Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Original poster
thedcbrokemybank · 04/04/2017 10:46

User - the language you are using is very emotive. That is your emotion being projected onto this situation. I am not sure why I am "precious". I certainly didn't believe I had more right than them. I simply misjudged the length of time it would take when i went past.
I have already stated that I was unreasonable to execute the initial manouvere . However I didn't put anyone in danger. I may have split the group but there was room for me to do so. It's not like I sent them scattering, there was a big enough gap for me. They didn't however drop back.

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 04/04/2017 10:53

OP described them as a "pelaton" which suggests all in a large group.

We see that regularly around here. Cyclists in a group across the full lane of the road. Ergo a breach.

UserSchmooser · 04/04/2017 10:59

"They didn't however drop back."

Which they wouldn't have had to if you had not driven dangerously and, with all information you've given, illegally. There wasn't a big enough gap for you if they needed to drop back to make the situation safe.

'Precious' because you still think it was the cyclist who made the situation dangerous by not riding to accommodate your wishes.

It is an emotive subject for me. I've been knocked off my bike (broken pelvis), cut up, left hooked (broken finger and cut knuckle - the knuckle was punching their wing mirror with my 'undamaged' hand), pushed off the road, had doors opened onto the road knocking me off (that one cost me a tooth) and had my life put in danger through either bad judgement or malicious intent more times than I can remember.

If someone gets out of their car apologising and looking shocked, I calm down very quickly as we all make mistakes. If someone tries to suggest that the danger was brought on themselves because they were riding in dribs and drabs then it does make me pretty pissed off and rightfully so, I think.

mateysmum · 04/04/2017 11:07

OP some people are giving you an unnecessarily hard time. I agree you perhaps didn't make the best decisions in the circumstances but I know exactly where you are coming from.
We live in a rural road which is part of several advertised cycle routes. At the weekends there are dozens of cyclists streaming past. Those in ones or twos are not an issue but sometimes we get groups of 15-20 hurtling along at speed chatting so loudly we can hardly hear ourselves think in the garden. The road has several blind corners. I know every inch of them and make sure my speed and positioning is safe. Lots of over sized tractors round here!. The cyclists don't know the road as well and come round the corners 4 or 5 abreast. It is scary.
Many of the cyclists will not give way to faster moving traffic. There is a limit to how long you can crawl along at less that 20mph.
In the end it's about mutual consideration. The fact that you have posted here tells me you are actually a considerate driver who want to "do better next time".

ShotsFired · 04/04/2017 11:07

hey were spread out about 70m. They were neither in a group, groups or riding as individuals. They were in dribs and drabs.

This, coupled with the earlier comment about mixed ability and some cleats/some not, even more strongly suggests it was a bunch of random people all out on different rides who just happened to catch up with each other on the same bit of road.

I was out myself over the weekend and saw loads of other people on bikes, because it was a beautiful sunny day to enjoy a ride! Just because we were going in the same direction doesn't mean we're one group. In fact I deliberately chose to ride on some quiet country lanes because I don't enjoy riding on busy traffic main roads and I like saying hello to the sheep and horses. I was far from the only one.

And for the record, I kept to every single rule of the HC, unlike the two cars who (unnecessarily) buzzed me so closely I could have touched them, or the cars who overtook me while there was solid white line etc etc.

BTW I am actually far more of a car driver than a bike rider in terms of miles and frequency, so its not like I am some 2-wheeled fanatic.

UserSchmooser · 04/04/2017 11:12

There is a limit to how long you can crawl along at less that 20mph.

Before what? You put their lives in danger out of frustration?

UserSchmooser · 04/04/2017 11:14

I should have clarified earlier that my opinion of how people riding on two wheels is based on being a driver, cyclist and motorcyclist. I love wheels and can usually safely overtake most things in my car (M6) or motorbike.

mateysmum · 04/04/2017 11:16

That's right USER. I'd just drive straight through the lot of 'em like bowling balls and not give a fuck.

sarcasm

Mulledwine1 · 04/04/2017 11:18

a know it all will be along soon to berate you as road tax doesn't exist

Road tax doesn't exist and hasn't done so since the 1930s. So I am a know-all.

VED goes into general taxation although I think a small proportion of it goes to motorway maintenance (so not the normal roads that cyclists use).

And outside large cities where people might not have cars, most cyclists are also drivers, so are paying VED in any event....

YetAnotherSpartacus · 04/04/2017 11:24

Many of the cyclists will not give way to faster moving traffic. There is a limit to how long you can crawl along at less that 20mph

From Ambleside to Windermere on a full bladder.

That's right USER. I'd just drive straight through the lot of 'em like bowling balls and not give a fuck

This was mooted at the time.

honeycrumpet · 04/04/2017 11:25

I think a good rule of thumb would be to treat the decision to pass (or not pass) a cyclist in the same way that you'd make the decision to enter (or not enter) a hatched box on the road. Is your exit clear? i.e., can you pass the cyclist safely and pull back into normal road position all in one manoeuvre without putting anyone in danger? If not, wait until you can.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 04/04/2017 11:29

Serious cyclists do consider it quite bad form though, to have a group so strung out that it is impossible to overtake safely.

I live in the middle of a network of country lane and we have lots of cyclists. My DH and DSs cycle so I am very aware of driving safely around them. The number of times I have hung back on a group of cyclists on a narrow twisty lane, overtaken safely and then glanced in the mirror to see that the car behind me has practically put them all in the ditch. The number of times I have had to slam on my brakes because of people on the opposite side of the road overtaking cyclists recklessly.

Mostly I find, you get a wave if you have had to wait a while to overtake safely, acknowledging your patience. if you're not getting that, maybe think about how safely you are driving.

maddening · 04/04/2017 11:32

Whilst a driver has an obligation to overtake carefully etc the highway code says that cyclists SHOULD pull over to allow traffic to pass and also imo should not have passed on the left of a car indicating that they are turning left.

mummytime · 04/04/2017 11:55

There are lots of mistakes here on all sides.
OP has admitted she shouldn't have over taken.
However it also sounds like it was a leisure ride of mixed ability. They should have if spread out, have separated into different groups if they were going to leave car length gaps in the middle. With the faster riders waiting further on for the slower ones. And everyone should have known the highway code, and have enough road sense not to undertake a vehicle that is indicating that it is turning.
To be honest if it had been a tractor not the OP in a car they may not have been seen and an accident could have happened.

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 04/04/2017 12:03

I think the OP has got it loud and clear that they should have waited, especially as they were going to be turning off.

Organised groups should be aware of vehicles and try and make it easier for them to overtake. This includes doing things like splitting the group up into smaller ones (leaving big enough gaps in between for overtaking cars to pull in), riding single file, stopping if need be. This doesn't sound like an organised group though.

bluegreenyellow · 04/04/2017 12:09

user you keep saying she did a dangerous menoveour but she didn't break the highway code at any point 'they weren't doing anything illegal' actually being verbally abusive is illegal under the Public Order Act 1986.

moomin4071 · 04/04/2017 12:26

I hate cyclists undertaking! Piss me off so much AngryAngry

UserSchmooser · 04/04/2017 12:32

@mateysmum - why not say what you did mean as opposed to sarcastically what you didn't?

@bluegreenyellow

Not sure if you're being serious. Attempting to overtake then pulling back in is poor driving and arguably without due care and attention. The fact that the OP said they needed to brake after she'd pulled in meant she didn't have room to and therefore was driving without due care and attention.

UserSchmooser · 04/04/2017 12:34

sorry @bluegreenyellow - I forgot to link to Rule 176

Original poster
thedcbrokemybank · 04/04/2017 12:38

I didn't say they needed to brake. I said they didn't drop back.

OP posts:
UserSchmooser · 04/04/2017 12:39

Why did they need to drop back?

(and unless uphill, that would involve braking)

Huskylover1 · 04/04/2017 12:41

Uugh, I hate cyclists on the road. You can't compare them to a car, because they don't travel as fast as a car. Nobody wants to be stuck driving at 5 mph, when they have somewhere to be, especially if it's time critical, like picking children up from school, driving to the train station/the airport/work. We don't all have the luxury of crawling along, just so that some self indulged bike fanatic can make 10 people late to where they were going.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 04/04/2017 12:47

Some cyclists appear to think that they are entitled to cycle 4 or 5 abreast at 7 mph while car drivers must sit behind them the whole way. Whoever said they've never seen a cyclist pull in to allow others to pass - same here. Never had it happen. They must assume their plans on travelling at 7mph align with ours.

bluegreenyellow · 04/04/2017 12:48

rule 176 You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 36
what part did she break?

bluegreenyellow · 04/04/2017 12:51

Attempting to overtake then pulling back in is poor driving and arguably without due care and attention. thats not what happened she overtook some cyclist then came in there no law that says you have to overtake a whole group of cyclist

Swipe left for the next trending thread