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.

Do you ride your horse to work?

I don't mind cyclists, it's not often I get stuck behind one for ages so can't get worked up about it.

If it's safe to pass, I pass. If it's not then I tootle along. It is what it is.

What freaks me out are the super speedy cyclists who are going hell for leather in full Lycra and the speed limit is 30mph and it takes longer to overtake.

But even then, such is life as a driver.

@DdraigGoch I would LOVE to! Not enough time between dropping at breakfast club and getting to work, sadly. When DD is older, I will, for sure!

I'm going to bow out - don't particularly like being called a liar by @OneTC who apparently knows who I am, what my commute is like and others who know of jobs and houses I can get/move to, but choose not to. Hope the discussion becomes more productive.

Actually there is, because if it wouldn't be safe to overtake a car (which extends as far as close to the middle line) it isn't safe to overtake the cyclist. Wait until you have room to pull out to the other side of the road, exactly as you overtake a car. (Cyclists rarely cycle right up to the middle line, unless they're about to turn right, far more likely they're in the middle of their lane (as opposed to the gutter).

As a driver, I have NEVER seen a cyclist pull in to let the stream of traffic that has built up behind them pass.

I was on a narrow Lane on Saturday, climbing with a vehicle behind me, I took the Lane and pointed ahead & to the side so the driver was aware I was going to move at the top of the rise - only about 60 seconds of there time.

I pulled into the long lay-by and they tooted thanks and waved as the passed

i didn’t want them behind me particularly, I know the Lane well so knew there was a space to pull over. I cycled back and forth waiting for a friend but you can see the blip where I pulled over on the pictures

i don’t know any cyclist that wants drivers behind them in a narrow Lane, many will know where there are appropriate passing places - but many lay-bys are gravel so not safe to cycle onto

If you are driving a car you are allowed to behave in many ways that in any other circumstance would be unacceptable. You can kill someone and not be charged with manslaughter, for example. There is no will to ban the 25% or so of drivers who should not have a licence, some by conduct, some sadly for medical reasons.

There should be a real war on bad motorists, not a cash cow of parking fines.

How long is the distance between the two? You said that it's in an inner city which is why I was wondering whether cycling actually was any slower than driving during the rush hour.

@ivykaty44 likewise, I sometimes pull over to allow traffic to pass. It's not usually necessary for cars, but if I've got an HGV stuck behind me then I'll move into a farm gate when I find one. Obviously where blue lights are concerned that extends to jumping into the hedge.

One of the benefits of shift work though is that no one else is on the road at 3am. I did have one moron today though. Passed by me with only two feet to spare, before turning left into a car park within 60 yards or so. What was the point? I did consider stopping to give her a piece of my mind but decided not to in the end. It doesn't really happen often enough where I live to justify forking out £50 for a camera, but if poor behaviour keeps up I'll consider it.

There should be a real war on bad motorists, not a cash cow of parking fines.

I agree to an extent, but those who park dangerously do need fining the bejesus out of them.

@DdraigGoch parking dangerously should mean an appearance in court and penalty points.

Stop excusing yourself "because I'm a teacher" for putting others in danger.

Jesus, yours so unreasonable it's not true!

@HereBeFuckery have you considered campaigning to your local council for better transport infrastructure? Maybe high-quality, properly segregated cycle lanes? Because “teacher can’t get to work on time without endangering other road users” is a pretty strong angle from which to push for change.

She might actually make back the time speeding away from the crime scene. 😂

Talking of horses, I was on the way back from a site in Worcs the other day and came across two riders on a fairly tight lane. I stopped the truck as it tends scare them. As I was waiting, a woman in an Audi came around the corner and whizzed by both horses. Not super close but far too close for the speed and defo too fast.

She must've been in her mid 40s and had two school aged kids in the car. I wondered if she didn't know you were supposed to slow down for horses or if she was just a dickhead.

Or maybe for a special Road Lane just for her as she is the most important person in the whole country and can't possibly be late for work.

Same, always pull over to let cars and lorries through, if i'm going to hold them up....
I don't do it for them as such but for me, a driver has about 30 seconds before he/she will try n overtake dangerously.

However.. i also think that many cyclists do themselves no favours by being oblivious to cars/lorries behind them, some make no attempt to move over, even when safe to do so, say when passing a well surfaced layby.

My DD was a v keen amateur youth cyclist, on British Cycling program's.. i m very glad she has gone back to running, imho cycling on many of the UK roads, purely down to idiotic drivers and almost no enforcement, is too dangerous... i suspect the UK will struggle to find replacements for Brad Wiggins or Thomas because of this.

I also have to be at work on time, that's why I cycle

Why won't they use the cycle lane?????

www.welovecycling.com/wide/2021/11/08/top-10-worst-cycle-lanes-in-the-uk/

Likewise here. But I do a lot of walking on a canal towpath and regularly get cyclists speeding past without giving me any space, often brushing past me, usually without a warning bell if coming from behind. Most expect you to leap to the side to let them pass. Very few say thanks when you do stand to the side to let them past.

Sometimes when I am out walking on narrow path ways, some cyclists can be annoying, but I figure it's a busy world and we all need to learn to share the space. I certainly don't feel my life is threatened in the same way when I am cycling in traffic.

Yes, this. Cyclists on tow paths are the absolute worst and there’s no way I’d take my bike on one.

BUT I can’t believe how many people can’t distinguish between “annoying” and “potentially lethal” and seem to think the former justifies the latter.