To think cyclists should allow cars to overtake them?

[Twitterqueen]

If you're cycling and you know a car is behind you and wants to overtake, should you let them / facilitate the overtake or deliberately refuse and shout 'wait' at the car? When the road ahead is straight and clear for well over half a mile, when the car has been patiently waiting for a safe, straight stretch, there is no other traffic but the road is just that little bit too narrow for the car to want to do it without some kind of affirmation from the cyclist, ie stop pedaling for a few seconds and move a bit closer into the side of the road?

Mean not meant

If there is a stream of traffic behind them , then yes I think they should pull over in the same way that a tractor would .
My pet hate is cycling groups who ride a lot on the quiet country lanes round here . The faster ones stop and wait for the others to catch up (which is fine).Then just set off again when they can see a car coming in the distance which then has to get past 20 of the fuckers!
Annoying as cyclist sometimes are , they are extremely vulnerable and all someone's cherished son or daughter , husband or wife

This thread has made me realise, first, that I cycle too apologetically (and thus dangerously), and second that I probably pass other cyclists a bit too close for comfort when driving.

I'll do it properly from now on, thanks (in an odd way) to TwitterQueen.

taking the middle position is fine, but not when they intersperse it with undertaking.Either be in the middle or at the side!

Cyclists will not have "equal rights" on the roads until they are forced to have a number plate and compulsory insurance. If they did that I'm pretty sure other road users would show them more respect.

Cyclists do have equal rights Sunna. As do other road users, horses, tractors and so on. And really its quite easy to show respect. I manage to show respect to other road users both as a car driver and a cyclist. Really people with your attitude shouldn't be allowed to have a drivers license. Too much of a danger to other people. Fortunately most drivers are really considerate. Its just the odd idiot, like yourself, that is likely to destroy the life of another person.

The government does benefit from people cycling as a PP said but they should be spending more on ensuring we have the appropriate infrastructure. At the moment, the pro-cycling campaigns do leave cyclists at risk because cyclists can take to the road with no knowledge of the Highway Code, and no idea about safe cycling positions. Cyclists are being placed in a vulnerable position that ultimately benefits the government but with no joined-up thinking to make the safety of cyclists a priority.

All of these threads could be avoided, as could most of the dangerous cycling and dangerous driving if the government actually spent funds on educating both cyclists and drivers. Having a test for cyclists could generate income that could be ring-fenced to transform our provision for cyclists in this country. I think that would be much more beneficial than trying to separate people into them and us. Lots of cyclists drive and lots of drivers cycle. We're not different species on different sides of a fence. If we worked together instead of taking pot shots then maybe we could reduce accidents.

Either be in the middle or at the side!

You think cyclists shouldn't vary their position on the road appropriate to conditions and what they are doing, but have to pick a position a stick to it...?

I think that's a great idea. We should implement it along with my new rule that drivers have to pick either left or right turns only at the start of every journey.

It would help if you drove with your eyes open, Will.

Only making a constructive suggestion about wearing high visibility Pan

The rigid thinking on this thread is remarkable. Driving and cycling is not about which rule says what, it's about making sure that most people stay alive and don't endanger others.

Using Hi visibility clothing does this. As a car driver when your eyes are being met with bright lights coming in the opposite direction, you're driving 30 and then a 15mph cyclist suddenly appears in front of you you have to stop very suddenly and this endangers everyone.

For this reason most rural cyclists don't drive in the middle of a lane and use high vis clothing because they know if someone driving up behind them at 60 and doesn't see them they are roadkill.

It's the drivers in London who seem to think that the world owes them a living. London traffic functions on give and take and reasonable behaviour, it always has done. You can't suddenly turn up with your principles and random highway code rules to provoke hostility for the sake of a position of self-appointed righteousness. This will explain why cycle instructors encourage cyclists to use half a lane - it's just reasonable and more practical and yes it does create hostility if you use up the whole lane of course it would. It's an arsey thing to do. Thankfully I rarely see this happen. What I do see happen is lots of people in dark clothing on bikes with a tiny red flashing light that are almost impossible to see when you're driving at relative speed in the dark.

Its a fair point about the high viz clothing and adequate lights. Cyclists need to do what they can to keep themselves safe and visible too. It does always puzzle me to see cyclists wearing dark clothes, and poor lights. I've never come close to hitting one, because I watch where I'm going, but clearly with some drivers out there, big neon signs are needed.

*You think cyclists shouldn't vary their position on the road appropriate to conditions and what they are doing, but have to pick a position a stick to it...?
I think they should either behave like a car or like a bike not flip between the 2.It's really scary when a bike appears from the passenger side and cuts in front of you.

clearly with some drivers out there, big neon signs are needed.

Er no, just big lights and non-dark clothing will be fine. Your choice really, be seen or be crushed.

As a car driver all we see is your arse and your legs and a tiny red flashing light. It's not enough on a dark rainy night if clothes are dark.

Well as a car driver myself I manage to see them just fine. But I agree that high viz is a sensible idea for those drivers who don't concentrate on the road properly. Hence I always where high viz on my bike.

• wear

Teaching people how to behave around vulnerable road users (so cyclists/bikers/horse riders) etc should be part of the driving test. It's scary the number of people who simply don't understand that overtaking someone with inches to spare or (as happened twice to me) simply don't bother to give way to a cyclist and drive straight at them rather than wait for the cyclist to clear parked cars is fucking scary. I once asked someone if they would like me to drive past them close enough him to reach out and touch the car at 30mph whilst they sat on a stool. Funnily enough, he declined.

Yes, some cyclists don't help themselves, but the overwhelming attitude that drivers have in the UK - in my experience - is very much one of "get the fuck out of my way, how dare you travel on my road" and they simply don't give two craps about other people's safety. It doesn't help that most of the time the police don't bother to chase up reports of dangerous driving and if they do, most of the punishments handed out are laughable.

I've been driving in central London for 22 years and have never had an accident with a bike or anything else. Of course I concentrate on the road but eyes are eyes, and when bright car lights are shining in the the pupils adjust and anything that isn't bright coloured or lit up isn't visible.

I have no problem with cyclists avoiding the potholes etc in the cycle lane.

I do have a problem with cyclists riding like they're in a pelaton. It isn't the Tour de France people - 6 a breast isn't necessary

Kid I don't think most drivers are like that at all. In central London traffic moves about fine. The vast majority of drivers just want to get from A to B and do it in a sensible and reasonable manner.

There are idiots in cars but they are definitely not the majority.

I think there are quite a few drivers who have not ridden a bike in fast traffic or difficult conditions so are not aware of cyclists needs and limitations, such as stopping or changing speed quickly. Getting too close to a cyclist is simply dangerous. Even an experienced cyclist will struggle if pushed into potholes, or buffeted by a cars too close slip stream. Good manners dictate consideration. And cyclists are easily killed or seriously injured if anything goes wrong. Give then room!

eyes are eyes, and when bright car lights are shining in the the pupils adjust and anything that isn't bright coloured or lit up isn't visible.

Never had this problem myself. And I'm not saying that cyclist shouldn't wear high viz. But an eye test may be appropriate if you find that cyclists without high viz aren't visible. Thats concerning.

My eyesight is fine Dancingdinosaur.

You can's see black in the dark, that's all.