“Cyclists should be single file”: Conservative politician Susan Hall reignites two-abreast riding debate… gets reminded of Highway Code rule change from almost three years ago; Pidcock and Van Gass awarded OBE in New Year Honours + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"At the moment we have a very consistent, non-evidence-based, negative narrative to stop any change"
Active Travel Commissioner says public health gains held back by sections of the media’s coverage, which stops “people wanting to put their heads up and do difficult things”…
12 cyclists recognised in New Year Honours list, with Tom Pidcock and Jaco van Gass receiving OBEs
After incredible performances at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games from Team GB, a total of 12 cyclists have been included in the King’s New Year Honours awards list, including four Olympic and six Paralympic gold medallists, alongside two exceptional community cycling champions, for their services to cycling.
Tom Pidcock, who after a sensational battle with home favourite Victor Koretzky won a second consecutive gold medal in the mountain bike race, has been awarded an OBE for services to cycling.
Tom Pidcock with his gold medal in Men’s cross country race at 2024 Paris Olympics (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
Besides Pidcock, four-time Paralympic gold medallist Jaco van Gass, who brought home two golds from Paris in the C1-5 mixed team sprint and C3 individual pursuit, has also been recognised with an OBE for his services to cycling.
Meanwhile, Sophie Capewell, Emma Finucane and Katy Marchant, who made history at this summer’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games becoming the first-ever British women’s team sprint squad to win Olympic gold, have each been awarded an MBE.
Katy Marchant, Sophie Capewell, Emma Finucane after winning the gold medal in Women’s Team Sprint, 2024 Paris Olympics (Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
Also recognised with an MBE for services to cycling were tandem riders Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl who won an incredible two gold, one silver and one bronze medal across the road and track, as well as fellow tandem riders Lizzi Jordan and Danni Khan who took home a gold medal in their first Paralympic Games.
Having added a silver medal to his Paralympic medal collection in the men’s C3 individual pursuit, before winning the men’s C1-3 road race in sensational style against a duo of French riders, Fin Graham was also awarded an MBE.
Finally, 67-year-old Yorkshire cycling volunteer Val French was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to cycling after this year becoming the first British Cycling Breeze Champion to lead 1,000 women-only bike rides. Breeze is British Cycling’s groundbreaking programme to get more women riding bikes for fun and since 2011 Val has helped more than 5,000 women on to bikes and played a huge role in narrowing the gender gap in participation in the sport.
Rounding up the list is 73-year-old Christopher Sprules, who was also awarded the BEM for his services to cycling, having helped to grow cycling group Sustrans in Sussex, as well as working on projects to encourage people to walk or cycle.
British Cycling CEO, Jon Dutton OBE, said: “On behalf of everyone at British Cycling, I’d like to congratulate all of those recognised for their services to cycling in the New Year Honours list and thank them for their contribution to our great sport.
“It’s fantastic to see our Olympic and Paralympic heroes recognised for their extraordinary achievements which brought joy to so many over the summer Games.
“I’m especially pleased to see Val recognised for her exceptional efforts in supporting women to get out on their bikes and experience the joy of cycling for themselves. Volunteers like Val are the absolute backbone of our sport and her passion and dedication is helping to change thousands of people’s lives for the better.”
"Cross is boss": Cameron Mason under the Diegem floodlights
road.cc 2024 Wrapped
An essential addition to your New Year reading list…
"Not everyone has the option to drive"
Manchester United fan cycles from Mongolia to Old Trafford… to see them lose at home to Newcastle
It’s not easy being a United supporter, as Ryan and I would tell you. But imagine loving the team so much that you cycle all the way from Mongolia to see them play a match at Old Trafford.
And then they put up an abysmal performance in a 2-0 loss to Newcastle, with zero shots on target and a frantic 32nd-minute substitution of a 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo for Joshua Zirkzee (which in all honestly saved us from an absolute drubbing).
Either way, I can only hope that Ochirvaani, who crossed 20 countries to visit the Theatre of Dreams and even fulfilled his promise to his mother of making her watch a match for the first time, had a good time. Starting at his home in Mongolia in May 2023, he took on the challenge to overcome his personal nightmare — losing money & faith in himself after being deceived by someone posing as a football agent.
My friend @WazzaOchiroo is finally in England. Over the last year he has cycled from Mongolia to the UK! 🚴♂️
His dream has always been to play football in England, and after his journey Ochiroo is deserving of a place in @socceraid‘s World XI!
RT, let’s make it happen!
🧵below pic.twitter.com/1s9X9fgKl1
— Jack Brazil (@jackbraz29) April 20, 2024
Ochirvaani wrote on social media: “I cycled all the way from Mongolia to Manchester to watch my first match at Old Trafford — proof of how much I love Manchester United! Today, I fulfilled a childhood promise to my mom by taking her to see a game.
“No matter how tough things get, my love for this team is unshakeable.”
Here’s a heart-warming video of him being surprised by his (and my) idol and hero, Wayne Rooney, at Old Trafford earlier in May…
The best (or worst) crazy, outrageous cycling contraptions and innovations from 2024, courtesy of Outsidebrendan
Gianni Savio, iconic Italian cycling team manager, dies aged 76
The cycling world is mourning the loss of Gianni Savio, one of the sport’s most influential team managers, who passed away last night at the age of 76 after a long illness. Known for his knack for spotting talent and his unrelenting passion for the sport, Savio’s contributions to cycling were immense and far-reaching.
His daughters announced the news about his death, writing: “He taught us the value of family, righteousness, respect and generosity towards those less fortunate in life. He taught us to be courageous and proud.
“He taught us to face life with the same determination that he always asked his riders to show in races.”
Hailing from Turin, Savio built a remarkable career as a directeur sportif spanning more than four decades. He began managing teams in 1986, eventually taking the helm of outfits like ZG Mobili–Selle Italia and GW Shimano–Sidermec (formerly Androni Giocattoli). Savio was renowned for cultivating a pipeline of South American cycling talent, bringing riders like Egan Bernal, who went on to win the 2019 Tour de France, and Michele Scarponi into the global spotlight.
Savio’s teams became synonymous with gritty underdog stories, often outperforming wealthier squads thanks to his leadership and vision. Beyond his team management, he also served as a national coach for Colombia and Venezuela, underlining his commitment to the growth of cycling across borders.
Cyclists and colleagues alike remember Savio for his larger-than-life personality, encyclopaedic knowledge of the peloton, and relentless drive to develop new talent. His daughters paid tribute to him in a touching message, recalling his determination and the values he instilled in both his family and his riders.
Here’s a decade-old picture from when Ryan met up with the man himself in Armagh before the start of the third stage of the 2014 Giro d’Italia. Ryan mentioned that Savio was baffled that “some young fella from Northern Ireland was excited to meet him and get a photo”!
Street sweeper strikes again: Diesel-covered Winchester road claims another victim as cyclist shatters his hip after slipping and accuses council of negligence
A cyclist from Winchester has criticised Hampshire County Council after a street sweeper fire caused a diesel spill on Upper High Street, resulting in dangerous road conditions that led to his accident. Jonathan Edgoose, 62, who shattered his hip in the crash, has accused the council of negligence, claiming that the lack of proper action left cyclists vulnerable.
On 11 December, a street sweeper caught fire near the council offices on Upper High Street, spilling a significant amount of diesel across the road. The fire triggered evacuations and road closures, but the council’s response to the diesel spill has been heavily criticised. While the council made some cleaning attempts, the road remained slippery for days, with no warning signs or closures to protect cyclists and pedestrians.
The first victim of the diesel spill was Nick Wray, who injured his wrist after coming off his bike on the street and said that the council had failed to clean the street or put up any signs warning cyclists, pedestrians and other road users about the slippery roads.
Now, The Hampshire Chronicle has reported that Mr Edgoose, an experienced cyclist, was also injured when he fell from his bike on 14 December due to the slippery road surface. “I’ve been cycling for years, and this road is already tricky enough without something like this,” Edgoose said. “I’ve had five days of agony, and I’m on all sorts of morphine. The council should have done something sooner. It was a totally avoidable accident.”
The crash resulted in a shattered hip for Edgoose, who has since undergone hip replacement surgery. His recovery will take several months, and he says the injury has severely impacted his life, including cancelling a planned cycling trip to Spain in January.
“It’s ruined my Christmas. I was looking forward to my trip, but now I can’t even walk properly, let alone cycle. The doctors have told me that my hip will never be the same again,” he explained.
Edgoose believes the council failed to act in a timely manner, despite the fact that the diesel spill was reported as a significant hazard. “The oil was on the road for days before I had my accident. The council knew about it, and yet they waited far too long to close the road and clean it properly. It’s incompetent. If it was dangerous, they should have shut the road down straight away,” he said. “It’s not just about cyclists – what about pedestrians? I know at least four other cyclists who have fallen there. When you’re on two wheels, you hit the ground hard.”
His frustration was echoed by Wray as well, who had earlier said: “It’s just unbelievable that nothing was done sooner. The fire happened on December 11, and the council didn’t even close the road or put up warning signs. It’s such a serious issue. I’m bruised and battered, and my bike was damaged too. I just don’t understand how this was allowed to go on for so long.”
Hampshire County Council responded by apologising for the inconvenience and disruption caused by the diesel spill. In a statement posted on social media, the council acknowledged the hazardous conditions on Upper High Street: “Our highways service has been working on-site at Upper High Street in Winchester to clear a large diesel spillage caused by a vehicle fire on Wednesday, 11 December. We have undertaken several deep cleaning treatments to remove the fuel residue.
“However, this has penetrated the surface of the road and pavement, creating slippery conditions for road users and pedestrians. Following further site assessments this morning, we have closed a short section of the High Street between the roundabout at Sussex Street and its junction with Tower Street to undertake further specialist cleaning.”
The council also apologised for the disruption, particularly during the busy Christmas period, but stated that the closures were necessary to ensure public safety. “We apologise for the disruption this will cause in Winchester city centre at this busy time of year, but it is essential to ensure the road and pavement can continue to be used safely,” the statement concluded.
“Cyclists should be single file”: Conservative politician Susan Hall reignites two-abreast riding debate and cries victim of online abuse “every time I mention cyclists”, but gets reminded about Highway Code rule change from almost three years ago
We are a few hours away from 2025, meaning it will be three years since the new Highway Code came into effect. But for some reason, it still feels that we are running in circles around the two-abreast riding issue.
In case you missed last Friday’s live blog, the talk of the town was the close-pass footage captured by a cyclist during a training ride with six other riders in Co. Down, Northern Ireland. According to the cyclist, the driver “just had to hold back for 10 seconds” as the road widened round the bend, however, they still went for the overtake — despite a median strip with hatched markings on the road as well as oncoming traffic.
Driver of SEAT reg BEZ1182 will get an unwelcome visit from Santa’s little helpers after this Christmas Eve #ClosePass 👮 #OpSnap pic.twitter.com/3J0fzsHc0A
— CountyDownCycling (@CyclingDown) December 24, 2024
As is with most things cycling, the clip found its way into the hands of another Twitter account that posed a rather deep, philosophical question: “Who’s in the wrong here? Driver or cyclist?”
And according to London Assembly’s Conservative leader Susan Hall, it’s the cyclists. Why, you ask? “As they should be single file,” she said, before adding: “I will now brace myself for the inevitable abuse that I get every time I mention cyclists.”
If by abuse, she meant people — and I mean even her followers agreeing with her — pointing out that Rule 66 of the Highway Code, which was updated in January 2022 and states: “You [cyclists] can ride two abreast and it can be safer to do so,” she was spot-on.
> Why do cyclists ride two abreast?
“I think they can legally ride two abreast Susan.”
“Unfortunately the driver is in the wrong. New Highway Code says they can ride two abreast and he overtook in a no overtaking zone?”
“You’re legally wrong. You may need to read the Highway Code Susan.”
“Cycling two abreast is within the law and is often preferable for safety.”
“It’s damn ridiculous, quite frankly,” Susan Hall’s thoughts on bike lanes ahead of the 2024 London mayoral elections
Hall has been vocal about her dislike of cyclists and cycling infrastructure in the past, with ‘anti-cycling policies’ such as ripping out bike lanes a prominent feature of her 2024 London mayoral campaign. While campaigners accused her of dragging cyclists into “phoney culture wars”, she was convincingly beaten in the elections by Sadiq Khan with pro-active travel policies, winning an unprecedented consecutive third term.
And as Henry (and a few others) also pointed out: “Better for drivers if they are riding in a neat, two-abreast pack — they occupy half the length of road and are better at stopping riders drifting off the back.”
Another person commented: “Two-by-two is about safety for the cyclist. They are on a bike FFS, not in a box of metal all nice and safe from the elements. Why does the UK hate cyclists so badly when we produce some of the best in the world? In Europe motorists respect cycling, I’m at a loss.”
Same, unknown stranger on social media. Same.
And this last comment from the page Cycling in London: “Your opinion on road safety is as good as your mayoral campaign.”
Ouch.
Happy new year from everyone at road.cc!
That’s it from me for the rest of the year folks. See you on the other side!
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PS re the cyclist ringing a bell (or as a sports cyclist more likely shouting a warning), they would have no reason to: the lady wasn't "approaching the road", she had got to the island in the middle of the road and was standing still, then she stepped out. As far as I can see there was no reason to think anything but that she had seen him and was waiting for him to pass before crossing the lane.
@bensynnock We, and car drivers, must indeed exercise the utmost care for vulnerable road users, but if you take it to the logical extreme the only way you can absolutely guarantee never hitting a vulnerable road user is not to cycle or drive at all under any circumstances. As the Highway Code makes clear, "The hierarchy places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy. It does not remove the need for everyone to behave responsibly." In a case like this where the pedestrian has made an absolutely suicidal move by stepping onto the roadway into the path of a fast-moving cyclist when they were two metres away you can't say that the cyclist has failed in their duty of care, the cyclist was approaching on a clear straight road in good visibility, the lady was standing still on the island then suddenly stepped out when he was so close that he had no time to make any reaction at all, let alone brake or swerve round her. She, sadly, for unknown reasons, failed in her "need to behave responsibly". Unless duty of care encompasses coming to a complete stop when one sees a pedestrian waiting to cross (when there is no marked crossing) I don't think it was breached here.
@C3a Presumably it's to do with turnover stability while moving. I saw a Tentbox today, just being driven through Garstang. I can certainly see the advantage of these boxes over tents, because I have suffered lifelong from the 'Get orf my land' brigade, and there's a much greater tolerance among them for those 'camping' in vehicles than for those much more worthy real campers in tents. Add to that the convenience of just stopping in any old free spot by the roadside, where there isn't a decent site for a tent, and you can see the attraction.
Most of the cars that I have owned have had a roof-box limit (bars, box and contents) of 70kg. How does a textbox fit with that? Is the limit only applicable when the vehicle is moving?
@Chris RideFar For starters, by being 1,5 m above the ground you are mostly protected from dew. In many countries it also protects you from frost or really low temperatures. You'd be surprised how much of a difference it actually makes. Bugs, ants, spiders etc. are another thing, as is the purely mental feeling of security by being isolated from the ground. You'd be surprised how much that means to some of us and our better halves ;-) Sleeping on the ground also means more mechanical damage to the floor from rocks, hard roots etc., which could make a big difference in some areas and on longer trips, where a ripped tent floor could really break your holiday. I'm not saying a roof tent is the answer to all one's troubles with camping. But these factors definitely to make a difference to many of us.
When was the last time you had a groundsheet with a built in mattress? The point is predictable comfort.
Is it because cars and driving are about convenience (for a price), so there is mileage in selling more (quite expensive) related things that are about convenience?
@FionaJJ that's the crux of the issue i guess. Minority causes can have this where the mainstream has the power to steamroll you (figuratively and literally). There's always "fear of angering the giant" (or alienating the decision makers / majority, where any politician has the temptation to gain attention by criticising this. And business salespeople stand to gain by selling "convenience and status" instead). But ... it's also easy to keep getting "small wins" while losing the main argument. (That would be where rules and public space remain suited to or are further modified to reinforce motor dependency and thus reduce active travel - even if perhaps it's now autonomous vehicles and "they're more efficient / much safer than human drivers").
38 thoughts on ““Cyclists should be single file”: Conservative politician Susan Hall reignites two-abreast riding debate… gets reminded of Highway Code rule change from almost three years ago; Pidcock and Van Gass awarded OBE in New Year Honours + more on the live blog”
Why do you give these morons
Why do you give these morons oxygen?
Meanwhile, in Glasgow another cyclist struck down by a driverless car
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/24825235.cyclist-critical-condition-struck-car-glasgow/
Sadly not really morons in
Sadly not really morons in the political sense. Lots of people (not just desperate Conservatives or Farage-style demagogues and “disruptors”) have spotted that throwing out a bit of “but cyclists” is useful distraction. And some are eager to fill a small but significant market for prejudice-driven “banter” (hate).
Political criticism is usually easier and safer than construction. Politicians and other salespeople work on the very powerful human fears of loss and our sense of injustice. If challenged to make a positive statement they can say they’ll facilitate the flow: “you have to drive – so we will make that cheaper and easier!”
Driving is synonymous with transport and we are very priveledged compared to almost everywhere else in this regard. However we’re limited by the problems and inefficiencies of mass motoring, which will likely increase in future. But any change from that will result in disruption and indeed must involve driving being less convenient in relation to other transport modes.
“Has it got easier and cheaper to drive (travel)?” or “will (a given change) make your drive (journey) harder?” will do.
They should get the story
They should get the story correct —- Car strikes bicycle (no humans involved)
Geoff H wrote:
None apart from the human in a critical condition. Aye no humans FFS
I was walking up the hill in
I was walking up the hill in the middle of my village a couple of days ago. Two narrow* lanes for wheeled traffic (buses have to move out and go down the middle*) and a footway on only one side of the road which is a metre wide at most.
Two cyclists were riding down the hill, single file, with one of those huge white sprinter vans following close behind them. As they, and the van, passed me, I could hear the driver ranting and screaming about f-ing cyclists taking up* the whole road, shouldn’t be out there “on a bicycle ride” while people are trying to work etc etc.
In less than thirty metres, he stopped his van to make a parcel delivery (BOLAS on, of course, and genuinely blocking the road).
Some people, eh…?
*edited
This will remain the case
This will remain the case because humans and “in the way” (in “my” space) … until:
a) Cycling is such a normal activity that almost everyone does it at some point (see NL) and
b) it becomes easier for drivers to accept waiting for cyclists because motor vehicle speed limits in areas where cyclists and motor vehicles share space (e.g. residential streets) are low (perhaps lower than 20mph) AND the reason for that is understood and so it’s generally accepted.
… which of course also means that where motor vehicles are going much faster than 20mph cyclists should have their own space (so they feel safe and drivers are not triggered that they’re “in the way”).
chrisonabike wrote:
That will only happen when drivers don’t have the option to pick their own speed limit – i.e. speed limiters are fitted and can’t be overridden, and that will only happen when vehicles are able to reliably detect the correct speed limit. At this point it is ridiculous that the only e-scooters that are legally allowed on the road are required to support geo-fencing, yet 1.5+ tonne vehicles can mostly reach speeds that are more than 50% over the maximum possible speed limit.
Well … it seems to be
Well … it seems to be taking hold not very far away?
(I don’t have the actual compliance numbers but the mere fact people aren’t burning down the city hall and setting bicycles on fire suggests that it’s a case of “unusual degree of acceptance by people”).
Of course in the UK there are lots of missing pieces. Road policing is at very low levels (and police per head of population has trended down – “record numbers of police” notwithstanding), there are delayed and weak punishments and it’s been made possible to quibble even these. There’s widespread social belief that these are “minimum speed limits” and that you’re only taking the mick if you’re more about 10mph over the limit or more. Plus acceptence of stuff like “but it’s just too hard to drive slowly”.
Bigger picture – there is a determined and well-supported push-back on any of this e.g. where speed limits are reduced or speed cameras applied. It is “ordinary people” – but not just them. Politicians and mass media are a part as they can benefit. And overall could that have something to do with the exceedingly well-funded promotion of motoring (for generations) – including “faster motoring”? Of course it’s hard to see how the hugely wealthy motoring and related industries could have turned the decision-makers’ heads…
I’ve never understood the
I’ve never understood the logic of having speed limits and then allowing vehicles built with the capacity to easily exceed them on the roads.
Surreyrider wrote:
You’ve clearly never had to accelerate out of the way from a falling chimney or similar predicament
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jL29m3lW-k
Speed limits vary quite
Speed limits vary quite largely depending on the road type or location, so cars will always have to have the ability to exceed the lowest one in order to reach the fastest one.
We had an incident with a DPD
We had an incident with a DPD van, we arrived at a cross roads to turn left (we are behind the give way line with right of way to traffic coming from Left/Right). As we start to turn right a DPD van arrives from the opposite direction turning left.
Some of the group behind me are a little slow in turning right so the DPD van turns in front of them, driver is ranting and gesticulating. He promptly stops immediatly (less than 20 meters) after turning blocking the road to deliver to a house on the corner.
The road he turned out of was a dead end with little traffic.
A couple of years ago, I
A couple of years ago, I hired a fancy carbon bike whilst in Spain. Did 93 miles in three days (twas a family holiday, so had to cap my time riding) not once did I get an even nearly close pass! My rides in the UK, are generally around 10 miles, that way I have more oportunity to get on the bike. VERY rarely do I get home without having a rant about “moronic idiots” in cars, vans and lorries trying to kill me. Often half a dozen in one ride. How do they get to know that Im out so quickly???
Boardman is the boss. Would
Boardman is the boss. Would be a fabulous Mayor for London I’m sure. Just imagine the potential for transformation.
Susan who?
Susan who?
“I will now brace myself for
“I will now brace myself for the inevitable abuse that I get every time I mention cyclists.”
Well, if you’d learned the first time they wouldn’t need to keep repeating it Susan. Is there a local SEN school that she could sign up to get educated?
Maybe Susan Hall should
Maybe Susan Hall should change her name by deed poll? Brain Dead would work.
Susan Hall deserves a huge
Susan Hall deserves a huge amount of respect. Had she not been a halfwit, she would have won the election and made a terrific Mayor of London.
If the likes of Susan Hall
If the likes of Susan Hall are so keen to say cyclists are holding drivers up and they should ride single file so that “faster” drivers in motor vehicles can overtake…
By that logic any driver of a vehicle, that has a smaller engine or is moving slowly, should get out of the way of “faster” drivers (or drivers of vehicles with larger engines) behind…
Presumably SH and her kin have some sort of way to indicate what that heirarchy of vehicles is…
Its very much the same
Its very much the same bollocks as “you don’t pay road tax”. Ahh yes, ignoring the fact road tax doesn’t exist, I forgot the rule on the road about “he who pays more has right of way on roundabouts and at junctions”.
I have paid a lot of tax over the past 5 years so I clearly should have the right not to be stuck behind all the poor people in their cars when I’m riding my bike during rush hour. Obviously I will defer to my betters who pay more tax and move to the side when they come through with their £120k land rover but those oiks who only earn £30k a year should be pulling over to let their betters past so as not to inconvenience them.
Actually, the highway code
Actually, the highway code (again)has that covered – vehicles should give way to road users who are more vulnerable (or words to that effect), ie, a truck gices way to a bus, gives way to a car, gives way to motor bike, gives way to cyclist, gives way to pedestrian (horses are in there too, if I remember correctly next to cyclists, but not sure which side)
Yeah, but as usual “guidance”
Yeah, but as usual “guidance” and frankly just specifying what should be obvious and standard practice. If that’s not the case then it changing behaviour needs more than just exhortation…
I wonder whether, in Hall
I wonder whether, in Hall-world, a vehicle carrying multiple passengers is more important than one carrying just the driver…
However bleak things may get
However bleak things may get over the next year, and let’s face it the omens aren’t terribly propitious, I shall console myself with the thought that it could be worse, at least Susan Hall, literally the stupidest and most ignorant UK politician to run for major office in my lifetime (and that’s from a very rich field) was roundly rejected by the voters of London for the mayoralty.
Actually in that video, the
Actually in that video, the road markings are “advising caution, as there may be obstruction in that portion of road” (or words to that effect). This is indicated by the broken line around the hatching. If the hatching were bordered by a solid white line, then a vehicle should not encroach on the hatching! To be clear, I am a cyclist, and I do drive. Had a lengthy “conversation” with a “cretin” (that was the “profanity” I shouted at him, when he passed so close I could have touched his Discovery). He pulled into his driveway a few yards after passing me, causing me to slow down, thanks. Then chased me down to lecture me on how much road tax he pays (£900he reckoned)for the privilege of driving on the roads, and therefore not having to give ANY room to cyclists!! By the time he had repeated this many times, I decided I wasnt going to get a word in, and rode off. Given that he didn’t chase me again, I guess he was either satisfied, or just gave up. Shame really as I really wanted to tell him, that he didnt pay his allwgwd £900 to drive on the road, he paid it to contribute to the health care of all those affected by the amount of filth he throws around the place whist he drives on the road or elsewhere. I find it odd that when a motorist has a rant at a cycllist, they always bring up road tax, as if there is no way a cyvlist might have a vehicle and be doing the same.
Phew! I do feel better now. Thanks for listening. Xxx
Feel free to vent. You’ll
Feel free to vent. You’ll find a few people here who’ve also experienced that fractionally delaying another road user is apparently a terrible abuse. So terrible in fact that they can become filled with righteous anger and then spend as long as you care to hang around explaining just how important that few seconds of their time was. Possibly through the medium of threats and/or violence.
Hopefully road.cc will avoid doing a compilation of all those reports from the year so we can forget them!
Stories like this are sadly
Stories like this are sadly all too common. The main components seem to be an arrogant sense of entitlement coupled with sheer ignorance and a disregard for other road users.
It amazes me how many drivers will overtake a cyclist and within a matter of yards want to turn off or pull in. It happened multiple times on a recent ride, the worst being where the driver decided to overtake as we left a 30 zone into a 40 but then immediately slowed to turn right into a housing estate. The driver behind was not expecting this and was very close to rear-ending the idiot in front.
Of course the bit you always
Of course the bit you always miss from the new Highway Code comes just after the part about riding two abreast. It states (in the same para) “Be aware of drivers behind you and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping)”. I’m yet to see cyclists riding two abreast do either of those things to allow overtaking. Ever.
They are riding legally
They are riding legally wether they ” allow overtaking ” which is code for encourage close passing.
If you want to cite the highway code learn what the words mean ,it’s also on a part of the road noone should be passing
SlowWalker wrote:
And you, of course, missed the bit that comes directly after that, which says “when you feel it is safe to let them do so”. Please note that’s when the cyclists feel it’s safe, not when a driver believes it’s safe. It is written into the code that it is always at the discretion of the cyclist to decide what is safe and what is not. If the cyclists decide that you will not be able to pass them safely – that means at or below the speed limit and no closer than 1.5 metres – they have every right to refuse to facilitate your overtaking.
Whenever I have been on a
Whenever I have been on a ride in a group of two or more people, we always go into single file to allow vehicles to pass and always ride in single file on busy single carriageway roads. Stopping completely, to allow vehicles to pass, is not usually practical on a busy road because we would end up standing there all day. However, we do stop on narrow roads to allow wide loads such as farm traffic to pass. I think you are lifting your observations from The Daily Telegraph/ Mail/Express.
I’m generally a solitary
I’m generally a solitary cyclist so riding in groups isn’t a problem I face but some cyclists really don’t help themselves.
You get a contingent moaning about 1.5m passing space who will then ride double file, so far over that they are within 1.5m of anything in the opposite lane, overtaking or oncoming. There is certainly no way to pass some of the large groups who literally take up the entire road without passing the outer one with less than 1.5m space.
If I recall correctly Ashley
If I recall correctly Ashley Neal had a vid making this same complaint – essentially “but if cyclists cycle two abreast it will be impossible to pass”.
Non-issue as I see it. There is no “right to overtake”, the speed limit is not a promise that you get to travel at that speed. And of course the reality is that passing distance guidelines are in reality a hope, a wish!
(My experience in urban Edinburgh is that now the majority of drivers manage to pass either safely enough or excellently eg. fully in the opposite lane. Of course it’s the horrors that stick in the mind.)
If you’re actually a “considerate, law-abiding driver” it’s not hard: recall the guidelines say it’s up to the vulnerable party (cyclists) to judge when it’s safe to single-out or pull to the side. If a group are for some reason being arseholes in your opinion – well cyclists aren’t all saints but that doesn’t give anyone the right to assault them.
Beyond that “just don’t overtake like a berk” should cover it. If you’re fully in the next lane over and not going 20mph or more faster than them, blasting your horn, that would be good…
My experience in urban
My experience in urban Edinburgh is that now the majority of drivers manage to pass either safely enough or excellently
I would give that 50% here and less than1/3 complying with the 1.5m guidelines, with 20% close enough to be disconcerting, and 5-10% which alarm even hardened old campaigners
Being in Lancs “you have my
Being in Lancs “you have my sympathies”.
Outside the (sub) urban core of Edinburgh “your mileage may vary”! However the good has definitely got better over day the last 5 years. Of course the worst are unchanged!
Rick_Rude wrote:
If they’re “literally taking up the entire road” there would be nowhere for *anyone* to pass, in either direction, including other cyclists, no?
Indeed.
Indeed.
Either Rick_Rude is not a cyclist or has fallen into the “taking up the entire road” incorrect language trap, rather than “taking up the full lane” as we have the right to do.
The difference being that if cyclists are two abreast, the one on the right is likely to be in the same position as the driver of a motor vehicle, albeit without the protection of a metal cage.
And not many people will complain about a driver if they are the sole occupant of a car “taking up the whole road”.
At the end of the day, those cyclists will be going at a reasonable speed so unless it is Xmas morning and the roads are completely clear it wouldn’t make much difference to motorists’ journey times.
There may be a good chance they will all catch up with a queue of motor traffic, with the cyclists able to filter ahead leaving the driver stuck stationary behind.
Well I’m sure that Susan Hall
Well I’m sure that Susan Hall was “overjoyed” to hear of Sadiq Khan’s knighthood. This is a man who put principles and people first. He stood up to the anti-cycling/ULEZ/LEZ bullies and NIMBYs instead of caving into them for the sake of political gain. Thanks to him thousands of lives will be saved in London. As for him being a Muslim, that’s nobody’s business but his. She’s nothing but a dog whistling populist who was convincingly rejected by the people of London. No doubt she’ll defect to reform soon.