Am I being over cautious?

[Saracenlad]

My wife and I are very lucky where we live. Some really nice villages around and a couple of good cafes. The problem we get almost every ride is that someone will close pass or some other aggressive move.

Yesterday we had to ride on the A638 from Ranskill to Barnby Moor (It's the old A1) and through Torworth village they have installed some central reservations. Very good I thought until yesterday. We always ride single file on this road and we both wear HiVis and have lights front and rear. Yesterday as we approached a reservation a Van decided to close pass us and then very scarily there was another van driving very close to the first. He didn't see the reservation or us! we were very lucky to be missed (Just) but it really shook me up.

I am beginning to feel threatened more and more. We have a saying at the end of each ride :- The Idiots were out. The Idiots must be away.
Am I being paranoid?

 

[fossyant]

Fairly common issue with these 'islands'. I always move to a primary position (i.e. middle of the lane) to stop someone overtaking. One of my training routes has been ruined by a few of these - was a lovely wide road, then they put a few of these islands in - now drivers try and pass you unless you take the lane, then move back once past it.

 

[BrumJim]

My wife and I are very lucky where we live. Some really nice villages around and a couple of good cafes. The problem we get almost every ride is that someone will close pass or some other aggressive move.

Yesterday we had to ride on the A638 from Ranskill to Barnby Moor (It's the old A1) and through Torworth village they have installed some central reservations. Very good I thought until yesterday. We always ride single file on this road and we both wear HiVis and have lights front and rear. Yesterday as we approached a reservation a Van decided to close pass us and then very scarily there was another van driving very close to the first. He didn't see the reservation or us! we were very lucky to be missed (Just) but it really shook me up.

I am beginning to feel threatened more and more. We have a saying at the end of each ride :- The Idiots were out. The Idiots must be away.
Am I being paranoid?

We note patterns. Sometimes we just hit a patch of bad luck with other road users, and prescribe it to a general trend.

Not saying driving isn't getting worse, particularly if there is a local trend. But please don't let a couple of bad moments cloud your judgement.

Also, HiVis and lights make no difference if the driver is an idiot. People don't do close passes because they can't see you, it is because they don't care.

 

[All uphill]

I'm with @fossyant

Keeping to the left just encourages a minority of drivers to "squeeze through". We know who gets squeezed!

I take the primary position through pinch points and find drivers wait.

 

[markemark]

Take the lane. Sadly you might get some idiots a bit annoyed but that's better than being squished. Only leave space that you will accept a vehicle to pass into.

 

[wiggydiggy]

You're not being over cautious, but I'd be hesitant at taking the lane in all cases. Some islands I pass are on 50mph limit roads and I simply don't trust whoever is driving behind me not to hit me, I tend to try and time it that so they pass me before I get to the island.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Do you have to use that road? Can you figure out less stressful routes? I tend to keep away from roads where I've had a bad time or which I would class as no fun at all. But I'm a recreational cyclist and I can choose my own routes. If you're cycling to get somewhere for a purpose you have less freedom.

 

[Brandane]

Do you have to use that road? Can you figure out less stressful routes? I tend to keep away from roads where I've had a bad time or which I would class as no fun at all. But I'm a recreational cyclist and I can choose my own routes. If you're cycling to get somewhere for a purpose you have less freedom.

I'm with you on this @Dogtrousers . I avoid main roads whenever possible and take to the minor back roads. In this area that invariably involves more climbing and more distance, but so what? If I was in a hurry I would use another form of transport (obviously applies to recreational cyclists only!).

A mate of mine is more of a roadie type, always chasing PB's and trying to increase average speeds. He insists on using what to me are horrible roads in our area, including 70mph dual carriageways. He always has after ride tales of road ragers, close passes, near misses, shouts of "use the effin' cycle path", and other general driver nobbery.

He annoys me a bit when he condescendingly suggests that I should ride with him sometimes, to increase my confidence on such roads. As I tell him, I am perfectly confident in MY abilities, but not so confident of the abilities of drivers to do what they are supposed to do. To me, riding on these roads is simply not enjoyable, not necessary, and not worth the risk. Therefore I will avoid it whenever possible.

 

[Brandane]

Am I being paranoid?

No. A significant number are actively trying to discourage cyclists from using the PUBLIC roads. Scare tactics. And it is being quite successful.

 

[Webbo2]

My recent experience is that I have more incidents on minor/ single track roads than on major roads. My suspicion is that someone on a rat run is usually less tolerant than your average punter on the main road.

 

[Bristolian]

I sympathise with your predicament and count myself fortunate that I only rarely experience poor overtakes since I started wearing a PassPixi on my cycling shirt (passpixi.com). The presence of the little sign does appear to make drivers think (is that an oxymoron?).

 

[HLaB]

No. A significant number are actively trying to discourage cyclists from using the PUBLIC roads. Scare tactics. And it is being quite successful.

I wouldn't say it's a significant number but is eejits out there. If you ride assertively that avoid more than half of them but there's still vindictive eejits out there. I also find it seems to be very area specific. Of the places I have ridden, up north there's a lot of careless idiots (more than here) and the the closer you get to Glasgow the more vindictive they are. Down in Hertfordshire seems to have the most polite, sometimes to a fault. For instance, you can be approaching a roundabout and a driver already on it stops and gives way to you.

 

[honeybadger]

There’s more and more of these islands popping up on the roads I use for training rides. Like others have said I always take a look behind as I approach one and if I see a vehicle behind that might be an issue I always take primary. As soon as I go through and the vehicle passes I always raise my right hand as a thank you for being patient. I actually worked out exactly how long I held up a motorist and, taking into account the speed limit (50mph) the speed I’m generally travelling (20mph) and the distance (around 30yrds) it costs the driver 2.5 seconds added to their driving time. Unfortunately you’ll get some drivers that can’t handle that but yet will sit in stationary traffic at traffic lights for over a minute without a murmur.

 

[oxoman]

I'm tempted to get another hiviz jersey with smile for the camera on the back. Last one I got lasted 3 or 4 yrs and seemed to improve things, maybe my perception though. Tend to find i only get idiots in daylight and usually on the way home. Early doors or darkness drivers seem more tolerant. The thing that worries me is the amount of drivers smoking or conveying weed as they drive home after work, occasionally the smell can be very overpowering.🤢

 

[presta]

I avoid main roads whenever possible and take to the minor back roads. In this area that invariably involves more climbing and more distance, but so what? If I was in a hurry I would use another form of transport (obviously applies to recreational cyclists only!).

What would commonly have me riding on main roads was when the next youth hostel was a bit too far away, and there wasn't enough in the tank to add more discretionary mileage. Sometimes I'd start out on main roads in the morning until I saw how the time's going, then turn off and meander if there's time in hand later. Once I got somewhere with plenty of hostels, I might cycle 50 miles to get to a hostel 5 miles away.