Cyclists! Why do they ride in the middle of the road?
Discussion
This was posted on motoring.co.uk
Feel free to cut and paste to the weekly General Gassing 'Cyclists think they own the road' threads
Why do cyclists ride in the middle of the road? Because they’re allowed to: a poster from the Department for Transport advises “Cyclists. Ride central on narrow roads.” think.direct.gov.uk/cycling.html
See those potholes? Not good for your suspension, are they? To cyclists, they’re not just inconvenient they’re lethal. The cyclist up ahead might be in the middle of the road for a few seconds in order to avoid a big gash in the ground. Cyclists are expert pothole-spotters. Use this inside knowledge to prevent costly damage to your car’s suspension.
But, I hear you cry, cyclists block me even when the tarmac is butter-smooth. Take a look ahead. See any “islands”, those refuges placed smack bang in the middle of the road, and placed there to protect pedestrians? Every keen cyclist knows that these islands can be death traps. Some motorists get a spurt on to overtake cyclists before these refuges, cutting in at the last second. Some cyclists, therefore, take what’s called the “primary position”. (Yes, there’s an official Stationery Office name for the middle-of-the-road manoeuvre www.cyclecraft.co.uk/book.html). This is cyclists’ semaphore for “don’t pass me just yet there’s an obstacle ahead.” Watch what cyclists do when they’ve passed the island: ninety-nine times out of a hundred they tuck back into the side of the road, and the motorist can then safely overtake. When a cyclist takes the “primary position” before such an upcoming obstacle it’s not a mark of arrogance, it’s a (risky) tactic to keep everyone safe.
Cyclists will also assume the primary position to avoid “dooring” by motorists opening their car doors without looking, or when about to turn right. Again, once safe to do so, cyclists return to the side of the road.
Not that a cyclist has to be a “gutter bunny,” hugging the kerb. Cyclists, in law, operate “carriages”, and have done since a court case in 1879. And, as operators of vehicles they have as much right to the whole lane as a motorist. Most of the time cyclists, quite sensibly, allow motorists to pass because that’s the safest and nicest thing to do. But it’s not a legal requirement. There’s no such thing on the road as a “car lane.” The only roads that motorists can call their own are motorways – the clue is in the name.
OK, so how about those cyclists who block the road by “riding two abreast”. That’s also perfectly legal. It’s in the Highway Code. https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82/ove... Remember, motorists – unless their cars concertina like Autobots from the Transformers movie www.imdb.com/title/tt0418279/ – ride two abreast all the time, even when driving solo.
The Highway Code states that cyclists must not ride more than two abreast and should ride in single file on “narrow or busy roads and riding round bends.” However, the Highway Code doesn’t define what it means by “narrow” or “busy” or quite how rounded the curve has to be before it’s considered a “bend.” Club cyclists, who often ride in packs, will ride two abreast to chat, and will thin out when necessary, but two riders will often “take primary position” before bends. It should be reasonably obvious why. Far too many motorists take bends, even blind ones, fast, and cyclists do not want to be squished when an overtaking driver realises they’ve overcooked the corner and has to dive back in to avoid a head-on smash.
Cyclists often “block the road” in order to save their lives, and possibly yours, too.
Feel free to cut and paste to the weekly General Gassing 'Cyclists think they own the road' threads
Why do cyclists ride in the middle of the road? Because they’re allowed to: a poster from the Department for Transport advises “Cyclists. Ride central on narrow roads.” think.direct.gov.uk/cycling.html
See those potholes? Not good for your suspension, are they? To cyclists, they’re not just inconvenient they’re lethal. The cyclist up ahead might be in the middle of the road for a few seconds in order to avoid a big gash in the ground. Cyclists are expert pothole-spotters. Use this inside knowledge to prevent costly damage to your car’s suspension.
But, I hear you cry, cyclists block me even when the tarmac is butter-smooth. Take a look ahead. See any “islands”, those refuges placed smack bang in the middle of the road, and placed there to protect pedestrians? Every keen cyclist knows that these islands can be death traps. Some motorists get a spurt on to overtake cyclists before these refuges, cutting in at the last second. Some cyclists, therefore, take what’s called the “primary position”. (Yes, there’s an official Stationery Office name for the middle-of-the-road manoeuvre www.cyclecraft.co.uk/book.html). This is cyclists’ semaphore for “don’t pass me just yet there’s an obstacle ahead.” Watch what cyclists do when they’ve passed the island: ninety-nine times out of a hundred they tuck back into the side of the road, and the motorist can then safely overtake. When a cyclist takes the “primary position” before such an upcoming obstacle it’s not a mark of arrogance, it’s a (risky) tactic to keep everyone safe.
Cyclists will also assume the primary position to avoid “dooring” by motorists opening their car doors without looking, or when about to turn right. Again, once safe to do so, cyclists return to the side of the road.
Not that a cyclist has to be a “gutter bunny,” hugging the kerb. Cyclists, in law, operate “carriages”, and have done since a court case in 1879. And, as operators of vehicles they have as much right to the whole lane as a motorist. Most of the time cyclists, quite sensibly, allow motorists to pass because that’s the safest and nicest thing to do. But it’s not a legal requirement. There’s no such thing on the road as a “car lane.” The only roads that motorists can call their own are motorways – the clue is in the name.
OK, so how about those cyclists who block the road by “riding two abreast”. That’s also perfectly legal. It’s in the Highway Code. https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82/ove... Remember, motorists – unless their cars concertina like Autobots from the Transformers movie www.imdb.com/title/tt0418279/ – ride two abreast all the time, even when driving solo.
The Highway Code states that cyclists must not ride more than two abreast and should ride in single file on “narrow or busy roads and riding round bends.” However, the Highway Code doesn’t define what it means by “narrow” or “busy” or quite how rounded the curve has to be before it’s considered a “bend.” Club cyclists, who often ride in packs, will ride two abreast to chat, and will thin out when necessary, but two riders will often “take primary position” before bends. It should be reasonably obvious why. Far too many motorists take bends, even blind ones, fast, and cyclists do not want to be squished when an overtaking driver realises they’ve overcooked the corner and has to dive back in to avoid a head-on smash.
Cyclists often “block the road” in order to save their lives, and possibly yours, too.
Cyclist this, motorists that.
When will everyone come to terms that the vast majority of humans beings are just selfish tossers who get on everyone rises nerves? Whether they're riding a bike, or driving a car.
There's around 2% of the population use our roads correctly.
Actual percentage, too.
When will everyone come to terms that the vast majority of humans beings are just selfish tossers who get on everyone rises nerves? Whether they're riding a bike, or driving a car.
There's around 2% of the population use our roads correctly.
Actual percentage, too.
I have 7km of deadly DC to ride every time i leave work on my 40km commute home..
i use the secondary position along there, but even then i get lorries swerving at the lat min and people doing their best to take my elbows off, even though im wearing hi-viz and lit up like an xmas tree.
i feel much better once ive left the DC and can deal with slower moving pricks instead
i find if you dont claim and hold the space, they will squeeze you further and further out until you fall off the edge of the road
https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=52.309607,-1.872933&...
fun fun fun..
although on the way in i take primary position as i power down the hill as fast as my little legs will let me!
i use the secondary position along there, but even then i get lorries swerving at the lat min and people doing their best to take my elbows off, even though im wearing hi-viz and lit up like an xmas tree.
i feel much better once ive left the DC and can deal with slower moving pricks instead
i find if you dont claim and hold the space, they will squeeze you further and further out until you fall off the edge of the road
https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=52.309607,-1.872933&...
fun fun fun..
although on the way in i take primary position as i power down the hill as fast as my little legs will let me!
Edited by SystemParanoia on Tuesday 15th April 22:23
SuperDude said:
Cyclist this, motorists that.
When will everyone come to terms that the vast majority of humans beings are just selfish tossers who get on everyone rises nerves? Whether they're riding a bike, or driving a car.
There's around 2% of the population use our roads correctly.
Actual percentage, too.
did you actually read the post? When will everyone come to terms that the vast majority of humans beings are just selfish tossers who get on everyone rises nerves? Whether they're riding a bike, or driving a car.
There's around 2% of the population use our roads correctly.
Actual percentage, too.
SystemParanoia said:
I have 7km of deadly DC to ride every time i leave work on my 40km commute home..
It's deadly. So is it wise to use it? Yes, you may have the right, just as I have the right to walk down lane 2 of the A14, but it's a pretty silly idea if it's that dangerous. Don't you think? ETA I too COULD ride in on an A-road, but I value my life (especially when rush hour commuters are concerned) so stick to off-road routes, or very quiet back roads.
OpulentBob said:
SystemParanoia said:
I have 7km of deadly DC to ride every time i leave work on my 40km commute home..
It's deadly. So is it wise to use it? Yes, you may have the right, just as I have the right to walk down lane 2 of the A14, but it's a pretty silly idea if it's that dangerous. Don't you think? ETA I too COULD ride in on an A-road, but I value my life (especially when rush hour commuters are concerned) so stick to off-road routes, or very quiet back roads.
oyster said:
OpulentBob said:
SystemParanoia said:
I have 7km of deadly DC to ride every time i leave work on my 40km commute home..
It's deadly. So is it wise to use it? Yes, you may have the right, just as I have the right to walk down lane 2 of the A14, but it's a pretty silly idea if it's that dangerous. Don't you think? ETA I too COULD ride in on an A-road, but I value my life (especially when rush hour commuters are concerned) so stick to off-road routes, or very quiet back roads.
king AGES! 
I drive the more dangerous, fast A roads and then ride the last few miles from just outside the ring road. But the point still stands. The danger is known and acknowledged, so it is sensible, or just sheer bloody-mindedness to use it?Jayfish said:
SuperDude said:
Cyclist this, motorists that.
When will everyone come to terms that the vast majority of humans beings are just selfish tossers who get on everyone rises nerves? Whether they're riding a bike, or driving a car.
There's around 2% of the population use our roads correctly.
Actual percentage, too.
did you actually read the post? When will everyone come to terms that the vast majority of humans beings are just selfish tossers who get on everyone rises nerves? Whether they're riding a bike, or driving a car.
There's around 2% of the population use our roads correctly.
Actual percentage, too.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff