Hi Ashley. Many thanks for the very honest and respectable review of my clips. Rest assured no red lights were jumped in any of the clips. That section of bike lane is a nightmare. I often consider just riding in the road as I belive it might be safer and give me less hazards to consider. The final clip, you were very correct, the road surface is terrible and I was mainly avoiding the pot holes. The other issues were the big planters that obscure the road and the parked cars in the outer lane. It a 2 lane 1 way road. So I try and give drivers the option to use the outside lane but those planters make it difficult sometimes. What you can't see in the clip, was when I stopped he purposely drove at me. I wish I just held back after his first pass, but initially he was in the outside lane and thought he would go. Every day is a lesson. Thanks again Ashley for great review.

The driver of the white vehicle in the last clip appears to be the type of driver triggered by cyclists regardless of what they do. Move to primary = you are in their way Move to secondary = slow down if they try to pass you Filter alongside = how dare you get in front of a motor vehicle

1:45 He actually changes down 2 gears.

I'll still raise an arm after a close pass. I know the culprit won't see it but it's amazing how room the following vehicles give me.

tbh i think the hand gestures are understandable & he's not being aggressive.

That last clip would have turned out the same even if the cyclist was to take primary position. I can imagine that driver thinking they were in the way and would be annoyed about it. Those types of drivers are never happy. Just another cyclist hater.

One the 2nd clip at 1:36 he changed DOWN a gear approaching the lights - you can see the entire right level move inwards. In fact it even looks like a double shift (by pushing the lever fully inwards). This is exactly what I would do when preparing to stop at lights. So Ashley is wrong that he changed up a gear.

A bit rough to insinuate the cyclist might not have stopped for those red light. Also, I don't think it's advisable to emerge into traffic where you might be putting a vulnerable road user at risk of injury, even if it assists in best 'flow'. Just wait until there's a gap, or at least it's just another car you're pushing in front of. That last vehicle would have pushed past no matter the position in the road.

Take primary and you get drivers right up yer arse. Take secondary band you get close passes. Keep safe.

Excellent video! Some dodgy bike infrastructure too!

Did you ask for the unedited clips before suggesting someone of jumping reds? and taking primary in that situation would also trigger the driver to accuse you of "being in the middle of the road!"

I was hit and run in a similar space as the final clip last November. I took up primary position as there wasn't space to pass and they decided to drive into the back of my bike ruining it before they sped off. The police attempted to prosecute but failed to do so due to there being several drivers registered and the policy holder decided not to nominate the driver responsible. For some reason the police didn't take it any further than this. I know that it's a rare occurrence for someone to do this, but I don't think this is good advice, especially not for novice riders who have no idea that drivers may intentionally drive into a cyclist. It feels like the only option is to submit whenever a car is within a few feet of you, especially with how aggressive some drivers seem to be getting against cyclists as it becomes politicized, and how large these modern cars are. But maybe I'm just skittish due to my experience. Every close pass is just that much more terrifying now.

I know this piece of road, it’s in East Brighton, it has a petrol station in/on an island, several sets of traffic lights, traffic joining from 6 different directions I believe, the Sainsbury’s on the right there, the council depot is just around the corner, University campus just up the road, A B&Q Halfords type retail park, a bus garage & a high street full of shops surrounded by residential all around & even a Crematorium ! So it’s a busy busy junction which is poorly laid out which is exacerbated by shitty road surfaces. Car drivers just don’t understand how uncomfortable, de-stabilising & damaging these shitty roads are to a bicycle, especially one with skinny tyres.

The message from the commentary seems to be "although drivers act like idiots, the cyclist is at fault"

The last driver should not be on the road. An accident waiting to happen, in my opinion.

After viewing these clips, I'd imagine that exit / entrance in and out of Sainsbury's is a common spot for potential extra risk between cyclists and motorists. So for any cyclist who regularly rides past there, hopefully via "local knowledge" they would be familiar with the various risky situations that can arise there and be prepared for these kind of situations each time they approach.

I appreciate your thoughts on gesturing Ash. Just this morning a had a situation where I was in a roundabout and a car entering failed to give way to me. Well they did in the end actually, but the result was both of us stopped in the roundabout because we both braked last minute. (Them as they should have and me out of self preservation) Looking back I probably could have slowed myself and made it a complete nonevent. They clearly saw me and decided they had to get in front. I did kinda shrug at them. What they did was a disgrace, but I’m better than that. It’s very frustrating to see these people constantly doing stuff like this on the roads but reprimanding them does nothing in the best case and could turn violent in the worst case. I wish I had video of this morning as it would have been a good learning point for everyone.

Surely in a two lane road, in traffic, where vehicles are going with the flow of traffic and the left lane is moving slightly faster than the right, it is not an undertake just keeping up with the vehicle ahead.

This isn't one of my favourite videos from you, Ashley. Your videos don't exist in a vacuum and those "questions" reinforce a stereotype whether that's your intention or not. By all means, call out cyclists running red lights, but not in a video where there's only supposition of wrongdoing and certainly not when you can't tell a downshift from upshift. The phase "tarring with the same brush" and the term "confirmation bias" come to my mind. The last clip analysis is back up to your usual standard. I would have simply adjusted speed behind the white car before the bins. I certainly would have backed off if being squeezed as drivers often think they've completed overtaking me when they haven't.

Why would you assume he went through a red light in the first clip?

in that last clip, there are quite a few people out there that dont understand the dimensions of the vehicle they are driving. there are also quiet a few people with bad attitudes to cyclists. there are quite a few people out there that only need to drive instead of want to drive and learn more and take pride in their driving. that last driver was all 3 in 1, and those are the danger drivers you need to spot and keep yourself safe from.

@Ashley Neal My wife has just started her diving lessons, you're videos are by far the best out there.

After 40+ years on my bike, I can confirm: 1. I'm not perfect. 2. Yep, avoid is better than mitigate. 3. Make it a non-event. 4. Read the road. 5. Fix other people's mistakes. 6. And yes, like just this morning, if you see me, and still pull out in front of me, you get a middle finger, once I've made sure I'm safe. Just as Ashley gives a quick toot of the horn to show other people he's around.

A video about hand gestures? 😂

4:41 yes, I would have attached a large propane canister with the words 'DANGEROUS GOODS - KEEP CLEAR' to the back of my cycle

No. I have had poor results with impatient drivers when I take primary. Even if it would be unsafe to overtake me it doesn't feel much better to have them right on your wheel or to have them try to undertake you to get to the red light for the right lane before I do.

When you say "my view has changed up a gear" he has actually changed down.

I cycle a lot in London and this is a fantastic idea for a new series. Thank you Ashley and I can't wait for the tips!

At 1:36, at least for Shimano, moving the right lever in this way is actually changing down a gear. More tension in the cable moves the derailleur against it's spring, moving it 'up' the cassette and 'down' a gear.

I cycle this route most weeks on the way to work, the main junction in the 1st clip keeps me awake at night, as I’ve had so many close calls. Having the traffic cross the cycle lane is a nightmare as a cyclist and a car driver. Brighton has some great cycle lanes, but they only go short distances.

The driver in the last clip is almost certainly the type who would take a cyclist in primary as someone specifically riding to block them, even though they're all going to stop at the red light ahead.

At around 0:38, after diligently ceding priority to the SUV, I do hope the cyclist checked behind before steering out to the right and into the "regular " lane when they went to get around the SUV.

These clips are from Brighton and the first few are at a place called Vogue Gyratory. Since it has been built, it has been a nightmare to negotiate safely. Everything happens at once and vehicles come at you from all directions!

I thought it was only me who has a fluorescent case for the cycle computer!!! 🙂

0:30 at first I thought that was going to be another example of driver carelessness but that was actually quite a good job by them as well

in the last clip taken in "the usual spot" there was a motorcycle sharing the lane with the car that was crowding the bicycle lane. the whole scene was screaming "anyone who gets close is going to be collateral damage" to me.

He didn’t change up a gear - he quite clearly downshifted, as the whole brake lever comes out, and you can hear it. Upshifting would have made more of a CLUNK sound.

Excellent video Ashley and great analysis! I've seen a couple of dodgy overtakes in my time cycling (see my "No Room To Pass!" video), but this driving slightly worse I think. I've also got a video of a cyclist running a red light, and I don't think this cyclist was perfect either.

I have a D lock that I have used to adjust pratt-itude

You can’t win cycling on public roads in the uk

While cycling I've had more adverse interactions with drivers by taking up a primary position, as you suggest in the last clip, than I have had by making the open handed, what are you doing, gesture. To some drivers the very existence of cyclists is triggering.

My opinion is to never remonstrate with another road user. There are zero upsides and potentially catastrophic downsides. If the motorist decides to use their car to punish you after you yelled/gestured at them, it's going to be cold comfort from your hospital bed (or worse, your family attending your funeral) if the driver gets the customary minor slap on the wrist from the law.

Ashley proving his anti cyclist nonsense yet again. Assuming the worst, making wrong assumptions... Blaming the cyclist for the motorists poor judgement and planning.

When on my bike I always put my safety before my ego. I aint putting my life in the hands of drivers. I drive for a living & see some horrendous driving daily! And in the last clip he removed his ear buds. That's a big no no for me. I need to hear what's hapening around me, as well as seeing.

100% I would have taken primary position and responsibility

With that last clip, even before Ashley asked the question if you'd be riding in primary position, at around 4:04 I was thinking exactly that. I was quite surprised at how close to the edge of the road our cammer was riding, with his wheels practically on the right hand line of the double yellow lines. I'd also imagine tyre grip is less when cycling on a painted line, even in the dry. As for the driver of the white car, despicable behaviour putting a far more vulnerable road user at greater risk. Obviously a deliberate "telling off" for a perceived wrong doing by the cyclist. As Ashley pointed out, the white car had nowhere to go to complete the overtake. Seems to me they just wanted to encroach on the cyclist whilst they still had a brief chance to do so before running out of road. The fact they also sounded their horn further confirms the "telling off" aspect.

just a 3 days ago a white car pull out of a junction an almost hit me while i was waiting to turn into the junction people driving cars need to take more care

Brave, cycling in Brighton.

A (cycle) horn used in advance is better than a gesture of frustration later. Not that drivers ever learn.

hi. which camera system do you use? thanks

Thank you

If you don't show them they are wrong, they won't learn. If you do show them they are wrong, you antagonize them. So what do you suggest?

0:41 - was this comment really necessary?

Ashley, you're dying to catch this cyclist jumping a red light 😂😂😂 Really enjoy your analysis on these. 👍🏿

That Audi would have been triggered if you took primary because you would be slowing him down.

I've taken up the primary position to stop a dangerous a close pass on many occasions and it sometimes makes the driver unreasonably angry, resulting in a punishment pass further along road. There are too many horrible people on our roads and the reason why I don't give hand signals, the exception being a friendly thank you

The last clip is another case of, “I’m in the wrong, but I’m still not going to admit it!”

That road layout outside Sainsbury in Brighton has always been difficult. Often a driver on the inside needs to get to the far right & vice-versa. Adding the bike lane has only compounded the problem with bikes refusing to use a bit of give & take. There are many peds coming out of Sainsburys laden with shopping and have to cross the bike lane, which has been built down the middle of the pedestrian walk-way, to get to the bus stop. Will one single bike slow down due to increased risk to the peds? No, of course they won't. As this guy in lycra proves. Whilst it is a dangerous junction, so to reduce risk for cyclists, the bike lane has been added right through the pedestrian footway. So surely, the bike lane here should be reduced to 5mph, to ensure safety for all? It is amazing how risk has been increased for the peds, in favour of the bikes. As Ash says, one does have to nose across, as waiting for all lanes to be clear will never happen. As soon as a gap appears on the right, a car coming out of the garage will take it. On the left, a car from the car-park. So one has no choice other than to nose out. Cars stop and let a fellow road user out, so what is it with the biking menace, who will never (willingly) give way to anyone and will instead, always try to charge through?

I've been guilty of making gestures to vehicles that put me at risk, even when i change speed or direction to make it a 'non-event' . I think its my inherent way of responding to feeling threatened in traffic - not ideal, but the threat heightens awareness and adrenaline, and the caveman part of my brain gets control.

Ashley Neal - Just Cycling, Your videos always brighten my day, so I subscribed!

that bike lane at the start is one of the worst in brighton! Two emerging lanes onto it, a lane to the left that cars turn onto from the petrol station, hate that section

The last clip: I think the overtake was going to happen regardless of position. I would have conceded at the point the car started to squeeze, and I doubt I would have engaged or reacted to the horn.

The issue of primary position, is some drivers think you dont matter. I was once nearly taken out when in the right hand side of the lane, arm out to turn, and a ____ in a merc overtook me. I had just turned my wheel slightly, so no contact, but had it been a fraction of a decond later, id have been on his bonnet. I think driversand cyclists, need educating on rules of the road when on 2 wheels.

0:46 i really struggle with these videos when the first thing you say is "did the lights change and my viewer stop?" Insinuating they jumped a red light with no evidence or suggestion. Need to do better than this Ashley

the white car driver would attempt an overtake no matter what, with road wheels at that speed you do need to go around potholes if you want unpunctured tyres and unbroken rims and as such i do get the road position so should any experienced driver. Although when cycling we have high levels of adrenaline we need to keep calm and not react to such bad behaviour, they are not worth it. Good cycling and like the bar tape colour keep safe.

I don't appreciate Ashley's inference at clips breaking the law on running lights etc. Seems a bit odd. Ask for extra video clips if you want to really know. Also on hang gestures - emotions need to be felt in the body, moving is part of that. If your life is put in danger you're going to react & built up previous trauma round it. When cars then put you in danger needlessly it's healthy to react imho. Drivers simply don't experience this as often .Air bags, metal multi ton boxes, crumple zones keep them feeling safe in their bubble.

👍

Thanks Ashley, I see a lot of these types of cyclists, racing too fast through urban areas, running red lights or pedestrian crossings (when in use), on pavements and arguing with other road users or pedestrians. They ride into battle with the traffic and I cannot see this as fun, more like a macho trial of their virility. I am also a cyclist and actually, riding a bit slower, letting others go first and thanking polite drivers make my journey to work much nicer. BTW please don't wear headphones when cycling, as this chap does in the last clip, it puts you in so much more danger.

i believe he contravened the light because his unreasonable attention was more than sensitive

5th clip, that road surface is terrible, I think 'primary position' would have put the rider at risk of loss of control, or having to swerve around some of the bigger diviits.

highway code rule 168 applies to the cyclist who failed to follow it for the last clip

Taking a primary position like you suggest in the video may antagonise the driver as well, as they may feel us cyclists are not allowing them to 'overtake'. Difficult to win as cyclists..

1:20 The cyclist's gesture is a thumb-up. Nothing wrong with that.

White car was a jerry can

Two rather trivial points about the final clip: The cyclist was clearly riding with earphones in, not the best idea when cycling in mixed traffic even if they are open-backed. Secondly, that fella on the opposite pavement is clearly on the side of the kn*bhead in the white car 😂

Primary might have slowed that driver down and made him initially more cautious with an overtake.. however given his attitude and his poor overtake i suspect he'd have overtaken poorly anyway... I'd always ceed that space as they try to tuck in after a poor overtake because the fact the driver is prepared to drive like that means they aren't concerned with your safety. Get the camera footage send it into the police and let them add points to their licence.

1:10 was that hand signal a thumbs up? Did the car driver put a hand up to thank th cyclist, and the cyclist respond with a thumbs up?

In first clip the only way theSUV driver could not have seen the cyclist is if s/he didn't look. Nothing to do with blind spots.

I wish I could think of a suitable set of words to fill the SUV acronym, but it's not really coming to me. Simpleton Using Valium? Anything bigger than a car, so SUVs, pickups, vans, should be regarded in much the same way we do landmines.

As Ashley mentioned, it's very interesting that in the first two clips, the submitted videos end on the approach to a red light. Especially as Ash observed, in the second clip, the cyclist changed UP a gear on the approach to the lights. Couldn't have been for "better fuel economy" obviously!

Wow, that section of road/lane in the first few clips is just awful, I can understand (if not agree with) why the divers feel the need to force their way. Personally, I think I would take the road along with the speed/time hit and rejoin the cycle lane later.

Yeah on that last one I definitely would have moved to primary sooner - before the series of bins etc. Would have felt safer imo and would have made that close pass much less likely

I call this video "The Friday Five". But not "The 5 Series" as in BMW 5 Series!

Is Ashley the regular cyclist he claims to be? Let's get one thing clear in **ALL CAPS AND BOLD** **UNLESS THEY KNOW THE QUALITY OF THE ROAD SURFACE TO BE GOOD, A CYCLIST SHOULD NOT TAKE PRIMARY POSITION BEHIND A LARGER VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT SEE THE POTHOLES COMING UP IN THE ROAD.** I repeat **UNLESS THEY KNOW THE QUALITY OF THE ROAD SURFACE TO BE GOOD, A CYCLIST SHOULD NOT TAKE PRIMARY POSITION BEHIND A LARGER VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT SEE THE POTHOLES COMING UP IN THE ROAD.** Once more. **UNLESS THEY KNOW THE QUALITY OF THE ROAD SURFACE TO BE GOOD, A CYCLIST SHOULD NOT TAKE PRIMARY POSITION BEHIND A LARGER VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT SEE THE POTHOLES COMING UP IN THE ROAD.** Ashley do repeat this a thousand times before you question the judgement of a cyclist who will not take primary position when expected to. It was very obvious to me right from the start when I saw the road surfaces.

Re the last clip I’d have adopted primary position or even held back. The driver in the white car is abhorrent, using his car as a potential weapon. But one thing I’d comment on is the cyclist is wearing headphones whilst riding and clearly has to remove them to hear the comments from the driver. Not a smart thing in my opinion and something I would never do as it impairs hearing.

Ash, again you are completely missing the point, every one makes mistakes. However, when a driver makes a mistake with another car its a metal bending exercise and thats about it. Do this to a cyclist and its a matter of a bone broken, or worse. Now what does the HWC say about vulnerable road users? Some time its a reaction, to a threat when a car driver cuts you up, its involuntary, car drivers do it, cyclist are no different to those drivers that get cut up. You wouldn't drive at a pedestrian that was crossing the road and blame them would you.... Would you? Perhaps you and other here would.

People are just pratts when behind the wheel. Zero consideration and rudeness always come to the fore

The cyclist is wearing headphones

Nice to see a proper dedicated cycling lane. In my opinion cyclists should not be using the road if there's perfectly good cycle lanes next to them, glad to see this person mostly adheres to that!

headphones while riding.... i cycle a lot, and sticking in ear headphones and cutting off one of your senses is the smartest move tbh, but on the last clip i disagree with you saying the cyclist needed to stay in primary position, they're on a road bike, no forgiveness in them at all, cyclist would have no rims left if they went over those pot holes, driver should not have attempted an overtake full stop, where was it ever going to get them with stopped traffic up ahead where the cyclist will filter in front again? stupid behaviour that will earn them 3-5 points & a fine.

Stick to cars ash and leave cycling to the real cyclists

TBH the last clip driver was a complete idiot, no level of positioning would have meant anything to him/her. I always respect cyclists and they mostly return the favour. There are always idiots on both sides, and I have been overtaken on blind country bends while holding back for single and group cyclists. People can be so impatient, not regarding vulnerable road users.

Bike riders: Nothing wrong with slowing down to stay safe.. Cars do it, trucks and buses do it, motorcycles do it, even pedestrians do it.. stop acting like a spoiled child.. just do it.

Another set of clips showing the shockingly poor standard of UK driving. Another set of clips showing how us vulnrable road users are having to constanly adjust our road usage to avoid these idiots. It's about time drivers were made to behave better. Unfortunately, at this moment in time, the only way to keep cyclists safe is to provide connected, fully segregated infrastructure. Paint is not infrastructure. In relation to Ashley's comments about primary position, i do this on my ride to work as i pass through a section of road with junctions and traffic islands. What does this do to some drivers? Winds them up. I was on the receiving end of road rage last week from a driver who was enraged with me riding in primary. He leaned on his horn, close passed me and shouted 'you are not a car, get off the f**king road'. Shame he didnt realise he was a car either.

Keep safe cyclists and watch out for those idiot drivers

Funnily enough I'm from this area, i drive around the exact same places quite frequently, and have seen this rider numerous times, he rarely stops at traffic lights, and i'm honestly yet to see him ride well. But he only endangers himself though, as the drivers in this area as you can see in the last clip don't take too kindly to people like him.

Last clip was terrible. Every clip near Sainsbury's mind. Obviously the road markings are rubbish for both cyclist and drivers. I think both car driver AND the cyclist should be understanding of this and taking care. Cycling as if you are in the right is ok, but totally missing the slightly complex nature of crossing the cycle path from the petrol station, whilst dealing with blindspots.

What I find so amusing is how cyclists complain about cars getting close yet they pass them close also. I also definitely think they went thru the red lights. Also one day they might well come off all because they were giving gestures with one hand, seen it the other day in another video. All in a good anyisis of the cut footage provided. I hazard a guess though that there's many of them cycling dangerously and putting themselves in danger. Also sometimes the layout of the road and cycling lanes are dangerous and you cannot see in all directions at once.

The 2nd clip, clearly the cyclist was held up as was going to ignore the red lights. 04:10 Would defo report him to the police,. On the road, not that bothered if car drivers exhibit bad driving as always a non event, but if they do something stupid and also try to tell me off, they get reported. I guess it annoys me as they seem to think that cyclists are stupid without realising that some such as myself also drive cars and trained to a higher level than themselves. Taking primary for exmple is looking ahead which they are incapable of doing as look no further than their bonnets.

The cyclist should taken the middle of the lane for his own safety