The 1.5 Metre Gap is Silly

[classic33]

I'm both a driver and a cyclist, and I find the law requiring cars to leave a 1.5-meter gap when overtaking cyclists is silly.

Many roads in the UK are small, making it difficult to maintain that distance without putting other drivers in unsafe positions. Additionally, I think it's a bit unfair that this rule doesn't apply the other way. Often, when cyclists overtake or undertake cars, they only leave a few inches of space.

In my opinion, cyclists should ride on the path as I do, (when clear) rather than sharing the road with cars as it is safer for everybody.

What do you all think?

Footpath/footways are made for feet, not pedal powered wheeled transport.

As for cyclists leaving the same space when passing cars, I do if on the outside, having had a rear door opened whilst moving at speed. Inside is harder do, as that is where we are expected to be(In the gutter). Made harder still when the "cycle lane" isn't even 2 feet wide, and I'm expected to use it.

Of the options I have been given over the years, I use non of them.
Footpath/footway, pedestrian use. In my opinion pedestrian and cycle traffic don't mix, and the speed difference can be as great as between a cycle and motor vehicle.
Cycle Lane, normally on the inside leaving very little room for when the driver feels I shouldn't be on their road.
Get off the road. No chance, I'm on a road vehicle whether they like it or not. I'll take, and hold, primary behind the vehicle in front if I'm travelling just as fast as they can.

Simple message for drivers is, cyclists have the same right to use the roads as they do. We are not getting in their way, they don't want a slower form of vehicle slowing them down on the way to the next red light. Cycles and cyclists, whether they like it or not are traffic.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Regarding cycling on footpaths. I recall in 2014 the then minister Robert Goodwill said " I agree that the police should be using discretion in enforcing this law [referring to Highways Act 72] and would support Paul Boateng’s original guidance."

The original guidance he was referring to was from 1999 when the then Minister of State, Paul Boateng said “The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required.”

https://road.cc/content/news/108119-transport-minister-responsible-cyclists-can-ride-pavement

So if you do cycle on the footpath, and do so responsibly, you're unlikely to find yourself banged up in chokey, listening to concerts by Johnny Cash but you should be aware that it's not legal.

 

[Baldy]

I'm both a driver and a cyclist, and I find the law requiring cars to leave a 1.5-meter gap when overtaking cyclists is silly.

Many roads in the UK are small, making it difficult to maintain that distance without putting other drivers in unsafe positions.

What do you all think?

You can't get by without putting other drivers in an unsafe position. So you want to close pass the cyclists and put them at risk? All because you're to impatient to wait for a safe place to overtake. Somehow you do not come across as a nice human being.

 

[grldtnr]

There are loads of arguments on this subject but the bottom line of complaints boils down to one thing. Driver impatience.

Very much so, driver impatience, most cyclist have experienced the 2 main causes of friction whilst cycling , , the overtake ,then immediate turn left, sometimes with indicating , or the emerging from the right, as you are at that junction,drive on the wrong side of the road , then cross to the left. I'd sooner drivers emerge behind me then overtake safely , but they don't, they rather do something illegal ,because they think it doesn't matter ,when in truth it does.
It's primarily all about attitudes, isn't , had I been a motorist , they won't do these things.

 

[briantrumpet]

Footpath/footways are made for feet, not pedal powered wheeled transport.

As for cyclists leaving the same space when passing cars, I do if on the outside, having had a rear door opened whilst moving at speed. Inside is harder do, as that is where we are expected to be(In the gutter). Made harder still when the "cycle lane" isn't even 2 feet wide, and I'm expected to use it.

Of the options I have been given over the years, I use non of them.
Footpath/footway, pedestrian use. In my opinion pedestrian and cycle traffic don't mix, and the speed difference can be as great as between a cycle and motor vehicle.
Cycle Lane, normally on the inside leaving very little room for when the driver feels I shouldn't be on their road.
Get off the road. No chance, I'm on a road vehicle whether they like it or not. I'll take, and hold, primary behind the vehicle in front if I'm travelling just as fast as they can.

Simple message for drivers is, cyclists have the same right to use the roads as they do. We are not getting in their way, they don't want a slower form of vehicle slowing them down on the way to the next red light. Cycles and cyclists, whether they like it or not are traffic.

All of this.

As much as I shy away from any sort of conflict, I'm not going to cede roads exclusively to drivers who want to bully cyclists out of their way no matter how dangerous and impractical the spaces are they want to bully us onto. PWABPO's (pavements with a bike painted on) are still pavements.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

I'm both a driver and a cyclist, and I find the law requiring cars to leave a 1.5-meter gap when overtaking cyclists is silly.

Many roads in the UK are small, making it difficult to maintain that distance without putting other drivers in unsafe positions. Additionally, I think it's a bit unfair that this rule doesn't apply the other way. Often, when cyclists overtake or undertake cars, they only leave a few inches of space.

In my opinion, cyclists should ride on the path as I do, (when clear) rather than sharing the road with cars as it is safer for everybody.

What do you all think?

I think you're a tedious troll, now blocked.

 

[Alex321]

1.5m gap is not only sensible, it's legal now.

It is no more "legal now" than it has ever been.

The highway code is NOT law, it is guidance. Sometimes it refers to actual laws, but in those places it says you MUST or MUST NOT. There is no such text regarding the 1.5m gap, just that as a guideline you should leave tat much (more at speeds above 30mph).

 

[briantrumpet]

It is no more "legal now" than it has ever been.

The highway code is NOT law, it is guidance. Sometimes it refers to actual laws, but in those places it says you MUST or MUST NOT. There is no such text regarding the 1.5m gap, just that as a guideline you should leave tat much (more at speeds above 30mph).

OK, fair point, though I would assume that that distance would be 'taken into consideration' if a claim against an errant motorist were made.

 

[grldtnr]

OK, fair point, though I would assume that that distance would be 'taken into consideration' if a claim against an errant motorist were made.

In which way? If a motorist collides with another road user being it pedestrian , cyclist, mule , or herd of sheep, then as far as I am concerned they are at fault.
Drivers rarely give ample passing room , if ever other road users usually are aware Theresa fast approaching vehicle coming upon them, if they do not give proper consideration to passing safely then they are at fault
There are many reasons why a slower moving person , animal or whatever maybe there, the overtaking vehicle should make themselves present, and pass safely.
Here's an analogy, I sail sailing boats, because we have no brakes on such things , when meeting or joining streams of traffic on the water, invariably we do so from behind, as it's much safer, to avoid then going across the front, I am guessing it's the same protocol with aircraft ,they cannot 'brake' in the air, it's a given sailors keep clear or avoid , so why do motorist think they shouldn't.
Poor attitude.

 

[Exlaser2]

I'm both a driver and a cyclist, and I find the law requiring cars to leave a 1.5-meter gap when overtaking cyclists is silly.

Many roads in the UK are small, making it difficult to maintain that distance without putting other drivers in unsafe positions. Additionally, I think it's a bit unfair that this rule doesn't apply the other way. Often, when cyclists overtake or undertake cars, they only leave a few inches of space.

In my opinion, cyclists should ride on the path as I do, (when clear) rather than sharing the road with cars as it is safer for everybody.

What do you all think?

If this post was on any other social media, I would just think it was a troll post by a driver . But I will give you the benefit of the doubt………


On reflection I think I was right first time .

 

[presta]

cyclists have the same right to use the roads as they do

Cyclists have a statutory right, motorists don't.

 

[Drago]

I think you're a tedious troll, now blocked.

I shall follow your ever wise example, el Jefe.

 

[grldtnr]

Cyclists have a statutory right, motorists don't.

Now if true ,that's interesting,
What is true , without the campaigning of the Cyclist Touring Club, ( now known as Cycling.Uk ) the rights to provision and maintaince of the roads may have been delayed for some while.
It was sometime well before the advent of the motor car , so in many ways motorist have reason to be thankfull to cyclist
On the basis of grandfather rights, the roads belong to cyclist more than the motorist could ever claim,
We were there first, which in our congested cities, is still the case.

 

[markemark]

Now if true ,that's interesting,
What is true , without the campaigning of the Cyclist Touring Club, ( now known as Cycling.Uk ) the rights to provision and maintaince of the roads may have been delayed for some while.
It was sometime well before the advent of the motor car , so in many ways motorist have reason to be thankfull to cyclist
On the basis of grandfather rights, the roads belong to cyclist more than the motorist could ever claim,
We were there first, which in our congested cities, is still the case.

Everyone has the right to use the roads. Motor vehicles, however, are only allowed under license which can be revoked.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

What do you all think?

The only silly thing here is your post!

Additionally, I think it's a bit unfair that this rule doesn't apply the other way. Often, when cyclists overtake or undertake cars, they only leave a few inches of space

It’s dead simple: KE = ½ mv²