was reading a website where some people blindly believe cyclists can do no wrong. I'm not in your gang obviously. Enjoy your riding.

Poor example to try and fight that battle on, in this instance the cyclist didn’t do anything wrong!

Avatar
burtthebike replied to atgni | 5 years ago
4 likes

atgni][quote=hirsute wrote:

I'm not in your gang obviously.

I for one, am grateful.

Has anyone been in touch with the company that owns the van and asked for their views? 

Edit: I've just asked them if they have any comment to make http://www.debaltd.co.uk/contactus.html

2nd edit, a response:

"Good morning Richard,

This incident will be investigated thoroughly. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Kind regards,

Irene Lesnikova

Operations Manager

DEBA UK LIMITED

Cooling Tower Engineering & Environmental Services"

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