All very well, but of course it is you who are wrong. You're making a strawman argument. I don't know any cyclists who try to insist on vehicles overtaking them against the driver's wishes or judgement. All sensible cyclists prevent or discourage unsafe overtakes, as it is, quite simply, their call.
Doubling Up On Road
- Thread starter DonnyDarko
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All very well, but of course it is you who are wrong. You're making a strawman argument. I don't know any cyclists who try to insist on vehicles overtaking them against the driver's wishes or judgement. All sensible cyclists prevent or discourage unsafe overtakes, as it is, quite simply, their call.
If there is less than 6-8' of gap between my offside and an approaching obstacle of some kind (e.g. oncoming traffic, parked cars, traffic island etc) then it does not require intimate knowledge of the size and characteristics of the vehicle following to know that there is not space for it to pass safely.
You could ask Freecyclist for some tips...
montyboy
New Member
montyboy
New Member
montyboy
New Member
[QUOTE 1589421"]
That in bold is wrong. All that the cyclist does not know is the quality of the driver.
It is in my own interest to prevent an overtake where it is not safe, for example at a pinch point. It's not dangerous at all, and is correct and appropriate behaviour.
[/quote]
How does a cyclist establish this?
That in bold is wrong. All that the cyclist does not know is the quality of the driver.
It is in my own interest to prevent an overtake where it is not safe, for example at a pinch point. It's not dangerous at all, and is correct and appropriate behaviour.
[/quote]
How does a cyclist establish this?
If it comes to the point where someone in a heavier, faster vehicle than you is clearly determined to pass you at any cost, despite your making it quite clear that they may not overtake, then you might be well advised to get out of the way if possible. Until that point you are quite entitled to prevent someone making a manoeuvre that endangers you. With sensible drivers discouragement is enough. How can it be dangerous to prevent or discourage something that is, er, dangerous?
montyboy
New Member
[QUOTE 1589424"]
I often stop traffic on the walk to school. There's one particular road where traffic won't stop, and there are rarely sufficient gaps to pass safely. If a few families have gathered to cross and drivers aren't giving way, it's common for one of us to stop the cars so that we can all cross safely.
Do you see this being wrong?
[/quote]
No, I think that would be entirely approriate under the circumstances,
I often stop traffic on the walk to school. There's one particular road where traffic won't stop, and there are rarely sufficient gaps to pass safely. If a few families have gathered to cross and drivers aren't giving way, it's common for one of us to stop the cars so that we can all cross safely.
Do you see this being wrong?
[/quote]
No, I think that would be entirely approriate under the circumstances,
montyboy
New Member
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
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- Crewe
Hmm.
Not as dangerous as the cretins who routinely decide the pinch points on Manchester Road are THE IDEAL place to overtake, or those who'll insist on the same manoeuvre on blind bends, hill crests &c.
I see what you're saying Monty, but my experience of commuting drivers is that they're opportunistic, extremely short term planners, mostly unable to read my speed correctly, or anticipate hazards - they also seem to routinely underestimate the amount of distance that they should give me when overtaking. (Although it's possible that they genuinely feel an elbow brushing overtake is a pleasant experience, to give them their due).
I've even been beeped at for waving one bloke back (he was about to overtake me into the path of an oncoming coach that he'd either not seen, or couldn't see- another blind corner special). Some people *need* to be "vetoed".
The better ones (and there are some) hang back whatever road position I'm in at these points of danger - the majority[1] won't, and primary is essential not just to forestall a nasty overtake, but to give some escape room if they insist on attempting the manoeuvre (they'll generally go wider, if I start out in primary).
[1] My personal feeling is that that majority is shrinking, albeit rather slowly. Whether that's because the people I encounter every day are more used to seeing me, and know they can pass safely as soon as we pass the danger points (i.e. I don't "hold them up" per se), or because drivers are becoming more cycle aware generally, I couldn't say.
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
It's also possible to vary the pace a bit so a motor vehicle & I don't reach a pinch point simultaneously and come into conflict - I do this a fair bit on my morning commute, although it needs good observation and decent knowledge of the route. Volume of traffic in the evening generally precludes it though.
montyboy
New Member
Exactley.
Sometimes this is a far better method of avoinding a close pass than taking the primary, sometimes too early and running the risk of being seen ass the aggresor.
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