When is it unsafe to be overtaken?

[Sam Kennedy]

I was reading cyclecraft, and it says to stay in primary if the traffic is light, you are going the same speed as traffic, or it is unsafe to be overtaken.

I'm not too sure when it's unsafe to be overtaken, the only times I can think of are passing parked cars to avoid the door zone, roundabouts, and junctions.

When else is it unsafe?

I'm also guessing that unless you are cycling on a busy road, you spend most of your time in primary position?

Also, what about roads that don't have much traffic, but when a car does come it is normally speeding? Is it better to stay in primary so they see you, or secondary so they don't hit you?

Those are the two things which are knocking my confidence, since I don't know when I have the right to take the lane, or where I should be on lightly trafficked(sp?) but fast roads. If I can clear these up I will be on the path alot less often
​

 

[Joe24]

Pinch points? When theres traffic coming the other way and there isnt room?
Any time where there wont be room for a car to get past safely is a time when overtaking is bad.
Its pretty simple.

I wouldnt pay attention to cycle craft though, ive never read it and dont have problems.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Sharp bends, a series of bends, pedestrian refuges, parked cars, narrow bridges, narrow roads in general. Basically any place where by staying in secondary position, an overtaking vehicle would place you in danger. If you feel that you would be endangered by an overtaking vehicle, take primary.

 

[bonj2]

It's all about what level of militance you're prepared to adopt.
On a scale of 1 to 10, if a timid little granny on a shopper with a basket is 1, and magnatom is 10 , then just pitch for somewhere between those extremes

 

[Joe24]

Magnatop is way above 10.
Has he memorised it?

 

[bonj2]

probably had a hand in writing it

 

[Joe24]

No, i dont think he wrote it.
Surely you wouldnt worship your own shoot stuff you wrote

 

[purplepolly]

Any place where the overtaking driver has to pull into the opposite lane and can't see oncoming traffic - blind bends, bridges etc. You'll be surprised at how often they try to do this. The danger here is that when the inevitable happens and another car appears, the ovetaker will invariably swerve left into you in order to so as to cause less damage to their shiny car.

Any place where you need to make yourself more visible - such as going round the inside of a bend or approaching a side road where a car is waiting. Being further out means that you'll be seen sooner.

When going past any crowd of pedestrians, past pedestrians waiting to cross, through busy shopping areas, near children. This gives you move time to avoid a collision when they step out without looking because they can't hear a motorised vehicle.

 

[purplepolly]

No, i dont think he wrote it.
Surely you wouldnt worship your own shoot stuff you wrote

behave the pair of you
Go back to p&l if you've nothing sensible to say and leave Beginners alone.

 

[Sam Kennedy]

Thanks for all the replies everyone

Where should I be on roads with light (a couple of cars every few minutes) but normally fast traffic?

 

[bonj2]

60cm from the edge.

 

[ufkacbln]

Pinch points? When theres traffic coming the other way and there isnt room?
Any time where there wont be room for a car to get past safely is a time when overtaking is bad.
Its pretty simple.

I wouldnt pay attention to cycle craft though, ive never read it and dont have problems.

CycleCraft and the IAM factsheet (link) are useful resources as it estalishes a common sense approach that "validates" the primary position.

 

[ufkacbln]

Thanks for all the replies everyone

Where should I be on roads with light (a couple of cars every few minutes) but normally fast traffic?

You get to judge your roads.... for instance in Portsmouth at "Gunwharf" traffic always overtakes and turns left so preventing this by taking up the lane is the only sensible option. Same at "Down End" in Fareham.

However it is going to be how you feel comfortable and how confident you are defensively.

 

[trustysteed]

60cm from the edge.

i believe it is actually 60.5 com rounded up to 61cm. please don't give misleading information to beginners, bonj!

 

[ufkacbln]

Here is a discussion point...

A clearly marked "cycle lane" through the pinch point. Would you (personal opinion) stay in the cycle lane or move out into primary?