Petition - To introduce a permanent, minimum passing distance when overtaking cyclists

[CatherineDeB]

Sign here

[RortyCrankle]

Surely the passing distance can't be set in stone - what about narrow roads, or where doing so would move you to the other side of the road facing oncoming traffic, or into the next lane?

I totally support motorists giving cyclists a wide berth but won't sign because it totally depends on road and traffic conditions.

[MrSnow]

I live in an old part of the city, our lanes were designed for 1950's cars. I won't be signing your petition.

I look forward to trying to get past the wobbling cyclist on the hill near my house tonight. Thanks for making the very end of the journey special.

[Tiggeryoubastard]

This just couldn't be policed so is a waste of time. Could be more dangerous to the cyclist expecting the space that can't or won't be given and could also be more dangerous for other traffic or the driver as said by pp in certain situations.

[Pettywoman]

Good idea but unenforceable. Education is better like the campaign on busses telling you to leave as much space as you would a car.

[WhatamessIgotinto]

What about a minimum passing distance for cyclists and pedestrians/runners? I was almost run over yesterday when I was running, by a cyclist - I had to jump over a field into a ditch. Or perhaps that doesn't matter.

[Chchchchangeabout]

How would this work in practice though?

[sashh]

So if I am sat at traffic lights and a cyclist comes up on the inside does that mean I can't set off until they have and that I then need to go on to the wrong side of the road?

[KatherineMumsnet]

We're just moving this one to Petitions.

[NicknameUsed]

It wouldn't be practical on our narrow country lanes, and I am a cyclist, so I'm not signing it either.

[CatherineDeB]

A fair number of EU countries, amongst others, have adopted something along these lines.

Cycling is on the increase in this country. Our government claims to encourage cycling, whether as part of sustainable transport or for health etc., etc..

However, as a country our safety record is poor. The petition will not 'make' the law happen but it will start a consultation process, which cannot be a bad thing.

www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/5080.html

[Katymac]

I'd rather campaign for cycle tracks - you can't get out of our village in any direction safely on a bike. That's according to my brother who builds & races bikes.

[CatherineDeB]

More infrastructure is required but in reality that is only ever going to be provided in towns/cities/more densely populated areas.

[Penfold007]

In my area there is an amazing network of cycle lanes, many where part of the highway has been annexed by concrete blocks to give cyclists priority and making the road much narrower. Sounds good - cyclists still use the road an the cycle lane is empty. Happy to agree to a safe passing distance is using available cycle lanes becomes mandatory.

[CatherineDeB]

The petition is dealing with safe passing distances Penfold, not mandatory use of cycle lanes.

I hope it achieves consultation stage.

The current paper on Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy aims to

Double cycling, where cycling activity is measured as the estimated total number of bicycle stages made each year, from 0.8 billion stages in 2013 to 1.6 billion stages in 2025;
Reverse the decline in walking activity, measured as the total number of walking stages per person per year;
 Reduce the rate of cyclists killed or seriously injured on England’s roads, measured as the number of fatalities and serious injuries per billion miles cycled, each year;
 Increase the percentage of children aged 5 to 10 that usually walk to school.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/512895/cycling-and-walking-investment-strategy.pdf

Anything that makes cycling on the roads safer is welcomed and something that requires experts to consult on safe passing distance can only be a good thing.

[Katymac]

This issue is there is already a safe passing distance - just like there are rules about talking on your phone, speeding, wearing a seatbelt and not going through red lights

People still break rules no matter what

& the chances of policing 'overtaking bicycles' is minimal

[CatherineDeB]

The current HC is lame - 'advises' drivers to give as much room as they would when overtaking a car.

A new law could change overtaking cyclists from 'I might just squeeze past' to 'I better wait for that car to pass as I don't want penalty points'.

[Katymac]

But they won't get caught

Just like all the people don't get caught for many of the other offenses

TBH a public campaign has changed driving while drunk as a minor misdemeanour in the 70s to a major offence by 2000 as did seatbelts. The same is currently going on for 'using your phone' & 'speeding' the attitudes have changed from 10yrs ago and will continue to do so until it is 'unacceptable'