When would it be fair to expect cyclists to pull over?
Discussion
Before I start, I am not having a go at anyone - just canvassing opinion on what's reasonable.
I travelled a route I'm familiar with at an unusual time today. Over a distance of about 1.1 miles a large volume of traffic was limited by two cyclists to a maximum speed of 20mph.
On that stretch the limits are NSL, 40, 30, then 40 again.
They must have been aware of the huge snake of traffic behind - on the other hand, they were travelling and so were we - it was busy and if they had pulled in to let us past, it would have been a long time before they could have resumed their ride.
ETA I know the title doesn't scan - it was the result of a botched attempt to add something.
I travelled a route I'm familiar with at an unusual time today. Over a distance of about 1.1 miles a large volume of traffic was limited by two cyclists to a maximum speed of 20mph.
On that stretch the limits are NSL, 40, 30, then 40 again.
They must have been aware of the huge snake of traffic behind - on the other hand, they were travelling and so were we - it was busy and if they had pulled in to let us past, it would have been a long time before they could have resumed their ride.
ETA I know the title doesn't scan - it was the result of a botched attempt to add something.
1.1 miles at 20mph is three minutes and twenty seconds and the fastest you could cover it within the speed limit would have been about half that so they at most cost the drivers about 100 seconds. I'd probably have pulled over if it was me but I wouldn't say it was entirely unreasonable not to.
It costs cyclists quite a lot of effort to stop and restart so the cost to them of letting the cars past would probably have been considerably higher than the cost to drivers of waiting.
It costs cyclists quite a lot of effort to stop and restart so the cost to them of letting the cars past would probably have been considerably higher than the cost to drivers of waiting.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 17th March 21:33
kambites said:
1.1 miles at 20mph is three minutes and twenty seconds and the fastest you could cover it within the speed limit would have been about half that so they at most cost the drivers about 100 seconds. I'd probably have pulled over if it was me but I wouldn't say it was entirely unreasonable not to.
Would people be saying the same thing if it was a Honda Jazz doing 20 in a 30 or 60 in the outer lane of a motorway (accepting that the latter would cost them more time since they're going quicker, but same principle)Negative Creep said:
Would people be saying the same thing if it was a Honda Jazz doing 20 in a 30 or 60 in the outer lane of a motorway (accepting that the latter would cost them more time since they're going quicker, but same principle)
Absolutely; or a horse rider, or a tractor. The type of vehicle makes no difference. I don't see the point in getting impatient when someone is only adding a few seconds to my journey time. The only slow drivers who annoy me are those who insist on trying to join the motorway at 30mph and that's obviously because it's dangerous rather than because it costs me time.
From my own point of view, I was thinking of when I would pull over if towing because that's the only time I generally travel slower than most of the traffic on the public road.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 17th March 21:38
169
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.
I used to cycle to work and would frequently pull in if I was aware that I was holding up traffic for any significant period or if I was aware that they couldn't pass me due to oncoming traffic - especially on the narrow twisty bits.
I was often thanked for doing so. Mutual respect goes a long way.
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.
I used to cycle to work and would frequently pull in if I was aware that I was holding up traffic for any significant period or if I was aware that they couldn't pass me due to oncoming traffic - especially on the narrow twisty bits.
I was often thanked for doing so. Mutual respect goes a long way.
lord trumpton said:
They should have been given a 'close shave' type overtake swiftly followed by an application of the windscreen washers to blast their little 
faces as they ride along in their lycra suits. Bang on 
I've seen quite a few of your posts now, all the same. I'm actually starting to wish harm on you. What a cretin you are. faces as they ride along in their lycra suits. Bang on Moonhawk said:
169
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.
I used to cycle to work and would frequently pull in if I was aware that I was holding up traffic for any significant period - especially on the narrow twisty bits.
Yes, the question is where ~60 seconds counts as "a significant period", I suppose. Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.
I used to cycle to work and would frequently pull in if I was aware that I was holding up traffic for any significant period - especially on the narrow twisty bits.
okgo said:
lord trumpton said:
They should have been given a 'close shave' type overtake swiftly followed by an application of the windscreen washers to blast their little faces as they ride along in their lycra suits. Bang on
I've seen quite a few of your posts now, all the same. I'm actually starting to wish harm on you. What a cretin you are. faces as they ride along in their lycra suits. Bang on 
If I am blocking traffic, I will pull over, it is rare that as usually the roads that are prone to blocking issues are not the ones with many cars on. I tend to ride with a small rear view mirror and it makes it easy, the last thing I want to do is inconvenience people or have angry drivers behind me as they are apt to do something unpleasant.
That said, I think some drivers, and I include myself in this see a group of cyclists on a country road on a sunny day riding two abreast and generally getting in the way and I go from happy to apoplectic in less than a minute, then they wave me past cheerily or a gap appears and I find that the rise in blood pressure wasnt warranted.
Then you get those people with no idea of cycling, self important middle aged (like me) drivers of german importantness, people who read the Daily Mail on the premise it offers news and I imagine that they are worse than I, plus they perhaps dont have the thought process that realises they are being a bit hasty/unreasonable, then they go past all rage despite just being bored and going to a fking garden centre which would be a few minutes whatever happens, but will sit quite happily, listening to Jeremy Vine in a queue of a million cars, indefinitely.
So it is fair to expect to cyclists to pull over, they wont all will and it isnt often they should need to, just chill and your opportunity will come to pass.
That said, I think some drivers, and I include myself in this see a group of cyclists on a country road on a sunny day riding two abreast and generally getting in the way and I go from happy to apoplectic in less than a minute, then they wave me past cheerily or a gap appears and I find that the rise in blood pressure wasnt warranted.
Then you get those people with no idea of cycling, self important middle aged (like me) drivers of german importantness, people who read the Daily Mail on the premise it offers news and I imagine that they are worse than I, plus they perhaps dont have the thought process that realises they are being a bit hasty/unreasonable, then they go past all rage despite just being bored and going to a f
king garden centre which would be a few minutes whatever happens, but will sit quite happily, listening to Jeremy Vine in a queue of a million cars, indefinitely.So it is fair to expect to cyclists to pull over, they wont all will and it isnt often they should need to, just chill and your opportunity will come to pass.
V8forweekends said:
Before I start, I am not having a go at anyone - just canvassing opinion on what's reasonable.
I travelled a route I'm familiar with at an unusual time today. Over a distance of about 1.1 miles a large volume of traffic was limited by two cyclists to a maximum speed of 20mph.
On that stretch the limits are NSL, 40, 30, then 40 again.
They must have been aware of the huge snake of traffic behind - on the other hand, they were travelling and so were we - it was busy and if they had pulled in to let us past, it would have been a long time before they could have resumed their ride.
ETA I know the title doesn't scan - it was the result of a botched attempt to add something.
I travelled a route I'm familiar with at an unusual time today. Over a distance of about 1.1 miles a large volume of traffic was limited by two cyclists to a maximum speed of 20mph.
On that stretch the limits are NSL, 40, 30, then 40 again.
They must have been aware of the huge snake of traffic behind - on the other hand, they were travelling and so were we - it was busy and if they had pulled in to let us past, it would have been a long time before they could have resumed their ride.
ETA I know the title doesn't scan - it was the result of a botched attempt to add something.
Do the maths on how long you were actually 'delayed' for. And then think about all the time you wasted writing your stupid post.
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