Driving Test and Cycling
Discussion
I would guess that a large proportion of cyclists are also motorists - I wonder what the percentage is and if there is any data on this.
Part of the driving test should involve riding a bike in your local area to see what it's like. I say this flippantly but it's obvious when cycling which motorists have experience of cycling on the roads and those who don't.
The vast majority of motorists are great, hanging back and giving you plenty of room, but it's almost guaranteed there will be at least one near pass on every ride. It's all the more galling when you catch them back up a hundred yards down the road.
I can understand the frustration, I've felt it myself when driving but the reality is it probably isn't making much difference to your overall journey time if you hang back and wait until there's enough room to pass. It's not just passing distance either - I was over-taken by a GT3 recently who must have floored it on approach and it was the noise that nearly gave me a heart attack!!
ps this was in relation to the cycling Mikey thread which I couldn't reply in. Having seen some of his videos the people stationery in traffic checking their phones I have some sympathy with, we must have all done that - it's the ones driving on the wrong side of the road turning right he should concentrate on !
Part of the driving test should involve riding a bike in your local area to see what it's like. I say this flippantly but it's obvious when cycling which motorists have experience of cycling on the roads and those who don't.
The vast majority of motorists are great, hanging back and giving you plenty of room, but it's almost guaranteed there will be at least one near pass on every ride. It's all the more galling when you catch them back up a hundred yards down the road.
I can understand the frustration, I've felt it myself when driving but the reality is it probably isn't making much difference to your overall journey time if you hang back and wait until there's enough room to pass. It's not just passing distance either - I was over-taken by a GT3 recently who must have floored it on approach and it was the noise that nearly gave me a heart attack!!
ps this was in relation to the cycling Mikey thread which I couldn't reply in. Having seen some of his videos the people stationery in traffic checking their phones I have some sympathy with, we must have all done that - it's the ones driving on the wrong side of the road turning right he should concentrate on !
trails said:
OP, wait until you get nudged by someone checking their phone in a line of traffic that you are filtering through.
Zero excuses for using your phone whilst driving, its a total dick move.
Fair enough, I was thinking of the situation where you're effectively parked not moving (he has a few videos like this,Chris Eubank and Guy Ritchie 2 famous examples) - not when crawling along in traffic. I can see how one can lead to the other though.Zero excuses for using your phone whilst driving, its a total dick move.
AndyF2020 said:
Fair enough, I was thinking of the situation where you're effectively parked not moving (he has a few videos like this,Chris Eubank and Guy Ritchie 2 famous examples) - not when crawling along in traffic. I can see how one can lead to the other though.
Thing is, they should still be paying attention. Emergency services or cyclists could be approaching from behind and they'd have no idea. And you're right, one thing leads to another. "I'm basically parked" becomes "i was stopped" becomes "i was barely moving" becomes "it's a straight road" etc etcAndyF2020 said:
Fair enough, I was thinking of the situation where you're effectively parked not moving (he has a few videos like this,Chris Eubank and Guy Ritchie 2 famous examples) - not when crawling along in traffic. I can see how one can lead to the other though.
Just wait until you have stopped driving, it's very simple 
AlpineWhite said:
Thing is, they should still be paying attention. Emergency services or cyclists could be approaching from behind and they'd have no idea. And you're right, one thing leads to another. "I'm basically parked" becomes "i was stopped" becomes "i was barely moving" becomes "it's a straight road" etc etc
Yes I can understand why it is this way to try and make it black and white otherwise one small thing leads to another, it's the paying attention aspect as you say which is key. I think the law also says being stationary isn't enough, the engine has to be off? So if you pull into a lay-by to do something on your phone you should remember to turn the engine off just to be on the safe side!
AndyF2020 said:
Part of the driving test should involve riding a bike in your local area to see what it's like.
It wouldn't work that well. To maintain a long term "sympathy" each motorist would need to cycle fairly regularly.I've cycled a lot on and off over the years. When you've been off the bike for a while and just drive, you soon forget how close passes can feel, which in a car don't seem like a problem at all.
Even so, most drivers are good. You get the odd one who just, very obviously, doesn't respect cyclists and thinks they deserve a scare.
Bennet said:
It wouldn't work that well. To maintain a long term "sympathy" each motorist would need to cycle fairly regularly.
I've cycled a lot on and off over the years. When you've been off the bike for a while and just drive, you soon forget how close passes can feel, which in a car don't seem like a problem at all.
Even so, most drivers are good. You get the odd one who just, very obviously, doesn't respect cyclists and thinks they deserve a scare.
I think you've hit on something with 'forget how close passes feel' , I think this is often the case - they don't realise how close they are or misjudge the overtake and quickly cut back in. It's not the stereotypical driver you might think too, I've had near passes from many a Honda Jazz I've cycled a lot on and off over the years. When you've been off the bike for a while and just drive, you soon forget how close passes can feel, which in a car don't seem like a problem at all.
Even so, most drivers are good. You get the odd one who just, very obviously, doesn't respect cyclists and thinks they deserve a scare.
!
swisstoni said:
Wouldn’t we have to have bike lessons for those prospective drivers who haven’t learnt to ride a bike?
Yeah sorry, I should have been clearer it was a flippant suggestion - it wouldn't work in practice. The main point I guess is if you've had some near passes when cycling (which aren't pleasant), when you're back in your car you're extra careful not to do the same.
Agree that many drivers don't realise that what feels like a safe pass in a car, can feel rather different when you are the one on the bike.
For the odd nutter who does it on purpose there are many who pass too close simply because they don't ride and don't know any better.
Also agree that passing bikes should be better taught. My daughter who passed earlier this year was sort of taught to pass bikes but not very thoroughly. Had to give her a few extra pointers as to how it should be done safely.
For the odd nutter who does it on purpose there are many who pass too close simply because they don't ride and don't know any better.
Also agree that passing bikes should be better taught. My daughter who passed earlier this year was sort of taught to pass bikes but not very thoroughly. Had to give her a few extra pointers as to how it should be done safely.
AndyF2020 said:
swisstoni said:
Wouldn’t we have to have bike lessons for those prospective drivers who haven’t learnt to ride a bike?
Yeah sorry, I should have been clearer it was a flippant suggestion - it wouldn't work in practice. The main point I guess is if you've had some near passes when cycling (which aren't pleasant), when you're back in your car you're extra careful not to do the same.
Thing is, the same folk that do this for example the lady in an RRS a couple of months back on Tatton Mile I am looking at you here who squeezed through at maybe 80 past me and a car coming the other way, are probably the same ones that would do a Ronaldo if you went withing 10 feet of them on your bike if they were walking.
Have to say, most drivers are really good, its a couple of times a year I get one that rattles me properly.
swisstoni said:
Wouldn’t we have to have bike lessons for those prospective drivers who haven’t learnt to ride a bike?
swisstoni said:
QJumper said:
Maybe not a full on cycling lesson, but perhaps the learner driver could be made to cycle down a street while the instructor drives past, a foot away, at 30 mph.
Yep, shouldn’t affect the driving test backlog unduly.The thread is really about the gap in understanding exhibited by some people who probably haven't ever cycled, concerning what its like to be on the receiving end of certain driver behaviours. No one seriously thinks the driving test will be changed.
(The problem of understanding also goes the other way, but more to do with issues of being frustrating rather than safety concerns.)
OP I've had similar thoughts about motorbikes... Unless there's a physical reason that you cannot ride a 2-wheeler, you shouldn't be able to learn in anything with 4 wheels.
People have been honest on here at saying they never do a shoulder check before a manoeuvre in a car; more people would if they had 2-wheel experience. Of course you get cretins on any form of transport but bikes hone your observation skills, something we sorely lack on Britain's roads.
People have been honest on here at saying they never do a shoulder check before a manoeuvre in a car; more people would if they had 2-wheel experience. Of course you get cretins on any form of transport but bikes hone your observation skills, something we sorely lack on Britain's roads.
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