Cycling proficiency course - they are taught to cycle in the middle of the road apparently!!

[sandyballs]

My DDs (Year 5) have been doing their cycling proficiency test last week and yesterday.

I found out last night that when passing a line of parked cars they are taught to move out at least a car door width and a half into the road in case someone opens their car door and knocks them. This basically menas they are cycling almost on the white lines in the middle of the road .

Surely there is more danger from being knocked over by moving cars in this position than the rare chance of someone flinging their door open.

Is this correct or have DDs got it wrong?
We live in south london so almost all the roads round here are full of parked cars.

Bump

I think this is correct.

If you are in 'the middle of the road' you are very visible and less likely to be hit.

(I have been knocked over by an opening car door - was not pleasant )

This is actually the safest place to cycle - it's been shown that cyclists who take up pretty much a car's space on the road get treated like a car and are given more care and space by drivers. If you hug the gutter you are much more likely to get knocked off your bike by a driver. It's about claiming your space as a road user and being visible.

Thats correct - as a biker you are taught the same

I used to hug the kerb, and when I was advised to cycle in the middle of the road, it was obvious how much safer it was - instead of flying by, giving me no space, and not slowing down, vehicles are forced to overtake.

It does seem scary but it is common practice for safe cycling. Doesn't fit with where cycle lanes are, though!

yep, "cycle lanes" here are lines painted on the road and double as parking spaces

they make cycling more dangerous, imo
and drivers get irate that you are not keeping in them, and you have to come out to pass all the parked cars.

It is very sensible, not only when overtaking parked cars but also in general to stay away from the edge of the road. Gutters are often uneven, poorly maintained and have drain covers that are easy to knock you out of balance. If you cycle by the gutter and have a slight wobble you are quite likely to catch the kerb and go flying.

Yep - quite right. I cycle on a number of roads which are parked up on one side - I always cycle almost by the white lines. If a bus is coming towards me I tuck in a foot or so. But yes - claim the road!

Yes good advice. I know several people who have had accidents when cycling as a result of idiots opening car doors without looking, or being squeezed in the gutter by vehicles passing them. I don't know anyone who's been in a head-on collision with a car travelling the opposite way.

Good practice to cycle safely, owning the road. This doesn't come easy to newer cyclists so what they learn at Cycling Proficiency is really useful and one of the best reasons for taking the test

I agree it is safer to cycle in the middle of the road, but it doesn't make you popular - in London where there is so much on-coming traffic that overtaking is going to be out of the question for any driver behind you, you will get bibbed and revved at until you give in and move over to the left.

...but at least they have seen you before the get mad, I guess

Having been knocked off my bike I always tell my DCs to cycle in the middle of the road, it makes car aware that you are there and they have to go round you. I remember when learning to drive reading the highway code it tells you to treat cyclist as a small car e.g. mini and as a cyclist to make drivers aware that you are in effect a small car. My DH was knocked off in London and very lucky not to be killed when he was in a cycle lane and a car turned right into him, he said after that if the cycle lane had not been there he would have been in the middle of the road the car would have seen him and it wouldn't have happened

it is far safer to cycle in the middle of the road where cars have no choice but to slow down/stop to get round you than to hug the kerb

All the people who go on the Lambeth cycling courses (£8 - you get taken out by a cycling instructor - a great deal) are told to cycle in the middle of the lane. This is so that vehicles have to make a definite manouvre to go round you rather than trying to squeeze past, in which case, guess who gets squashed. So, the traffic has to go slowly beghind yu until it is safe fo them to indicate and go round you.

I have seen discussion around the statistically proven fact that women are more likely to be knocked off and hurt by being on the nearside of a vehicle precisely because they are less assertive about cycling in the centre of the lane, and try and keep in, away from overtaking traffic.

Very interesting thanks. It makes much more sense to me now. Just very different from how I was taught back in the 70s but obv a lot less cars in those days!

absolutely the safer place to cycle.
especially when there are "cheese graters" (fences on the pavement).
plus potholes and other road damage and drains are closer to the side which is unpleasant and dangerous to ride over.