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Following a ?near miss? when a cyclist suddenly turned across my path (I was in a car) without signalling I have been noting cyclist behaviour in and around ED over the last fortnight. During that time 1 (one) cyclist only (middle aged man, for the record) signalled a turn (in fact two, I was following him as he turned left and then almost immediately right). All the others who did manoeuvre whilst I was driving (and walking) turned either off or into the road I was on without any sort of signal.


As a driver I signal not because I am required to, but because it is the best way I can make my intentions clear to other road users (drivers, cyclists, pedestrians). This is for my own (and their) safety.


When I started to ride a bicycle (as an older child) I was not allowed by my parents to use even the little local streets (in the late ?50s almost traffic free) until I was a sufficiently competent cyclist to steer one handed (left or right) whilst signalling. I remember that it wasn?t easy, but I did master it.


Whilst I am well aware that cycling in London is a hazardous occupation, and cyclists are disproportionately likely to suffer serious injury in accidents (and that many of these are caused by errors and unthinking stupidity of other road users) I find it difficult to understand why, in that case, cyclists shouldn?t take the best precautions they can (e.g. by signalling their manoeuvres) to alert other road users (most of whom will crush them and walk away injury free in an accident) about their intentions. Surely it cannot be that they can?t steer one handed ? a skill I mastered (and I am Mr Clumsy) at six?


Nor can I understand why cyclists locally still insist on riding at dusk or at night without lights, or whilst wearing dark clothes without reflectors (I can recall being stopped, not in London, and in the late 1950s, by a local bobby when I was riding my bike without a light attached ? and that was at mid-day when I wouldn?t anyway have it lit!)


As a driver, I watch out for cyclists ? I wish (most) of them, particularly locally in ED and SE London where I drive most, would also watch out for themselves.

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https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/44002-cycling-etiquette-in-ed/
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