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.

I'm sorry, I hope everything turned out well?

DH cycles to work, today it's dark, heavily raining and windy, it's days like this I really worry. People rushing around, because whatever they're doing is more important than his safety.

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

just because one teacher breaks the law, doesn’t mean they all break the law. I find that happens with cycling, people punish me for something someone else on a bike did on another day. It’s unpleasant to be lumped together.

my ( now ex) dh recovered, has been left with badly disfigured but working limbs

Sorry but it was the woah is me, not the breaking the law! Lots of people are struggling.

Nurses
RMT
CWU

so no, telling me what I've got to do, to save one profession just irks me.

So that's your excuse for endangering others' lives, you're a teacher and it is not your fault that you can't afford a child minder?

What about others that can't afford this or that, they are entitled to put lives at risk, including perhaps yours or your loved ones?

Dreadful.

By the same token, it's also not right to tar all drivers the same either. The majority ARE considerate to cyclists, horses and pedestrians. It's the minority who are dicks. But as a pp said, there are dicks in all walks of life, including those who walk, cycle, drive and ride! In fact the dick driver is probably also a dick cyclist!

Lots of other people who earn less than teachers have to find ways to pay for childminders, after school clubs, etc.

Sorry, to be clear, I wasn't intending a "woe is me" post. I was factually relating that I cannot afford the difference between childcare that costs £15 per week and childcare that costs nearly £100. It was in response to the poster who glibly told me to 'get a childminder' when I explained that I have a major, inescapable time pressure in the morning.

I don't endanger anyone. If I am absolutely desperate and stuck behind a slow cyclist for several miles (it happens occasionally), I might only give 2-3ft of passing space in order to get by, rather than the guideline of 1.5m. I don't drive any closer than that, ever, and I have never knocked anyone off a bike (or any other vehicle), or even caused them to wobble slightly. I have only ever passed that close to a cyclist about four times since I learned to drive.

My point, if you can see it for the hysteria on this thread, was that cyclists can sometimes cause significant delays. I cannot afford these delays.

There is a weird dichotomy on MN between 'cyclists are to be treated as hallowed, don't you know they might FALL OFF???? How DARE you drive past them?' and 'cyclists are psychopaths.'

I don't think either is true, I just want to get safely to work on time without harming anyone. Is that so unreasonable?

@ShouldIdo
I haven't said I am 'entitled' to anything. In fact, if you actually READ my post, I asked for suggestions on how not to endanger anyone WHILE getting to work on time.
I won't endanger my family by losing my job. That's my only non-negotiable.

But you are happy to endanger other people. Lovely.

You need to find a way to give yourself more time or you behave properly on the roads. That's your two choices. Not being a danger to other people who are more than likely also just trying to get to work.

You need to leave the appropriate amount of space or not overtake, they're your only legal and morally correct options. Do you also go too fast for the conditions on icy or wet days? Or do you think that's a bit risky?

I don't endanger anyone

I might only give 2-3ft of passing space

Giving only 2ft of passing space is endangering someone.

@OneTC
No. Because the amount of time I need for the journey doesn't change according to conditions, only delays. I drive at or under the limit.

There is a weird dichotomy on MN between 'cyclists are to be treated as hallowed, don't you know they might FALL OFF???? How DARE you drive past them?' and 'cyclists are psychopaths.'

seems some police forces also take driving without due care and attention around cyclists in the same way as mn

west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/close-pass-cycling

Its been explained to you, its your choice how you drive, I doubt a judge will take the stance that you don't have a choice due to your job and childcare arrangements. But you won't have the money, by all accounts to take this to court as the fine would be beyond your means to pay

metro.co.uk/2022/06/15/bridgend-driver-passed-cyclist-too-closely-and-was-given-1887-fine-16832695/

the above driver believed he was 4 ft away, it cost him £4.500 as he wasn't

If you are behind a cyclist for several miles, then get a job closer to home? More time, less fuel and less danger to other road users.

So the roads are shitty enough that you can't overtake cyclists but are okay to drive the same in all conditions?

Bullshit

Wow, that Audi driver really doesn’t understand how video evidence works 😂

@ShouldIdo
Sure. I'll ask the current Edu Secretary of State (whoever it will be by the time you read this) to open a school nearer to my house. Thanks for solving my problem.

@OneTC the roads can get congested behind slow cyclists. They are single carriageway.

They aren't enormously different in different weather conditions, as they are inner city, therefore gritted, cleared of (rare) snow, have streetlights and are a 30mph limit - it's extremely rare to need to go much under that because of weather conditions. Even in fog, enough traffic passes that the fog dissipates early on.

Not bullshit. Maybe not your experience, sure, but mine, and not bullshit. Thanks.

Stuck behind a slow cyclist for several miles, in a city. Regularly.

Jesus fucking Christ 😅

Or move house?

And just imagine how lovely and clear the roads would be if there were fewer people driving

I give cyclists the space they need when passing in the car. However, when I am walking in the country lanes near us. The cyclists do not give pedestrians any space. Narrow lanes and they shoot past, from behind, 2 or 3 abreast almost touching. Celfish Sunts.

I ride horses. If I am holding up traffic I will always pull in to the first available gateway, field entrance, whatever is available to get out of the way to let the traffic past. As a driver, I have NEVER seen a cyclist pull in to let the stream of traffic that has built up behind them pass. There are lots of narrow lanes around here and at the weekends they are full of cyclists. It is a nightmare trying to get anywhere.

Inner city? Precisely the sort of place that cycling is likely to be faster than driving. Have you considered this? It's a lot cheaper.

Going by your comments on another thread, you really are an entitled prat aren't you?