The End of the 'Punishment Pass'?

[J4CKO]

yetra said:

So if two militant lycra clad goons cycle abreast does that mean if I pass them as I would any car I will be done for not giving the offside goon 1.5 metre of space?

Imagine there was another cyclist in the middle in this picture, how is the car supposed to give both of them 1.5 metre safe space without mounting the kerb.

.

And there we have it "Lycra Clad" !

Do you spend more time actually behind cyclists or moaning about being stuck behind them them ? I suspect it is the latter.

I can agree that when you get multiples abreast it is annoying and I have found myself getting irate (riding a bike doesnt immediately make you tolerant of anyone else who does) but how often, and for how long do you get stuck behind cyclists, compared to sat quite happily in a queue of cars ? I find that it is easy to start getting annoyed and are already composing mentally a good post for on here, but in reality a chance to pass arrives and you forge about it.

[IroningMan]

yetra said:

So if two militant lycra clad goons cycle abreast does that mean if I pass them as I would any car I will be done for not giving the offside goon 1.5 metre of space?

Imagine there was another cyclist in the middle in this picture, how is the car supposed to give both of them 1.5 metre safe space without mounting the kerb.

.

Maybe you should get a dashcam so that you can record it when it happens?

[mybrainhurts]

J4CKO said:

And there we have it "Lycra Clad" !

Afraid you're going to have to put up with it, you do look ridiculous in that get up.

If you MUST wear it, take up ballet...

[Countdown]

Why is this even an issue?

How hard is it to leave a sensible/ safe gap between your car and a cyclist? The police aren't going to prosecute unless it's clear-cut that you were too close and if you're not competent enough to know what "too close" is,you shouldn't be on the road.

[ACB85]

I'm very glad to hear this is being enforced. As much as I love driving I do enjoy a spot of cycling. The number one reoccurring issue is being barged into a curb or being overtaken on blind corners/crests.

It is insane to think that, for a matter of 30 seconds, someone can not stand to be behind me. They risk a head on if they proceed with the aforementioned.

I know its frustrating being behind a cyclist on a nice open country road. For the few that take up too much space, riding side by side, not dropping to single file... it doesn't do 'our' rep any good. However giving cyclists some breathing room on the road is a must.

[Daston]

How much room do you give a moped or scooter when you pass it or in fact any other road user?

I try and give them as much room as possible as you have no idea if the person is a seasoned pro and going to keep a tight line and keep up a good pace or (like me) a not so fit person just trying to get fit and may not be consistent at speed or ability.

I imagine most of the people who complain on here are coming across them in cities? I can't say I have had any riding or driving in the country where after all you come across tractors, quad bikes, cyclists and well horses and cows etc.

[IroningMan]

Countdown said:

Why is this even an issue?

How hard is it to leave a sensible/ safe gap between your car and a cyclist? The police aren't going to prosecute unless it's clear-cut that you were too close and if you're not competent enough to know what "too close" is,you shouldn't be on the road.

Quite.

[thiscocks]

yetra said:

So if two militant lycra clad goons cycle abreast does that mean if I pass them as I would any car I will be done for not giving the offside goon 1.5 metre of space?

Imagine there was another cyclist in the middle in this picture, how is the car supposed to give both of them 1.5 metre safe space without mounting the kerb.

.

If you are totally over the white line if there are two abreast then that will be enough. The outer cyclist will be about a meter from the white line. Why do you feel the need to call them goons?

[cowboyengineer]

yetra said:

So if two militant lycra clad goons cycle two abreast

.

Which is perfectly legal

[Byker28i]

Thats fine, but can we have one of those weird english rules, you know like being able to shoot a welshman within the walls of chester afdter midnight, that says you're allowed to mow down a gaggle of lycra on a sunday morning when they are 5 or 6 abreast?

[J4CKO]

mybrainhurts said:

J4CKO said:

And there we have it "Lycra Clad" !

Afraid you're going to have to put up with it, you do look ridiculous in that get up.

If you MUST wear it, take up ballet...

I know, you cant control your urges when you see the Mamil toe


I made the mistake of going in the barbers on the way home once in my cycling gear, one of the women who works in there always expresses her dissapointment when I arrive in normal office attire after work, I think it was the Courgette and two Satsumas I was carrying.

[Smitters]

Byker28i said:

Thats fine, but can we have one of those weird english rules, you know like being able to shoot a welshman within the walls of chester afdter midnight, that says you're allowed to mow down a gaggle of lycra on a sunday morning when they are 5 or 6 abreast?

As a keen cyclist, I'm with you. I really hate seeing a club out for a run and completely taking over a road. Clubs that don't think/care about route planning, or who don't educate their members on how to cycle and communicate in a group really don't help the bike/big metal boxed roaduser situation. Its give and take on the roads for sure, but a bloody great big peloton rolling along at a distinctly non-Tour de France 20 kph is just as bad as elephant racing or MLM.

As an aside, there's got to be a good collective noun for a bunch of MAMIL cyclists.

[Mave]

yetra said:

So if two militant lycra clad goons cycle abreast does that mean if I pass them as I would any car I will be done for not giving the offside goon 1.5 metre of space?

Imagine there was another cyclist in the middle in this picture, how is the car supposed to give both of them 1.5 metre safe space without mounting the kerb.

Maybe you don't? Overtaking isn't compulsory...

[mgv8]

There are cars and bikes on the road. Both have as much write to be there. Is trying not to kill each othere normal? What is wrong with some of you?

[TwistingMyMelon]

Quick someone start another "pcp/finance/I walked in and threw all the cash at the salesman" , or "how do you merge" thread......

[Byker28i]

Smitters said:

Byker28i said:

Thats fine, but can we have one of those weird english rules, you know like being able to shoot a welshman within the walls of chester afdter midnight, that says you're allowed to mow down a gaggle of lycra on a sunday morning when they are 5 or 6 abreast?

As a keen cyclist, I'm with you. I really hate seeing a club out for a run and completely taking over a road. Clubs that don't think/care about route planning, or who don't educate their members on how to cycle and communicate in a group really don't help the bike/big metal boxed roaduser situation. Its give and take on the roads for sure, but a bloody great big peloton rolling along at a distinctly non-Tour de France 20 kph is just as bad as elephant racing or MLM.

As an aside, there's got to be a good collective noun for a bunch of MAMIL cyclists.

Generally they are quite good around us. There's a big few local clubs, I don't mind them nattering as they ride, and most move over to make room. There's one regular bunch just think they own the road. Just don't block the whole road.

So yeah, just that one exception, between 10-12 on a sunday morning, please...

[CrutyRammers]

yetra said:

So if two militant lycra clad goons cycle abreast does that mean if I pass them as I would any car I will be done for not giving the offside goon 1.5 metre of space?

Didn't take long did it?
Some people are just obsessed.

[Mike335i]

I don't mind cyclists, gives me a valid reason to drop to second and nail it! (leaving lots of space of course, can't risk them scratching my car haha)

I don't like horses on the road however, they don't appreciate engine noise sadly.....

[yetra]

cowboyengineer said:

yetra said:

So if two militant lycra clad goons cycle two abreast

.

Which is perfectly legal

The problem with sticking to both "give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car" and 1.5 metres rules is that if you ride abreast vehicle overtaking you will inevitably break the second rule. I assume your comeback will be something along the lines of "so they shouldn't overtake". True, in ideal world if people had nowhere to go to and were driving around for the sake of driving that might be feasible. But since driving for most in the modern world is a necessity people overtake. And because the entitled party exercising their legal rights doesn't like to be considerate to others not to mention follow the law (HC Rule 169) people overtake, most of the time doing their best to avoid getting too close but in situations like these it can be impossible. And the militant party has now the backing of the police which gives the militant party even more entitlement to behave even less considerate towards others.

[BobSaunders]

Countdown said:

Why is this even an issue?

How hard is it to leave a sensible/ safe gap between your car and a cyclist?

Cycling is the best form of physical activity - non-weight bearing, and non-impact. Unless you get hit by a car. My question is - how much effort is it to take your foot off the accelerator for that split second to give a cyclist some more room? Zero.

I've had people wanting to fight me in the street because i didn't get off the line quick enough - i struggled to clip in for some reason. Or, wanting to fight me because they could not get around me in a traffic jam - i was keeping up with rolling traffic which i could not cycle around, so i was cycling defensively so as not to get squeezed into the curb.

I now no longer cycle on a Saturday. During the weekday or Sunday mornings are the best as it is quieter and people are more relaxed.

Edited by BobSaunders on Tuesday 25th October 15:25