Tailbacks caused by people unable to overtake cyclists

[OJ]

Don said:

Speed_Demon said:

So most people who overtake bikes simply don't leave enough room - you should give a pushbike-rider enough room that if he/she falls over towards your car you don't run over their head. It's actually quite a LOT of room - far more than most people leave.

Or you could pass so close that if they did fall over that way, they'd bounce off your wing and send them harmlessly off towards the pavement

Kidding of course before anyone kills me

[Chris71]

MartG said:

Speed_Demon said:

Not overtaking a cyclist is the driver's fault, generally not the cyclist's.

There seems to be a growing tendency for cyclists to position themselves well out from the side of the road ( possibly due to potholes ? ) leaving insufficient room to pass safely when there's oncoming traffic

That's to force drivers to overtake safely.

I agree not overtaking when it's safe to do do is poor driving, but cutting in on someone (albeit on a bike) that you're trying to overtake because you haven't left enough room is far worse without doubt.

[Tonto]

Turkey said:

I find that around town it can be tricky to overtake a cyclist safely, without causing an oncoming car to brake, or getting too close to the cyclist, overtake on a crossing etc.

As soon as the right moment comes, I'm past quickly, but the amount of people who take big risks to get past cyclists is scary.

Having been knocked off a pushbike some years ago always reminds me how vulnerable they are.

I'll happily add a minute to my journey time to avoid taking those kind of risks, my time isn't more important than their safety.

100% spot on. THIS is the problem with overtaking cyclists rather than drivers hanging back. I've lost count of the number of times I see a cyclist coming the other way and some numpty in a car looking sideways as they leave a huge gap between them and the bike, expecting the traffic coming the other way to stop or swerve out of their way as they drive onto the opposide side of the road. Often, this happens on blind bends.

[AngryApples]

South West Cheddar meet on Sunday wound me up big time - bleedin' cyclists riding side by side up the gorge

Road NOT cycle path!

[ewenm]

AngryApples said:

South West Cheddar meet on Sunday wound me up big time - bleedin' cyclists riding side by side up the gorge

Road NOT cycle path!

Would you have the same issue with Farmer Giles driving his tractor up the gorge?

Edit: admittedly, riding up the gorge single file would be more sensible.

Edited by ewenm on Thursday 23 April 12:28

[David1975]

Turkey said:

I find that around town it can be tricky to overtake a cyclist safely, without causing an oncoming car to brake, or getting too close to the cyclist, overtake on a crossing etc.

As soon as the right moment comes, I'm past quickly, but the amount of people who take big risks to get past cyclists is scary.

Having been knocked off a pushbike some years ago always reminds me how vulnerable they are.

I'll happily add a minute to my journey time to avoid taking those kind of risks, my time isn't more important than their safety.

Well said, true pistonhead but like to cycle too. I have also been knocked off by bike by a motorist (albeit a pissed up one).

[Alfanatic]

AngryApples said:

South West Cheddar meet on Sunday wound me up big time - bleedin' cyclists riding side by side up the gorge

Road NOT cycle path!

Don't go there. That ground has been covered by 3 threads already this month...

[David1975]

AngryApples said:

South West Cheddar meet on Sunday wound me up big time - bleedin' cyclists riding side by side up the gorge

Road NOT cycle path!

Now that does wind me up. There is just no need for this especially when they know a line of cars are behind. I shouted at the window at two BIB on cycles about a year ago for riding side by side on a busyish estate road (not much chance of passing safely). I stopped at a pub further up the road and as i was getting out and sorted they pulled in and had a word as if i was in the wrong.

[drivin_me_nuts]

Witnessed an interesing cyclist vs car driver incident a while back. A car full of young lads and lasses coasted up to a cyclist and scared him emough for him to lose concentration and to fall off. Cue the screams of laughter as they drove off... only to be caught up in traffic several hundred yards further down the road. It got interesting when the cyclist rode up along side them, got off and walked over the car, jumped on the roof and pretty much did a damned fine job of making a mess of the driver side of the car.

I guess cyclists can get roadrage toooo..

</mysticmeg>

[BMWBen]

Chris71 said:

MartG said:

Speed_Demon said:

Not overtaking a cyclist is the driver's fault, generally not the cyclist's.

There seems to be a growing tendency for cyclists to position themselves well out from the side of the road ( possibly due to potholes ? ) leaving insufficient room to pass safely when there's oncoming traffic

That's to force drivers to overtake safely.

I agree not overtaking when it's safe to do do is poor driving, but cutting in on someone (albeit on a bike) that you're trying to overtake because you haven't left enough room is far worse without doubt.

+1 I often do it in areas where I know cars will try and mash me into the kerb. As any motorcyclist will tell you, road postition is king. It also gives you somewhere to go when a bellend who doesn't know how big his own car is cuts in on you.

[ZesPak]

I'm sorry, but I think it's neither the drivers nor the cyclists.

We have the same problem here, but in the Netherlands they have nice cycling lanes EVERYWHERE. So nobody bothers anybody.

BMWBen said:

HertsBiker said:

How annoying.
Cecil cyclist peddling to work, saving the planet, ...

C

Oi, I take offense to that! I don't cycle to save the fking planet, I cycle because I can't abide paying the amount of money that the train/tube demands for such a poor service. I counter the greeness of my biking by driving round at the weekends with my foot glued to the floor in my v8. So watch it you :P

+1 I cycled because it got me an extra 80€/month in transport retribution, not to mention the expenses saved. plus it got me there just as fast as a car would have and it kept me in shape .

All of the above were valid till I got my co. car, of course .

[alphadog]

Pees me off on my bike when I keep over allowing plenty of space for a car to pass and they don't - they just sit there - though many take the hint when I wave them past, some don't. Thank heavens for the massive number of tracks and bridleways round where I live!

I tend to lump those who don't pass cyclists when there is plenty of room in with those who don't swing out and pass left turners or people pulling into the side of the road.

[Invisible man]

We all have to compromise for others piss poor driving abilities......apparently, it's why we have speed limits, so, IMO, unless you want to take the licence away from Mrs Miggens (preferable but unlikely) the cyclist should pull over

[vz-r_dave]

It wouldnt be easy but there should be a law put in place for distances to work. If you live within 5 miles of your workplace you should be forced to ride to work. If you live outside of the 5 mile limit you are permitted to drive into your work place.

Of course there would be adaquate cycle patchs built for the journey etc.

fk all of the fat s who are too lazy and the arrogant pricks who feel they have to show off their wallet on their way to work.

Riding a bike is a fantastic way to get to work. Enter the office with all of the zombies drinking their coffee and you are ready to go. Productivity increases and you are much happier to get on with your work.

Only problem with places like London is that they are over crowded and the roads dont have the space to cater for cycle lanes.

On another note, cyclists who run red lights and dont obide by the law should get points on their licence. If not that then fines. I stop at reds and it pissed me off when cyclists steam by me almost taking my head off whilst running red lights.

[Mr Scruff]

drivin_me_nuts said:

Witnessed an interesing cyclist vs car driver incident a while back. A car full of young lads and lasses coasted up to a cyclist and scared him emough for him to lose concentration and to fall off. Cue the screams of laughter as they drove off... only to be caught up in traffic several hundred yards further down the road. It got interesting when the cyclist rode up along side them, got off and walked over the car, jumped on the roof and pretty much did a damned fine job of making a mess of the driver side of the car.

I guess cyclists can get roadrage toooo..

</mysticmeg>

Lol! Ok, so the cyclist took that way too far but a lot of car drivers don't seem to understand that tooting your horn, for example, is very distracting when you're on two wheels.

I gave up cycling to work, it's mostly NSL and windy. People were just taking stupid risks to get past me or simply being way too close - if I can touch the car when you're passing then you're too close!!

[JamesK]

Meh! The day cyclists carry insurance, bother to obey the highway code and pay road tax in some form is the day they get any sympathy from me as a fellow road user.

Edited by JamesK on Thursday 23 April 13:16

[Chris71]

drivin_me_nuts said:

Witnessed an interesing cyclist vs car driver incident a while back. A car full of young lads and lasses coasted up to a cyclist and scared him emough for him to lose concentration and to fall off. Cue the screams of laughter as they drove off... only to be caught up in traffic several hundred yards further down the road. It got interesting when the cyclist rode up along side them, got off and walked over the car, jumped on the roof and pretty much did a damned fine job of making a mess of the driver side of the car.

I guess cyclists can get roadrage toooo..

</mysticmeg>

There's something that brings out the worst in people when they see a cyclist. I tried cycling to work for the first time recently and the number of people who thought it was amusing to shower you in screen wash or cut you up was unbelievable. Admittedly I'm talking about the North London chavs in their dubious kev'd up hatchbacks and rusty old Mercs, but still. People can act like complete tts when confronted with cyclists who they think are more vulnerable than drivers and hence ripe for pushing around.

A nice swift kick to the door with an SPD shoe as you go past should do the trick.

[ewenm]

JamesK said:

Meh! The day cyclists carry insurance, bother to obey the highway code and pay road tax in some form is the day they get any sympathy from me as a fellow road user.

Edited by JamesK on Thursday 23 April 13:16

As long as your driving always follows the highway code to the letter, then that's a fair enough stance to take.

[Altrezia]

JamesK said:

Meh! The day cyclists carry insurance, bother to obey the highway code and pay road tax in some form is the day they get any sympathy from me as a fellow road user.

I was about to post that.

[Get Karter]

Don said:

a lot of sensible stuff

Like many here I do both (overtake cylists and get overtaken by cars when I am a cyclist).

Don highlights the fact that some cyclists do shift fast enough to make overtaking in town almost impossible.
They need to stay out far enough from parked cars to avoid opening doors + they are doing about 20mph or more with a following wind + oncoming cars = no overtake.

However, I agree with the OP at the frustration caused by the slow commuter cyclist combined with the non-overtaker!