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Inside Out South (BBC).jpgBBC regional news segment asks ‘how close is too close?’
‘How close is too close?’ asked last night’s Inside Out South. The segment, which looked at factors influencing the number of close passes and near misses involving cyclists, is available to watch via the BBC iPlayer.
The programme spoke to club cyclists about their experiences and also sought out insight from Dr Rachel Aldred, who launched The Near Miss Project in 2014.
Aldred’s view is that there is a road culture of ‘might makes right’ in this country whereby people in larger vehicles feel that they have a right to be in front.
As you might imagine, the close pass operations that have arisen in the wake of West Midlands Police’s initiative get some attention, while Dr Ian Walker, a traffic psychologist with the University of Bath, discusses the ‘woolly’ wording of the Highway Code and advocates a presumed liability law.
The segment finishes with the presenter riding the streets with an unwieldy 1.5m safety reflector arm protruding from the side of his bike.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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23 comments
The variability of overtakes is so frustrating, IMHO there are many who are better, excellent even, it's defintely better in some and yet there's a significant portion who are simply outrageously dangerous.
I complimented a big 4x4 driver towing a sizeable trailer who was absolutely bob on, caught him at a queue in rush hour, late 50s, he was quite surprised at being complimented but I try make a point of complimenting when possible.
Why do they insist on blanking out the numberplates? You're behaving badly in public, why does your identity need to be protected?
Because it is possible that the cars have changed hands, hire car used by two drivers or sold, since filming therefore the last driver could be innocent. However UK presss like villains and stupid public become vigilantes.
I like the "Culture of Might is Right" comment - after passing along a narrow (about 2 metre) stretch of road a few days ago, got about 75% along it when a car drove onto it from the other end. Then he stopped 'cos I was there. I smiled as I approacheded and was about to say thankyou when I got the "How much road do you need mate" thing. Closely followed by "You're only a bike". Quite a good illustration I think of a certain attitude.
At least as much room as a car is literally the textbook answer to the question.
If you are causing the obstruction, then you should reverse. The car couldn't pass you, let alone another car of the same dimensions, therefore it's their problem and they should reverse the car. You entered knowing full well that you could pass another bicycle. The bigger vehicle has the bigger responsibility in this case.
In practice, if drivers hold back and are polite, I will move out of the way, when possible, to be courteous in return.
Discourage the boorish. Encourage the courteous.
Exactly. You don't go into a space that you can see is blocked by another vehicle. If there's a long line of parked cars and you and your car are going to have to go down the free lane, check if there is anything (car, van, bicycle, mobility scooter, horse) coming down it. If there is, they have priority and you wait.
Unfortunately, that's not what happens in the Real World. Every morning I get it before I've even left the village. Got shouted at the other day by a white van driver who wanted to know what I thought I was doing (...riding in "his" lane): if he'd waited the few seconds it would have taken for me to clear the last couple of parked cars then there'd have been no possible conflict, but nooo...
I've just had a week cycling around Girona, I've had a couple close passes and then it's been nothing compared to the UK. There are signs on the roadside reminding drivers to give 1.5m passing distance, this is adhered too, generally if they can't pass they don't. Also the signs are normal not newsworthy, unlike in the UK...
Even the roads have a wide enough shoulder to ride on, and even then when I've been on that to the right of the carriageway, the overtakes are excellent, plenty space given. UK, they will squeeze past you as soon as they think it's ok.
Shared pavements, with signs for cycles and no hassle from pedestrians when you are on them. As long as you aren't bombing along I think eveything runs sweetly.
Almost cycling paradise
Anyone ever seen any stats on how many "accidents" are caused by close passes compared to pulling out or turning into cyclists?
I'm not sure how such things would be systematically recorded - except on the rare occasions when they become collisions with serious consequences.
The vast number of close passes don't directly cause collisions - I think the problem is more about the culture they exist in - one where most sensible people are afraid to cycle on the roads, and where some drivers think aggressive and slightly risky behaviour is fine (and lots of others just don't think about it, let alone consider the more vulnerable user perspective) - even when it does lead to collisions ("well, accidents happen").
That was my thought too, maybe not as dangerous as they feel but defo a symptom of drivers having zero respect.
Wasn't this the driver (excuse the pun) behind Dr Aldred's new miss project?
some kind of finishing school for those completing their gender realignment?
The rationale is that close pass is an inconsiderate yet not physically harmful act that, once pointed out, will raise awareness with motorists to be careful around cyclists and be more respectful.
A car pulling out on a cyclist type scenario is going to be a. Too late, and b. Hard to police without causing tailbacks at junctions
Coming soon to kickstarter......reflector on a stick.
What about something that scrapes their paintwork? "You've scraped my car!" "Oh, then you were clearly too close, weren't you.."
I'm developing a bracket that holds a garden rake at right angles to the bike.
I’ll see your rake and raise you with my scythe.
10 scratches to 1. The scythe won't cut deeper.
I had one in the 70's on my Raleigh chopper - was a bit shorter though...
Anybody else watch this & get the impression that the education process of the first 3 gents shown didn't get through to the older gent judging by his comments when interviewed on camera after? He said something along the lines of "sometimes it's really difficulty to avoid them" - it's called the brake pedal !!!
Fully concur; he just did not understand that if you cannot give the required amount of space then do not overtake.
to be fair, he seemed to have trouble forming complete sentences - I seriously doubt whether he should be driving in the first place