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?

I drive a car as well as a bike. It has many useful features. As well as the ability to vary my speed at will it has some marvellous appendages on each side. Containing mirrors as they do this allows me to see behind me. I am pleased to say that my skeletal structure also allows me to move my head from side to side and even look over my shoulder. I find all these features of enormous benefit when driving my car and I truly appreciate how lucky I am. Cyclists may filter as much as they wish near my car because (unlike many drivers and apparently a swathe of mumsnet) I both have these wondrous features and the gumption to use them.

WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT IN YOUR CAR USE YOUR FLIPPING MIRRORS AND YOUR EYES TO CHECK FOR OTHER ROAD USERS!

It's defo wrong. I couldn't get over the cyclist who crashed into someones car (their fault), picked up their bag and walked off - leaving the bike still mashed to the car

All the concern about car drivers having paid tax to use the road, one might consider how many cyclists are drivers, too.

Sunna filtering is legal.

Pig ignorance on the other hand, should be punishable by law.

Omg, its fucking disgraceful that some motorists think that cyclists should pull in. You overtake when it is safe to do so , anyone who does not understand such basic road rules is a fucking menace .

Cyclists in the L hand lane have right of way if it is a bus lane.

Not something you would know from waiting for a cyclist to come through before turning L and some idiot is hooting and swearing behind you. Many's the time I have been shrieking out of the window "what do you want me to do? Kill a cyclist you arsehole ?"

2/3 of cyclist deaths are the fault of the vehicle driver. can you provide the source for that statistic whatsthat?

Because ROSPA has the following stat regarding cycling accidents:
'Failed to look properly' was attributed to the car driver in 57% of serious collisions and to the cyclist in 43% of serious collisions at junctions.

If that stat changes substantially when there is a fatality then it could be that survivor's guilt impacts on how accidents are assessed. Or it could be that your statistic is incorrect.

WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT IN YOUR CAR USE YOUR FLIPPING MIRRORS AND YOUR EYES TO CHECK FOR OTHER ROAD USERS!

When you are stationary at the front of a queue and indicating left you shouldn't have to check for suicidal prats coming up the inside.

In the case I mentioned the cyclist got a bollocking from the police, who were also in the queue.

Sunna does your car have mirrors?

Or do you just not bother to use them?

Where do you live, so I can avoid the area?

Believe the 2/3 of accidents are vehicles faults relates to London accidents. I've certainly had that quoted before, I believe from boris Johnson.

It wasn't me the idiot cyclist tried to drive into, listed

But the police obviously thought he was at fault and who am I to say different?

Given that presumably you have little idea what the police actually said, I will reserve judgment.

And I'm not saying cyclists never do anything stupid in traffic.

I'm saying filtering is legal. Which it is.

"What makes cyclists so important that everyone else should revolve their journey times around the possibility of meeting one?"

Not saying that cyclists being important are the reason why, more to do with the fact they're legally allowed to be there. I plan every journey of mine around the possibility of being stuck behind a tractor, a slow driver, etc. means I'm at least 5 mins early everywhere but isn't that better.

Why are car drivers so important that cyclists have to repeatedly get off their cycles to make way? Especially when the cyclist is in front and therefore has right of way? I don't understand how people can't comprehend this? Can't you understand how unreasonable it is to expect cyclists to do this every time? When there could be 20 or more cars on a journey?

What's better each car has to wait for one min? Or one cyclist is delayed by 20 mins?

Viva I wouldn't risk the question, honestly.

Some people just have their head wayyyyy too far up their arses to see the logic.....

Not really read the entire thread...as the bike-bashing ones get really tiresome, but no OP, you wait until it's safe to over take, no matter who says what to who. It's common sense and in the HC....

whilst I'm here though, may I advertise THIS THREAD about the difficulties in riding and driving in the darker months?
Thank you.

WooWoo, you still haven't answered if you'd pull in if travelling at 55mph to let a 60mph car past. After all why should one road user impede the journey or another?

I know listed. I shouldn't get wound up by the stupid cyclist bashing threads on here. Just makes me sad how thick people can be.

or "no matter who says what to whom "possibly.

Given that presumably you have little idea what the police actually said, I will reserve judgment.

I wound the window down and was right by them so I heard every word. The traffic was held up for some time.

There's filtering safely and there's stupid, which it was.

'When you are stationary at the front of a queue and indicating left you shouldn't have to check for suicidal prats coming up the inside'

'You S H O U L D N ' T HAVE to check'

words fail me.

Oh no they don't - turn in your drivers licence now. You are too stupid and entitled to be on the roads.

Can I add that often the police are woefully ignorant of the law regarding cyclists. You only have to see some YouTube videos to see that.

You are too stupid and entitled to be on the roads.

That's more or less what the policeman said to the cyclist.

Having skim read the thread, it's really re-assuring on the reasonableness toward the humble being shown. We have a tricky old time on roads, and rely on assertiveness and road craft to get by successfully. I ride a lot and consider the vast majority of drivers (like me) to be good and reasonable people. Which is revealed most days.

So, oddly, thanks for the thread OP.

Rule 160 states that road users should ‘be aware of other road users, especially cycles and motorcycles who may be filtering through the traffic’ and Rule 88, in relation to manoeuvring, states that road users should take care and keep speed low ‘…when filtering in slow-moving traffic’. Furthermore, rule 211 says that ‘it is often difficult to see motorcyclists and cyclists, especially when they are filtering through traffic’.

Nd from the cycle scheme website

Filtering means moving past queues of stationary or slow-moving traffic. Go to any town or city and you'll see cyclists and motorcyclists doing this. It's quite legal and it enables you to make progress when wider vehicles cannot.

In some circumstances, you can even pass on the left. Such 'undertaking' comes with a critical warning: never, ever undertake a long vehicle such as bus or an articulated lorry unless it is completely stationary and will remain so until you are safely past.