Cyclist-cyclist collisions

[skudupnorth]

That's not the problem though - you can be a pure utility cyclist, and still understand and obey the rules of the road - and have the foresight to look out for those who are numpties (however they travel). 5 days a week, cycling is a means to an end for me - to get to work, but it doesn't make me less of a cyclist on those days, I think.

I agree on the cycling test, I think drivers should have to have sessions on a bike, on a scooter, and in a larger vehicle (the latter perhaps off the road), in order to properly understand everyone's needs. Plus retests on a regular basis.

True,no matter what people use cycling for (work/pleasure) we should all obey the law but unfortunatly it does not happen.I cycle because i love it in the first case and second because i have become more and more fed up with rising congestion and costs of motoring.
Do you not have a sneaky ride at weekend

I would love the oppertunity to have been able to drive a larger vehicle and a scooter on my test......i guess the tank diving day i did a few years ago does not count !

 

[summerdays]

The vehicle which is closest to its intended path has right of way.

No not "Right of Way" .. a quote from the DFT website:

The rules in The Highway Code do not give you the right of way in any circumstance, but they advise you when you should give way to others.

 

[jimboalee]

No not "Right of Way" .. a quote from the DFT website:

That’s a legal term. In the real world, if some jerk on another bike brings me off by trying to overtake immediately before a junction, he might get a kicking.

 

[swee'pea99]

Surely though regardless of any legalistic terms that are/aren't in the highway code, common sense says that if you want to do anything other than carry on doing what you are doing - ie, turn left, turn right, stop - it's your responsibility to a) make sure that it's safe to do so, and b) let others know your intentions.

 

[sheddy]

Did you ring your bell ?

 

[Arch]

Do you not have a sneaky ride at weekend

Oh of course! 80 hilly Northumbrian miles last weekend. And I do enjoy the commute as well, mostly. But my point was just that you don't have to love cycling to do it well.

Jimboalee: The Right of Way thing is just like the 'Road Tax' thing. It shouldn't matter, but even the simplest term can be misconstrued and abused for someone's agenda. So it's better to use the correct terms. It may only be 'a legal thing', but I imagine if you were arguing the point to your benefit, you'd happily use 'legal things' to make that point.

The fact that a great many cyclepaths don't have coherent road markings doesn't help. There are several points on y commute where common sense might suggest priority, but there are no lane markings to formalise it (in one case, because they were covered up when a new grippy surface was installed on the corner). You just have to expect anything to happen. People somehow don't think cyclepaths should work the same way as roads - hence you get people tooling along towards you on the 'wrong' side.

 

[jimboalee]

Oh of course! 80 hilly Northumbrian miles last weekend. And I do enjoy the commute as well, mostly. But my point was just that you don't have to love cycling to do it well.

Jimboalee: The Right of Way thing is just like the 'Road Tax' thing. It shouldn't matter, but even the simplest term can be misconstrued and abused for someone's agenda. So it's better to use the correct terms. It may only be 'a legal thing', but I imagine if you were arguing the point to your benefit, you'd happily use 'legal things' to make that point.

The fact that a great many cyclepaths don't have coherent road markings doesn't help. There are several points on y commute where common sense might suggest priority, but there are no lane markings to formalise it (in one case, because they were covered up when a new grippy surface was installed on the corner). You just have to expect anything to happen. People somehow don't think cyclepaths should work the same way as roads - hence you get people tooling along towards you on the 'wrong' side.

I shall re-phrase my thoughts.

The cyclist following should 'Give way' to the cyclist ahead, until he is certain it is safe to pass. The approach to a junction, in this case a fork in the path, is a point of uncertainty, so overtaking should have been delayed until after the fork.

Too many cyclist don't signal on cyclepaths and there are many cyclists who are too agressive to play 'follow-my-leader' through junctions.

 

[Crankarm]

I shall re-phrase my thoughts.

The cyclist following should 'Give way' to the cyclist ahead, until he is certain it is safe to pass. The approach to a junction, in this case a fork in the path, is a point of uncertainty, so overtaking should have been delayed until after the fork.

Too many cyclist don't signal on cyclepaths and there are many cyclists who are too agressive to play 'follow-my-leader' through junctions.

+1.

 

[Arch]

I shall re-phrase my thoughts.

The cyclist following should 'Give way' to the cyclist ahead, until he is certain it is safe to pass. The approach to a junction, in this case a fork in the path, is a point of uncertainty, so overtaking should have been delayed until after the fork.

Too many cyclist don't signal on cyclepaths and there are many cyclists who are too agressive to play 'follow-my-leader' through junctions.

Yes, true. As I said, lessons learned on both sides, and the OP admitted as much I think - although I don't think the overtake came across as 'aggressive' - impatient perhaps. Tha same applies to my anecdote - in hindsight, I should have just waited to see what he did. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

With a lot of cyclists I see on paths, the whole route is a point of uncertainty, given the way they weave about. Not overtaking would be like never overtaking a car on the motorway, in case they pulled out into the middle lane without indicating (which they might!).

 

[jimboalee]

Yes, true. As I said, lessons learned on both sides, and the OP admitted as much I think - although I don't think the overtake came across as 'aggressive' - impatient perhaps. Tha same applies to my anecdote - in hindsight, I should have just waited to see what he did. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

With a lot of cyclists I see on paths, the whole route is a point of uncertainty, given the way they weave about. Not overtaking would be like never overtaking a car on the motorway, in case they pulled out into the middle lane without indicating (which they might!).

At least motorised vehicle drivers have to take a test... NO jimbo...don't go there.