In the UK, you’re not meant to get within 6ft of a bike when you’re overtaking it (although it’s pretty common for drivers to get muddled and think that rule’s talking about inches). That means it’s not safe to overtake if there are oncoming vehicles in the opposite lane or solid white lines in the middle of the road. Another bike a metre or so from the first one doesn’t change that if you’ve got to cross into the opposite lane anyway, and it’s better if they’re two abrest as you don’t need to be in the opposite lane for as long.
There are plenty of idiot cyclists who endanger themselves, but there are also plenty of drivers who accuse people of being idiot cyclists when they’re following The Highway Code to the letter.
When I’m cycling on dual carriageways, it’s interesting to realise that some drivers overtake me by moving to straddle the line between lanes (‘fine’), some drivers move into the other lane (‘great’), and some don’t move at all, demonstrating that even when there’s a whole other lane to use, they’re happy to skim past me. And by ‘interesting’, I mean ‘often terrifying’.
Same problem in Canada. On some narrower roads the cyclist has to take up more road to force the drivers to wait until there is no incoming traffic in the other lane before overtaking. Otherwise some of them will try to squeeze through with zero consideration for the cyclist’s safety.
I’ve learned that in motorcycle riding lessons. You have to constantly defend your safety bubble. If you let drivers see a gap that looks big enough they will try to squeeze through it and will push you off the road.
In the UK, you’re not meant to get within 6ft of a bike when you’re overtaking it (although it’s pretty common for drivers to get muddled and think that rule’s talking about inches). That means it’s not safe to overtake if there are oncoming vehicles in the opposite lane or solid white lines in the middle of the road. Another bike a metre or so from the first one doesn’t change that if you’ve got to cross into the opposite lane anyway, and it’s better if they’re two abrest as you don’t need to be in the opposite lane for as long.
There are plenty of idiot cyclists who endanger themselves, but there are also plenty of drivers who accuse people of being idiot cyclists when they’re following The Highway Code to the letter.
When I’m cycling on dual carriageways, it’s interesting to realise that some drivers overtake me by moving to straddle the line between lanes (‘fine’), some drivers move into the other lane (‘great’), and some don’t move at all, demonstrating that even when there’s a whole other lane to use, they’re happy to skim past me. And by ‘interesting’, I mean ‘often terrifying’.
I cycle. I can’t fathom the risk some cyclists will take. Cycling on a dual carriageway? Absolutely no chance. Cycling on a busy A-road? No way.
Having the right to be there doesn’t mean it’s any less risky when you have great big lorries hurtling by at > 50mph.
Graveyards are full of people who had the right of way.
Same problem in Canada. On some narrower roads the cyclist has to take up more road to force the drivers to wait until there is no incoming traffic in the other lane before overtaking. Otherwise some of them will try to squeeze through with zero consideration for the cyclist’s safety.
I’ve learned that in motorcycle riding lessons. You have to constantly defend your safety bubble. If you let drivers see a gap that looks big enough they will try to squeeze through it and will push you off the road.