In the middle of the road for a reason!

Approaching a blind bend, I'm positioned in the middle of the road precisely to try and prevent the overtake that the red Megane goes and does.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• ATC2K
• cycling

[jmccmc]

Both the cyclist and driver were at fault, you shouldn't have been in the middle of the road, doing that is idiotic at best and shows absolutely no road sense (or indeed any sense what so ever) and the driver should not have overtaken but should have remained a reasonable distance back from you until it was safe to overtake.

All we see in this video is an impatient driver and a lunatic cyclist almost cause an accident between them.

[domd1979]

Nothing wrong with being in the middle of the road at that point - its the safest position to take when it would be unsafe for a vehicle to pass. Where in the Highway Code does it say a cyclist can't use certain road positions? It doesn't. Correct positioning, including the middle of the lane when necessary, is vital for safe cycling.

[AdamScott82]

@domd1979 he would have been safer if you'd just stayed to the left and let him pass...

[domd1979]

@AdamScott82

Nope, it wouldn't. If I'd have been to the left, I would have been squeezed right up the kerb and possibly hit.

[gadgetmind]

@jmccmc You need to read cyclecraft; it explains the primary and secondary road positions and why the cyclist was absolutely correct to assume the primary under those circumstances.

[domd1979]

@gadgetmind Definitely no doubt in my mind about using primary there - it isn't safe to do anything else.

[theonlyjoker1]

Looking at the state of the road surface i doubt any position on it could be described as safe.

Red Megane driver was a moron of monumental proportions though.

[Digdigs2]

@jmccmc A bike is a vehicle and under road rules the world over has the right to the ENTIRE lane - that most cyclists stay to one side is a courtesy to other road users. If a cyclist chooses to take up the lane there is generally a very good reason for it. 

[AAGruntpuddock]

There are two problems.

1. Hugging the kerb puts your wheels where all the broken glass, debris, etc. collects and increases the chances of a puncture.

2. Hugging the kerb encourages idiots following to try and squeeze beteen you and oncoming traffic which greatly increase the risk of an accident.

A person on the road is entitled to use all of the lane and travel at an appropriate speed, whether on a horse and cart, cyle or car.

[carsruleok]

@stewsith

It wasn't driver error,it was incredibly piss poor driving...

[SINEKT]

Were you making popcorn while filming this ?

[122ffsdd]

@deColganator because slowing down and being a minute or less late is more important than anyone else's safety

[122ffsdd]

@domd1979 if unless posted a cyclist has every right to use the whole road. it is the cyclist who shows courtesy to let other cars pass with ease.  here is an example of a time to take up the whole road. i would have done the same thing because when cars start passing me to closely i move to the middle of the road to allow the driver to think twice about passing.

[stewsith]

The cyclists is correctly positioned in the road, towards the center of the lane, taking a primary position as its rather narrow/poor road surface. The car driver is perfectly entitled, and able, to overtake when safe to do so, and if they were a good driver, they could easily overtake when the road is straight and cler, but this driver chose to overtake on what looks like a blind bend with traffic comming in the opposite direction - 100% car driver error.

[deColganator]

why cant drivers wait a few seconds to see whats around the coner?