Page 2 | Anxious when Overtaking cyclists driving help

Jessie1995 · 2023-08-17T08:40:33+00:00

Hi guys, im a cautious driver and when it comes to cyclists I always give them enough space wait for a safe gap or hang back if I don’t think it’s safe! today I was driving here and I was about this far away from the roundabout where I had 2 bikes infront of me one infront of the other with a gap between them. there was no cars on the other side of the road but I was turning left at the roundabout I was approaching and the cyclists looked behind at me so I took that as they were planning to go right at the roundabout and after this bus stop in the photo it goes to 2 lanes to go left and right at roundabout! so anyway I decided to stay behind the cyclists as they weren’t going too slow probably around 20mph and I then had 3 cars overtake me so I came away from the scenario feeling like I was too cautious? the photo makes it look a bit further away than it is and the bikes did have a gap between them so it’s like overtaking 1.5/2 cars! ohoto attached of approx where I was when I decided to just sit behind the cyclists to turn left!

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 17/08/2023 11:15

And yes, a cyclist looking over their shoulder is often looking back to judge the road before moving out. I will look before signalling. So I only signal and start moving over once I’ve looked.

I can’t safely take one hand off to signal and then look over my shoulder…..I’d risk an accidental swerve.

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 17/08/2023 11:32

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 17/08/2023 11:15

And yes, a cyclist looking over their shoulder is often looking back to judge the road before moving out. I will look before signalling. So I only signal and start moving over once I’ve looked.

I can’t safely take one hand off to signal and then look over my shoulder…..I’d risk an accidental swerve.

Totally agree - drivers sometimes forget that cyclists have to simultaneously balance their bikes as well as physically moving their bodies to see what's around them or to give a hand signal - that limits what we can safely do at any given moment.

For example - a cyclist often cannot easily make a hand signal at the same time as braking, whereas a car driver can. There is a section of road I regularly ride which is steeply downhill, approaching a junction. I need to brake for that junction (can't just drift to a halt on a downhill), so I have to signal before that downhill bit starts. Once I'm on the steep bit, I need to rely on road positioning to indicate my intentions.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 12:03

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 17/08/2023 10:58

The distance was fine - hanging back there was the right thing to do. It's what, 100m? Of which the final third needs to be spent slowing down for the junction anyway.

To overtake in that space you'd have needed to break the speed limit (as the cyclists were going 20-25mph, 30mph wouldn't have got past them fast enough), and then pull in sharply to turn left at the roundabout - right in front of the cyclists.

You would of course have needed to be on the wrong side of the road while overtaking, in order to leave 1.5m of space between you and the cyclists.

And what would you have done if someone had approached the roundabout from your left (no visibility there, so you wouldn't see them) and turned right while you were doing this manoeuvre and on the wrong side of the road? You'd have instinctly swerved in to the left to preserve your own safety, straight into the cyclists.

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Not the best with distances but in the photo right at the end where you can see too is the roundabout so it isn’t too far! Yes probably around 100m or slightly less! Yes you cannot see to your right at the roundabout until you physically get to it so you really do need to slow down beforehand!

yes cyclists were around 20mph
/25 mph approx as I was doing just short of that behind them so they were not going stupidly slow for a 30mph zone! The people overtaking did go pretty fast past me and especially the last one they had to tuck in very quickly!

that was my only thing that there were no cars on the other side of the road so space wise would have been fine but it’s more the coming back across before as I was going left at the roundabout!

that was also my thought if someone came from roundabout you can’t see until they are on my Bit of road so it could have been that I needed to swerve back over!

thank you for making me feel better about my choice!

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Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 12:05

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 17/08/2023 11:12

No, I don’t think you were being too hesitant at all, especially in view of your planned left turn. If you’d managed to overtake them you’d have risked a “left hook” accident. Did the overtaking cars go straight on? Even if they did I think it was still dodgy overtaking just before a roundabout. A car could have come from the ro7ndabout in the other direction at any minute. The cyclists were travelling at a good speed and if planning to turn right at the roundabout may have been planning to move into the centre/right of their carriageway at any minute.

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That’s what I thought as the cyclists weren’t super slow and was 2 of them that’s quite a bit around you need to go to give them enough space and if I’m going left I felt it could be unsafe! 2 out of the 3 cars went left actually and cut back infront of the cyclists rather quickly and quite close!
the bikes did end up going right as I thought and assumed when he looked over his shoulder!

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Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 12:09

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 17/08/2023 11:06

You weren't hesitant. Overtaking there would have been dangerous.

Overtaking should only ever be done if you are sure you have the space to do so safely, when you are not coming up to a junction (particularly one you plan to turn left at), and when you have full visibility for the entire distance you will be overtaking for. Whether it's a bike, a tractor, or a car you are overtaking doesn't change any of that.

Just because other drivers behave like utter wankstains with no regard for the safety of vulnerable road users, that doesn't mean you have to join in.

On my short cycle commute, about a quarter of the cars that pass me do so too close, or unsafely due to a junction coming up. Just because it's common doesn’t mean its ok.

Thank you I think it was a case of the other side of road being empty so cars behind just thought why is she not going? But in my head I was like there is a roundabout not too far ahead and 2 bikes to overtake with a gap that’s quite a long stretch to get past them safely and get back in the left to turn left at the roundabout whilst they look like they are going to go right!

whenever there is a junction or a island or anything I never overtake because it’s not worth the risk! But today just made me doubt whether I was being overly cautious as like I said there was space on the other side of the road to make a safe gap but I think maybe if it wasn’t a roundabout and a straight road would be ok but not before a roundabout!

thank you for making me feel better!

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blobby10 · 17/08/2023 12:11

The cyclist probably checked over their shoulder twice as they couldn't believe a car driver was being so considerate!! In my opinion (as a cyclist and motorist) you did exactly the right thing - the only thing you haven't mentioned is whether you were indicating left when the idiots came past? If you weren't that may have explained (not justified!) their actions in some way - some small and very teeny tiny way! .

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 12:13

astarsheis · 17/08/2023 10:51

I just want to say a huge thank you for being cautious with road cyclists.
I am one of them and wish there were a few more like you. (I am cautious around cyclists too, when I'm driving).
You would not believe how scary it can be when cars pass you too close or come up too close behind you.
You did the right thing. I also do not let other drivers pressure me, not as a driver or a cyclist.
Some drivers think it is worth risking a cyclist's life for a matter of a few seconds.

Thank you I always am very careful and think fully before doing it to make sure it’s safe! If was a straight road I’d have done it but the points I thought about were

roundabout not too far ahead and I want to go left at it
can’t see what comes from roundabout so may approach on coming cars on other side of road
bike looks like they want to go right in a minute
bikes weren’t going too slow approx 20mph in a 30 zone
and the fact it was 2 bikes not 1 with a gap between them is quite a long distance to get past them with a safe gap etc before the roundabout starts and not cut them up!

you don’t think the distance in the picture ( an approx haha) is too far away from roundabout to not overtake and I was right to be hesitant? Just after it happened I felt a bit silly like I had plenty of time! But the cars were going faster than 30 to get around me and the bikes too!

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Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 12:15

blobby10 · 17/08/2023 12:11

The cyclist probably checked over their shoulder twice as they couldn't believe a car driver was being so considerate!! In my opinion (as a cyclist and motorist) you did exactly the right thing - the only thing you haven't mentioned is whether you were indicating left when the idiots came past? If you weren't that may have explained (not justified!) their actions in some way - some small and very teeny tiny way! .

Haha maybe!! I think he was just giving me plenty of warning which is good! Not sure it’s in the photo but before the roundabout there is also a right junction so I also wasn’t 100% if theu were potentially going right!

also indicator sorry didn’t mention but yes I had it on! I put it on probably where I am in the photo just to emphasise I’m staying behind them and turning left in a minute! ( I wasn’t sure if I did it a tiny bit too early ) so the cars behind would know I was going left at the roundabout even if it was a little further ahead still!

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Bramshott · 17/08/2023 12:18

It's never the wrong decision NOT to overtake if you don't think you can do it safely.

Pedallleur · 17/08/2023 12:19

As a cyclist I thank you and as a driver I say you did the right thing. Dont worry about what motorists do/think. You were turning left so all you did was wait until you could.

megletthesecond · 17/08/2023 12:21

Same. I'm anxious and have a weak car. I even did advanced driving. I simply cannot pull around cyclists until there is an incredibly clear space up ahead.

I always have arsey drivers behind me. But as I've driven safely with no points for 25 years they have to wait.

VanWeezer · 17/08/2023 12:47

Another cyclist saying you made the right decision. I bike all the time to work and get loads of drivers making dangerous manoeuvres by overtaking to close and then turning left infront of me. It's really scary.

If you couldn't overtake a car you shouldn't overtake a bike . The other drivers were just impatient. You can never make a mistake by not overtaking

always2323 · 17/08/2023 13:35

Cyclists have the right of way so you did the right thing. If they are about to manoeuvre to make a right turn then over taking them could have knocked them down.

You said you waited because you used your judgement to assess where they were headed and you acted accordingly!

Coming up to any kind of junction I wouldn't bother to over take a cyclist. Id much prefer the cyclist approach the round about/junction safely so I'd hold back a bit and over take them later.

The other car users were being wreck-less.

Minfilia · 17/08/2023 13:47

Nobody here can tell you! But I suspect if three cars behind you managed to overtake safely then you did probably have plenty of time and were being over cautious!!

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 17/08/2023 13:50

Minfilia · 17/08/2023 13:47

Nobody here can tell you! But I suspect if three cars behind you managed to overtake safely then you did probably have plenty of time and were being over cautious!!

That's a really fucking big "if"

Just because they got past doesn't mean the manouvre was safe. The majority of unsafe manoeuvres don't result in a crash through nothing more than luck. Look at the distance in that photo.

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 17/08/2023 13:51

"managed to overtake safely", I mean. They obviously overtook, but was it actually safe? It doesn't look like it.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 14:22

Pedallleur · 17/08/2023 12:19

As a cyclist I thank you and as a driver I say you did the right thing. Dont worry about what motorists do/think. You were turning left so all you did was wait until you could.

Thank you it was more just there was no cars coming the other side of the road so there was room it was more the fact that I was going left at the roundabout and it was 2 cyclists with a gap so that’s a longer distance to get around safely but afterwards I was thinking was I over careful and felt a bit silly!

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Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 14:24

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 17/08/2023 13:50

That's a really fucking big "if"

Just because they got past doesn't mean the manouvre was safe. The majority of unsafe manoeuvres don't result in a crash through nothing more than luck. Look at the distance in that photo.

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Yeah they managed to get around but the last one was the skin of his teeth! He was going right at the roundabout so wasn’t as bad but if he was going left like me he would have swerved into the cyclists! They also were going over 30mph to get around the cyclists as I was doing 20 ish and the cyclists around 20/25 I would assume ( guessing haha) I did not fancy speeding just to get past quicker when I’m not far ahead going to be turning left

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Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 14:26

always2323 · 17/08/2023 13:35

Cyclists have the right of way so you did the right thing. If they are about to manoeuvre to make a right turn then over taking them could have knocked them down.

You said you waited because you used your judgement to assess where they were headed and you acted accordingly!

Coming up to any kind of junction I wouldn't bother to over take a cyclist. Id much prefer the cyclist approach the round about/junction safely so I'd hold back a bit and over take them later.

The other car users were being wreck-less.

Thank you it was more afterwards I felt maybe I could have done it safely and correctly but I had my doubts. The main point in I’m going left and they look like they are going right. Do you think the distance in the photo was plenty of time ? Was doubting myself afterwards but better to be safe than sorry for adding on 1 more minute to my drive!

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Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 14:28

VanWeezer · 17/08/2023 12:47

Another cyclist saying you made the right decision. I bike all the time to work and get loads of drivers making dangerous manoeuvres by overtaking to close and then turning left infront of me. It's really scary.

If you couldn't overtake a car you shouldn't overtake a bike . The other drivers were just impatient. You can never make a mistake by not overtaking

I took 2 cyclists with a significant gap between the 2 of them as more like a car and a half’s length and then giving them the space to come back infront of them I felt it was too risky that close to a roundabout/junction when I know I’m turning left! It was possibly around 100m infront of me approx?
I felt a bit silly afterwards thinking maybe I could have done it safely as there was nobody on the other side of the road so I could have given the space to the side but it was also that they were travelling at an ok speed not slow and the cars that overtook must have been speeding to do the overtake which I felt is unnecessary!
thank you for making me feel better about it!

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Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 14:30

megletthesecond · 17/08/2023 12:21

Same. I'm anxious and have a weak car. I even did advanced driving. I simply cannot pull around cyclists until there is an incredibly clear space up ahead.

I always have arsey drivers behind me. But as I've driven safely with no points for 25 years they have to wait.

I also have a weak car which would take me longer to put my foot down safely and get past cyclists!
Adding to the fact it was 2 cyclists with a significant gap between them that’s a long distance to get round safely all before a roundabout where I’m turning left at!
it was probably around 100m infront of me? ( rubbish at maths but around that I assume from the photo I attached!)

I just felt a bit silly afterwards thinking maybe I could have done it safely but I guess better to be safe than sorry! If no roundabout or junction and straight road then would be much safer!

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Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 14:33

Bramshott · 17/08/2023 12:18

It's never the wrong decision NOT to overtake if you don't think you can do it safely.

Thank you! I felt a bit silly afterwards thinking I should have done it or I could have done it in time! But I was reading the road and the cyclists moves and it’s better to be safe than sorry! If the road was straight no junction or roundabout would have been a different story but if I’m about to turn left in say approx 100m ( rubbish at maths but yeh hah) then i felt was best to stay back! Also not to mention the cyclists weren’t slow! They were approx 20mph or so in a 30 zone so not exactly crawling so the cars going around me to overtake must have sped past!

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Crimblecrumble1990 · 17/08/2023 14:42

Sometimes it can be so hard to make those judgements in a such a short space of time.

To be honest, I probably would have overtaken them. And then later worried that I cut it too close and it was the wrong decision!

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/08/2023 15:57

Crimblecrumble1990 · 17/08/2023 14:42

Sometimes it can be so hard to make those judgements in a such a short space of time.

To be honest, I probably would have overtaken them. And then later worried that I cut it too close and it was the wrong decision!

Yes I’ve done this a few times and I feel horrible afterwards even if I thought it was safe! I worry about things like that haha! So I guess it’s better to be like this and doing no harm to anyone other than the drivers behind getting angry!

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mistermagpie · 17/08/2023 16:59

I'm a fairly cautious driver so take that for what it is, but I'd have done the same as you. I'd have worried that I couldn't get passed them and back in in time to be in the left lane for my left turn. Plus coming to the roundabout there is the chance they will move to make a right turn.

Don't second guess yourself. I'm a bit the same with buses. You often don't have a clear view past them and Id rather wait than pull out to overtake and end up in the path of an oncoming car.

What's the worst that happens doing it 'our' way? A driver has to wait two minutes behind us? So what.