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Original poster

To think cyclists should allow cars to overtake them?

429 replies

Twitterqueen · 01/12/2014 17:59

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?

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 01/12/2014 18:25

Aren't you in the States Bulbasaur? So the Highway Code isn't relevant.

Let's just agree that about an equal number of cyclists and drivers are arseholes because there are. However, if I hit a cyclist in my car, they are dead and I'm fine. So it is absolutely my job to be aware of them. Because I don't, you know, want to kill a human being.

It reminds me of that Margaret Atwood quote about men and women, "Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them." Let's give the 2-wheels a little room.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/12/2014 18:25

There was a driver prosecuted recently for "passing closely"

The cyclist either wobbled and fell off infront of them and was hit or possibly wobbled off course and was hit....can't remembe.

The driver argued it was the cyclists fault for falling off/veering in front of him. The judge said that "every cyclist is allowed a wobble" and that the car was too close. Threw the book at the driver. Banned and fined I believe.

Bulbasaur · 01/12/2014 18:26

If I car wants to pass a cyclist then they have to give as much space as passing a car....ie on the other side of the road. So cyclists should be able to be in the middle of their lane if they wish!

You're joking right?

Passing a car you can allow much, much less room than cyclists get itchy about. A few feet away from a car and a car is fine. Same distance from a cyclist, and they pitch a fit.

Luckily bikes aren't allowed on main roads here.

Also, here they do have the option of a sidewalk which is off the road. So if they're choosing to hog the road, they are being a dick. You guys are acting like I'm running them off the road.

I do ride a bike, I ride on the side so cars can get by, or I ride on the side walk. But I don't sit there impeding traffic.

northernlurker · 01/12/2014 18:26

The thing that makes me really angry is that frankly I can take care of myself. I expect every car to be filled with a selfish, stupid git - like Bulbasaur - and I ride accordingly. so does my dh. But my teenagers ride bikes too and this is what I have to teach them - that there really ARE some total bastards out there who think it's their god given right to run you down rather than be behind you. That's very depressing.

whois · 01/12/2014 18:27

Bulbasaur is clearly a troll. No one is really that fucking stupid or unpleasant.

limitedperiodonly · 01/12/2014 18:27

I've become an avid fan of the YouTube clips of a fellow MNetter's DH.

I'm not going to out her but I can't wait for the next instalment because I admire him. I'm not a cyclist. I'm a pedestrian and very occasional driver these days.

In all his clips, he's right to ride defensively and 'own the road', as they say. And brave because fuck me, some drivers and pedestrians are dangerous - mostly incompetent but there's the odd psychotic one.

My friend and I agreed that if we dared cycle we'd probably just ride on. But he enjoys the confrontation and it gets him out in the open air Wink

listed · 01/12/2014 18:27

Bulbasaur lets just establish that we are talking about the UK, and therefore the Highway Code applies.

Which makes your posts irrelevant as well as stupid.

difnameforthis · 01/12/2014 18:29

If you need a signal to know it's ok to overtake, you shouldn't be driving.

TBH, I like it when cyclists pull over, but they're under no obligation to do so and may feel safter not doing so - besides which they're as likely to be in a hurry as car drivers.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/12/2014 18:29

I'm not joking at all. That's the law here as has been proved in the courts when drivers have been prosecuted.

I believe the official recommendation is 6ft space. Which in practical terms will be the other side of the road.

Have no idea about American laws but I'm glad I'm unlikely to bump into you Bulbasaur. Btw, here you'd be prosecuted for riding on the sidewalk.

FelixFelix · 01/12/2014 18:29

Northern that's exactly what my DP says. He has to ride defensively and assume everyone is out to get him, otherwise he would be fucked. I am too scared to ride on the road myself!

Doobledootch · 01/12/2014 18:31

Unfortunately having cycled often I very much doubt they are a troll, some people get very cross with you for daring to use the road when you're not a car, they always assume that the act of being in the car gives them an automatic privilege over other users of the road and quite often they view having to squish you under the wheels of their vehicle as a minor inconvenience to them being able to exercise that "right".

Sure some cyclists may act like dicks, but that's not really a good enough excuse of deciding that you have the right to drive in a way that can kill people who ride bikes.

Doobledootch · 01/12/2014 18:32

for deciding

Bulbasaur · 01/12/2014 18:33

Bulbasaur lets just establish that we are talking about the UK, and therefore the Highway Code applies.

I pointed out in my second post that the roads here are different, wider, and allow two lanes of traffic. I can't help people's lack of reading comprehension.

I'm not going to apologize for being a dick to a dick though. If they swerved, we have an entire empty lane and shoulder on the opposite side to go into without causing them harm.

Now calm down. I haven't played with their lives like you all are dramatically thinking with a big truck coming within touching distance.

ScrambledEggAndToast · 01/12/2014 18:33

Cyclists can be so annoying. I was on the bus earlier going up the hill and this cyclist was puffing and panting holding up an entire bus full of people because they wouldn't move over. They could have easily moved over as well because they were in the bus lane right next to the pavement, so selfish.

merrymouse · 01/12/2014 18:33

As the signs say in the New Forest

"Ponies don't dent, they die".

The same could be applied to cyclists. They are advised to cycle confidently in the middle of the room so that they aren't hurt by somebody who thinks there is just enough room to squeeze past.

OldBeanbagz · 01/12/2014 18:34

It's the arseholes in cars who overtake me and then immediately turn left across my path that annoy me. This has happened numerous times including when i've been cycling with the DC.

You wouldn't overtake a car only a few inches to their right so why do it to cyclists?

FrontForward · 01/12/2014 18:34

Bulbasaur sounds callous as well as stupid.

OP I take the same approach as tractors do around my way...if we pulled over because of a faster vehicle behind us we'd never get anywhere. However if I'm holding a queue of traffic I will pull over when safe. Yes it's annoying to have to pause your journey for like ....Ooooo5 minutes (because realistically that's all it is) but you do not own the road. The law backs cyclists to be on roads.

naty1 · 01/12/2014 18:35

I dont think cyclists should signal, in fact noone is meant to signal someone to overtake. But they can pull in /keep in.
They may have the right but a cyclist only (doesnt own car) isnt contributing the amount of tax to the upkeep.
In the 'cycle city' near me i have seen so many ilegal cycling. I honestly think - tax and test and insure so if they are at fault the car can claim off them (we have a dent in rear of car from cyclists handlebars where they got too close)
Also i saw cyclist this week with camera but it should have pointed at their own terrible cycling behaviour. Group of cyclists really strung out with no gap to overtake but mainly the 1st one steering to the centre line to go round severe bend. (Where i saw a bus 2 weeks ago very much using that space to go round the bend)
I also dont understand 2 cycling side by side, adults.
I want more people to cycle to reduce traffic. But to obey the road rules.
And maybe use the cycle paths 'millions' were spent on to keep them and their dangerous behaviour off the road.

Op the cyclist cant stop you overtaking but i guess they may be warning about something

listed · 01/12/2014 18:35

Who are all these people in such a ridiculous hurry that three seconds behind a cyclist counts?

Jesus people get a massage or something. Chill!

merrymouse · 01/12/2014 18:36

I don't think cyclists are more or less likely to be dicks than the rest of the population. However, word to the wise - if you want to avoid getting held up in traffic, it's the cars you need to worry about. They are all over the place - everywhere!

listed · 01/12/2014 18:37

Naty cyclists should cycle side by side, as should horse riders.

It's good practice.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/12/2014 18:37

primary position explained

Bulbasaur , if you're close enough (or closer) to make someone uncomfortable how can you be sure you'd swerve in time to miss a last minute wobble from a cyclist? Noone can guarantee their reactions are that quick. You sound like a total fuckwit.

FrontForward · 01/12/2014 18:37

It's amazing how being inside a vehicle turns normally civil people into angry unpleasant and selfish individuals

merrymouse · 01/12/2014 18:38

Car tax is just tax. It doesn't particularly pay for roads and some cars don't pay any tax.

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