Careful when overtaking cyclists!

Jessie1995 · 2024-01-17T15:38:01+00:00

Hope this is the right thread to post on, I have a bit of driving anxiety and sometimes with cyclists. I always leave them plenty of room and don’t overtake near bends, junctions etc! I plan it out before I overtake basically! I had a situation today and just want to know if what I did was correct or what should I have done better perhaps? So I can learn or have confidence that I’m careful! so this is a 20mph road, cyclist crawling up this hill he moves over into this hatch marking on my right before his turn right box starts as he’s turning right. I’m continuing straight on. the road is quite a wide road, but I slow down a bit and move over left in my lane ( not into the cycle lane) is this correct!? I’m worried it wasn’t enough space for him? But I didn’t know what else was correct to do- don’t think I should come to a stop as he’s in his own lane as such! was this ok what I did? I don’t encounter this very much so was a new one for me! Thank you for any advice! have attached photos I know doesn’t get the full idea of the space but if it helps!

ErrolTheDragon · 17/01/2024 15:42

Probably fine from what you've described. Strictly the cyclist probably shouldn't have gone into the hatched area, the only reason to do so is so you could pass your his left before he'd reached the turn lane proper.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/01/2024 15:45

So he would have technically been inviting me to continue how I was anyway?
does the space/gap look okay? He was around where that red line is centre of the hatch markings! I didn’t want to go into th cycle lane so just made sure I slowed down a little and moved right over to the left of my lane to pass him!

OP posts:

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/01/2024 15:46

ErrolTheDragon · 17/01/2024 15:42

Probably fine from what you've described. Strictly the cyclist probably shouldn't have gone into the hatched area, the only reason to do so is so you could pass your his left before he'd reached the turn lane proper.

So he would have technically been inviting me to continue how I was anyway?
does the space/gap look okay? He was around where that red line is centre of the hatch markings! I didn’t want to go into th cycle lane so just made sure I slowed down a little and moved right over to the left of my lane to pass him!

OP posts:

fedupandstuck · 17/01/2024 15:50

I don't think I'd have given it a moment's thought, and I would have done similar to you.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/01/2024 15:55

fedupandstuck · 17/01/2024 15:50

I don't think I'd have given it a moment's thought, and I would have done similar to you.

So once the cyclist was in the hatch marking bit you’d have just continued in your own lane ( not in the cycle lane) but moved over left a bit and perhaps went a bit slower? I might be overthinking it but wanted to see what people thought!

OP posts:

TinyYellow · 17/01/2024 15:57

What you did was fine. Cyclists have a responsibility for their own safety and that of other road users too. It’s not all on motorists.

fedupandstuck · 17/01/2024 15:58

Yep, just proceeded with more caution than otherwise in case of a last minute change of mind by the cyclist, or some other unexpected manoeuvre. The cyclist would very quickly have been in the right turn lane, so not as if you would be driving alongside for more than a moment.

CormorantStrikesBack · 17/01/2024 15:59

I’m a frequent cyclist and I’d have been fine with you passing like that.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/01/2024 16:10

CormorantStrikesBack · 17/01/2024 15:59

I’m a frequent cyclist and I’d have been fine with you passing like that.

Thanks was that the best thing to do? I was worried it wasn’t 1.5m space I gave as much room as possible! I didn’t want to drive in the cycle lane so just stayed where I was but went over left as possible in my lane and went a bit slower!

OP posts:

CormorantStrikesBack · 17/01/2024 16:32

Jessie1995 · 17/01/2024 16:10

Thanks was that the best thing to do? I was worried it wasn’t 1.5m space I gave as much room as possible! I didn’t want to drive in the cycle lane so just stayed where I was but went over left as possible in my lane and went a bit slower!

Show quote history

I think most cyclists accept there isn’t always enough space for 1.5 m (ie country lanes) and as long as you drop the speed to account for this then that makes a big difference. You say it was a 20mph limit and you slowed down so you’d have been going slow enough. If someone passes me a meter away at 15mph it’s a massive difference from someone at the same distance but 60mph.

CormorantStrikesBack · 17/01/2024 16:33

Saying that if the cycle lane was clear I’d probably have moved over into that to give the cyclist a bit more space……I don’t think that’s an issue if it’s clear.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/01/2024 16:50

CormorantStrikesBack · 17/01/2024 16:32

I think most cyclists accept there isn’t always enough space for 1.5 m (ie country lanes) and as long as you drop the speed to account for this then that makes a big difference. You say it was a 20mph limit and you slowed down so you’d have been going slow enough. If someone passes me a meter away at 15mph it’s a massive difference from someone at the same distance but 60mph.

Show quote history

Well I was thinking I’m going straight he’s turning off and he’s in the hatch markings and ive moved over to the left of my lane so tried to think that was the best. I’m not overtaking as such I’m just passing! ( obviously still carefully) he looked at me as I passed him so it made me start to overthink it!!

also wasn’t sure you can drive in cycle lanes if not necessary so wasn’t sure on that one but good to know! Thanks!

OP posts:

fedupandstuck · 17/01/2024 16:54

You can temporarily drive in a cycle lane if it has a broken white line and it's necessary for you to do so. If it has a solid white line then you cannot drive in it.

The cyclist was probably just checking around him before making a manoeuvre as he doesn't have mirrors with which to do so.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/01/2024 16:56

fedupandstuck · 17/01/2024 16:54

You can temporarily drive in a cycle lane if it has a broken white line and it's necessary for you to do so. If it has a solid white line then you cannot drive in it.

The cyclist was probably just checking around him before making a manoeuvre as he doesn't have mirrors with which to do so.

Thanks wasn’t sure on that one so didn’t just incase! But made sure I was over left in my lane as much as possible! From the picture does the gap look wide enough? Find it hard to envision 1.5m so I go as much as possible!

and yes makes sense, he’d entered the hatch markings a little bit before I got there but hadn’t got into his turn right box yet so he was probably keeping an eye out for that!

OP posts:

shearwater2 · 17/01/2024 16:59

I've been told off by a cyclist for being too careful and not overtaking. It was not safe to do so.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/01/2024 17:00

shearwater2 · 17/01/2024 16:59

I've been told off by a cyclist for being too careful and not overtaking. It was not safe to do so.

Sorry did you mean it wasn’t safe to do so for you or for me from what I’ve described?

OP posts:

shearwater2 · 17/01/2024 17:03

Sorry, for me. It was on a country lane and there was not enough visibility of what was coming the other way to pass. Or much room.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 17/01/2024 17:05

shearwater2 · 17/01/2024 17:03

Sorry, for me. It was on a country lane and there was not enough visibility of what was coming the other way to pass. Or much room.

Best to stay safe and not if you aren’t sure! I wasn’t sure with today because he was turning off and not in my lane? I think I just wanted to give him as much room as I would if overtaking but I’m going straight on. Just felt a bit rubbish afterwards thinking I did it wrong!

OP posts:

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 18/01/2024 09:32

fedupandstuck · 17/01/2024 15:58

Yep, just proceeded with more caution than otherwise in case of a last minute change of mind by the cyclist, or some other unexpected manoeuvre. The cyclist would very quickly have been in the right turn lane, so not as if you would be driving alongside for more than a moment.

Thanks so the space was enough? And I didn’t need to come to a stop to let them get into the box or move into the cycle lane? I made sure I went slower with caution and moved over left staying in my lane?

OP posts:

Blomh · 18/01/2024 09:41

I’m paranoid around cyclists because my cousin once hit an idiot cyclist who made a right turn without looking over his shoulder to see if the road was clear, and cycled straight in front of her car. Then she got the blame and got dragged to court and everything. But I would have done the same as you - keep left and keep going - albeit very very slowly and cautiously.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 18/01/2024 10:11

Blomh · 18/01/2024 09:41

I’m paranoid around cyclists because my cousin once hit an idiot cyclist who made a right turn without looking over his shoulder to see if the road was clear, and cycled straight in front of her car. Then she got the blame and got dragged to court and everything. But I would have done the same as you - keep left and keep going - albeit very very slowly and cautiously.

Oh that’s horrible! I’m very cautious with them too sometimes they come out of nowhere!
Thank you glad it seems like I did it right! So if they were in these hatch markings that is enough room to just continue in my lane? I went slowly (15mph in a 20mph zone) and moved over left in my lane. I didn’t go into the cycle lane but as I passed he looked at me which then made me doubt myself!

OP posts:

ErrolTheDragon · 18/01/2024 10:52

He probably looked at you because he'd not even realised you were there as you were going slowly.

It's something DH and I starting to be aware of now we've got hybrid cars - when they're in electric only mode they're so quiet that cyclists (and pedestrians) who are used to relying on sound (perhaps subconsciously) are more likely to be oblivious. Obviously it's even more the case with pure electric vehicles.

Anyway - if he was halfway into that hatched bit and moving to the right it looks like there's plenty of room.

Original poster

Jessie1995 · 18/01/2024 13:23

ErrolTheDragon · 18/01/2024 10:52

He probably looked at you because he'd not even realised you were there as you were going slowly.

It's something DH and I starting to be aware of now we've got hybrid cars - when they're in electric only mode they're so quiet that cyclists (and pedestrians) who are used to relying on sound (perhaps subconsciously) are more likely to be oblivious. Obviously it's even more the case with pure electric vehicles.

Anyway - if he was halfway into that hatched bit and moving to the right it looks like there's plenty of room.

Yes true! I was going around 15mph past him ( in a 20mph zone)
And yeah he was approx in the middle of those hatch markings and I moved over so I was right up to the left ( not in the cycle lane) does it look enough space?
it just threw me off as I know to give them plenty of space but when they are turning off a different way to you and are on your right not left I just doubted myself really.
doubted where I should have gone into the cycle lane or whether I should have stopped until he had turned. But I think from everyone’s replies it sounds I did it the best way possible.

OP posts:

TeresaCrowd · 15/02/2024 21:09

If I’m cycling slowly because it’s up a hill I will sometimes move into the cross hatching early to allow cars going straight to continue in the lane at the earliest opportunity as it feels the considerate thing to do. It’s not always easy to signal if it’s a steep hill either as you want both hands on the bars for leverage, especially if standing, so by going early it also hopefully stops cars trying to use the cross hatching to speed round you. What you did carrying on was fine.

it’s good that you think about the options though OP and are clearly considering all the road layout. Thank you for being considerate. A lot of instances like the PP who’s family member hit a cyclist that turned right would be avoided if the driver considered the full road infrastructure ahead of them and the elements of the highways code, such as not overtaking at a junction. The rider ahead should be able to make a right turn without being overtaken from behind, as you shouldn’t be making overtakes at the point of a junction. You wouldn’t whip round the right hand side of a car at a junction whether they were indicating or not, so don’t do it to a bike. Same on approach to a roundabout, just hang back. Or if you are about to make a turn yourself, just hang back. Cyclists would not have to position themselves quite so aggressively so early if people stopped overtaking at stupid points where there is a lot going on, often to immediately stop in front of the rider to make a turn themselves. Obviously I wasn’t there for the particular incident above but if I had £1 for each time I’d been squeezed past, even when signalling to make a turn I’d have a pretty swish new bike.