Discussion
Back in UK lockdown is seeing a resurgence of walkers, runners and cyclists out. But also seems to be a resurgence of close passing by motorists?
I went out on my bike twice over the weekend, and a long-is walk with my family. All three occasions, I got passed by cars daft close (i.e under 50cm), and when there was plenty of space to pass wider and no oncoming traffic.
Contentious subject, but there are plenty of hot-headed motorists on here....why do that minority of drivers feel the need to close pass pedestrians/cyclists? And why worse over this weekend than the rest of the year??
I went out on my bike twice over the weekend, and a long-is walk with my family. All three occasions, I got passed by cars daft close (i.e under 50cm), and when there was plenty of space to pass wider and no oncoming traffic.
Contentious subject, but there are plenty of hot-headed motorists on here....why do that minority of drivers feel the need to close pass pedestrians/cyclists? And why worse over this weekend than the rest of the year??
Does it really need asking?
Most motorists dont give a s
t about anything but themselves, so you are just a rolling road block in thier way so why would they give you loads of room?
Pretty obvious really.
Its only the decent drivers who will hold back and wait and/or give a decent passing distance.
Most motorists dont give a s
t about anything but themselves, so you are just a rolling road block in thier way so why would they give you loads of room?Pretty obvious really.
Its only the decent drivers who will hold back and wait and/or give a decent passing distance.
If you want to be disturbed, go for a run in daylight that includes a two-lane, rural Cheshire road with no pavement, whilst wearing a bright coloured top (and a pair of hi-vis trainers) and run along the right hand-side of the road, towards the oncoming traffic.
You may be unpleasantly surprised by how close many cars get before the driver notice you/move out to pass you. waving your arm about is a good survival tactic.
Whilst riding a bike with the flow of traffic, a tell-tale sign is the number of cars that are still pulling out as they pass you, rather than travelling parallel to you and ready to pull back in. Best not to think about it....
You may be unpleasantly surprised by how close many cars get before the driver notice you/move out to pass you. waving your arm about is a good survival tactic.
Whilst riding a bike with the flow of traffic, a tell-tale sign is the number of cars that are still pulling out as they pass you, rather than travelling parallel to you and ready to pull back in. Best not to think about it....
Edited by MC Bodge on Monday 9th November 15:40
Elatino1 said:
Bikes on busy roads for "exercise" is ridiculous, they are everywhere currently and there is no shortage of them getting run down either, 2 near me this week. There are plenty of cycle paths or quiet places they could be riding but no, they want to be on busy roads at busy times.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/inferiority+complexMight help understand some of them.
Edited by 321boost on Monday 9th November 20:52
Perhaps some of them are going somewhere and using the shortest route? And some might just prefer to cycle on a decent road surface which nowadays seems to only be found on main roads, if there.
Maybe some cyclists choose to court danger for the fun of it, but they are mainly to be found riding in the dark, wearing black, with no lights in urban areas, not travelling long distances, or wearing cycling clothing, or riding fast road bikes. They same kids who will drive like idiots when they get behind the wheel.
Maybe some cyclists choose to court danger for the fun of it, but they are mainly to be found riding in the dark, wearing black, with no lights in urban areas, not travelling long distances, or wearing cycling clothing, or riding fast road bikes. They same kids who will drive like idiots when they get behind the wheel.
MC Bodge said:
321boost said:
Peoples constant whinging about drivers makes me want to drive more like a d*ck.
That's an interesting response. Do you need a cuddle?I dont think I would want to do a close pass though, wouldn't want to hit you and damage or scratch my car.
Edited by 321boost on Monday 9th November 20:56
321boost said:
Elatino1 said:
Bikes on busy roads for "exercise" is ridiculous, they are everywhere currently and there is no shortage of them getting run down either, 2 near me this week. There are plenty of cycle paths or quiet places they could be riding but no, they want to be on busy roads at busy times.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/inferiority+complexMight help understand them.
Bin trucks are one thing but this new wave of excercisers this year are a totally unnecessary annoyance and I would put money on there being more fatalities or accidents to people on bikes this year over any other year. There are plenty of safe places and times for them to ride.
I ride fixed gear bikes quite regularly on the roads and I've had some serious close passes, but what pisses me off more is when people overtake, then immediately slam on the brakes as they have to turn left or because they've overtaken me into a bloody static queue of traffic
I find with a lot of my friends that drive, they've never ridden a bike on the roads and just don't understand that how close they are passing cyclists is a problem and how unpleasant it is to the cyclists to have a pass that close. I try educate them where I can!
I find with a lot of my friends that drive, they've never ridden a bike on the roads and just don't understand that how close they are passing cyclists is a problem and how unpleasant it is to the cyclists to have a pass that close. I try educate them where I can!
Elatino1 said:
Its more "getting annoyed at people holding up traffic complex".
Bin trucks are one thing but this new wave of excercisers this year are a totally unnecessary annoyance and I would put money on there being more fatalities or accidents to people on bikes this year over any other year. There are plenty of safe places and times for them to ride.
There are probably far more bicycle miles.Bin trucks are one thing but this new wave of excercisers this year are a totally unnecessary annoyance and I would put money on there being more fatalities or accidents to people on bikes this year over any other year. There are plenty of safe places and times for them to ride.
There is an odd sense of entitlement in some people when they drive a car.
S16KBW said:
I ride fixed gear bikes quite regularly on the roads and I've had some serious close passes, but what pisses me off more is when people overtake, then immediately slam on the brakes as they have to turn left or because they've overtaken me into a bloody static queue of traffic
I find with a lot of my friends that drive, they've never ridden a bike on the roads and just don't understand that how close they are passing cyclists is a problem and how unpleasant it is to the cyclists to have a pass that close. I try educate them where I can!
The majority of drivers are not actually very good.I find with a lot of my friends that drive, they've never ridden a bike on the roads and just don't understand that how close they are passing cyclists is a problem and how unpleasant it is to the cyclists to have a pass that close. I try educate them where I can!
Not sure if it’s relevant but I think some of those cyclists who frequent hilly rural roads have a deathwish.
The ramblers are even worse. Walking up a blind hill on the wrong side of a rural road giving you about half a second to dodge them.
Can’t really blame the driver in those instances for passing closely.
The ramblers are even worse. Walking up a blind hill on the wrong side of a rural road giving you about half a second to dodge them.
Can’t really blame the driver in those instances for passing closely.
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