Minimum Passing Distance Petition

Minimum Passing Distance Petition

Author
Discussion

jesusbuiltmycar

Original Poster:

4,534 posts

253 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Just seen this article about a petition calling for the introduction of a minimum passing distance when overtaking cyclists road.cc minimum passing distance when overtaking cyclists.

I have signed the petition which can be found here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/128190


Dr Murdoch

3,427 posts

134 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Just wondering how this would be enforceable?

What about cyclists who are overtaking (undertaking), same rule apply?

Nice idea, but can't ever see it happening.

loudlashadjuster

5,082 posts

183 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Well-intentioned but flawed. This gives a good run through of the reasons why it's not a very good idea.

http://singletrackworld.com/columns/2016/04/passin...

Edited by loudlashadjuster on Thursday 5th May 13:54

Pachydermus

973 posts

111 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
It's so rare to actually see a police car on the roads that even if this was brought in it would be totally unenforced. On the other hand, it would be easy pickings for the police to prosecute careless driving using the current laws should they actually choose to do so - you can pretty much guarantee that some impatient tt will try to squeeze past you in a road narrowing (eg here) should you leave a sniff of a gap.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
jesusbuiltmycar said:
Just seen this article about a petition calling for the introduction of a minimum passing distance when overtaking cyclists road.cc minimum passing distance when overtaking cyclists.

I have signed the petition which can be found here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/128190
Ridiculous and won't be passed. Wouldn't surprise me if this was started by someone who only cycles the quiet lanes of Wiltshire on a Sunday afternoon between the months of May to September.

I cycle in London everyday and I recon that a car or motorcycle passes me with about a foot to spare on every journey. This s urban cycling and you get used to it. Unlike other cyclists in town, I don't get over excited and swear at people f they pass too close.

If they hit me, then of course that's another matter entirely.

Also, I just don't see how this can policed.

JEA1K

2,485 posts

222 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Whilst it cannot be policed, 'some' people will abide by it and make it safer for cyclists. Put it this way, it won't ensure drivers leave less space, so this in itself is a positive step. It more about changing the thought process of drivers so they appreciate just how vulnerable cyclists are.

I genuinely believe some drivers in their mind, think hitting a cyclist is like hitting another vehicle. "Damn, what a mess, oh well, the insurance will sort ... "




loudlashadjuster

5,082 posts

183 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
The Govt. would achieve far more with a public education campaign. Even if they are derided at the time, stuff like 'clunk click, every trip' and 'knock-off Nigel' (actually, that's quite apt wink) tends to stick in the public's imagination long after the ads have gone from the screens.

Making something socially unacceptable has far more impact than legislation in many ways, look at drink driving and how long that took from legislation (1966 IIRC) to it really being something most folk wouldn't even consider (well into the 1980s it seems).

Chuck a few million at WPP and tell them to come up with a funny campaign that marginalises dangerous and selfish attitudes towards cyclists and wait a few years, results will come.

Probably far better ROI than tins of green paint and the odd blue sign.

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

197 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
I prefer people nip past as long as the speed isn't high couldn't careless how close them come as long as they don't hit me. Nothing worse than people driving just off your rear wheel and no confidence to pass as then I begin worrying how competant a driver they are - it's those sort that hesitate then go then change their mind and pull in on you. If someone goes full on opposing carriageway couldn't care less how fast they are going, acceptable speed can increase with distance of gap left that would be ideal however, bit on the hard side to police.

AC43

11,435 posts

207 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
jesusbuiltmycar said:
Just seen this article about a petition calling for the introduction of a minimum passing distance when overtaking cyclists road.cc minimum passing distance when overtaking cyclists.
What on earth are those 2 x roadies doing cycling side by side on a major road?

vanordinaire

3,701 posts

161 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Dr Murdoch said:
Just wondering how this would be enforceable?

What about cyclists who are overtaking (undertaking), same rule apply?

Nice idea, but can't ever see it happening.
Looking at the photo in the article, the cyclist in yellow is passing the cyclist in blue at a distance of about 6 inches, a lot closer than the lorry is. Would he be done for passing too close under the proposed legislation or are cyclists not included in this law?


Edited by vanordinaire on Thursday 5th May 23:43

Munka01

453 posts

138 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
This exact same law was passed in NSW (Aus) recently.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/new-nsw-cycling-fines-an...

frisbee

4,957 posts

109 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
The ones that make absolutely no effort to adjust their course to give cyclists, walkers or runners some room when its a wide open road should be dragged out of their cars and beaten.

Google [bot]

6,682 posts

180 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
Munka01 said:
This exact same law was passed in NSW (Aus) recently.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/new-nsw-cycling-fines-an...
Yep, one unenforceable nod to cycling safety, and an increase to $319 fine for not wearing a helmet (for safety). $106 for no ID.

I wonder which we'll see random blitzing of?

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
Google [bot] said:
Yep, one unenforceable nod to cycling safety, and an increase to $319 fine for not wearing a helmet (for safety). $106 for no ID.

I wonder which we'll see random blitzing of?
Now, I approve of a law to make cyclists wear helmets and fine accordingly.

oyster

12,577 posts

247 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
What a waste of time petition.

A 1 metre gap to a truck passing at 60mph is worse than a 50cm gap to a g-whizz going 3mph faster than me.

tobinen

9,184 posts

144 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
It's a noble idea but a waste of time sadly. There used to be a public safety film for this in the 1980s but I can't find it on YouTube

MKnight702

3,096 posts

213 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
I'll sign the petition, if you promise to sign one about making the use of available cycle lanes compulsory.

I do try to give cyclists as much room as I am able, but frankly some of them are their own worst enemies.

Near me there is a narrow bridge that has a completely separate cycle bridge next to it, and yet every morning there are cyclists who insist on pedalling their way over the narrow bridge holding up all the traffic. Or the roads in Harston that have bollards in the middle every hundred yards and a cycle path which most of the lycra crew ignore meaning that the queue of traffic stretches back the entire length of the village as nobody can safely get past the cyclist doing 15-20mph down the main road.

47p2

1,502 posts

160 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
I was out cycling with 3 police officers yesterday, sometimes we were 2 abreast, sometimes single file all depending on the road we were on/conditions etc. There was more than one occasion when we were given the close punishment pass and it always happened when we were in single file. Does make me wonder if we should always cycles 2 up therefore forcing the car to the opposite side of the road to pass. One of the guys was telling me about a close pass he had last year, he caught up with the driver at traffic lights and gave him a piece of his mind but the driver just shrugged it off. Two weeks after the incident whilst on duty the cop saw the same driver and went over this time as an officer and had a stern word with him... Humble pie was eaten that night by the driver

47p2

1,502 posts

160 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
One of my regular routes takes me along the A77, the local authorities have kindly provided a cycle lane. Sadly it's unusable as the surface is full of sunken drain covers, broken tarmac, detritus washed in to the kerb and cars parked whilst the lazy owners nip into the shops. I've had a number of arguments with selfish motorists on this stretch of road...

Google map van was there on a quiet day by the looks of this...

loudlashadjuster

5,082 posts

183 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
MKnight702 said:
I'll sign the petition, if you promise to sign one about making the use of available cycle lanes compulsory.

I do try to give cyclists as much room as I am able, but frankly some of them are their own worst enemies.

Near me there is a narrow bridge that has a completely separate cycle bridge next to it, and yet every morning there are cyclists who insist on pedalling their way over the narrow bridge holding up all the traffic. Or the roads in Harston that have bollards in the middle every hundred yards and a cycle path which most of the lycra crew ignore meaning that the queue of traffic stretches back the entire length of the village as nobody can safely get past the cyclist doing 15-20mph down the main road.
You have a strong bloodline and I wager you have sired many worthy offspring.