Crazy Taxi?

[Claireysmurf]

I was cycling close to the centre of Swansea this morning, riding secondary (rather than truly in the gutter). There was a row of parked cars 100 yards or so ahead with a traffic island slightly ahead of that too. There was a need for me to move out just a foot or so when I became aware of a taxi that came up quickly behind me and changed down a gear.
I accelerated and moved to primary position but he still didn't let up. There was no shouting or swearing from either of us but I did feel very harrassed. Was I wrong to have taken primary. I was rather shocked to find on a day when I am feeling very bike tired I touched 35mph on a relatively flat hill.

[Si]

Was I wrong to have taken primary.

Not if you felt that it improved safety for you.

It has been said that some people take primary just because they can, but if you are doing it to avoid the door zone and/or close overtakes, as it sounds you were, then I think that you were correct.

Better to have a possible lunatic revving away behind you than screaming past you 2mm from the end of your handlebar.

[Willy_Eckerslike]

In my experience I'd say it's safe to assume that if its a taxi driver, he was being an buttock.

[Vorpal]

It sounds like a situation where I would have taken primary.

Many drivers simply don't realise that their idea of a reasonable distance feels far too close to a vulnerable road user. Also many people, without realising it, get into the habit of following too closely. Watch how closely drivers follow other cars, as a rule. They don't see as intimdation. They see as normal.