Am I being over cautious?

[grldtnr]

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.

I agree , the self same nobber who's just squeezed past you , incandescent is the same that you have the temerity to be cycling on the road, will grudgingly be sat behind another motor.
It's down to attitude, because they are in a vehicle, they feel entitled to act as if it's god given right.
I used to be a quite active cyclist. It never bothered me that much, but I have lost my speed , so now struggle on fast town roads.
If I have to use the main rd with all its build outs , I do take the lane and claim primary, but I do feel vulnerable, as don't know have the speed I had.

So well done Moronic driver , you've bagged another victim.

 

[Punkawallah]

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?

‘If you’re not paranoid, you’re not paying attention’ :-)
Although at the same time, if you go out -expecting- close passes, you are likely to notice them.

 

[Bazzer]

I think it will depend upon where you live, but I have no hesitation in reporting close passers and for that matter red light runners. I'll also do a DVLA check for VED and MOT on cars I intend to report.
A few minutes on the computer then to provide a statement and video to Cheshire police.

 

[Saracenlad]

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.

Agree.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I agree , the self same nobber who's just squeezed past you , incandescent is the same that you have the temerity to be cycling on the road, will grudgingly be sat behind another motor.
It's down to attitude, because they are in a vehicle, they feel entitled to act as if it's god given right.
I used to be a quite active cyclist. It never bothered me that much, but I have lost my speed , so now struggle on fast town roads.
If I have to use the main rd with all its build outs , I do take the lane and claim primary, but I do feel vulnerable, as don't know have the speed I had.

So well done Moronic driver , you've bagged another victim.

I do get the feeling that rider speed also has an influence on driver attitudes. I am pretty quick (this is not to be a big head!) and I very rarely get close passes, driver's tend to give me lots of room and don't drive up my backside. I have had multiple occasions where driver's have gone wide past me and further up the road have passed far too close to slower cyclists (usually more 'regular' cyclists on push bikes/commuters). I guess it could be purely coincidental but I have the impression that for some reason they take more liberties with some cyclists.

 

[Brandane]

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.

Or hours on a busy motorway because another driver has messed up and crashed into another car causing lane closures.

 

[presta]

‘If you’re not paranoid, you’re not paying attention’ :-)

That's me, daydreaming too much to get fazed by the traffic.

 

[Punkawallah]

That's me, daydreaming too much to get fazed by the traffic.

Daydreaming? Blue-sky thinking, surely ;-)

 

[grldtnr]

I do get the feeling that rider speed also has an influence on driver attitudes. I am pretty quick (this is not to be a big head!) and I very rarely get close passes, driver's tend to give me lots of room and don't drive up my backside. I have had multiple occasions where driver's have gone wide past me and further up the road have passed far too close to slower cyclists (usually more 'regular' cyclists on push bikes/commuters). I guess it could be purely coincidental but I have the impression that for some reason they take more liberties with some cyclists.

Definitely, you need to be riding close to 'evens' to safely take the lane and primary spot, most traffic is doing around 20 mph during busy times, I can't maintain that pace anymore, but claim your area to ride safe.

 

[carbontrekker]

I also move to the middle on islands on my rec route.
I live in crystal palace and I choose to take the route with the most cycle lanes.
I've still had a few close passes.
I think lots of drivers now that the speed limit is 20mph where I ride see a cyclist and just assume they can overtake but in reality I'm going close to or more than there speed.
I often have fun 🫣😳 with drivers who overtake me on section of road with lots of regular speed bumps,they speed up to overtake but I'm catching up or overtaking again at every bump.
I had an old VW camper 1980s overtake me then I easily overtook and stayed in front at the next speed bump.
It's dangerous out there....stay safe.

 

[HLaB]

I do get the feeling that rider speed also has an influence on driver attitudes. I am pretty quick (this is not to be a big head!) and I very rarely get close passes, driver's tend to give me lots of room and don't drive up my backside. I have had multiple occasions where driver's have gone wide past me and further up the road have passed far too close to slower cyclists (usually more 'regular' cyclists on push bikes/commuters). I guess it could be purely coincidental but I have the impression that for some reason they take more liberties with some cyclists.

I agree, I'm fairly quick and that seems to deter most folk but if I do a 50% recovery ride the muppets will come out on certain routes. I used to use my old commute route through Hertfordshire countryside (twisty and hilly) as a recovery route occasionally and drivers were great but my new commute is through Bedfordshire and the roads are straight and folk and 'rat runned' and I gave up the idea of a recovery commute after the first commute on the route. Going a decent speed on that route seems to deter folk; I dread the inevitable day I have to slow down.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I had an old VW camper 1980s overtake me then I easily overtook and stayed in front at the next speed bump.
.

A friend of mine used to own an old VW camper. He had an absolute terror of speedbumps.

Eventually he admitted defeat - he spent more time keeping the thing on the road than he did camper-ing in it. So he had to be unsentimental and got a modern, reliable one with decent road clearance.

I live not far from you. I find all the parked cars just make great traffic calming measures anyway, and keep speeds down.

 

[Saracenlad]

Well, well! We have just done the identical ride. Guess what; We took the centre line and lo and behold at all three reservations traffic behind waited patiently for us to clear the bollards and made a safe pass. Thank you Cycle Chat.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I've never been hit by a moving vehicle*, but when I started cycle commuting again after my Xmas 2013 RTA, I quickly learned to take the chilled out meander routes back home... It meant my commutes homes were longer, but virtually stress free for the extra ~1 mile in excess of the most direct ~4.5 mile route mostly on A roads.

When I got around to cycling for fitness from '17, finally discovering the South Downs lanes after being in Southampton for ~24 years, it didn't take long to realise that the ~3 miles closest to home were by far the most hostile. So under normal circumstances, I'd avoid heading out or getting home approx 0730-0930 (school run plus rush hour); 1430-1530 (school run) and 1700-1800 (rush hour, 1600-1800 on Fridays).

On a typical road ride, I rarely have to use an A road out near Old Winchester Hill or beyond, maybe 2mins max on the A32 between Wheely Down and Hayden Lane or 10mins max on the A487 between Langrish/Stroud and Ridge Common Lane/ Bell Hill/ Village St (Sheet).

If I didn't have to navigate a load of horrid hostile roads across Southampton, I'd be far more likely to ride in The New Forest.

* On a storm warning morning, the brakes on my Specialized Tricross Singlecross failed and I ploughed into the back of a stationary rubbish collection lorry... Knocked out, lost/chipped teeth, fractured two metacarpals. Xmas week in SGH, 5 weeks at Salisbury Rehab getting my hand to move again.