CYCLING

London Cycling
Beginners Guide
Be Confident
Watch the Road
Positioning
Watch the Turns
Use Lights
London Drivers
Know your Enemy

Critical Mass

Equipment

Machines
My Machines
Other Machines

Events

Reviews
Videos
Books

A Beginners Guide to Cycling in London (By a Beginner)

Know your enemy

Very simple really everyone is your enemy. Car drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers all hate cyclists, as do pedestrians. "If it wasn't for that damn cyclist I would be a whole car length further down the road" etc etc. Yawn. You're getting in their way and generally make their lives much more difficult. As you are not surrounded by a couple of tons of metal (and therefore can't do their lovely car/taxi/bus any damage) you are not to be shown any respect.

Or a lot in some cases

Pedestrians are usually occupied by looking at the sky, sending a text, and doing just about anything apart from looking as they cross the road.

Take a look at guide to the Types of Drivers in London.