Government response to 3Feet2Pass epetition

[HJ]

Well the Government has now given it response to the 3Feet2Pass epetition, you can read the response here. Basically HMG has it head in the sand and doesn't think here is a problem, what a surprise!

 

[downfader]

Paragraph 1: "advises drivers" is not compulsion
Paragraph 2: "Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements" inapplicable here as they'd not made any legal requirement to overtake at safe distance. Therefore it is less likely an unsafe overtake will be seen for the potential danger is imposes.

Paragraph 4 is just a F***ING sales pitch.

 

[Coco]

Yeh, I liked the 'buy a copy of the highway code" bit too

 

[jimboalee]

In imposing a minimum passing distance for motorists, there could be similar legislation which imposes a maximum distance a cyclist can ride away from the curb or stationary vehicle parked along the roadside.

IMO, a backward step.

 

[downfader]

In imposing a minimum passing distance for motorists, there could be similar legislation which imposes a maximum distance a cyclist can ride away from the curb or stationary vehicle parked along the roadside.

IMO, a backward step.

I dont see that ever happening as there is no danger to the kerb imposed by cyclists, LOL!

More seriously even the most plebian of law-makers knows that a cyclist may need to navigate around drains and potholes.

 

[semislickstick]

In imposing a minimum passing distance for motorists, there could be similar legislation which imposes a maximum distance a cyclist can ride away from the curb or stationary vehicle parked along the roadside.

IMO, a backward step.

Indeed, then the next logical step would be to state "cyclists must give cars as much room as the do cycles"

So, lets just put up with the "but I didn't hit you did I?" response.

 

[Origamist]

In imposing a minimum passing distance for motorists, there could be similar legislation which imposes a maximum distance a cyclist can ride away from the curb or stationary vehicle parked along the roadside.

How far would that be?

 

[thomas]

Good. I don't deem 3 feet to be an appropriate overtaking distance, especially from HGVs.

I'd much rather that the current rule was slightly reworded "you MUST give cyclists the same space as a car". If you had that there could be no argument over close overtakes.

 

[jimboalee]

Now imagine my situation.
I'm riding about 3 ft away from the curb in the nearside tyre tracks, or 'normal', or secondary.
There are no parked cars, pedestrian crossings or centre bollard islands, but there are oncoming vehicles in their lane.

The motorist following me knows he can only pass me with a 3 ft airgap. That means on a 12' lane, he will have to put a tyre on the centre catseyes or into the oncoming lane. He's not going to do this, he's going to toot his horn to tell me to move left.

Do I move left?
Do I hold my position?

 

[downfader]

Now imagine my situation.
I'm riding about 3 ft away from the curb in the nearside tyre tracks, or 'normal', or secondary.
There are no parked cars, pedestrian crossings or centre bollard islands, but there are oncoming vehicles in their lane.

The motorist following me knows he can only pass me with a 3 ft airgap. That means on a 12' lane, he will have to put a tyre on the centre catseyes or into the oncoming lane. He's not going to do this, he's going to toot his horn to tell me to move left.

Do I move left?
Do I hold my position?

Even now he would be obliged to wait until it is safe and appropriate to overtake. The difference is right now the driver can chose to ignore certain bits of the HC guidence at our risk.

 

[thomas]

The motorist following me knows he can only pass me with a 3 ft airgap. That means on a 12' lane, he will have to put a tyre on the centre catseyes or into the oncoming lane. He's not going to do this, he's going to toot his horn to tell me to move left.

Do I move left?
Do I hold my position?

They'd probably not care, just like with a lot of other traffic laws that get ignored by road users.

As for the situation, said driver would probably toot their horn at the moment anyway, without any change of law so really makes no difference.

 

[psmiffy]

Good. I don't deem 3 feet to be an appropriate overtaking distance, especially from HGVs.

I'd much rather that the current rule was slightly reworded "you MUST give cyclists the same space as a car". If you had that there could be no argument over close overtakes.

I agree

 

[Cab]

In imposing a minimum passing distance for motorists, there could be similar legislation which imposes a maximum distance a cyclist can ride away from the curb or stationary vehicle parked along the roadside.

IMO, a backward step.

Here's an idea Jimbo. For once, could you try not to make a thread you're participating in into a crusade against what is widely perceived to be appropriate cycle positioning? Could it not be about that for once maybe?

 

[Cab]

Oh, and while I didn't support this petition because 3' isn't even nearly enough at high speed or for large vehicles, I find myself incensed at how far the respondent to the petition has missed the point by.

 

[Davidc]

Even if it were to be changed to MUST it wouldn't be enforced, just used in the litigation following accidents.

The solution is partly education and partly, as with many other road safety issues, a need for a different cultural attitude to roads and vehicles.

The car* is king. It has precedence over everything else. Forget this at your peril.

*or any other motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels.