Why do some cyclists use the entire lane, use fog horns, and flashing lights?????????

esuhl

I have to say, given how often drivers try to overtake me on blind bends, immediately before junctions, or on the approach to hump-back bridges, I'm amazed there aren't more head-on collisions between cars.

Some drivers just go by the rule, "If I can't see oncoming traffic, then it isn't there. Ooh! A blind bend! At last a good place to overtake!"

I don't know if I should be grateful for the small minority who courteously cross to the other side of the road on a blind bend, giving me plenty of space, but limiting their visibility further. Should I thank them or call them idiots?!

frisbeej

esuhl wrote: »

I have to say, given how often drivers try to overtake me on blind bends, immediately before junctions, or on the approach to hump-back bridges, I'm amazed there aren't more head-on collisions between cars.

Some drivers just go by the rule, "If I can't see oncoming traffic, then it isn't there. Ooh! A blind bend! At last a good place to overtake!"

I don't know if I should be grateful for the small minority who courteously cross to the other side of the road on a blind bend, giving me plenty of space, but limiting their visibility further. Should I thank them or call them idiots?!

But they have to overtake the cyclist at all costs! Especially if there is a stationary queue of traffic 100 yards in front...

esuhl

frisbeej wrote: »

But they have to overtake the cyclist at all costs! Especially if there is a stationary queue of traffic 100 yards in front...

Argh! You're right! The number of times this happens only for them to join a queue of traffic!

The worst thing is when they start to overtake, see the traffic ahead... and simply sit in the overtaking position right next to you until they get bumper-to-bumper with the car in front, so you can't filter past the jam, and then give you an evil look because now they've blocked oncoming traffic from passing and other cars are tooting them! Sigh...

brat

esuhl wrote: »

Argh! You're right! The number of times this happens only for them to join a queue of traffic!

The worst thing is when they start to overtake, see the traffic ahead... and simply sit in the overtaking position right next to you until they get bumper-to-bumper with the car in front, so you can't filter past the jam, and then give you an evil look because now they've blocked oncoming traffic from passing and other cars are tooting them! Sigh...

It's less their fault I guess...

...but the number of times I've been overtaken by motorists on narrow roads only for them to have to slow/stop/reverse a little distance ahead because of an approaching vehicle so that I now have to wait behind them when I would otherwise have sailed through.

I can't really hold that against them too much, but on a few roads I position myself so that they cant pass in the certain knowledge that I will be much quicker than them through that bit of road, because on three or four occasions they will have to come to a dead stop to manoeuvre past a car coming the other way.

esuhl

brat wrote: »

It's less their fault I guess...

...but the number of times I've been overtaken by motorists on narrow roads only for them to have to slow/stop/reverse a little distance ahead because of an approaching vehicle so that I now have to wait behind them when I would otherwise have sailed through.

I can't really hold that against them too much, but on a few roads I position myself so that they cant pass in the certain knowledge that I will be much quicker than them through that bit of road, because on three or four occasions they will have to come to a dead stop to manoeuvre past a car coming the other way.

Oh, sure -- if something means the driver overtaking has to abort the overtake mid-process, I understand. And I'd generally be happy brake to let the car pull in in front.

But sometimes you get cars that (for no apparent reason) sit in the overtaking position for 200 metres or more on a clear, straight road. It's as if, they think, "must get in front", and then realise, "oh, there's no point -- there's a queue ahead", but instead of completing the overtake (with plenty of room to spare) or pulling back, they just sit in the overtaking position, (deliberately?) matching my speed.

This is a real minority of drivers, but it has happened to me a couple of times.

I'm much more deferential on winding country roads -- they can be a nightmare to drive on without having to overtake cyclists. I'd be looking for somewhere to pull over if someone was stuck behind for longer than 30 or 60 seconds. It's one of the nice things about cycling to get a friendly/appreciative wave every now and then.

peter_the_piper

brat wrote: »

That's not true.

Much of my cycling is on winding rural roads of 5 metres or less. It's very important to be visible on these roads, and that requires you to be in whatever position offers you the best view both to see and be seen. I'm often well to the offside of a road if it allows me a better view round a left hander. I'm only ever tucked into a secondary position if a vehicle is passing, or if I'm on a right hand bend.

If a vehicle wishes to pass, I will control when and where that can happen by riding in a position to prevent an overtake if it has the potential to be risky to me. Once I deem it safe, I will adopt a secondary position to allow the motorist past, with a wave of thanks to acknowledge his/her patience.

You obviously don't love near me where the back roads are a rat run for Chelsea tractors who will not get their tyres dirty for anyone.

brat

peter_the_piper wrote: »

You obviously don't live near me where the back roads are a rat run for Chelsea tractors who will not get their tyres dirty for anyone.

Are you suggesting that they would respond aggressively to my correct road position?
If they cannot get past, what have you seen them do?

prowla

Hmmm, I thought the highway code says you should keep left, and aren't only the emergency services allowed flashing lights?

brat

prowla wrote: »

Hmmm, I thought the highway code says you should keep left,

Cyclecraft and Bikeability (guides for safe cycling) both advise riding in a Primary position. On many occasions, such as on narrow rural roads this might be a similar position to a driver in a car.
Here's a link to an introductory guide to road positioning for cyclists. If you drive a car, it would be appreciated if you could get up to speed on the reasons why cyclists use the primary road position, because it might replace frustration with understanding.

prowla wrote: »

... and aren't only the emergency services allowed flashing lights?

How do you indicate?
http://hwc.jordancook.net/highway-code/rule-60.html

trinidadone

prowla wrote: »

Hmmm, I thought the highway code says you should keep left, and aren't only the emergency services allowed flashing lights?

Good morning Prola,

i thought this as well at first Promla, so your not alone. You ask the average moterist what the primary or secondary positioning is and i am sure they would not have a clue. flasing lights, legal, ok, but again how much of this has the average driver been told about, so dont worry, i think alot of people may think the only flashing lights were for emergency / Breakdown / Doctor on call etc... vehicles only. On a slight diversion the blue paint on london streets. some are called super highways, some have consistant white lines, some have broken white lines, some have no white wines, once again confusion for the average moterist, which proberly leads to frustration with cyclists