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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

9hrs is all it took!

770 replies

Finallylostit · 29/01/2022 10:45

The new highway code to cause anger!

I went for my morning cycle - no issues did nothing different than I normally do.

Home, shower, jump in car to get food shopping. I live down a country road - wide enough for 2 cars to pass with care, wide enough for a car to over take a cyclist sticking to the left of the lane, with the required space at certain points. Locals all know the places to do it safely.

Today 1 cyclist riding down the middle of the lane - now unsafe for car to pull over to other lane and pass - brilliant

Was he considerate of other road users and pulled over- no.

As on the other side were 8 riders riding two abreast high fiving each other and doing the finger to the motorists. Shouting its the law twats!
Were they considerate of other road users no.

Some of the new laws i think are sensible -
but the ride in the middle of the road, even if there is a cycle lane because you don't feel like it - is asinine

2 abreast packs of mamils hunting on weekends as they venture out of London - when they are generally rude enough as it is - gives those cyclists who are arseholes a legal right to now be an arsehole.

Be considerate and pull over to let cars and vans pass -
that is as likely as Downing Street not having another party in a lockdown!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
ikeepseeingit · 29/01/2022 10:48

I have no idea why they made it law to cycle in the centre either OP. Can anyone tell me the logic?

Isseywith3witchycats · 29/01/2022 10:54

we are motorcyclists and i can see this causing all sorts of problems in the summer when we ride as a club group in say the dales narrow roads steep hills going up, ten cyclists in a group we will be stuck behind them as they now have priority and trying to ride a 1300cc 6 foot long cruiser bike at two miles an hour will be dangerous to us,

town roads getting stuck behind two abreast cyclists will be bad and cause traffic jams and guess who will get the verbal abuse not them at the front no us at the back as that is who the cars can see,

and overtaking on a club ride our first two riders are on large trikes so how are they supposed to leave five feet between them and cyclists this is just handing over total power to cyclists

Original poster
Finallylostit · 29/01/2022 10:54

I get it in certain places particularly when some cyclist have poor lights and dark clothing - they merge into the hedges but I fear this is going to be everywhere and at all times.

When I moved here - cyclists were rare on the roads - now the weekend is the London Mamil Packs everywhere - my morning drive to the train takes 10 minutes ( all up hill!) same drive at weekend takes 20+ if I get stuck

OP posts:
GoldenOmber · 29/01/2022 10:57

As on the other side were 8 riders riding two abreast high fiving each other and doing the finger to the motorists. Shouting its the law twats!

Golly.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 29/01/2022 10:58

Cycling in the centre of the lane is so cars can only overtake if the other lane is clear. So basically treating them as a car not something that can be squeezed past. Two abreast similar... easy to overtake if the other side is clear.

Its been advised for years, not new.

GoldenOmber · 29/01/2022 10:58

I presume you were all overtaking cyclists safely before this, and not trying to squeeze past them without crossing the line into the other lane?

FrangipaniBlue · 29/01/2022 11:00

The Highway Code guidance to cycle 2 abreast isn't new, it's always been in there. So it that regard YABU.

The new guidance sent to cycle down the middle of the road, it's to cycle in the middle f your own lane. So on this one YANBU .

T00Ts · 29/01/2022 11:00

As on the other side were 8 riders riding two abreast high fiving each other and doing the finger to the motorists. Shouting its the law twats!

Really? Actually high-fiving each other? Really?

FrangipaniBlue · 29/01/2022 11:01

Isn't not sent!

Isseywith3witchycats · 29/01/2022 11:01

obviously you only overtake cyclists if its safe to do so but usually a group of cyclists will filter into single file so that everyone is safe but they now have the right to ride double so will narrow down choices and saying two cyclists next to each other is the same as a car no cars go faster than cyclists so everyone has to slow right down which you wouldnt if a car was in front of you

CaptainMerica · 29/01/2022 11:02

@ikeepseeingit

I have no idea why they made it law to cycle in the centre either OP. Can anyone tell me the logic?
It's always been recommended for cyclists to ride near the middle of the road, hasn't it? Away from the drain covers and gutter, and in the line of sight where drivers are looking. Also, with a bit of space to "escape" to, if needed.

If you wouldn't have space to overtake a car, I don't see how you could have space to give a cyclist 2m of room when overtaking them.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 29/01/2022 11:04

@Isseywith3witchycats

obviously you only overtake cyclists if its safe to do so but usually a group of cyclists will filter into single file so that everyone is safe but they now have the right to ride double so will narrow down choices and saying two cyclists next to each other is the same as a car no cars go faster than cyclists so everyone has to slow right down which you wouldnt if a car was in front of you
It takes less time to drive past four cycle lengths than 8 cycle lengths so you are opposite side if road fir shorter time.
anothersmahedmug · 29/01/2022 11:06

The rules changed because so many people were staying close to the edge and then getting knocked off , and it was discovered that those who were in your terms less considerate are actually less likely to get knocked off

If you cycle , Stay safe , take up space

WhiteJellycat · 29/01/2022 11:06

Apart from the odd cyclist going to work, cyclists have always ridden "aggressively" if that's the right word. Two abreast on a rural A roads. Nothing will change. I bottle along a 5mil ph as they struggle up hill then over take sccelariting to the national speed limit 100% in the other lane. But now I wouldnt be 2m away in the other lane. I'd need to mount the pavement ( which I wouldn't btw) Anyway, my conclusion is get cameras fitted to the cars. People will overtake into head on traffic more now.

WindyState · 29/01/2022 11:06

"As on the other side were 8 riders riding two abreast high fiving each other and doing the finger to the motorists. Shouting its the law twats!"

Sure. Sure.

MMMarmite · 29/01/2022 11:07

I'd always prefer to use a decent cycle lane. But sometimes they are shit - full of potholes, slippery fallen leaves, parked cars, while the road itself is smooth and clear.

SamphiretheStickerist · 29/01/2022 11:08

We have a cycle loop that covers a lot of rural roads, 28 miles if them. We all know how to pass cyclists safely and they know the route well enough to ride in the centre of the lane defensively when required. Not many problems for the decade or so it has existed.

And this morning... A non local pack arrived. Not unusual the loop is really popular. They rode the route as per the new laws. And yes, they too were congratulating each other and shouting at drivers

Including farmers desperately trying to get to sheep lambing. Facebook has been full of stories from locals, drivers and cyclists alike, who have been a bit gobsmacked by the behaviour this morning.

Hopefully it will wear off soon, before someone looses in their temper, or worse!

SnotRags · 29/01/2022 11:10

I’m getting images of Ratty and Nonce on a morning cycle 😂

LondonQueen · 29/01/2022 11:12

The same thing happened to me this morning, coming down a country lane and 2 cyclists riding side by side. The second was right up against the white line so no chance of overtaking in my huge car. I wouldn't mind but I'm used to cyclists on these roads and it's perfectly safe to overtake if they move in the edge.

Oakdog · 29/01/2022 11:13

I've got a 6 mile school run, and for 5 miles there is nowhere on that journey that I can pass cyclists if they're in the middle of the lane and have to pass leaving 1.5m. If they are to the left of the lane, but not in the gutter, I could. The rules also ask cyclist to be considerate of drivers behind them, and pull in or stop when safe to do so. Can’t see that happening, especially the stopping!!
Also, you should overtake pedestrians allowing 2 meters when no footpath. So 1 mile where I may be stuck at walking pace!!
I'm very careful passing cyclists/horses/walkers- and frequently do 2 of those activities on narrow roads, but genuinely can't see this working very well!

burnthur5t · 29/01/2022 11:14

I've done mountain biking and road cycling since I was early teens so over twenty five years. I knew instantly that the guidance for cyclists to ride in the middle of the lane was a very bad idea

Cyclists are seen by many drivers as a pest and as a nuisance already. If they start riding in the middle of the lane they'll be seen as an even bigger issue. I think it will lead to more accidents

I'll continue to ride how I always have. I'm not going to cause a road block and make myself a target

I once got stuck behind a group of road cyclists riding two abreast on a country lane. I was driving a car, they knew I was behind them but made no effort to let me past. There must have been at least 8-10 of them. Luckily I turned off after a mile and they carried straight on

ShowOfHands · 29/01/2022 11:15

Happy to say it's made no difference here. Cyclists are still individuals rather than a homogeneous blob of behaviours and the vast majority of drivers overtake safely.

GoldenOmber · 29/01/2022 11:15

The Highway Code has always said that cyclists can ride 2 abreast.

Old rule:
“You should never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.”

New:
“You can ride two abreast and it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders. Be aware of drivers behind you and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when you feel it is safe to let them do so."

Original poster
Finallylostit · 29/01/2022 11:16

Thank you Samphire - seems a few people on here thought I was making it up.

They seem to have forgotten the be considerate to other road users and pullover bit of the new laws.

OP posts:
LadyCatStark · 29/01/2022 11:17

Oh great we have to drive down some county lanes later and you know the knob heads are going to be put on force just coz they can 😡.

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