Discussion: Better a dick...

...than dead. There are a lot of duff drivers out there who don't look, but driving in urban environments is so busy and there are so many things to look at that even considerate/decent drivers can make a mistake - as you nearly did, yourself. Couple that with the fact that most modern cars have stupidly thick A pillars that obstruct the driver's vision, and cyclists basically have to do everything they can to draw attention to themselves, and cycle defensively. Because whether or not the driver was crap or just couldn't see them, in a crash the car gets dented but the cyclist gets injured or killed.

As a motorcyclist, the first thing you learn in your direct access test is to expect that every other driver on the road isn't paying attention. Coming up to a junction don't just stay on the straight line, which can mean that you stay in a turning car's blind spot right up to the point of impact, but actively drift your position slightly towards to the centre of the road whilst looking to see if the driver is actually looking at you. Basic stuff like that can save your life.

We can already get free bike lights