Cars Wont Pass - Weird Week

[Psamathe]

Are you a rural rider Psmanthe? The hedge rows may be 'denuded' so that they see you earlier, with leaves ,hedges will obscure the view.

Much on my cycling on tadpole is rural though that does involve passing through some towns and some busier B roads.

I have cycled through larger cities (on tadpole) but in France, Belgium, Netherlands. where drivers and conditions are very different.

I do normally use a flag though not certain how much it helps but my theory (unproven) is that it will show above some hedgerows for drivers to see. I've no idea if it has any impact but I can't think of negative impacts, just potential positives.

Ian

 

[Time Waster]

As a motorist and cyclist in a popular cycling area I would advise against waving anyone through. It is the following vehicle to determine that it is safe to pass. I would kind of be grateful that they are sitting back and being hesitant with the overtake. Round here you see impatient drivers (incomers visiting the village or locals with the really big cars, SUVs, 4x4s, pickups, etc.) overtaking where there isn't the safe space to overtake.

I will hang back longer in my van than the cyclist aahead thinks I should including ignoring their pass through wave. I know my vehicle and know its acceleration capability to overtake a moving bicycle. So IMHO as the cyclist you should do your thing and let the other road users do their thing. If it has changed or you have changed or pereption of either road user has changed. Does not matter if you are both using the road safely for both you and the motorised vehicle occupants. Just do not wave through. That is the most annoying cyclist's trait IMHO. A little too arrogant IMHO.

 

[Psamathe]

As a motorist and cyclist in a popular cycling area I would advise against waving anyone through. It is the following vehicle to determine that it is safe to pass.

Vehicle wasn't following but alongside having pulled to opposite side of road and started to pass and then decided to match my speed so they could gawp at me, boxing me in. I don't wave anybody past but in this instance I was telling them to get out of my way rather than waving past.

But with regard to the original comment about failing to pass, no waving past involved (or mentioned), just pulling over a bit so they have plenty of space.

Difficulty with failing to pass when there is plenty of space, plenty of visibility is that other drivers get blocked behind them ...

Original post was an observation of something different happening, not a complaint. If driver wants to stay back fine but don't expect me to bounce around in the potholes to give them plenty of space.

Round where I live many of the roads have been "widened" by SUVs damaging the verge so Highways patch the pothole that is actually off the original road, etc. until the outer third of the road is just patched potholes and drains are middle of the lane.

Ian

 

[Psamathe]

Round here you see impatient drivers (incomers visiting the village or locals with the really big cars, SUVs, 4x4s, pickups, etc.) overtaking where there isn't the safe space to overtake.

Not related to original issue raised but maybe a widespread problem with a good %age of drivers in UK. Most rides I'll be overtaken on a blind bend (and roads are fairly quiet. Most of the time driver gets away with it but when they suddenly meet an oncoming car you end up having to brake hard as their automatic response is to pull back over!

I suspect it's something to do with UK driving culture as I've cycled a fair distance on French roads and can't remember it ever happening there (neither on Belgian nor German nor Dutch roads).

Ian

 

[grldtnr]

Not related to original issue raised but maybe a widespread problem with a good %age of drivers in UK. Most rides I'll be overtaken on a blind bend (and roads are fairly quiet. Most of the time driver gets away with it but when they suddenly meet an oncoming car you end up having to brake hard as their automatic response is to pull back over!

I suspect it's something to do with UK driving culture as I've cycled a fair distance on French roads and can't remember it ever happening there (neither on Belgian nor German nor Dutch roads).

Ian

Indicative of the British motoring psyche I would say, young drivers, modern cars with all these Assist modes ,auto this ,auto that the modern EU regulations have taken away driver skillsets..
I learnt to drive in cars that didn't have all that, consequently I drive to expect what the car will do, not what 'it' wants to.
I back that up, by the low pass rates , less than 50% locally, this is bourn out by behaviour of motorist, it's not helped by proliferation of high end vehicles and the modern fashion for "bling" cars also driven by motorist of my generation.
Quite simply they don't care!
Unfortunately, it has to be said, that a lot of these motorist also cycle.

 

[Psamathe]

Sorry, going off-topic but you raise some interesting points.

it's not helped by proliferation of high end vehicles and the modern fashion for "bling" cars also driven by motorist of my generation.

In "my day" early cars we'd own were cheap bangers and we'd spend hours renovating or trying to keep them going, almost a matter of pride. Apparently these days the "old banger" has no value as youngsters all need high-end BMWs or Audi's (tried to sell my "banger" recently and only option was to trade-in for scrap value).

Then, once youngsters have outgrown their need for BMW/Audi they'll switch to "Utility Vehicles"/SUVs. Daft as the most challenging surface most meet (round where I live) is when they have to mount/damage a verge 'cos they meet an oncoming similar sized vehicle and whilst 2 hatchbacks can pass without 2nd thought, two utility/SUVs have to slow and mount the verge.

In my working days, last company car I got was brilliant as it didn't have ABS and somehow I felt a lot more in control on the rare occasions I would push it a bit.

Ian

 

[grldtnr]

Dang it! I didn't delete the 'lane control' function for this topic.
But glad you feel the same as me, perhaps beware of an age, long in wisdom, short of intolerance to the indifferent.
Meanwhile , I'll just lie back and think of England, as I ride down the road.