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.

YANBU OP and I am not a cyclist - my 74-year-old mum is, and I always think about her when I pass anyone on a bike.

I've never understood why people in cars think their journey is so important they can risk another human's life - even if they might be late for work.

I was stuck recently going round a very very long blind bend on a 40mph road - behind a cyclist, taking my time and the cars behind me where all beeping - seriously it was not safe to pass - chill out!

I quiet like being behind a cyclist it makes me think of mum and smile - keep on riding and don;t let idiots spoil your journey

you might not have said "gutter" - but that is what you mean. And as you have just said yourself, cyclists are supposed to be in the middle of their lane by default - not at the edge.

@Belle96 That was the bit that stuck out for me, too. More than the actual issue OP is writing about. 'This has gone done like a lead balloon' literally only 2 minutes after the original post. Peculiar.

Absolutely, but many more can than do. In London, 75% of commutes are less than 10 miles, which is perfectly cycleable providing no health issues. I manage a 10 mile journey each way, work long shifts, have lots of children to care for, and don't have a great fitness level.

In the Netherlands, 1 in 4 journeys is done by bike, whereas in the UK it's 1 in 50. Clearly there is room for improvement.

Seasonalvag - how should a cyclist commute? In a fast frenzied manner? I would have though tthat was dangerous. Where drivers fear being delayed, cyclists fear for their lives. Just be patient and less angry.

I find it irritating when two cyclists are riding side by side or one cyclist is in middle of the road pottering along slowly in rush hour, holding up 20+ cars as there is no safe space to be overtaken.

Cyclists can cause almost gridlock in our town in rush hour - and there's a cycle path- it's slightly longer but some cyclists won't use it preferring to go the more direct route

It really worries me as these are dangerous large roundabouts and busy traffic roads, with lorries using them. It makes my heart go as it's horrible to think how injured they could get. I don't think cyclists should be allowed in busy roads where there are safe alternative cycle paths nearby

I generally get a bit annoyed at cyclists not really sure why. But I watched a BBC programme I think about a week ago and was shocked how some are treated and how cars drive around them. It's made me much more aware and I will give lots of distance now.

I have all the time in the world for cyclists and always give them plenty of room when overtaking, I have horses and completely understand arsehole drivers when I’m out riding.

However, I never understand groups of dickish cyclists who belong to clubs on roads that insist on riding 2 abreast in groups of up to 20 and refuse to let any drivers past them. They hog the roads and cause a lot of annoyance in our area by their selfishness. Some cyclists really do give others a bad name.

Tiani4, oh if only all the cars would get off the road, stop causing traffic jams, (you do know traffic jams are made of cars?) - Lovely for cyclists and pedestrians.

There are rarely true safe alternatives cycle routes

Take for example an old Route I used to take

At the first roundabout the cycle lane ran out - just stopped being there. Either get of your bike and walk or try to join the traffic just at the roundabout

At the second round about I would need to use 2 crossings each taking over a minute to change

But they are enjoying their hobby - road riding/racing like you on your horse. I used to ride and always slow down when I see the horse sign and give plenty of room (wait normally for the rider to signal me to overtake) - I'm sure many drivers find horses as irritating as groups of cyclists - but they all have the right to be there!

I am fairly sure someone will be along to tell you horses should not be on roads but in fields as I have seen many times before on MN!

God, I feel your pain OP. I cycle-commute in London and had a unnecessary, deliberate close pass from a transit van last week. We were approaching a red light, and they passed close and fast enough to make me wobble for no reason other than to be a dick. I’ve also had someone reverse into me in a queue of traffic, and countless people pulling out of side roads without looking so I either have to swerve into traffic or end up over their bonnet.

I’m no MAMIL; it’s not a hobby but a necessity. I’m a 40-something mum on a clunky old bike I bought off gumtree, and I’m just trying to get to the office in one piece in the tight 30 minutes between dropping off DD at breakfast club and work starting.

If every commuting cyclist in London decided to drive instead the congestion would be even worse!

I always give plenty room when overtaking a cyclist- treat them the same as overtaking a car.

However, I live rurally and there are regular cycle events which often means you are stuck behind groups of riders for several miles - not once have I seen any of them pull in when safe to do so to allow the cars that have built up behind them past. I have also sadly witnessed idiotic riding that almost caused a head on collision that I doubt the cyclist would have faired well in.

Undoubtedly there are idiotic car drivers - see enough of these every day, but there are idiot cyclists and walkers too.

Most of us that drive trucks are very aware of the dangers. It's much harder to get a hgv license and lots of companies have mandatory specific training.

For example, I had to do a course which involved cycling around Birmingham on a bike along with a load of other drivers. When my mate did the same course one of the guys was knocked off his bike in traffic by a car driver. 😂 She didn't even notice she'd bumped him and somehow proceeded to then drive over his foot. 100% true story.

Cyclists are allowed to cycle two abreast. I went on a bike ride at the weekend. We went on some cycle paths, but it's so disjointed and meant getting off to cross roads, whereas if we'd been on the road we would have flowed with the traffic (not busy as it was Sunday afternoon) Also shared use paths means pedestrians often get in the way, and dogs. They're not maintained as well as roads (which aren't maintained that well anyway) so some are quite hazardous.

Can't believe the poster who is far too important to pass cyclists safely. I'm sure that will stand up in court if you were to knock one off their bike.

I do pull over and let cars past on country lanes if it's safe to do so and won't mean I have to get in a ditch or brambles.

Just pull in and let the cars get on their way

Very unsafe thing to do - cars won't see you if you pull in after some parked cars then go to pull out again - much better to stay in their view

It really worries me as these are dangerous large roundabouts and busy traffic roads, with lorries using them. It makes my heart go as it's horrible to think how injured they could get. I don't think cyclists should be allowed in busy roads where there are safe alternative cycle paths nearby

Was replying to this.

I dislike cyclists in the road, but mainly because the whole system pits vehicles and other road users against each other.

When the Dutch built Amsterdam, they decided to fundamentally prioritise public transport, cycling and walking. It results in a radically different road set up to the cobbled together set of rules and rule changes we have.

As a pedestrian, I vastly prefer cyclists to whizz past me there than the insane risks I've seen cyclists take on the roads.

The absolute worst of which being cycle to work week. Aka, the week in which hordes of people with no proper visibility equipment or road knowledge take to the highways.

Genuine question (sorry if it sounds goady) but why are cycle lanes so narrow? If I'm driving on a road with a dedicated cycle lane then I don't leave 1.5m. I carry on driving as normal. If on road without, I do go wide, probably out of habit.

Hugs, we sound pretty similar. Cycling is just a practical method of getting to work. I don't particularly love it right now either (can you tell?) but as well as the environmental impact of driving, I also can't afford a car for me to commute with on my wage.

YANBU.

I overtake a cyclist as I would a car, leaving lots of room.

Whatever the rights and wrongs, a cyclist is vulnerable on the road and I don't want to take a risk with someone's life.

They shouldn't be, unless protected. The 'cycle lanes' that are a narrow strip of paint by the side of the road are actually unhelpful and dangerous.

I got home from my cycle commute tonight at half eight because I’d worked late. I’m 50 and cycle around 3,000 miles a year, mainly commuting, and have done for over a decade. Tonight was the first time I’ve felt the need to record my rides, and I’ve got a Go Pro out of the spare room for tomorrow’s ride.

Tonight I had on a reflective jacket, plus rear light on my helmet, one on my seat post, one on my roadside rear fork. Also had a reflective rucksack cover. I had three close passes that were close enough to hit me - bloke in a Jag and a bus driver who both did it several times, I suspect deliberately, and an ASDA HGV who got impatient, overtook me and then moved back into my lane before he’d even finished passing me, so that I had to take evasive action and bunny hop on to the pavement. I thought I was going to die. I also had maybe ten cars who close passed at speed fast enough to make me worry.

Along my commute there is one mile of bike lane and one mile of bus lane. The other eight miles I have to ride on the road. I do have an off-road canal option for eight miles but that isn’t safe at night - a guy was attacked with a machete last week at 6pm on the canal and had his bike stolen and head split open.

I love riding my bike. It saves me around a grand a year, keeps me fit, helps the environment. Please, please, please, if it’s not safe to pass, then just wait. We don’t hold you up for long - certainly less than a milk float, gutter sweeper or working bin lorry. Tonight is the first time I’ve ever cried cycling home from work. I just want to get home in one piece.

@PauliesWalnuts I'm sorry - that's so scary - drivers can be so impatient and vile x

That’s brilliant that the course involves getting HGV drivers to cycle and see things from the other side. Not brilliant what happened to your mate though 😱

I saw a video the other day of bus drivers being trained in Brazil, and they had to “ride” on stationary bikes next to a road while buses whizzed them. One had to get off the bike because he couldn’t take the fear! I bet they don’t go on to close-pass any cyclists after that though!