1.5 Metres in Cheshire, police education

[Binky]

For anyone concerned about close passes by motorists, just get a camera on your bike, film your rides and submit any clips to Operation Snap and let the police deal with them. *

Far more effective method of deterring bad drivers than complaining on a forum.


*This is only operational in England and Wales, I don't think Scotland has this. Don't know about NI.

 

[Dogtrousers]

For anyone concerned about close passes by motorists, just get a camera on your bike, film your rides and submit any clips to Operation Snap and let the police deal with them. *

Far more effective method of deterring bad drivers than complaining on a forum.

I actually do have a camera on my bike, but it's much easier to complain on a forum than wade through loads of boring footage to find it!

In fact, I'd forgotten all about it until I read this thread. Now I'm Mr Angry all of a sudden.

 

[fossyant]

Cameras, nah, I'll just carry on riding. Too much faff.

 

[Binky]

Cameras, nah, I'll just carry on riding. Too much faff.

Entirely your choice.

It's little faff to be honest, I start camera when I start ride and stop at end. Maybe change battery when required. A bit of editing to get a 30 second clip to submit if required and file report.

However, if nothing is done then nothing will change. We all know drivers shouldn't endanger vunerable road users but they do. By reporting said close passes etc then hopefully if enough cyclists do this then in time motorists get the message. Plus in meantime you get a bit of justice for the clown that nearly wiped you out.

I'd rather not do it but I got fed up with so many dangerous passes. I actually live and ride in a quiet area but still get probably 1 a week. I can't imagine what it must be like riding in some places.

 

[fossyant]

Entirely your choice.

It's little faff to be honest, I start camera when I start ride and stop at end. Maybe change battery when required. A bit of editing to get a 30 second clip to submit if required and file report.

However, if nothing is done then nothing will change. We all know drivers shouldn't endanger vunerable road users but they do. By reporting said close passes etc then hopefully if enough cyclists do this then in time motorists get the message. Plus in meantime you get a bit of justice for the clown that nearly wiped you out.

I'd rather not do it but I got fed up with so many dangerous passes. I actually live and ride in a quiet area but still get probably 1 a week. I can't imagine what it must be like riding in some places.

One a week, goodness me. Try commuting into city centre Manchester, your blood would boil. Can't be bothered - anyone too close will get a 'move out gesture' anyone very close will set a thumped window. Hence why Cheshire Police stopping drivers seen to pass too close is a good idea. I hope GMP follow suit as I ride in both 'areas', but commute in GMP.

 

[Binky]

One a week, goodness me. Try commuting into city centre Manchester, your blood would boil. Can't be bothered - anyone too close will get a 'move out gesture' anyone very close will set a thumped window. Hence why Cheshire Police stopping drivers seen to pass too close is a good idea. I hope GMP follow suit as I ride in both 'areas', but commute in GMP.

Whilst it might be tempting to thump a car window that could only escalate situation and do that to "wrong" car and who knows what happens.

Also police under resourced in all areas so their presence on the roads has reduced and for initiatives like in original post then few and far between.

It's a bit depressing cyclists have to take our own action but as I said, if nothing is done nothing will change. Also in the case of being hit by a car, then you have video evidence. Won't help at the time but subsequently it will.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

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I found those stats interesting.

There seems to be quite an emphasis on motorway speeds, despite them being safer than any other type of road*, and the variable speeds etc on them often seem random, especially when narrow country roads seem to have an almost arbitrary 60mph limit on them, which is quite often unachievable without being reckless, especially when pedestrians, cyclist, horses and other animals are brought in to the equation. There certainly seems to be a higher collision rate on the back roads.*

Could it because the lanes aren't trafficked enough to make speed guns profitable?

*At least according to some stats.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

When we go to my wife's son's house then the main road that goes to it is 20mph
mostly due, I assume, to the row of shops about half way along and associated refuges and stuff in the road

so if I come across a bike in front of me then if there is not really much point in trying to pass them as
a) I can;t go that much faster then them anyway
b) if there is no traffic coming the otehr way then the chances are that I would come across some road furniture anyway

In addition, any traffic coming the other way may well be doing 30ish so judging how to pass gets even more difficult

adding all that together there is no point in passing

except that it appear that not everyone agrees with me
so if that does happen I often get someone driving up close behind me
or coming up behind at 30ish and then suddenly realising that I am going at a slower speed and braking suddenly when they get too close

One guy even over took by going round me, the bike AND a traffic island in order to get ahead
naturally I was right behind him at the pelican crossing just up the road
and the bike went in front of him
(I'm assuming "him" but I didn;t look - but I reckon that's a safe bet!)


and on top of all that - a lot fo the time we are on that road it is just after the kids get out of school so the older kids are drifting homewards
hence kids in uniform crossing roads is quite common

but still it happens!

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

The 1.5m has been enforced by WM Police for quite a while under 'Operation Close Pass' and they do run initiatives like this and from what I hear are quite likely to pull drivers over if they do catch them doing it. I think most drivers are well aware of the 1.5m gap as I get very few people coming anywhere near me when I am cycling. The two most notable heart in mouth occasions in the last year were near identical, two lorry drivers in massive artics trying to overtake me on blind bends and then pulling in when an oncoming car approached. On both occasions the rear of the lorry snapped back across the road and was literally less than a foot from dragging me under. Utter madness from both drivers and these are people on the road professionally!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I have just come back from a ride

on the way back I was approaching some traffic lights where the lanes were
left lane - left turn only
middle lane - strait on and right (which was only a small road)

I was going strait on so I moved to my right while realising that a flashy Porche was coming up behind be

so - basically I got in his way - but in a situation wheer we were both approaching red lights and a queue of about 3 cars


when the lights went green I accelerated behind the car in front of my up to about 20mph (tail wind!)
he had to stay behind me as there was no room to pass

so - to be fair - he was avoiding a close pass which he could ahve done

then when we got past the traffic he passed me - wide and well cleat

but in low gear and loads of revs

from about 17 mph right the way up to 30 mph

hope it didn;t strain his engine to manage to get past me!!!

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Shame about the haters in the comments section.

The haters in the comments is the FB business model.

The more hate they generate, the more people respond, which means more people see adverts on FB.

It's a business model deliberately and consciously built to drive outrage, division and hatred.

 

[Hacienda71]

The haters in the comments is the FB business model.

The more hate they generate, the more people respond, which means more people see adverts on FB.

It's a business model deliberately and consciously built to drive outrage, division and hatred.

As is much of social media these days 😡

 

[Supersuperleeds]

In Leicester it is easier to count the good passes rather than the bad ones.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I was going strait on so I moved to my right while realising that a flashy Porche was coming up behind be

so - basically I got in his way - but in a situation wheer we were both approaching red lights and a queue of about 3 cars

You weren’t in his way, it’s called traffic. Control the lane as is best practice.