Am I too sensitive

Lately I seem to get more close passes than anything else, this is fairly typical.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWnPeMeAiv4

 

Is that acceptable, am I over reacting?

It was definitely too close, potentially endangering you, though something I've been so used to in London that I no longer flinch or even notice.

 

I doubt it's intentional, a high proportion of today's drivers have never ridden a bike and fail to appreciate that cyclists can need latitude to move sideways for road surface reasons. They routinely pass other vehicles very close and don't see bikes as anything different.

 

If they bothered to read the Highway Code they'd learn that what they are doing is both wrong and dangerous. Text and photo from the Highway Code:

 

Rule 163: Give vulnerable road users at least as much space as you would a car

 

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Edited January 16, 20188 yr by flecc

I seem to remember reading that the EU limit was one metre on speed limited roads and one and a half on unlimited roads.

Until the Police begin prosecuting these cases we will get nowhere.

yep too close, rather typical though of everyday riding experience; best ones are when drivers pull over into the cycle lanes. I don't buy the unintentional, ignorance isn't an excuse when you are driving a vehicle.

 

 

John

The other day a "lady" shouted at me because I was coming the "wrong" way in a cycle lane she wanted to use in her car...

A truck driver was prosecuted last year for driving too close to a bike.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40571699

Hell yes, that was too close! I'm not a militant lycra-clad road warrior, but they'd be made very aware of my displeasure at that pass...

If you don't live in the West Mids you need to start lobbying for the Close Pass Initiative to be adopted locally.

https://www.westmercia.police.uk/article/40134/Operation-Close-Pass

Today's disaffection with car drivers...

 

On leaving work, I have to cycle a short way up a single-lane, one way road which has cars parked on both sides - many end-on to kerb. This much is legal. Due to the narrowness, the curve, and the likelihood of people reversing out of their spaces without looking, I tend to go down the middle of the lane.

 

This evening, a flaming car was driving down the middle of the road head-on towards me. Luckily, just enough space to the left for me to get by.

Today's disaffection with car drivers...

 

On leaving work, I have to cycle a short way up a single-lane, one way road which has cars parked on both sides - many end-on to kerb. This much is legal. Due to the narrowness, the curve, and the likelihood of people reversing out of their spaces without looking, I tend to go down the middle of the lane.

 

This evening, a flaming car was driving down the middle of the road head-on towards me. Luckily, just enough space to the left for me to get by.

 

But if the car was driving towards you, were you riding against the one way?

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But if the car was driving towards you, were you riding against the one way?

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No - I was riding perfectly legally the RIGHT way. :-)

No - I was riding perfectly legally the RIGHT way.

 

Thanks. The reason I checked is that it's so rare for a car driver to drive the wrong way on a one way street, but quite common to see a cyclist doing that.

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Thanks. The reason I checked is that it's so rare for a car driver to drive the wrong way on a one way street, but quite common to see a cyclist doing that.

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Near me, in Kincardine. There's a road which is one way. It's perfectly legal to cycle against the cars. There's a sign up to that effect. However, it's strange to cycle against the one way system but it's legal. Mind you, the first time I came to it, I was emm unsure about it.

 

It's here. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.0751247,-3.724711,3a,37.5y,147.97h,82.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snzvm5hH2NA1nM3s0PUtqRQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Near me, in Kincardine. There's a road which is one way. It's perfectly legal to cycle against the cars. There's a sign up to that effect. However, it's strange to cycle against the one way system but it's legal. Mind you, the first time I came to it, I was emm unsure about it.

 

It's here. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.0751247,-3.724711,3a,37.5y,147.97h,82.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snzvm5hH2NA1nM3s0PUtqRQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

 

Yes, we've got some of those in London Jim. But we've also got some cyclists who think all roads are contraflow!

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Thanks. The reason I checked is that it's so rare for a car driver to drive the wrong way on a one way street, but quite common to see a cyclist doing that.

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I try, hard, to obey whatever the law is regarding transport! Largely as a matter of self-preservation and (hopefully) common decency.

 

Pretty darned sure I regularly fail, though. :-(

I have noticed a definate improvement in cycle awareness from drivers in general, but, on my way home the road is wide enough for cars to pass me with plenty of room and still not encroach on the centre white line which they usually do except on the left hand bend. It would seem that drivers find it difficult to navigate a left bend whilst keeping a set distance from me and or the kerb and invariably, and I am sure not deliberately, cut the corner snd give me the squeeze.

Thanks. The reason I checked is that it's so rare for a car driver to drive the wrong way on a one way street, but quite common to see a cyclist doing that.

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This is the road: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/51%C2%B047'58.2%22N+4%C2%B058'17.3%22W/@51.799494,-4.9723639,243m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d51.7994939!4d-4.9714612?dcr=0

This is the road: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/51%C2%B047'58.2%22N+4%C2%B058'17.3%22W/@51.799494,-4.9723639,243m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d51.7994939!4d-4.9714612?dcr=0

Even if you have a legal right of way many drivers will see you as just another rule breaking cyclist who doesn't pay road tax and should be squished on sight.

I try, hard, to obey whatever the law is regarding transport! Largely as a matter of self-preservation and (hopefully) common decency.

 

Pretty darned sure I regularly fail, though. :-(

 

We're very lucky really, it could be far worse.

 

In China the government have changed their minds a few times on which side of the road people should drive. Officially it's on the right now.

 

As a result, outside of cities with clear lane markings on main roads, it's not unusual for people to drive down the middle of the road in minor urban centres and pass either side. The authorities are increasingly putting physical barriers in the centre of roads, but their drivers still tend to go wherever they see enough space.

 

Head ons are not unusual, as in this video.

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Edited January 16, 20188 yr by flecc

Even if you have a legal right of way many drivers will see you as just another rule breaking cyclist who doesn't pay road tax and should be squished on sight.

Wow.. did you find that any of those pedestrians seemed unreasonably agitated?

Wow.. did you find that any of those pedestrians seemed unreasonably agitated?

nope not that i am interested anyway lol

http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/man-cut-face-attack-youths-1010344

 

if they even tried that with me id brake all there arms and legs

I got knocked of my bike while cycling on a cycle lane, by a motorist making a left turn across the cycle lane just after passing me, of course it was pointed out that I was to blame because I don't pay road tax. Thankfully the end of my quill pedal left a reminder for the driver about the advantages of not paying "vehicle excise duty".

I got knocked of my bike while cycling on a cycle lane, by a motorist making a left turn across the cycle lane just after passing me, of course it was pointed out that I was to blame because I don't pay road tax. Thankfully the end of my quill pedal left a reminder for the driver about the advantages of not paying "vehicle excise duty".

You could answer with its a zero emissions vehicle so is exempt

You could answer with its a zero emissions vehicle so is exempt

Unless you have had a curry the night before...

In my experience lots of people aren't really aware of the size of their vehicles or what happens when you go past someone closely at like 30-40mph.

 

After getting a e-bike I'm actually noticing less near hits apart from people misjudging how fast I'm going and deciding that they MUST overtake me and then trying to merge into my side.

 

Saying that, there's plenty of bad cyclists who ride like jerks on shared paths and pedestrians who just walk out in to traffic without looking.

Edited January 18, 20188 yr by Nonesuch