To remind drivers to give space

[BelleMarionette]

According the the highway code , drivers should allow at least 1.5m, or 5 ft, when overtaking a cyclist. Cyclists are also not obliged to cycle in the gutter by the road: in fact cycle skills teaches a more central position for visibility and safety.

I am cycling to and from work as it's the right thing to do environmentally. Public transport is pretty limited unfortunately. Around half of drivers pass too close, often within a foot and at speed. I have noticed that it is often German car drivers.. I also had a driver intimidate be by coming up close behind me and sounding the horn because I wasn't in the gutter. In this occasion it was approaching a junction with no safe space to overtake.

I have also had a car reverse into me when I was still in a queue of traffic. It sounds simple, but drivers need to look in their rear view mirror when reversing.

To anticipate common moans people have about cyclists: I have third party insurance, I have done cycle skills training, and have a driving license so am aware of the rules of the road, and I stop at red lights.

It's often signed on the back of the Trailer these days. I agree that it should be part of the school cycling proficiency scheme, despite having gone through that as a child I am only aware of the hazard because of seeing fatalities reported in the news. Education is key all round.

I am very considerate of cyclists (and motorcyclists, and horse riders) and always give them plenty of space, even if it means driving halfway to the next town at their pace. I nearly had heart failure a couple of weeks ago, when the driver in front close passed a cyclist on a narrow road, because they were so desperate to pass them before they got to a 2-mile section of bends. They were so close that the slightest wobble would have had the cyclist hitting the car.

But some things they do really boil my piss. In the last 3 weeks alone, I have been in a queue of traffic at walking pace in a 60 limit because 2 cyclists were riding 2 abreast up a long 1:5 hill, nearly hit by one as he turned right into the road I was crossing on foot without giving a hand signal, and nearly hit one who cut in front of me as the queue of traffic started to pick up speed (again, without giving a hand signal).

The lack of signalling is appalling. On tv a week or two ago, they showed clips of drivers close passing cyclists. One of the cyclists turned right at a roundabout without signalling, when a driver in the opposite direction was going straight on, and another turned right across oncoming traffic without signalling. In both those cases, I didn't think the driver was entirely to blame and I think that there is a legitimate expectation that anyone, in/on any vehicle, is going straight on unless indicating otherwise.

And please dismount on public footpaths! I'm sick of having to jump into the undergrowth when out for a walk.

I always give cyclists lots of room when overtaking.
I live in a rural area and can understand the frustration of drivers who are behind cyclists in 2 and 3 who meander along chatting and don't care if it takes ages for cars to pass safely. A little bit of help enabling cars to pass safely would go a long way as well.
Mamil's who cycle at speed on our lovely walking trail where it clear shows pedestrians have priority are awful

Perhaps we all help each other out a bit here. Be aware when cycling of who is behind you and space etc to the side etc (perhaps ditch the earphones so you can HEAR). Car drivers be aware that cyclists are vulnerable and need space.

etc

Now that is bloody disgraceful.

I live in a town where the centre is all old buildings, narrow roads and narrow pavements. I was just approaching a bend on the pavement when a cyclist, also on the pavement, came round really rather fast and shouted "Move" at me.

Needless to say, I didn't. And I'd have had to step into the road to move, as there was a building right up to where the pavement started.

I just stopped and stood my ground, and as he bumped down the kerb into the road he shouted "Cunt" at me!

If bikes had number plates, I'd have reported him. And if they had number plates, some cyclists would change their ways.

It's a shame that cyclists aren't required to take tests on things like being aware of the blind spots of buses/lorries etc and not cycling alongside them at junctions. It works both ways!

80% of cyclists are drivers and taken a test.

The bike test is the likability done in schools - many drivers complain about the things that are taught and tested, perhaps before taking a driving text a likability course might help drivers understand why cyclists do what they do - as they've been taught

Today I watched a car try 3 times to overtake a cyclist, first time having to cancel before moving up, second time he was forced back over half way through before falling back again behind the cyclist. Third time he made the pass. The reason driver was struggling so much was because they were approaching a bend and it was completely inappropriate to even attempt the first time. The actual successful overtake only happened because at that moment there was nothing coming round the bend.

This is a nice wide road with plenty of opportunity to pass. The driver hadn't been held behind the cyclist at all and commenced the manoeuvres as soon as he caught up with him.

Not a common sight thankfully

Tbf, you, don't learn in your driving test about the dangers of trying to undertake trucks on a bike (unless they've changed it since I passed).

I would have thought 211 in the Highway codes spells out the dangers, even taking into account the onus is on the driver and it does mention blind spots

It would definitely be beneficial for their own safety, no-one wants to hurt a cyclist, or be that cyclist who is injured or killed. I don't know if those who do it don't realise or think it'll be okay, but if you're stopped at a red light in a truck, and a cyclist comes up on your left and sits in your blind spot, you won't see them. If you're about to turn a corner in an artic, and they are too, it's really, really not good! Most drivers will constantly be checking for cyclists coming up beside them, sometimes it's the only way to avoid an accident.

Most HGV drivers, the majority at least, will always check for cyclists, but there is only so much you can do. With everything that goes into safely driving one, other road users need to use common sense and drive/ride safely too. A lot do, but there are plenty cyclists who will happily undertake and either seem oblivious to, or not care about, the huge risk they're taking.
Doing a blind side reverse for example, others really need to be alert and give you the room you need if they see it happening.

Lakielady, I'm not sure that number plates would help. As a cyclist, i've been called all sorts of names by drivers. Do you think me reporting them is going to change their ways? A dick head is a dick head, whatever the mode of transport

Although I always give cyclists plenty of space, I do feel that they ride too close to the road.

You will find time somewhere when you hit one, that's for sure.

Time restraint is not an excuse for dangerous driving.

What about a child minder in the morning?

Given that two thirds of accidents involving cyclists are driver error, not sure its the cyclists who need to improve their standards.

TBF from your numbers at least one third of cyclists need to improve their standards.

Fripp, true, that one third could improve, but given that all car drivers have to take some kinda test, I'm surprised driving standards are that abysmal

👏 👏

Surely the reason people want to overtake is because they want to travel at car speed not bike speed?

@Conkersareback
Can't afford a childminder. Minimum price round here for 7.00-8.35 would be £18. I pay £3 for breakfast club. Sorry! Feel free to support the teacher pay campaign to help change this though

Loics

there is a difference between undertaking and filtering.

many cyclists filter at traffic lights to get to the front as it’s safer. This is not undertaking, road marking often give cycling only boxes at the front of traffic lights especially for this purpose.

ive seen lorry’s overtake a cyclist, then turn left. The cyclist then gets blamed for 1) being in the blind spot of the lorry 2) for undertaking, continuing straight on in the journey. From the side of a lorry it’s difficult to see the indicators and rule 211 applies 🤷‍♀️ The driver knew the cyclist was there . Left hooks are often blamed on the cyclist & they are lethal but not much a cyclist can do in a nano second

Can't afford a childminder.

can you afford to lose your license?

it would take 2 or 3 cyclists to send in footage of you close passing, points and fines for each and licence gone. Mitigating circumstances have been clamped diwn on

many cyclists have cameras as they’re fed up of being punished, thing is you’ll not know which cyclists have cameras - they can be well hidden

I am very considerate of cyclists (and motorcyclists, and horse riders) and always give them plenty of space,

Totally agree - I just wish horse riders,when driving their horse boxes, would provide the same space to cyclists they expect from everyone else. Without exception from my experience, these are the drivers who will beep their horn and drive you off the road every time.

@ivykaty44
No, of course I can't. I would lose my job and then my house.

As I would if I were consistently failing to be at work on time.

Do you see my problem? I'm not choosing to be this tight on time.

I get paid tomorrow, and I have £14.87 in my bank account. I wasn't kidding when I said I can't afford a childminder.

No, of course I can't. I would lose my job and then my house.

well make sure you legally pass cyclists with cameras turned on, because they will report drivers breaking the law and putting their lives in danger.

I’ve had the knock on the door when the driver didn’t give room and sat waiting to find out whether my dh was going to make it or not, the injuries were life threatening along with brain haemorrhage transfers to other hospitals etc so I can understand why cyclists run cameras

That will make a great defence when you've injured or killed a cyclist I'm sure.

I'm a teacher, I have to be at work on time and I don't earn enough.

Said no other profession ever.

You've hardly made me feel like supporting the teachers salary increase, quite the opposite actually.