Motorists! Cyclist with a question.

c) get off the road [x]

You should ride in the nearside third most of the time. Not right up against the kerb, but far enough over to allow motorists to safely overtake. The exceptions to this are if there is a hazard you need to avoid (e.g. a parked car or a pothole), you're about to turn right, or it would be dangerous for a motorist to overtake you at that particular moment.

Also when changing position, try and make it clear what your intention is beforehand, and give whoever's behind you enough time to react. A cyclist who moves about erratically is far more likely to cause an accident than one who doesn't, no matter where in the lane they choose to stick to.

But what is wrong with just riding in the middle of the lane if I can keep up with the traffic? I am basically being a motorbike.
I always indicate when changing lane, pretty sure I'm the only cyclist who does this.

If traffic is slow-moving then it doesn't matter where you position yourself really. I was more talking about what to do when the road ahead is clear.

Stay near the kerb, just like if there was a cycle lane. You will never be treated like a motorist because your more likely to be unstable and not move in a straight path. You say 20-30 mph but unless your going 30mph consistently your holding up traffic , plus most motorists speed so your still holding up traffic even following the limit.

It might feel like going fast will be more helpful to traffic flow, but it end up slowing it down. Best to slow down and allow motorists to pass. It might slow down your journey slightly but you save other people much more time and frustration.


Posted from TSR Mobile

Aw look here we have a baby throwing a tantrum because he can't deal with negotiating a slower road user.

Do you prefer a) a cyclist who rides with the traffic directly in front of you keeping up with the car in front at all times or b) a cyclist who cycles really slowly near the kerb at all times for you to overtake? I do a) wherever the speed limit allows. I feel that I am more visible and most importantly I'm treated like another motorist by the driver behind me. Only issue is that I don't have brake lights and this obviously is only possible on 20 - 30 mph limit roads.

In an urban environment a bike will be quicker than a car. Making it pointless to overtake a cyclist, even if they're doing just under 20.

But I get the MGIF mentality, I have it in the car as well.

Not willing to contradict you on the first part, I certainly don't know Swansea!

If the cyclist could maintain 30mph, it's not possible to overtake legally in most instances, so how are they being inconsiderate?

A cyclist is at their safest in the middle of the lane. It minimises contact with debris at the side of the road, avoids the door zone, gives time to react to pedestrians relying on hearing not sight and prevents dangerous overtakes. Naturally, holding the centre of the lane isn't necessary at all times and shouldn't be done unless the road presents specific hazards. However, they should still be at least 1m from the kerb, again for safety reasons.

Cycling in the gutter provokes dangerous situations constantly, and shouldn't be done.

Why can you not ride at an acceptably fast speed toward the side of the road? There's nothing making you slow down when you move away from the middle towards the side. Tbh all you're doing by riding in the middle is adding fuel to the fire of cyclist hate. I highly doubt you can effectively keep up with traffic for a substantial period of time, especially as very few roads are 20mph, most being 30mph. Please keep to the edge and out of the way of cars.

Near side of the road especially if the car in question behind you is a low slung car.

Riding in the centre or towards the offside means you are essentially blocking the view of the brake lights of the car ahead of you and the car behind you may or may not be able to properly see you if you so happen to wear the same colour clothes as the car ahead of you.

In an urban environment a bike will be quicker than a car. Making it pointless to overtake a cyclist, even if they're doing just under 20.

But I get the MGIF mentality, I have it in the car as well.

That depends entirely on the time of day and where you're going in the city. I can flat out guarantee that I will be quicker in my car around Swansea than 99% of people would be on a bike at most times of day. It helps that, as a delivery driver, I know the back streets and can avoid congestion too. That aside, however, even if you can keep up with the flow of traffic, as a cyclist you'd be safer and more considerate to ride at the side of the road rather than in the middle, even if you could magically maintain 30mph.

I'm certainly not advocating that cyclists ride in the gutter, however, riding 1m from the curb is a very different place than in the middle of the lane. As a cyclist you should be as aware of everything around you as the driver of a car. If you miss road debris or ignore the body language of someone about to step out into the road, then that's kinda your own problem. I'd argue that drivers would be more willing to overtake in a dangerous manner if you're cycling in the middle of the road, than if you're cycling towards the edge. Many drivers will simply overtake if they want to overtake, and they won't care how far from the curb you are.

Being stuck behind roadies riding two or three abreast at 20-25mph on a NSL road is one of the most infuriating things imaginable, and they wonder why they get a lot of hate.

I'm certainly not advocating that cyclists ride in the gutter, however, riding 1m from the curb is a very different place than in the middle of the lane. As a cyclist you should be as aware of everything around you as the driver of a car. If you miss road debris or ignore the body language of someone about to step out into the road, then that's kinda your own problem. I'd argue that drivers would be more willing to overtake in a dangerous manner if you're cycling in the middle of the road, than if you're cycling towards the edge. Many drivers will simply overtake if they want to overtake, and they won't care how far from the curb you are.

Being stuck behind roadies riding two or three abreast at 20-25mph on a NSL road is one of the most infuriating things imaginable, and they wonder why they get a lot of hate.

This time of year when the weather's nice I get clots of them wobbling up a NSL hill, 3 abreast with a double white line / blind summit stopping me overtaking.

motorists will want to overtake you even if you're doing the speed limit just because you're a bike - they don't want to risk get trapped behind you at junctions which you'll accelerate away from slowly or held back on uphills

In a car, I’d prefer you to cycle to the left, because when you’re in the middle of a lane and I’m following, It can be difficult to spot when you’re braking. It’s a bit worrying and I pay more attention, rightly so, but it would be less of a worry if you were to the left, and that would also provide more passing opportunities and allow me to give more room when passing. Even if you don’t brake harshly, other things could cause you to slow down considerably, like a bad flat or a rear lockup. If you HAVE to ride in the center, you’re perfectly entitled to do so, but it would be best to ride on the left if it doesn’t make difference. Less things to watch out for, less of an obstacle to get around, and less risk in the case of a mechanic failure.

Not driven a car for a while though, my main transportation is a motorbike, and so not really that bothered were you are when I’m riding. I’ll have a higher POV, will be able to see you clearly, and will be able to avoid on the drop of a pence if need be – there will always be a viable gap in the same lane in case of emergencies so less of a worry for me. And I wouldn’t require much room in the oncoming lane to pass you, so passing opportunities aren’t hurt much at all.

I used to cycle quite a lot myself, and would stick to the left just because I didn’t want to get in the way of faster vehicles. That might sound rich coming from a motorist, but the reality is that many roads can be navigated at higher speed than legal, and it does happen. Speeding is illegal, but it wasn’t my job as a cyclist to stop it. On anything other than a steep downhill, I felt like I’d be a nuisance in the middle of the lane.