Cyclist overtaking cyclists and HC rule 163

[leemo]

Rule 163 states:
give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car

Presumably cyclists must also follow this rule. So according to the following picture, to overtake a cyclist you would be just inside the dashed line, like the where the car's nearside wheels are:

Is my understanding correct?

 

[HLaB]

A cyclist won't create the same drag forces as a motor vehicle so I don't think it needs to be as regimented but anybody who passes too close is looking for trouble.

 

[gaz]

Highway code rule 163 is kind of pointless on passing distances. The wording is poor!
The DFT advise that the passing distance increases as the speed of the overtaking vehicle does.

As HLaB points out, the main reason for motorised vehicles with metallic shells to give space is the drag effect that the turbulent air thrown off the vehicle makes. A bicycle makes very little turbulent air and thus the passing distance required is less. I still like to give as much room as possible when overtaking another cyclist but you are suggest that a cyclist can only pass another cyclist if they do so on or over the dotted line.

Anyway, there is no law for how much space you must actually provide another vehicle when you move pass it.

 

[Tommi]

Depends on your points of reference, I'd think. If you consider equal distance between vehicles then had the car in the picture been overtaking another car at the same distance they'd be about crashing the light poles on the other side, so I'm not sure the wording and image quite match.

I think the illustration / thinking stems from that there's basically just two, maybe three, distinct positions for cars to be in: your lane and the next lane. If you can't keep within your own lane you're blocking / putting the traffic on the next lane at risk anyway so better for everyone just take the whole lane already. You generally can't overtake another car within the same lane so you must take the other lane, and from there if you're overtaking a cyclist you should take the other lane as well (and thus the illustration.)

On the other hand bicycles are less than half the width, and if you consider the distance between one car overtaking another and use the same distance between bicycle overtaking another you can still easily fit both in the same lane with room to spare. I generally find no problem sharing the lane with another bicycle (or even motorcycle) beside me as long as we both stick to "our side" of the lane.

Basically I think the unit of width for cars is one lane and half a lane for bicycles, and you (can) comfortably operate in multiples of those units. Of course the theory doesn't quite work as neatly when you have notably wider lanes or car drivers who're "filtering" right on top of the dividing line thinking they're riding a motorcycle or something.

 

[Origamist]

Rule 163 states:
give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car

Presumably cyclists must also follow this rule. So according to the following picture, to overtake a cyclist you would be just inside the dashed line, like the where the car's nearside wheels are:

Is my understanding correct?

Yes - if you're overtaking the cyclist in the pic you should ideally be on the nearside of the centre line or just over it (but you don't want to ride on the white line, particularly if it's wet). Assuming of course there is no oncoming traffic!

However, in bus lanes you will find cyclists overtaking each other much more closely when the outside lane is congested. I often pass in the 2-3 feet range. If I get taken down by a late swerving cyclist who I am passing at 2-3 feet, I have to accept my share of the blame for passing with too little clearance.

A good exapmple of poor riding and close overtaking in a bus lane:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLampwWYK94

 

[Jezston]

Broken link there Origamist - too many http://'s

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Broken link there Origamist - too many http://'s

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLampwWYK94[/media]

 

[Mad at urage]

Yes - if you're overtaking the cyclist in the pic you should ideally be on the nearside of the centre line or just over it (but you don't want to ride on the white line, particularly if it's wet). Assuming of course there is no oncoming traffic!

However, in bus lanes you will find cyclists overtaking each other much more closely when the outside lane is congested. I often pass in the 2-3 feet range. If I get taken down by a late swerving cyclist who I am passing at 2-3 feet, I have to accept my share of the blame for passing with too little clearance.

A good exapmple of poor riding and close overtaking in a bus lane:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=YLampwWYK94

+1

 

[fossyant]

Give them room if overtaking, especially wobbly bobs. Oh, and don't say 'morning' or 'afternoon' before you pass into their line of vision - it doesn't half make folk poop their pants.

 

[ohnovino]

Oh, and don't say 'morning' or 'afternoon' before you pass into their line of vision - it doesn't half make folk poop their pants.

Especially if they're riding along happily talking to themselves, and the shock makes them swerve into a pothole and strain their wrist.

I think the embarrassment hurt more than the injury

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Especially if they're riding along happily talking to themselves, and the shock makes them swerve into a pothole and strain their wrist.

I think the embarrassment hurt more than the injury

Why do I think this is the voice of experience talking?

 

[Bigsharn]

Personally I overtake the same distance as I do a car... 5ft out to make sure there's no risk of dooring/if we both get blown by a gust of wind neither ends up on the deck

 

[Tynan]

can't anyone read?

how much space do you allow when overtaking a car?

use that much space is what it suggests

three feetish?

certainly not an entire lane

 

[BentMikey]

If I was overtaking you I'd leave an entire lane.

j/k

 

[Mad at urage]

I don't remain in the same lane as the car I am overtaking. When overtaking cyclists I allow at least as much room as I allow for a car, that is at least their own lane; this is what I read when I read the HC Tynan. For the hard of understanding, HC includes a picture to that effect.