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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
PanISAButterfly · 01/12/2014 21:52

As well as biking a lot, I also drive. In decades of doing that, I don't recall ever being 'held up' by a cyclist for more than a few seconds.

But yes as a cyclists I do find that unless you are road aware, often drivers will try to compromise your health and safety in order to grab a bit of road space for a few seconds before joining the next queue.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/12/2014 22:00

Sunna, there is nothing in the rules for cyclists section which makes me think that rule 169 isn't really aimed at cyclists. Certainly the bit about checking mirrors isn't applicable. I think if this was meant to be for cyclists it would be in the cyclists section which is separate.

Also it doesn't say MUST (I know you haven't said it does). People get confused with HC thinking its the law, it only is if it says must. Some rules are the law, others are advice.

This rule is advice only. Even a tractor doesn't legally have to pull in if it doesn't want to. And believe me they often don't. I get held up by loads of tractors. So what? Leave in plenty of time its not a problem.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/12/2014 22:03

Plus we weren't talking about long queues of traffic which is what rule 169 talks about. People here are talking about cyclists pulling over for individual cars.

WillkommenBienvenue · 01/12/2014 22:08

I'm not anti cyclist, I cycle and drive in London but I would never encourage my children to do it unless off road and far away from cars.

It's a bit like telling your children to cross a busy road 50 times. Pointless and dangerous.

In an ideal world, yes, fine nowt wrong with it but the reality is that the risks are very very high.

When they are adults they can choose whether or not to commute on bikes, when their co-ordination, reflexes, balance and bones are fully developed. Until then they use the bus.

SanityClause · 01/12/2014 22:09

Cyclists do have as much right to be on the road as cars.

You'd never know it, though, the way many motorists act.

But, if a motorist has one bad experience of a cyclist, they seem to judge all cyclists based on that one experience. If they have one bad experience of a motorist, it's just that - one bad experience.

chilephilly · 01/12/2014 22:18

I tow a caravan.
Cyclists terrify me, as I am so worried the air movement around the van as it passes will whoosh them.
I was towing home from Crystal Palace heading for the M25, on a road with islands down the middle to stop the nutters overtaking.
Then I encountered a cyclist going hell for leather eyeballs out.
I passed the cyclist safely but gave myself an island related fright.
You can't win.
Mind you everyone hates caravans anyway Wink

PanISAButterfly · 01/12/2014 22:20

chile - well don't do it. Don't 'terrify' yourself and pass when there is space to do so. So you can win after all.
If you're so terrified should you be driving?

chilephilly · 01/12/2014 22:24

The cyclists terrify me because of the size of my outfit and their vulnerability and unpredictability.
I am happy with my driving ability, thanks.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/12/2014 22:26

But you said you were worried that air movement from your van would "woosh" them. If you give them enough space rather than trying to squeeze past before a traffic island it wouldn't be an issue.

I drive and tow a caravan as well and have never been scared overtaking a cyclist.

BuggersMuddle · 01/12/2014 22:26

While the majority on this thread are perfectly reasonable, I despair of some of the 'logic' used by the anti-cycling posters.

If I'm on a quiet country road and if other road users can't pass me safely then I will pull over if it is reasonable and safe for me to do so. I won't do it multiple times in a 1 mile stretch though - if I'm only going to hold you up for a couple of mins max, then suck it up. I can honestly say there are only a handful occasions in my cycling life (I am 33 and ride sportives) that I have felt it was necessary to do this because in the main, there will be a wide / straight bit of road along in short order.

The post about huffing and puffing up a hill made me laugh. You ever done a hill start in a car? Now imagine pulling over to let the cars pass, then trying to do the same thing: the difference is in this case, the extra revs to stop you slipping back are being provided by your legs.

Also, drivers don't probably realise this (unless they also cycle), but cycling is much faster the less you have to stop. Much faster. (This is whammy average speed is so much faster on my Sunday afternoon runs than my rush hour commute). Making me stop from 25km/h and then get going again is quite a bit more effort than just keeping going. Now imagine I have to do that for every impatient driver on a 50-100km run...

Cycle paths? Great, except the buses churn up the tarmac on the 'on road' ones and then silly buggers park in them. The off road ones? Well apparently I cycle too fast and I should be on the road Hmm not to mention the off leash dogs and free range toddlers on a few of our local ones Can't win either way.

OP I get your point, I do and I do try to be a considerate cyclist. I'm also a cyclist who got yelled at by a taxi driver for not stopping to let him pull out on the way home tonight and had a tit in van overtake me and then immediately pull in in front of me to park. I'm not saying I'm a perfect cyclist (or motorcyclist or driver), but I don't get that shit on any other mode of transport.

northernlurker · 01/12/2014 22:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WillkommenBienvenue · 01/12/2014 22:29

I find driving in London extremely hard these days as there are cyclists coming at you from all angles. The fact that you're driving at a different pace makes it very hard to judge how to proceed. But it doesn't mean it's a big problem, as I say, I just slow down, chill and listen to my tunes. The answer would be slimmer cars and fatter bikes that can glide past each other as required. Buses would have to be very long.

Original poster
Twitterqueen · 01/12/2014 22:39

When I'm walking with my dog I don't take up the whole width of the path and refuse to move over until I feel like it, despite verbal abuse from cyclists and the obvious danger to dogs, children and walkers because of their speed.

In this instance we weren't in a hurry. We were enjoying a leisurely drive listening to Xmas carols. We had successfully encountered and negotiated horses, tractors and other cyclists. This was an empty country road and we had clearly shown willingness to wait. Cyclists need to learn manners and consideration for other road users. they are not entitled and they do not own the roads

OP posts:
SanityClause · 01/12/2014 22:42

Some cyclists, along with some motorists, need to learn manners and consideration for other road users. They are not entitled and they do not own the roads.

There. I fixed it for you.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/12/2014 22:42

"Cyclists need to learn manners and consideration for other road users. they are not entitled and they do not own the roads"

No. Possibly one cyclist needs to learn manners. Not cyclists.

Though you do realise that the chances are quite high that somewhere near you is a cyclist moaning about an impatient driver who acted in such a manner that they felt the need to shout at you to wait.

Rabbitcar · 01/12/2014 22:44

My biggest fear is one particular stretch of road. I will be driving at the correct speed (I am a cautious driver) and then all of a sudden a cyclist will appear on my left between me and the parked cars, and on my right two or three motorbikes will appear. I feel like I am being squeezed between the two and if I move a millimetre either way I will kill someone.

All road users need to be respectful, car drivers, cyclists and motor cyclists. I have come across rude and selfish people in all three categories. But I do live in London I suppose. Wink

kittykathat · 01/12/2014 22:46

I dont know why cyclist bother people they never seem to get in my way

mausmaus · 01/12/2014 22:50

motorists Cyclists need to learn manners and consideration for other road users. they are not entitled and they do not own the roads

fixed this one for you op

mausmaus · 01/12/2014 22:50

x post sanity :o

chilephilly · 01/12/2014 22:50

I drive safely, thanks.
I am careful around cyclists.
I obey speed limits.
Thank you for your concern.

BuggersMuddle · 01/12/2014 22:51

YY Viva

Why tar all users of a particular mode of transport with the same brush?

An arsehole in a van nearly caused an accident when DP and I were cycling home tonight. It does not follow from this that all van drivers are arseholes, so why the comment about 'all cyclists' OP?

Original poster
Twitterqueen · 01/12/2014 23:00

Burgers: unfortunately because out of all the hundreds of motorists I encounter daily, the handful of cyclists I come across are probably 50 percent ignorant entitled dangerous idiots.

OP posts:
tiggytape · 01/12/2014 23:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Handsoff7 · 01/12/2014 23:12

If you were driving leisurely, you probably held someone else up.

YABU in any case and doubly so for being a hypocrite.

Some of the attitude from non-cycling motorists is terrifying.

I cycle and drive. When I'm on my bike I am held up by other bikes, pedestrians and (in particular) dog walkers.

In my car I am often held up by other cars, caravans, lorries etc. Bikes not so much - even a fast bike is only doing 30 and is relatively easy to pass.

SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 01/12/2014 23:33

If cyclists have to pull over for every car that wants to pass them you could pull over for hundreds of cars. In free flowing traffic there is often a steady stream, you could sit there for ten minutes waiting.

The solution really is what the Netherlands have done.

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