Why you should give cyclists a wide berth when passing.
Discussion
Mr2Mike said:
WinstonWolf said:
If he'd given plenty of room he wouldn't have gone over the cyclists head.
It's the cyclists fault, but would you honestly want to kill someone when giving them a little space could prevent it?
How do you know he went over the cyclists head, it doesn't mention that anywhere I can see? It looks like the cyclist probably hit his head on the car, but very unlikely his head was run over.It's the cyclists fault, but would you honestly want to kill someone when giving them a little space could prevent it?
I agree with the others, riding a pushbike whilst so pissed you can barely stand up is the fundamental problem here. The car driver moved over more than enough to cope with the usual wobbles and weaves you get from cyclists who are unable to maintain a straight path. If everyone had to drive as though every cyclist was suddenly going to topple over, many places would just grind to a halt.
Unfortunately there are cyclist out there (just as in every walk of life) that prove the Darwin Theory. We seem to be expected to preserve their ability to remain part of the gene pool in spite of their desire to remove themselves from it!
Strapping you feet onto a bicycle that will not stand up when stationary, then proceeding to ride on a public highway, fits with the Darwin Theory. You are not racing (illegal on a public highway in/on any other vehicle) so there is no need to be strapped on.
Strapping you feet onto a bicycle that will not stand up when stationary, then proceeding to ride on a public highway, fits with the Darwin Theory. You are not racing (illegal on a public highway in/on any other vehicle) so there is no need to be strapped on.
WinstonWolf said:
Finlandia said:
Maybe the cyclist shouldn't be drunk or steer under the car. The car gave plenty of room, the drunk on the cycle is the problem here, not the lack of space given by the car.
If he'd given plenty of room he wouldn't have gone over the cyclists head.It's the cyclists fault, but would you honestly want to kill someone when giving them a little space could prevent it?
The Moose said:
WinstonWolf said:
Finlandia said:
Maybe the cyclist shouldn't be drunk or steer under the car. The car gave plenty of room, the drunk on the cycle is the problem here, not the lack of space given by the car.
If he'd given plenty of room he wouldn't have gone over the cyclists head.It's the cyclists fault, but would you honestly want to kill someone when giving them a little space could prevent it?
Personally I'd rather avoid coming into contact with any other road user when I'm driving...
I always give cyclists loads of room, and wait for a sufficiently roomy place to overtake even if it means waiting for miles.
Doesn't stop me from hating the lycra clad packs of cyclists for being in the way in the first place, but I wouldn't do something to endanger them either.
Seems the courtesy is never reciprocated though as I have never seen a bunch of cyclists pull in to let a big queue of traffic past.
Doesn't stop me from hating the lycra clad packs of cyclists for being in the way in the first place, but I wouldn't do something to endanger them either.
Seems the courtesy is never reciprocated though as I have never seen a bunch of cyclists pull in to let a big queue of traffic past.
spookly said:
I always give cyclists loads of room, and wait for a sufficiently roomy place to overtake even if it means waiting for miles.
Doesn't stop me from hating the lycra clad packs of cyclists for being in the way in the first place, but I wouldn't do something to endanger them either.
Seems the courtesy is never reciprocated though as I have never seen a bunch of cyclists pull in to let a big queue of traffic past.
Spooky timing, this morning an HGV courteously waited behind me through a series of pinch points. I nipped on the pavement (we were out in the arse end of nowhere) and let him pass. Flash of the indicators from him, wave from me and everyone was happy Doesn't stop me from hating the lycra clad packs of cyclists for being in the way in the first place, but I wouldn't do something to endanger them either.
Seems the courtesy is never reciprocated though as I have never seen a bunch of cyclists pull in to let a big queue of traffic past.
popeyewhite said:
BGarside said:
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It's odd that drivers are apparently content to sit for hours in traffic jams but won't wait even a few seconds until it is safe to pass a cyclist.
It's not odd at all, there is a possibility to overtake where none existed earlier whilst sitting in traffic.It's odd that drivers are apparently content to sit for hours in traffic jams but won't wait even a few seconds until it is safe to pass a cyclist.
Another cycling cliche, that makes no sense at all.
Nobody in their right mind should in any way believe that motorists are content to sit in a traffic jam.
People clearly hate sitting in traffic jams, but overall it's the fastest available method of travelling a long distance that involve motorways.
It would be equally incorrect, to say that train commuters are obviously happy to stand up the entire journey and suffer train cancellations.
WinstonWolf said:
Absolutely the cyclists fault, 100%. But if you could avoid killing or maiming someone now you've seen what can happen wouldn't it make sense to try and avoid it? By giving cyclists a wide berth you avoid all that drama in your life.
The car driver DID try to avoid it, he left a pretty generous distance. Certainly cars should give cyclists the maximum possible room when overtaking, but if you had to drive as though every cyclist was about to randomly keel over for no obvious reason, then the traffic in places like London would grind to a halt. This would be like saying you should always give a car sufficient room to randomly swerve into your lane when overtaking. Clearly nonsense as you'd never be able to overtake anything.
Why in these scenarios, does the driver of the vehicle always have to take responsibility?
Skittish horse or wobbly cyclist, for some reason the onus is always on the driver to give a wide berth and take caution.
If I drove a car or rode a motorcycle in a similar manner, it's very likely I'd get done for either driving without due care or dangerous driving.
As an example, a friend did a wheelie on a quiet, 30mph dual carriageway a few year back, zero pedestrians and he was doing no more than 20mph. An unmarked car roughly 100 metres behind stopped him at the next set of lights and as a result he was sent on a course rather than having a driving without due care charge thrown at him.
In my opinion, he was in control of his vehicle and the only risk was to himself.
How is this any worse than cycling badly or riding an unpredictable animal?
Skittish horse or wobbly cyclist, for some reason the onus is always on the driver to give a wide berth and take caution.
If I drove a car or rode a motorcycle in a similar manner, it's very likely I'd get done for either driving without due care or dangerous driving.
As an example, a friend did a wheelie on a quiet, 30mph dual carriageway a few year back, zero pedestrians and he was doing no more than 20mph. An unmarked car roughly 100 metres behind stopped him at the next set of lights and as a result he was sent on a course rather than having a driving without due care charge thrown at him.
In my opinion, he was in control of his vehicle and the only risk was to himself.
How is this any worse than cycling badly or riding an unpredictable animal?
lord trumpton said:
We get a lot of the cycling clubs out together around here. All dressed up in their maching Lycra and taking up the whole lane in their imaginary peloton living the dream.
The problem I have is the roads are narrow country roads and it's really difficult to pass them and leave plenty of room. It seems some cyclists can put themselves in harms way, or at least increase their chances of a close shave by some of the more impatient drivers or old biffs.
It's actually safer for groups of cyclists to travel 2 abreast as that shortens the length of time a car needs to spend on the other side of the road. Much easier to pass properly.The problem I have is the roads are narrow country roads and it's really difficult to pass them and leave plenty of room. It seems some cyclists can put themselves in harms way, or at least increase their chances of a close shave by some of the more impatient drivers or old biffs.
RenOHH said:
It's actually safer for groups of cyclists to travel 2 abreast as that shortens the length of time a car needs to spend on the other side of the road. Much easier to pass properly.
Not safer for the car driver who has to move further into the other carriageway. Doesn't it say in the HC somewhere that a road user shouldn't deliberately hinder someone trying to overtake? Maybe it's just good manners to move into single file to allow traffic that's travelling faster to pass... .Mave said:
DoubleD said:
Its not easier on a narrow B road.
If you're on a narrow B road then it doesn't matter if it's one or two abreast - you're going to need to be well over the centreline to safely overtake either way.krarkol said:
Why in these scenarios, does the driver of the vehicle always have to take responsibility?
Skittish horse or wobbly cyclist, for some reason the onus is always on the driver to give a wide berth and take caution.
Cyclists sometimes need to "wobble". That's the nature of our roads. If you want to overtake one then you need to take that into account.Skittish horse or wobbly cyclist, for some reason the onus is always on the driver to give a wide berth and take caution.
And regarding responsibility- everyone has responsibility. It's not us or them. By everyone trying to take responsibility we can avoid accidents when one party falls short for whatever reason - the other party mitigates the hazard.
DoubleD said:
Mave said:
DoubleD said:
Its not easier on a narrow B road.
If you're on a narrow B road then it doesn't matter if it's one or two abreast - you're going to need to be well over the centreline to safely overtake either way.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff