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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cyclists on the road WIBU AND WWYD?

108 replies

thedcbrokemybank · 03/04/2017 10:35

I was driving somewhere yesterday and came across a peleton of cyclists, about 15 of them, spread about 50m apart. I was on single track back roads. There was a car in front of me but it was a mini and was able to get past more easily. When the road widened I tried overtaking but because there were so many of them and they were quite spread out it wasn't that simple. A car came towards me so I had to split the group up and pull in. This went on for at least a mile and then I needed to turn left. I was still trying to get past them at this point so I indicated and stopped in the road. If it was a car they would have waited behind me but some of them undertook on the inside. Some of them waited behind shouting abuse at me. I genuinely did not know what to do. Obviously because they were a big group and so spread out overtaking them had taken a lot longer than I expected and I didn't realise that I would need to turn before getting past them. The road stays single track for a long way. I really don't think it is appropriate for such a big group of cyclists to be riding on roads like that and if they do need to they should split into smaller groups so that cars can pass safely. WWYD in this situation?

OP posts:
toomuchtvandsocialmedia · 03/04/2017 10:41

There are lots of cyclist round here and it is often difficult to overtake. I take the view that they are entitled to be on the road and just follow slowly behind until it is safe to go past. It can be irritating though.

Passmethecrisps · 03/04/2017 10:41

It sounds very difficult but at the end of the day they are road users and can go where they like.

In hindsight you should have just stayed behind them. What would you have done if it was a tractor pulling a trailer or an articulated lorry? It is frustrating not being able to pass but it doesn't sound as though it was safe or reasonable to do so.

NotJanine · 03/04/2017 10:43

I'm sure cyclists are meant to ride 2 abreast so that they create a shorter distance to overtake - were they doing this?

DianaMitford · 03/04/2017 10:44

IMO they are making life dangerous for themselves. Regardless of rights on the road, the reality is that they are putting themselves in harms way.

Starman16 · 03/04/2017 10:45

If it had been 15 cars in front of you what would you have done? Tried to overtake??

The cyclists were somewhat out of order undertaking when you were turning left, however overtaking in a way that meant you had to pull back into the middle of their group sounds dangerous and they were probably understandably pissed off.

Overtake cyclists as you would a car - when it is safe to do so.

NotJanine · 03/04/2017 10:45

sorry, just read it was single track

welshweasel · 03/04/2017 10:45

If riding in a peloton they were clearly serious cyclists and would have been travelling at a good speed. You should have sat and waited until it was safe to overtake the whole group. What you did sounds dangerous and I'd probably have shouted at you too.

babybat · 03/04/2017 10:45

You should expect to encounter cyclists, walkers, horses and farm vehicles on singletrack roads, they've just as much right to be there as you. If you're not confident driving around vulnerable road users, perhaps stick to A-roads and duel carriageways for a while?

Hereward1332 · 03/04/2017 10:46

You overtook a car and a bunch of cyclists, pulled in forcing half of them to brake because you couldn't get past, then turned left.

It doesn't sound like the best driving ever.

WindyBottoms · 03/04/2017 10:46

What would you have done if there were 15 cars in front of you?

They are legitimate road-users, even if they have fewer wheels and travel more slowly. If you wouldn't have been able to pass a car safely under those same conditions, you shouldn't have tried to pass the cyclists.

Moreisnnogedag · 03/04/2017 10:46

As frustrating as it may have been you should have waited. from their point of view you kept jutting into the middle of them forcing some to slow/stop and risking injuring one of them.

Original poster
thedcbrokemybank · 03/04/2017 10:47

If it was a tractor I would have waited because obviously they would take the whole road up but generally they will pull over into a lay by anyway if you are behind for a while. We live rurally so it is quite plausible that you can be on the back roads for a long time.
When I initially overtook the road was wider and straighter but because of how far they were spread out and then an oncoming car I wasn't able to get past them.
Cyclists have every right to be on the road but I think riding as a group like that is rude and inconsiderate to other road users.

OP posts:
SpidersWithBellsOn · 03/04/2017 10:50

If in doubt I don't overtake. There's nothing wrong with a large group of cyclists travelling together, and most consider it safer as most car drivers then think before trying to overtake, rather than rushing past and potentially harming them.

If it was single track, and for a while, it would have been good of them to stop to let you past but they're not obliged to. It was unreasonable of you to take a chance and overtake then cut in - especially as you must have known you had a turn coming up, and presumably you couldn't see far enough that the road ahead was clear as you encountered another vehicle.

Also, why did you stop? If you were turning left off the road, and assuming they were carrying on ahead, surely that meant you would be able to continue on along a clear road? Or are you not in the UK?

Starman16 · 03/04/2017 10:51

Cyclists have every right to be on the road but I think riding as a group like that is rude and inconsiderate to other road users.

^^ In rush hour on a Monday morning you may have point...but on a country lane on a Sunday afternoon, come on seriously??

Hereward1332 · 03/04/2017 10:54

We live rurally so it is quite plausible that you can be on the back roads for a long time.

But you were turning off the road they were on before you could get past them, so you would not have been stuck. It does sound like you were impatient to get past.

Original poster
thedcbrokemybank · 03/04/2017 10:55

I didn't realise my turn was coming up otherwise I definitely would have waited. The car in front of me managed to get past pretty easily so I thought I would be able to do the same. I had to stop otherwise I would have mown those undertaking on the inside.

OP posts:
Passmethecrisps · 03/04/2017 10:57

But the reality is that they do take up the whole road if you give them the space they actually need.

I absolutely get you that it is frustrating but it sounds like you make a poor decision. Understandable but they do have a right to be there.

If you live rurally and this is the first time you have come across this I wouldn't let it bother you.

Moussemoose · 03/04/2017 10:58

15 of them 1 of you. They should all stop so you can go faster?
And you think THEY are being selfish?
HmmmmmmConfused

MetalMidget · 03/04/2017 10:58

Very large cycling groups normally split into smaller packs and ride two abreast in order for easier over taking - it's usually pretty rare to see a pack that's longer than a couple of cars length, unless there's a race or sportive going on.

If they were riding single file, they were being unreasonable, but it sounds like you were being unreasonable as you couldn't overtake safely, but tried to push past anyway.

WindyBottoms · 03/04/2017 10:59

"I had to stop otherwise I would have mown those undertaking on the inside."

But in your OP you said that you stopped and then they passed you. If they were able to pass you while you were still driving then they couldn't have been moving at a particularly slow speed, could they? Confused

Original poster
thedcbrokemybank · 03/04/2017 11:03

I think I should have waited you are right. In hindsight that would have probably been the best thing to do. I didn't know the route that well so wasn't aware that my turn was that close.
Unfortunately it is not the first time this has happened. We get it ALL the time. Whilst I have no problem with cyclists I do think if they are riding in a large group they should ride together or in small groups with a little gap between them rather than spread out like that.

OP posts:
TheSmallPrint · 03/04/2017 11:05

Rule 66 of High way code says cyclists should never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends
and
be considerate of other road users,

These rules also apply to cyclists as much as any other slow moving vehicle...

Rule 168
Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.

Rule 169
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.

Just because you are a road user as a cyclist, this does not give you the right to hold up traffic. Cyclists need to move over to allow traffic to pass unless they are travelling at the speed of normal traffic.

witsender · 03/04/2017 11:05

This is very common round here, except there are very few straight roads. I tend to just take a deep breath and follow, especially if I knew i would be pulling in in a mile or so.

Original poster
thedcbrokemybank · 03/04/2017 11:07

windybottoms I don't understand what you mean? Nobody passed me whilst I was moving only when I had stopped. I obviously slowed right down and then stopped and indicated with plenty of notice.

OP posts:
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