Narrow lanes - do not overtake cyclists

[Origamist]

My thoughts are that I have very little control over the cars - the only thing I can do is protect myself and try to give them a hint.

Yep, here we generally agree (although I’d prefer to think of drivers and not cars) as road positioning will influence, but not control, driver behaviour to a certain extent. However, attempts at protecting yourself can sometimes have unintended and unfortunate consequences.

Drivers can be complete knobbers (as can cyclists) but I don't see what more can be done other than taking a decent primary. Obviously, if you get rear ended you are totally screwed. Do you have any ideas about what else can be done to protect yourself?

If you’re taking a central lane position and a driver is cutting back in (i.e. he has not been deterred by a cyclist riding in primary) you are actually in greater danger of initially being hit as you are more to the right and need to respond quicker to the approaching danger. A five feet buffer to your left is certainly handy, but you’ve got to be able to exploit the space in order to avoid contact. This is harder when drivers are expecting and forcing you to move out of their way.

Road positioning can play a role in helping cyclists avoid conflict, but it can only do so much to mitigate bad driving. However, as your experiences of bad driving are rare, I can understand why you might think that assertive, primary positioning is a no brainer and that the cyclist in the video is worthy of criticism.

 

[Milkfloat]

Yep, here we generally agree (although I’d prefer to think of drivers and not cars) as road positioning will influence, but not control, driver behaviour to a certain extent. However, attempts at protecting yourself can sometimes have unintended and unfortunate consequences.



If you’re taking a central lane position and a driver is cutting back in (i.e. he has not been deterred by a cyclist riding in primary) you are actually in greater danger of initially being hit as you are more to the right and need to respond quicker to the approaching danger. A five feet buffer to your left is certainly handy, but you’ve got to be able to exploit the space in order to avoid contact. This is harder when drivers are expecting and forcing you to move out of their way.

Road positioning can play a role in helping cyclists avoid conflict, but it can only do so much to mitigate bad driving. However, as your experiences of bad driving are rare, I can understand why you might think that assertive, primary positioning is a no brainer.

In the situation in the video I would hope that the assertive primary position would, if not prevent the driver from attempting the maneuver, would certainly make them think and look a bit more. If they were still dumb enough to try the overtake I would be darting in to the left and slowing to get away from them. I don't see an alternative that is less risky. What am I missing? I only rarely cycle in cities in this country and even then they are only of a population about 300K, so you are right I may have a simplistic view, but then again maybe my positioning is affecting driver behaviour causing less bad driving around me?

 

[benb]

In the situation in the video I would hope that the assertive primary position would, if not prevent the driver from attempting the maneuver, would certainly make them think and look a bit more. If they were still dumb enough to try the overtake I would be darting in to the left and slowing to get away from them. I don't see an alternative that is less risky. What am I missing? I only rarely cycle in cities in this country and even then they are only of a population about 300K, so you are right I may have a simplistic view, but then again maybe my positioning is affecting driver behaviour causing less bad driving around me?

If a massive line of cones isn't enough to deter an overtake, I fail to see how the cyclist being a bit further right would do it.

 

[Origamist]

In the situation in the video I would hope that the assertive primary position would, if not prevent the driver from attempting the maneuver, would certainly make them think and look a bit more. If they were still dumb enough to try the overtake I would be darting in to the left and slowing to get away from them. I don't see an alternative that is less risky. What am I missing? I only rarely cycle in cities in this country and even then they are only of a population about 300K, so you are right I may have a simplistic view, but then again maybe my positioning is affecting driver behaviour causing less bad driving around me?

My last post on this subject, before I bore everyone stupid...!

Primary would be the best practice, default position, but your faith in it influencing drivers to stay back, like the van driver in the video, is likely to be misplaced, given that they have already shown scant interest in sensible road craft. What's more, blocking a bullying idiot can cause tailgating and punishment passes, or worse.

If the cyclist had been hit by the driver whilst riding in primary, I can assure you that quite a few people would be arguing that the cyclist would have been safer in secondary or even in the gutter...

 

[400bhp]

My last post on this subject, before I bore everyone stupid...!

Primary would be the best practice, default position, but your faith in it influencing drivers to stay back, like the van driver in the video, is likely to be misplaced, given that they have already shown scant interest in sensible road craft. What's more, blocking a bullying idiot can cause tailgating and punishment passes, or worse.

If the cyclist had been hit by the driver whilst riding in primary, I can assure you that quite a few people would be arguing that the cyclist would have been safer in secondary or even in the gutter...

Aye. Had one tonight, which I had spotted very early on (engine notes and road positioning give them away). He didn't like me taking the lane through the back of the airport, in a small line of traffic with a couple of junctions that mean I can be as fast or faster than traffic. He decided to close pass me a on an open bit of road a bit further on.

Sometimes it's trying to decide what's the best outcome when you are aware of a nobber.