Why you shouldn't give cyclist a wide berth when passing
Discussion
So I found the other thread interesting but infuriating. Always try to be courteous to cyclists and motorcyclist as I do both myself
However going down a country lane (with passing places) for cars for nearly eight miles on Saturday in my car. In front of me were two lycra clad cyclists drinking from water bottles, eating what looked like mars bars and generally chatting with each other while enjoying the countryside air.
They were completely aware I was behind them and spent the entire eight miles at about ten miles an hour, one of them demonstrating their hands off handlebar technique for about a mile. At no time did either of them think to pull into a passing place to let me through.
There were two occasions early on when the road started to widen when I could've made an overtake manoeuvre but I would have come very close to the cyclist to do so.
If I had known there would be eight miles involved I would've gone for it early on. Gawd only knows what people with that cycling attitude must create in a busy part of London.
After that little meeting I'm now of the opinion that cyclists should not have equal access to the road as cars.
However going down a country lane (with passing places) for cars for nearly eight miles on Saturday in my car. In front of me were two lycra clad cyclists drinking from water bottles, eating what looked like mars bars and generally chatting with each other while enjoying the countryside air.
They were completely aware I was behind them and spent the entire eight miles at about ten miles an hour, one of them demonstrating their hands off handlebar technique for about a mile. At no time did either of them think to pull into a passing place to let me through.
There were two occasions early on when the road started to widen when I could've made an overtake manoeuvre but I would have come very close to the cyclist to do so.
If I had known there would be eight miles involved I would've gone for it early on. Gawd only knows what people with that cycling attitude must create in a busy part of London.
After that little meeting I'm now of the opinion that cyclists should not have equal access to the road as cars.
rampageturke said:
hand on the horn and keep it there
This is, sadly, the only way of dealing with this. Lots of single track road here and it rarely happens because most cyclists are good but you do get the occasional one like described. I let them pass one without pulling in but then it's horn time once we pass the second one. The situation you describe is adequately dealt with by the Highway Code, which clearly states that cyclists shouldn't ride two abreast on the sort of road you were describing. If cyclists follow that guidance, then the problem goes away. That's what was wrong here. The idea that these cyclists should pull in and let you past is just laughable 
The roads are provided by the government for everyone to use: horses, bikes, tractors, combines, walkers, cyclists, steam engines, lorries and cars, and we all need to share them together, which is perfectly possible if you're considerate and follow the HC. How do you cope with cows being walked down the road? Or a tractor at 15mph? The idea that you have some sort of priority and expect the waves to part for you is rather bizarre to put it at its mildest!
The problem in your post is the cyclists riding two abreast - remove that and you remove the problem.
The roads are provided by the government for everyone to use: horses, bikes, tractors, combines, walkers, cyclists, steam engines, lorries and cars, and we all need to share them together, which is perfectly possible if you're considerate and follow the HC. How do you cope with cows being walked down the road? Or a tractor at 15mph? The idea that you have some sort of priority and expect the waves to part for you is rather bizarre to put it at its mildest!julian64 said:
After that little meeting I'm now of the opinion that cyclists should not have equal access to the road as cars.
That's like saying that because a lunatic on a motorbike breaking the Highway Code ran over your cat, all motorbikes should be banned The problem in your post is the cyclists riding two abreast - remove that and you remove the problem.Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 23 August 16:03
julian64 said:
So I found the other thread interesting but infuriating. Always try to be courteous to cyclists and motorcyclist as I do both myself
However going down a country lane (with passing places) for cars for nearly eight miles on Saturday in my car. In front of me were two lycra clad cyclists drinking from water bottles, eating what looked like mars bars and generally chatting with each other while enjoying the countryside air.
They were completely aware I was behind them and spent the entire eight miles at about ten miles an hour, one of them demonstrating their hands off handlebar technique for about a mile. At no time did either of them think to pull into a passing place to let me through.
There were two occasions early on when the road started to widen when I could've made an overtake manoeuvre but I would have come very close to the cyclist to do so.
If I had known there would be eight miles involved I would've gone for it early on. Gawd only knows what people with that cycling attitude must create in a busy part of London.
After that little meeting I'm now of the opinion that cyclists should not have equal access to the road as cars.
However going down a country lane (with passing places) for cars for nearly eight miles on Saturday in my car. In front of me were two lycra clad cyclists drinking from water bottles, eating what looked like mars bars and generally chatting with each other while enjoying the countryside air.
They were completely aware I was behind them and spent the entire eight miles at about ten miles an hour, one of them demonstrating their hands off handlebar technique for about a mile. At no time did either of them think to pull into a passing place to let me through.
There were two occasions early on when the road started to widen when I could've made an overtake manoeuvre but I would have come very close to the cyclist to do so.
If I had known there would be eight miles involved I would've gone for it early on. Gawd only knows what people with that cycling attitude must create in a busy part of London.
After that little meeting I'm now of the opinion that cyclists should not have equal access to the road as cars.
RobM77 said:
The situation you describe is adequately dealt with by the Highway Code, which clearly states that cyclists shouldn't ride two abreast on the sort of road you were describing. If cyclists follow that guidance, then the problem goes away. That's what was wrong here. The idea that these cyclists should pull in and let you past is just laughable The roads are provided by the government for everyone to use: horses, bikes, tractors, combines, walkers, cyclists, steam engines, lorries and cars, and we all need to share them together, which is perfectly possible if you're considerate and follow the HC. How do you cope with cows being walked down the road? Or a tractor at 15mph? The idea that you have some sort of priority and expect the waves to part for you is rather bizarre to put it at its mildest!
Assuming 8 miles isn't hyperbole, surely you can accept that there is a world of difference between driving behind a couple of cyclists who could easily let you pass, and cows, tractors, or whatever that can't? The roads are provided by the government for everyone to use: horses, bikes, tractors, combines, walkers, cyclists, steam engines, lorries and cars, and we all need to share them together, which is perfectly possible if you're considerate and follow the HC. How do you cope with cows being walked down the road? Or a tractor at 15mph? The idea that you have some sort of priority and expect the waves to part for you is rather bizarre to put it at its mildest!Also every time I've ever been unfortunate to follow anything that slow they've had the good grace to appreciate that they are causing a massive tailback and pull over proactively themselves. No aggravation, no one left seething.
8 miles at ~15mph, I feel for the OP. *Eight* *miles*.
julian64 said:
So I found the other thread interesting but infuriating. Always try to be courteous to cyclists and motorcyclist as I do both myself
However going down a country lane (with passing places) for cars for nearly eight miles on Saturday in my car. In front of me were two lycra clad cyclists drinking from water bottles, eating what looked like mars bars and generally chatting with each other while enjoying the countryside air.
They were completely aware I was behind them and spent the entire eight miles at about ten miles an hour, one of them demonstrating their hands off handlebar technique for about a mile. At no time did either of them think to pull into a passing place to let me through.
There were two occasions early on when the road started to widen when I could've made an overtake manoeuvre but I would have come very close to the cyclist to do so.
If I had known there would be eight miles involved I would've gone for it early on. Gawd only knows what people with that cycling attitude must create in a busy part of London.
After that little meeting I'm now of the opinion that cyclists should not have equal access to the road as cars.
You've just outed yourself as a sHowever going down a country lane (with passing places) for cars for nearly eight miles on Saturday in my car. In front of me were two lycra clad cyclists drinking from water bottles, eating what looked like mars bars and generally chatting with each other while enjoying the countryside air.
They were completely aware I was behind them and spent the entire eight miles at about ten miles an hour, one of them demonstrating their hands off handlebar technique for about a mile. At no time did either of them think to pull into a passing place to let me through.
There were two occasions early on when the road started to widen when I could've made an overtake manoeuvre but I would have come very close to the cyclist to do so.
If I had known there would be eight miles involved I would've gone for it early on. Gawd only knows what people with that cycling attitude must create in a busy part of London.
After that little meeting I'm now of the opinion that cyclists should not have equal access to the road as cars.
t driver. 
RobM77 said:
The situation you describe is adequately dealt with by the Highway Code, which clearly states that cyclists shouldn't ride two abreast on the sort of road you were describing. If cyclists follow that guidance, then the problem goes away. That's what was wrong here. The idea that these cyclists should pull in and let you past is just laughable The roads are provided by the government for everyone to use: horses, bikes, tractors, combines, walkers, cyclists, steam engines, lorries and cars, and we all need to share them together, which is perfectly possible if you're considerate and follow the HC. How do you cope with cows being walked down the road? Or a tractor at 15mph? The idea that you have some sort of priority and expect the waves to part for you is a bit ridiculous if I may say so.
If I was a cyclist and I had a car up my chuff for 8 miles, I'd probably pull over to let them past for safety reasons. It's just bloody mindedness not to let someone past really. The roads are provided by the government for everyone to use: horses, bikes, tractors, combines, walkers, cyclists, steam engines, lorries and cars, and we all need to share them together, which is perfectly possible if you're considerate and follow the HC. How do you cope with cows being walked down the road? Or a tractor at 15mph? The idea that you have some sort of priority and expect the waves to part for you is a bit ridiculous if I may say so.In response to the above, yes, 8 miles is pretty extreme! It's not the cyclist's obligation, moral or legal, to stop and let a car through though. However, it is their obligation to ride single file to make passing possible. I'd be very surprised if there wasn't an opportunity to pass two single file cyclists in 8 miles if these cyclists were following the Highway Code properly and riding sensibly. If there genuinely wasn't an opportunity to pass, of course, then it's polite for the cylists/tractor etc to pull over, yes. What I will say though is that I'm a keen driver (22 years) and road cyclist (nearly 30 years) and I've never been stuck behind a cyclist or had a car stuck behind me for more than about half a mile - I genuinely don't think it's every happened. I live in the countryside too amongst B and C roads. When I'm out cycling the overwhelming majority of cars pass immediately or within seconds, and maybe once or twice an hour someone has to wait for 15 or 20 seconds. The longest I've had has been nervous old ladies, but even they're normally past within a minute or two. I'd hazard a guess that the OP's predicament was entirely caused by these particular cyclists' irresponsible behaviour, possibly coupled with a lack of confidence in finding and making use of an overtaking opportunity. Just a guess though, I wasn't there.
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 23 August 16:19
Could be worse I came to a junction turning off a 100kph road near the Nurburgring which you enter blind. As I like to be able to stop in the distance I can see to be clear I was going fairly slowly as I joined the new road to find 4 knobheads on their road bikes just stopped in the shade approx 5m from the juntion across the entire road eating and drinking.
After braking to a halt in front of them I suggested they might like to move in my most polite German. You'd imagine I'd actually offered to service their wives for them given the response I got. Some minutes later they managed to clear the way and off I went encountering a Transit van hammering down the road at 120kph+, if I hadn't got to them first there's no doubt in my mind they'd have been a smear across the carriageway.
After braking to a halt in front of them I suggested they might like to move in my most polite German. You'd imagine I'd actually offered to service their wives for them given the response I got. Some minutes later they managed to clear the way and off I went encountering a Transit van hammering down the road at 120kph+, if I hadn't got to them first there's no doubt in my mind they'd have been a smear across the carriageway.
Dear OP, I'm currently sat in hospital with a double pelvis fracture and a broken thumb, last Wednesday I was cycling along a fairly quiet road approaching a roundabout when a car on the road to my left pulled out in front of me, those of you well versed with the highway code will attest that it was my right of way but he obviously hadn't looked for incoming traffic, most likely because as confirmed by a witness to the police, he was on his phone at the time.
It is most likely that he barely slowed before joining the roundabout based on where he knocked me off and where I landed, he got out, muttered something to a witness and drove off without leaving any details. To my knowledge the police have been unable to trace him.
So you can take your jolly little bicycles don't deserve to be on the road thread and shove it right up your fking arse you utter utter and possibly in the future, think before you post such utter fking nonsense again.
It is most likely that he barely slowed before joining the roundabout based on where he knocked me off and where I landed, he got out, muttered something to a witness and drove off without leaving any details. To my knowledge the police have been unable to trace him.
So you can take your jolly little bicycles don't deserve to be on the road thread and shove it right up your f
king arse you utter utter and possibly in the future, think before you post such utter fking nonsense again.Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 23 August 16:25
I have far more problem with drivers refusing to pull over and let faster traffic through than cyclists doing it. People are people - no matter what they're riding/driving selfish idiots will be selfish idiots and courteous road-users will be courteous road-users.
Banning one type of vehicle from the road will not change the number of idiots on it.
Banning one type of vehicle from the road will not change the number of idiots on it.
pablo said:
Dear OP, I'm currently sat in hospital with a double pelvis fracture and a broken thumb, last Wednesday I was cycling along a fairly quiet road approaching a roundabout when a car on the road to my left pulled out in front of me, those of you well versed with the highway code will attest that it was my right of way but he obviously hadn't looked for incoming traffic, most likely because as confirmed by a witness to the police, he was on his phone at the time.
It is most likely that he barely slowed before joining the roundabout based on where he knocked me off and where I landed, he got out, muttered something to a witness and drove off without leaving any details. To my knowledge the police have been unable to trace him.
So you can take your jolly little bicycles don't deserve to be on the road thread and shove it right up your fking arse you utter utter and possibly in the future, think before you post such utter fking nonsense again.
But it's not nonsense is it? Those cyclists should have let him past out of common courtesy, but what that has to do with the driver who hit you I have no idea? It is most likely that he barely slowed before joining the roundabout based on where he knocked me off and where I landed, he got out, muttered something to a witness and drove off without leaving any details. To my knowledge the police have been unable to trace him.
So you can take your jolly little bicycles don't deserve to be on the road thread and shove it right up your f
king arse you utter utter and possibly in the future, think before you post such utter fking nonsense again.Edited by pablo on Tuesday 23 August 16:25
pablo said:
Dear OP, I'm currently sat in hospital with a double pelvis fracture and a broken thumb, last Wednesday I was cycling along a fairly quiet road approaching a roundabout when a car on the road to my left pulled out in front of me, those of you well versed with the highway code will attest that it was my right of way but he obviously hadn't looked for incoming traffic, most likely because as confirmed by a witness to the police, he was on his phone at the time.
Get well soon Pablo. Most importantly, how's the bike? 
(Too soon?)To the OP: Come on, google link to this 8 mile stretch of road, I'm calling custard.
There are some knobs on the roads, but I guarantee you that a higher proportion of motorists do knobby things regularly than cyclists.
Wills2 said:
pablo said:
Dear OP, I'm currently sat in hospital with a double pelvis fracture and a broken thumb, last Wednesday I was cycling along a fairly quiet road approaching a roundabout when a car on the road to my left pulled out in front of me, those of you well versed with the highway code will attest that it was my right of way but he obviously hadn't looked for incoming traffic, most likely because as confirmed by a witness to the police, he was on his phone at the time.
It is most likely that he barely slowed before joining the roundabout based on where he knocked me off and where I landed, he got out, muttered something to a witness and drove off without leaving any details. To my knowledge the police have been unable to trace him.
So you can take your jolly little bicycles don't deserve to be on the road thread and shove it right up your fking arse you utter utter and possibly in the future, think before you post such utter fking nonsense again.
But it's not nonsense is it? Those cyclists should have let him past out of common courtesy, but what that has to do with the driver who hit you I have no idea? It is most likely that he barely slowed before joining the roundabout based on where he knocked me off and where I landed, he got out, muttered something to a witness and drove off without leaving any details. To my knowledge the police have been unable to trace him.
So you can take your jolly little bicycles don't deserve to be on the road thread and shove it right up your f
king arse you utter utter and possibly in the future, think before you post such utter fking nonsense again.Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 23 August 16:25
I've been overtaken on wide roads with no oncoming traffic and been hit by wing mirrors, maybe it was accidental or maybe it was on purpose because in the drivers mind, I'm not worthy of equal standing when it comes to traffic and he was teaching me a lesson.
My point is writing s
t like this may be tongue in cheek but for others it's reaffirming an opinion, one with very severe consequences. Maybe the driver who hit me had been held up previously on his journey by a cyclist and just thought fk it....And eight miles? Really...
I'm healing well thanks for asking, I'm surprised you're not asking about the f
king car....Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff