"We are the Highway Code“

[px1980]

Word for word what a cyclist shouted at me this morning.
Regents‘ Park circular, in London, 20mph limit. Admittedly an area super popular with groups (often very large: 20-30 in a pack) of cyclists.
Large group of them is approaching, I‘m pulling in from a side road. I safely join the circular road, and start driving at around 20.

They catch up quickly, try to overtake simultaneously on both sides. Guy on the left (i.e. who‘s undertaking) gets very angry, cursing, middle finger etc. Why? I didn‘t leave the 1.5m gap for him to pass me on the left. And they „are the Highway Code“, of course.

Leaving aside his rude behaviour and the nonsense statement. Under the new Highway Code, I should leave a 1.5m gap when overtaking cyclists. Should I pro-actively leave a gap when one tries to pass me on the left?

[Tony1963]

An individual behaves like an idiot.

Woah.

[Dingu]

Cool story.

But to answer your question, no.

[LunarOne]

If there is space, I don't see the harm. But if there isn't, it's for traffic behind you to find a way around you leaving sufficient space. That cyclist has obviously been cycling a little too long, as that amount of anger suggests his bits must be very squashed.

[px1980]

Dingu said:

Cool story.

But to answer your question, no.

Sadly, not made up.
Regents Park is a bit special though in that cycling clubs use the circular for training and kind of assume the road is theirs.

[Yex GTR]

Might explain why so my cyclists get killed by vehicles turning left.

Darwinism at it's very best.

[MustangGT]

px1980 said:

Word for word what a cyclist shouted at me this morning.
Regents‘ Park circular, in London, 20mph limit. Admittedly an area super popular with groups (often very large: 20-30 in a pack) of cyclists.
Large group of them is approaching, I‘m pulling in from a side road. I safely join the circular road, and start driving at around 20.

They catch up quickly, try to overtake simultaneously on both sides. Guy on the left (i.e. who‘s undertaking) gets very angry, cursing, middle finger etc. Why? I didn‘t leave the 1.5m gap for him to pass me on the left. And they „are the Highway Code“, of course.

Leaving aside his rude behaviour and the nonsense statement. Under the new Highway Code, I should leave a 1.5m gap when overtaking cyclists. Should I pro-actively leave a gap when one tries to pass me on the left?

IIRC the HC requires you overtake to the offside, so no, because he should not be passing on the left.

S163, which is for all road users says::

● only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so

[QJumper]

MustangGT said:

IIRC the HC requires you overtake to the offside, so no, because he should not be passing on the left.

S163, which is for all road users says::

? only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so

It sounds like the cyclist was being a dick, but apparently cyclists can overtake slower moving traffic on either the right or left. See section 5 of below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-cod...

I don't think one is compelled to leave room for them to do so though.

[vikingaero]

px1980 said:

Word for word what a cyclist shouted at me this morning.
Regents‘ Park circular, in London, 20mph limit. Admittedly an area super popular with groups (often very large: 20-30 in a pack) of cyclists.
Large group of them is approaching, I‘m pulling in from a side road. I safely join the circular road, and start driving at around 20.

They catch up quickly, try to overtake simultaneously on both sides. Guy on the left (i.e. who‘s undertaking) gets very angry, cursing, middle finger etc. Why? I didn‘t leave the 1.5m gap for him to pass me on the left. And they „are the Highway Code“, of course.

Leaving aside his rude behaviour and the nonsense statement. Under the new Highway Code, I should leave a 1.5m gap when overtaking cyclists. Should I pro-actively leave a gap when one tries to pass me on the left?

Unfortunately that sums up the attitude of many club cyclists, and why I as a cyclist would never join a cycling club.

[Short Grain]

If you're driving at 20mph i.e. the limit, and he undertakes or overtakes, he must be breaking the speed limit surely? Or doesn't it apply to cyclists?





lights blue touch paper and runs away

[Solocle]

Short Grain said:

If you're driving at 20mph i.e. the limit, and he undertakes or overtakes, he must be breaking the speed limit surely? Or doesn't it apply to cyclists?





lights blue touch paper and runs away

Speed limits only apply to motor vehicles.

[Hol]

QJumper said:

MustangGT said:

IIRC the HC requires you overtake to the offside, so no, because he should not be passing on the left.

S163, which is for all road users says::

? only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so

It sounds like the cyclist was being a dick, but apparently cyclists can overtake slower moving traffic on either the right or left. See section 5 of below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-cod...

I don't think one is compelled to leave room for them to do so though.

As a weekend mountain biker, I’d say a dick.

[Ian Geary]

So if a cyclist goes up your left and right simultaneously, should a car just shrink in order to leave a 1.5m gap?

I'm thinking of the bus in Harry Potter prisoner of azkaban...

[Pepperpots]

Solocle said:

Short Grain said:

If you're driving at 20mph i.e. the limit, and he undertakes or overtakes, he must be breaking the speed limit surely? Or doesn't it apply to cyclists?





lights blue touch paper and runs away

Speed limits only apply to motor vehicles.

Same as traffic lights.
Be sure to spread this message

[DodgyGeezer]

just need to grab m'popcorn

[Jamescrs]

I do try to be cautious of cyclists but I wouldn't be leaving them 1.5 metres on the left of my car n a normal road to undertake, if they wish to pass on the right of my vehicle then fine.

I do find though on the odd occasions I drve in London it seems to be a completely different set of rules to the rest of the country, or people treat it as if it is

[What The Deuces]

As a cyclist that sounds like the usual club dhead cyclist. It’ll be one of the ones who shouts loudest when creamed by a car too.
wker gives the majority a bad name

[LordBretSinclair]

MustangGT said:

IIRC the HC requires you overtake to the offside, so no, because he should not be passing on the left.

S163, which is for all road users says::

? only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so

What about the rest of that rule for cyclists????
"Cyclists may pass slower moving or stationary traffic on their right or left .........."

[Hol]

DodgyGeezer said:

just need to grab m'popcorn

Sweet or Salty (Popcorn)?


(Which ironically, will also reflect the tone of responses to the OPs story)

Edited by Hol on Friday 24th March 15:52

[Boosted LS1]

LordBretSinclair said:

MustangGT said:

IIRC the HC requires you overtake to the offside, so no, because he should not be passing on the left.

S163, which is for all road users says::

? only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so

What about the rest of that rule for cyclists????
"Cyclists may pass slower moving or stationary traffic on their right or left .........."

Be a bit stupid to do so if there isn't the space though. I never leave them room on the left. For their own safety and so they don't bash into my car.