“Dear slower cyclists… don’t pass me”: Cyclist complains of riders shuffling ahead at traffic lights “in tiny bike lanes where I can’t overtake” + more on the live blog
Busy bike lane etiquette
Considering so many inches on our live blogs are given over to the systemic struggle cyclists face to be treated as human beings worthy of life and 1.5m of tarmac by drivers, it’s quite nice to occasionally dip our toe into the topic of cycle lane etiquette. It means more than anything that lots of people are using them! Who would have guessed it?
Soon, may we dream of a world where there is no competing struggle between cyclists and drivers, that riders are protected and supported by systems of infrastructure that incentivise and encourage more people to ride their bike so that it soon becomes a default. Then we can have fewer live blogs with sharing the opinion of Simon Jordan, and more live blogs discussing things like this, a Reddit post that begins “Dear slower cyclists…
“The thing that irritates me above all is when I stop at a red light and another cyclist decides to edge slightly in front of me, and then turns out to be far slower than me once the light turns green. Always happens in those particularly tiny bike lanes too where I can’t then overtake. Just because you are using a Lime bike and my bike looks like crap doesn’t mean you will be faster than me.
“While it does give me huge satisfaction to spite you and casually overtake when an opportunity presents itself, I would prefer not to have to slowly cycle and loudly sigh behind you while I wait for said opportunity.
“I’m mostly exaggerating but please, if you wouldn’t consider yourself particularly fast and it’s not an old man on the bike in front of you, try not to overtake at red lights.”
A fascinating discussion. Supposedly, there is not proper justification for people to inch forward at a red light, providing you share a view of traffic similar to that of cars who queue behind one another in congestion. Given their size that makes sense, but bicycles don’t have to move like that…
Bicycles are hugely space efficient, which is why they make a lot of sense in congested cities.
This video demonstrates why there aren’t traffic jams in bike lanes.
Just imagine the traffic queues if every bicycle here was a car.
— Adam Tranter (@adamtranter.bsky.social) 23 May 2026 at 11:35
Still, by the same logic it seems a bit arse-y to try and overtake someone stopped and waiting patiently when the above video also shows that fellow cyclists are not an obstacle to moving where you need to go. Which brings us on to the issue of overtaking within a cycle lane. I would discuss it myself, but I think some fellow people on the internet have hit the nail on the head in the replies…
“How you feel is probably how cars feel about all cyclists constantly overtaking them when queuing at red lights one after the other (although forgot the safety part of why cyclists go to the front).”
“Everyone slower than me is annoying and in my way. Everyone faster than me is a f***ing lunatic. I am the only sensible cyclist in all of London”
“You should wear a shirt or a hat which informs riders around yourself that you are actually very fast.”
“They should realise instantly a superior being is behind. Pull in and bow their head as you glide by”
This is in all likelihood a commute, there are probably junctions aplenty. It really doesn’t seem there’s any reason to rush. But hey, what do I know?
More Rapha tumult
Quite why the only photo we have of Fran Millar on our database is a black and white Rapha snap I’m not quite sure. Not convinced the obituary-esque look is necessarily one the British brand want to push…
Lovely bit of bike haulage...
How to ride climbs...
From the commute to a Col…
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@Mr Blackbird Also the one who claims Britain is being "colonised" by Islam, wants to restore the death penalty, defends far-right rioters, opposes net zero, et cetera et cetera et cetera. Doubtless the sort of pillowtalk that gets our Nigel salivating…
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@jackcycles Oh! Is that the Michelle Dewberry that won "The Apprentice", one time Brexit Party ( now Reform UK) candidate and host on GB News? The one that questions whether benefits, free school breakfasts etc are a good idea? Lovely girl. I bet the pair of them have terrific post coital chats : "Oh Simon! You're terrific. So cute. Just like a hybrid of Kenny Dalgleish and Shane Warne. It's amazing when you do that thing!" "Bloody cyclists!. The roads should have a priority lane for top earners in a hurry, like myself!" "Yes. And I get really angry about people who can't work because of illness and expect benefits. I mean what is the point of them if they're not working for entrepreneurs like us?"