Near Miss of the Day 594: Cyclists ride single file ... and still get a close pass from a lorry driver

I'm with you there, but it is a toss-up between a nasty close pass and a driver giving you some abuse (or worse) because you're 'in the middle of the road!'.

What taking the lane in these situations does do, almost without fail, is cause the approaching vehicle to reduce their speed (whether they end up passing you nicely or not). The driver sees an obstacle rather than a gap and instinctively changes their behaviour.

I would have held primary, but having seen it was a big lorry, looked for an opportunity to pull over and let it pass. I think the riders may have been aiming  to do that, as one indicates left just before a driveway. Obviously this is only really an option for a solo rider and a pair if they're both expecting to do this.

I'd rather get 'abuse' than get close-passed. Drivers won't (generally, at least) drive into you from behind, however annoyed they get. They will, on the other hand, try to squeeze past unless you make it impossible.

That said, I wouldn't road on roads like the one in the video _at all_. The standard of driving is simply not high enough for it to be even moderately safe.

Dave Dave wrote:

That said, I wouldn't road on roads like the one in the video _at all_. The standard of driving is simply not high enough for it to be even moderately safe.

For me, that is still the state of play, a bit like telling your daughter she can't go out dressed like that. It's not right, we should not have to trade liberty against life. I cycle for pleasure rather that out of necessity so I have that choice. For those who rely on their bicycle it worries me - hit a branch or other debris and these two would have been garibaldi.

Ultimately, it isn't safe for big metal boxes to share roads at such radically different speeds, let alone cars and bicycles. Drivers are just starting to be aware of the issue on a larger scale and slow down to appropriate speeds, but it's not the majority, let alone near-universal.

If we as cyclists want to argue for more sensible road laws that benefit cyclists, we should be willing to compromise on this. After all, cyclists aren't allowed on motorways. More cycle paths, and more voluntary common sense from cyclists; just because you can ride somewhere doesn't mean you should.

Dave Dave wrote:

Ultimately, it isn't safe for big metal boxes to share roads at such radically different speeds, let alone cars and bicycles. Drivers are just starting to be aware of the issue on a larger scale and slow down to appropriate speeds, but it's not the majority, let alone near-universal.

If we as cyclists want to argue for more sensible road laws that benefit cyclists, we should be willing to compromise on this. After all, cyclists aren't allowed on motorways. More cycle paths, and more voluntary common sense from cyclists; just because you can ride somewhere doesn't mean you should.

I don't agree. We shouldn't have to share the world with murderers but changing the law on the sale of kitchen knives is unlikely to help.

Time and again, changes to cars, roads et al. have just lead to drivers becoming worse and danger levels increasing! Better were the days where you were scared driving in the dark (due to headlamps) so you reduced your speed, lack of seatbelts and a-pillars meant you knew the consequences of a crash. The modern 2 tonne living room on wheels is driven at max effort with min care!

They mention in the article the route couldn't be avoided and were only on that road for a stretch to get to the quieter road they are turning onto. You might live where it is possible to cycle on 'quiet' roads all the time, a lot of people do not have that luxury. 

Dave Dave wrote:

I'd rather get 'abuse' than get close-passed. Drivers won't (generally, at least) drive into you from behind, however annoyed they get. They will, on the other hand, try to squeeze past unless you make it impossible.

That said, I wouldn't road on roads like the one in the video _at all_. The standard of driving is simply not high enough for it to be even moderately safe.

My preference is to control the lane and ride primary when necessary too. I have suffered abuse for it (proper getting out the car road rage abuse), but on balance, it still seems like the best choice for me.

Like the OP Richard, I would try and avoid a busy road like this, but it's not always possible. On my old commute, there was a short stretch on a busy B-road at rush hour that was unavoidable. It was either that or drive - still preferred the bike.

I'm now the same; I'll try to avoid roads like that, as it's not worth it. Sometimes it can't be avoided, but it tends to be for half a mile, until the junction for a 'quieter' road.

Yes, it shouldn't be like this - but it is what it is - and nothing appears to being done to address it.

Both those drivers should get points, and a re-test.....

You should send this video to Edwin Booth, he is a very keen cyclist, and would not fob you off. I've met him on a number of occaisons, he's a decent man.

However his brother John Wilkes was abit of an arsehole. 

Your comment must be tongue in cheek, if not, we are talking about a different Edwin Booth, not the American actor. 

You should send this video to Edwin Booth

Thanks. That lorry case was 2019- water under the bridge. I did send it to some Booths transport address and they claimed to have done something about it. The Filth just ignored it as usual.

Edwin wouldn't have dismissed it, he's a decent bloke. Lives locally, near Mellor, loves riding his bike.

There is.  But more importantly the govt manual also notes that there's a particular intermediate width range that should be avoided as it could encourage unsafe passing of cyclists...  

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

bikeman01 wrote:

Got to love the UK: rather have a wide grass verge than a wider road. There really ought to be a minimum width for new roads. 

We don't need wider roads! We need drivers to see cyclists as human: mums, dads, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters and to drive in a less entitled manner.

Mungecrundle wrote:

Hi viz? Check. Helmets? Check. Single file? Check. Ah I see what you did wrong in the pantheon of rules for cyclists that only exist in the heads of psycho drivers. Not diving into the hedge at the first approach of an overtaking vehicle...

Cos Mikey

They weren't going about their business with politeness and a studious courtesy to other road users.

I wish I could give that extra likes !

hirsute wrote:

I wish I could give that extra likes !

I wish I could give that extra likes too