Am I too aggressive overtaking stationary traffic?
Discussion
During my daily commute I regularly hit stationary queues of traffic, so overtake to the right of the vehicles. Where possible I try to stay within the boundaries of the lane, if not I venture to the opposite carriageway, providing (in my opinion) it is safe to do so i.e. not impeding oncoming traffic.
However, on 3 occasions in the last couple of weeks, I've had cars beep me (ironically one flashed his lights at me the other night which meant for a moment I could see sweet fa), I guess to indicate that in their opinion I was performing a dangerous overtaking move. I was in effect passing between the cars on each side of the road, but not preventing the flow of oncoming traffic.
I didn't think this was a dangerous move, but am now doubting whether I'm a bit 'gung ho' in this regard. How do other commuters deal with this and what is the general opinion on what is safe and acceptable?
Cheers
However, on 3 occasions in the last couple of weeks, I've had cars beep me (ironically one flashed his lights at me the other night which meant for a moment I could see sweet fa), I guess to indicate that in their opinion I was performing a dangerous overtaking move. I was in effect passing between the cars on each side of the road, but not preventing the flow of oncoming traffic.
I didn't think this was a dangerous move, but am now doubting whether I'm a bit 'gung ho' in this regard. How do other commuters deal with this and what is the general opinion on what is safe and acceptable?
Cheers
I can't speak about your situation but I was driving down a road with queueing traffic on the opposite side a few days ago, next thing a cyclist emerged from a gap onto my side of the road with the intention of overtaking the stationary traffic. Whilst he wasn't really 'in the way' he did make me jump as he appeared out of the dark from behind a bus so I can see why people might react.
Personally I just took it as another lesson and will always be on the lookout for similar happening should I find myself in that situation again.
Personally I just took it as another lesson and will always be on the lookout for similar happening should I find myself in that situation again.
warp9 said:
During my daily commute I regularly hit stationary queues of traffic, so overtake to the right of the vehicles. Where possible I try to stay within the boundaries of the lane, if not I venture to the opposite carriageway, providing (in my opinion) it is safe to do so i.e. not impeding oncoming traffic.
However, on 3 occasions in the last couple of weeks, I've had cars beep me (ironically one flashed his lights at me the other night which meant for a moment I could see sweet fa), I guess to indicate that in their opinion I was performing a dangerous overtaking move. I was in effect passing between the cars on each side of the road, but not preventing the flow of oncoming traffic.
I didn't think this was a dangerous move, but am now doubting whether I'm a bit 'gung ho' in this regard. How do other commuters deal with this and what is the general opinion on what is safe and acceptable?
Cheers
What you've written makes it sounds like you're riding towards oncoming traffic, in their lane. Are you?However, on 3 occasions in the last couple of weeks, I've had cars beep me (ironically one flashed his lights at me the other night which meant for a moment I could see sweet fa), I guess to indicate that in their opinion I was performing a dangerous overtaking move. I was in effect passing between the cars on each side of the road, but not preventing the flow of oncoming traffic.
I didn't think this was a dangerous move, but am now doubting whether I'm a bit 'gung ho' in this regard. How do other commuters deal with this and what is the general opinion on what is safe and acceptable?
Cheers
I would use ocominng lane, just, where safe to do so (i.e. properly overtaking and leaving room for cars to your left to move about /peds to emerge and if something comes the other way or you approach a junction or traffic starts moving, find someone to pull in behind until the situation is back to normal again and carry on. I'd never ride at oncoming traffic though, even if there is no room there are too many people sending texts and fiddling with ipod playlists!
Don't ride too fast past stationary traffic either, how many times has someone dropped you off short of where you want to be as the traffic is so bad so you "just jump out here" and how many times doing that did you check the mirror (impossible from the rear seat). I've hit an opening car door and it was totally my fault
Don't ride too fast past stationary traffic either, how many times has someone dropped you off short of where you want to be as the traffic is so bad so you "just jump out here" and how many times doing that did you check the mirror (impossible from the rear seat). I've hit an opening car door and it was totally my fault
Sometimes I’ll go the length of Oxford Street in the evening and it’s like a zoo. If it’s full of buses and rickshaws I’ll sometimes slowly filter towards a red on the other side if there’s nothing coming, and as above, if it goes green and things start moving I’l tuck in behind something heading in my direction and get out of the way.
I don’t like to be on the oncoming side when things are moving towards me at normal speed. I also don’t like to go too quickly if there isn’t anything coming the other way as pedestrians seem to like to cross between buses when they’re stationery.
I don’t like to be on the oncoming side when things are moving towards me at normal speed. I also don’t like to go too quickly if there isn’t anything coming the other way as pedestrians seem to like to cross between buses when they’re stationery.
warp9 said:
During my daily commute I regularly hit stationary queues of traffic, so overtake to the right of the vehicles. Where possible I try to stay within the boundaries of the lane, if not I venture to the opposite carriageway, providing (in my opinion) it is safe to do so i.e. not impeding oncoming traffic.
However, on 3 occasions in the last couple of weeks, I've had cars beep me (ironically one flashed his lights at me the other night which meant for a moment I could see sweet fa), I guess to indicate that in their opinion I was performing a dangerous overtaking move. I was in effect passing between the cars on each side of the road, but not preventing the flow of oncoming traffic.
I didn't think this was a dangerous move, but am now doubting whether I'm a bit 'gung ho' in this regard. How do other commuters deal with this and what is the general opinion on what is safe and acceptable?
Cheers
So you stray into the other lane towards oncoming traffic to overtake cars in your lane, which I guess we all do at some point, and whilst not impeding them directly, they will invariably slow down if they see you approching and in "their" lane to reduce the closing speed. It doesnt sound dangerous per se, it just depends how awake the oncoming driver is really and how far you stray into the other lane. However, on 3 occasions in the last couple of weeks, I've had cars beep me (ironically one flashed his lights at me the other night which meant for a moment I could see sweet fa), I guess to indicate that in their opinion I was performing a dangerous overtaking move. I was in effect passing between the cars on each side of the road, but not preventing the flow of oncoming traffic.
I didn't think this was a dangerous move, but am now doubting whether I'm a bit 'gung ho' in this regard. How do other commuters deal with this and what is the general opinion on what is safe and acceptable?
Cheers
This does annoy me, although more so with bikers filtering in slow/stationary traffic well over in the opposing carriageway (IE mine)... I don't mind filtering for one moment and will actively position the car to assist if they're coming from behind, but making oncoming cars take avoiding action is not on, IMO.
Hi guys, thanks for your comments, it's useful to get a measure of how others deal with this and general opinion.
To clarify a couple of points; I don't just go bowling through, irrespective of the conditions and oncoming traffic. I'd like to think I am very aware, however I know you cannot account for every eventuality, so do take care. If there is a bend, bus, parked cars, narrow lanes etc I will stop until the conditions change.
However, if the road is wide enough and I believe there is a safe gap, I may venture onto the other lane towards oncoming traffic. This I suspect is the crux of my concern.
As a side issue, how do you feel about riding on the pavement instead of battling past stationary or merging traffic?
To clarify a couple of points; I don't just go bowling through, irrespective of the conditions and oncoming traffic. I'd like to think I am very aware, however I know you cannot account for every eventuality, so do take care. If there is a bend, bus, parked cars, narrow lanes etc I will stop until the conditions change.
However, if the road is wide enough and I believe there is a safe gap, I may venture onto the other lane towards oncoming traffic. This I suspect is the crux of my concern.
As a side issue, how do you feel about riding on the pavement instead of battling past stationary or merging traffic?
A number of people see it as the 'wrong' side of the road and will react. You can't help them.
I keep off pavements unless it's a genuine cycle lane or shared space. I will abandon the road in favour of these if I feel it's a safer option, like a busy junction with little spare space.
I keep off pavements unless it's a genuine cycle lane or shared space. I will abandon the road in favour of these if I feel it's a safer option, like a busy junction with little spare space.
Bikers are taught to filter - the middle of the road is generally the safest place to do this as you would (normally) have less casr switching into oncoming traffic than you would have lane hoppers switching between lane 1 and lane 2 (IYSWIM)
On a bike, I also filter down the middle if appropriate - if in doubt, then I don't. My judgment is not always correct and I can think of a couple of iccasions on teh embankment when it wasn't; but generally, most are pretty reasonable, especially if you don't take the pi55....
Generally, give and take receives the same back!
On a bike, I also filter down the middle if appropriate - if in doubt, then I don't. My judgment is not always correct and I can think of a couple of iccasions on teh embankment when it wasn't; but generally, most are pretty reasonable, especially if you don't take the pi55....
Generally, give and take receives the same back!
There's a thread on here somewhere about car overtaking, and whether you have a duty to avoid causing alarm to other road users, even if that alarm is unwarranted and the manoeuvre itself is safe.
I feel the same thing applies here. I would and do filter, but am cautious to avoid the appearance of conflict, so e.g. if there's oncoming traffic, I will find spaces to return to long before safety becomes a critical factor, because this avoids overreaction.
I feel the same thing applies here. I would and do filter, but am cautious to avoid the appearance of conflict, so e.g. if there's oncoming traffic, I will find spaces to return to long before safety becomes a critical factor, because this avoids overreaction.
I was pulling out of a T junction once on a curved road which is a bit of a pain when the traffic is moving. There is a pelican crossing immediately to the left, which had stopped the traffic. The traffic on the right had left a gap for me. I looked left, looked back to the right and started pulling out. A cyclist came around the curve in the road overtaking the stationary traffic at what I think would be somewhere around 20mph (slightly downhill too), and couldn't see me pulling out of the junction because of the traffic; I couldn't see him because of the curve in the road.
Luckily we pretty much missed each other, and all that happened was a broken wing mirror for me, and some bruised pride for him. Since he didn't go completely apes
t at me I think he understood that going that fast in that situation was a little foolhardy.
Luckily we pretty much missed each other, and all that happened was a broken wing mirror for me, and some bruised pride for him. Since he didn't go completely apes
t at me I think he understood that going that fast in that situation was a little foolhardy. We constantly hear on here about driving as if everyone else on the road is an idiot. I guess the cars that beep are doing exactly that when they see a cyclist coming towards them on their side of the road. Just because you know what you're doing, doesn't mean that they know as well.
The article below is helpful. In short overtaking on the right means you are more visible and have more space if you need to take avoiding action. Personally I would rather not be squeezed between a car and the kerb - I would rather "take the lane" and wait in the line of traffic if for whatever reason I cannot overtake on the right.
As a rule, you're better off filtering on the right. Drivers expect to be overtaken on the right and they're more likely to see you in their off-side wing mirror. Oncoming traffic can see you more easily too, so you're less like to have oncoming traffic turn right across you. You'll also have more room to manoeuvre.
http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/how-to/filtering
As a rule, you're better off filtering on the right. Drivers expect to be overtaken on the right and they're more likely to see you in their off-side wing mirror. Oncoming traffic can see you more easily too, so you're less like to have oncoming traffic turn right across you. You'll also have more room to manoeuvre.
http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/how-to/filtering
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff