Don't always blame the motorist.

[GrumpyGregry]

Anything and everything is open to rebuttal.

Nothing which impinges on a motorists' perceived right to proceed in the manner to which they think they are entitled may be rebutted.

It's the transport equivalent of "geroffmoilaaand!"; a counter-argument can be made but it withers in the face of the loaded 12-bore.

 

[snorri]

Well I never did! Ten pages! Who'd have thunk it :-)

You must be new on here.

 

[nickyboy]

I'm not going to comment on the pros and cons of the OPs posting as, frankly, it's become a bit like the helmet "debate" with positions so entrenched there seems to be virtually no prospect of people changing their minds.

What is interesting is that the Highway Code seems (and I must confess to not having read it since I passed my driving test) at best contradictory and at worst misleading. It seems possible to pull out statements to support whichever position you have. if a reasonable chap like @User realises that some parts of it are sensible and some not (of course everyone's idea of what is "sensible" will differ) perhaps what we need is something much better than the Highway Code

 

[bonsaibilly]

I'm not going to comment on the pros and cons of the OPs posting as, frankly, it's become a bit like the helmet "debate" with positions so entrenched there seems to be virtually no prospect of people changing their minds.

What is interesting is that the Highway Code seems (and I must confess to not having read it since I passed my driving test) at best contradictory and at worst misleading. It seems possible to pull out statements to support whichever position you have. if a reasonable chap like @User realises that some parts of it are sensible and some not (of course everyone's idea of what is "sensible" will differ) perhaps what we need is something much better than the Highway Code

What, like the aggressively-presented "facts" of a portion of a group of cyclists of varying proficiency, confidence and intellectual rigour, for instance?

bb

 

[hatler]

I'm not going to comment on the pros and cons of the OPs posting as, frankly, it's become a bit like the helmet "debate" with positions so entrenched there seems to be virtually no prospect of people changing their minds.

What is interesting is that the Highway Code seems (and I must confess to not having read it since I passed my driving test) at best contradictory and at worst misleading. It seems possible to pull out statements to support whichever position you have. if a reasonable chap like @User realises that some parts of it are sensible and some not (of course everyone's idea of what is "sensible" will differ) perhaps what we need is something much better than the Highway Code

What, like Cyclecraft ?

I would be surprised if the esteemed Mr Franklin doesn't call this one correctly. And, even better, it's published by the same outfit as the HC.

 

[bladesman73]

Get a grip.
Disagreeing != Bullying

where did i say disagreeing equates to bullying? you can disagree without trying to be clever, without the use of put downs. i really dispair with some posters on this forum. some think its ok for their first reply to a post to be as follows "you are talking bollocks... " etc. some proper internet warriors around. usual suspects that are killing sensible debate

 

[marknotgeorge]

Can I just point out that as my car, for example, is 2.025m wide, the 4 feet of extra space apparently given by singling out is about as much use as a chocolate teapot?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Your "ganging up" is just a group of individuals, who happen to share a similar viewpoint on the rights and wrongs of cycling on the road, and, inter alia, the rights and wrongs of those operating dangerous machinery around vulnerable road users, and who aren't slow in coming forwards to express themselves when an OP contains asshattery* of the first order.

So no "ganging up" at all.

*well dissected in this case by @growingvegetables in post ninety something.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Can I just point out that as my car, for example, is 2.025m wide, the 4 feet of extra space apparently given by singling out is about as much use as a chocolate teapot?

Singling out generates a sense of enormous well-being in the mind of Mr Toad. It is almost as good as a doffed-cap or a tugged forelock.

"I have power over yew. Yew must submit to me."

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Back to the op, ime every time I get shouted at/beeped at by drivers for being in primary or for riding 2 abreast is because the said drivers would like to pass without going in the other lane, and I would not like them to pass due to being reluctant of being squashed.
At times, the other lane has been empty, or we are very near at red traffic lights, or even on a 20mph road with speed bumps, but still, they must go in front.
Now, if even retired driving instructors that cycle think this way, what hope is there?
No wonder some new cyclists refuse to ride the roads!
I used to dread the aggravation: I'm older, slow, mostly ride heavily laden bikes.
Why should I always seek segregated paths, most of them inconvenient, with rubbish surfaces?
I really try not to hold anyone up, but if I don't have a choice and it happens, well, tough.
After all, when I have to slow to walking pace for a group of pedestrians on a shared path I don't go about ranting "they should walk single file".

 

[screenman]

Can I just point out that as my car, for example, is 2.025m wide, the 4 feet of extra space apparently given by singling out is about as much use as a chocolate teapot?

What even on some of the roads around here?

 

[screenman]

Can I ask for some advice please, we have many roads around here that are single track some many miles long. Now if I am riding on these and a car wants to get pass I will control the situation and move over to create space as soon as possible, if riding 2 abreast we will single out as there is no way a car would get pass other wise. For cars to pass each other one or at times both need to use the verges or passing space which are few and far between.

Am I doing wrong, also how come in hundreds of thousands of cycling miles I seldom have a problem with vehicles or their drivers is this just luck.

 

[screenman]

When is "as soon as possible"?

I said I control the situation, so I decide when as soon as possible happens, which is when I consider it safe.

 

[slowmotion]

Can I ask for some advice please, we have many roads around here that are single track some many miles long. Now if I am riding on these and a car wants to get pass I will control the situation and move over to create space as soon as possible, if riding 2 abreast we will single out as there is no way a car would get pass other wise. For cars to pass each other one or at times both need to use the verges or passing space which are few and far between.

Am I doing wrong, also how come in hundreds of thousands of cycling miles I seldom have a problem with vehicles or their drivers is this just luck.

You are a very bad person and should be ashamed to call yourself a cyclist. You must put in some serious remedial work on your victim status.

 

[doog]

Can I ask for some advice please, we have many roads around here that are single track some many miles long. Now if I am riding on these and a car wants to get pass I will control the situation and move over to create space as soon as possible, if riding 2 abreast we will single out as there is no way a car would get pass other wise. For cars to pass each other one or at times both need to use the verges or passing space which are few and far between.

Am I doing wrong, also how come in hundreds of thousands of cycling miles I seldom have a problem with vehicles or their drivers is this just luck.

back on topic... you are correct, why ? because you are an experienced cyclist who does his talking out on the road..in the real world..not behind a keyboard .

I will go out of my way to encourage the free flow of traffic past me be it tractors, cars or HGV's....I will do it in the safest way possible for myself and other road users. I really dont want them up my chuff. Every other long distance cyclist I know does this, every other long distance cyclist I meet here or abroad does this, up mountains, down Cols and 99.999% of the time motorists and other road users will appreciate this,without fail thank you and go on their way...as I do.

There are many people on here well versed in the skill of arguing the toss but less versed in the skill of cycling differing road and traffic conditions...

That aside let the vitriol continue..