4 ms·

Most roads in the UK have two lanes, both of which are wider than a standard cars width, so if there’s no oncoming traffic it’s perfectly safe for a cyclist pos

by danw1979 4y ago

Most roads in the UK have two lanes, both of which are wider than a standard cars width, so if there’s no oncoming traffic it’s perfectly safe for a cyclist positioned in the middle of their lane to be overtaken by the driver using most/all of the opposite lane. I don’t know what you’re expecting a cyclist to do when legally using a road ? cram themselves into the leftmost 50cm of carriageway so the truck can skim past through oncoming traffic, leaving no room for error ? Your “strong advice” against cycling defensively, as the GP was describing, is harmful. Positioning yourself to allow maximum room for error and unforeseen circumstances is literally the first thing that you’re taught on any cycling proficiency course.

veltas 4y ago
> Most roads in the UK have two lanes I don't know where you got this statistic from but it's not true where I live. >Your “strong advice” against cycling defensively I didn't advise that, I said don't try to enforce rules. I think you should "take the lane" sometimes. These cycling proficiency courses that tell people to cycle in the middle for no reason sound harmful. >I don’t know what you’re expect a cyclist to do when legally using a road ? cram themselves into the leftmost 50cm of carriageway so the truck can skim past through oncoming traffic, leaving no room for error ? As I said, depends on context. This is safe depending on vehicles involved, road, speed, conditions. I'm going to cycle like this, you don't have to.
- danw1979 4y ago
  > I'm going to cycle like this, you don't have to. Exactly. The law allows a cyclist to “take the lane”, so many of us do. This isn’t “policing” other drivers, it’s simply following the rules of the road and staying safe.
  - veltas 4y ago
    If it's staying safe it's staying safe. But sometimes it's not necessary, then you're just blocking people unnecessarily. Which is not very sociable in my opinion, but I won't freak out and be aggressive/dangerous. But insane people will. And I don't get why someone would choose this confrontation when they can just share the road.

veltas 4y ago

> Most roads in the UK have two lanes I don't know where you got this statistic from but it's not true where I live. >Your “strong advice” against cycling defensively I didn't advise that, I said don't try to enforce rules. I think you should "take the lane" sometimes. These cycling proficiency courses that tell people to cycle in the middle for no reason sound harmful. >I don’t know what you’re expect a cyclist to do when legally using a road ? cram themselves into the leftmost 50cm of carriageway so the truck can skim past through oncoming traffic, leaving no room for error ? As I said, depends on context. This is safe depending on vehicles involved, road, speed, conditions. I'm going to cycle like this, you don't have to.

danw1979 4y ago
> I'm going to cycle like this, you don't have to. Exactly. The law allows a cyclist to “take the lane”, so many of us do. This isn’t “policing” other drivers, it’s simply following the rules of the road and staying safe.
- veltas 4y ago
  If it's staying safe it's staying safe. But sometimes it's not necessary, then you're just blocking people unnecessarily. Which is not very sociable in my opinion, but I won't freak out and be aggressive/dangerous. But insane people will. And I don't get why someone would choose this confrontation when they can just share the road.