Here's why you shouldn't overtake at 'pinch points'.

[BlackPanther]

This van driver obviously saw me, and gave me enough room (or would've done if he hadn't hit the island and bounced back towards me.)

I'd seen him approaching in my mirrors, and he slowed as if to wait until after the island, but then went ahead! I think he was looking more at me than at what was on his right. Let's hope he's learned a valuable lesson today.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn5sVcMWgL4

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Sod that,I don't trust them at pinch points.

 

[subaqua]

had a ambulance car do similar on my way home tonight. i looked behind and there was no car , no engine sound, moved to primary shoulder checked as i heard an engine revving and then thud the front wheel of the car hit the island.

 

[MontyVeda]

yikes that could have been painful!

personally I think if you were in a more central position on your approach to the pinch point, he'd have had no choice but to hang behind you.

 

[akb]

Is it bad that I laughed a little? Lesson learned I say. Glad he didn't injure you or anyone else.

 

[Cycling Dan]

Christ, i thought he hit you! got a fright lol

 

[BlackPanther]

yikes that could have been painful!

personally I think if you were in a more central position on your approach to the pinch point, he'd have had no choice but to hang behind you.

The video is a bit deceptive. There is actually plenty of room for a car to pass a cyclist and leave enough room. If I blocked at every island (they're every 50 yards or so) on this road, I feel I'd run the risk of drivers becoming aggressive towards me, and make my journey far more dangerous. This is the 1st time in 3 years of cycling down this road that anyone's done this, and they were probably just distracted by my unusual transport. That's the thing about trikes, they're far safer (imho) than 'normal' bikes because they're so rare, but the flip side is that drivers tend to focus on me, and not what's going on around them, I've had a fair few drivers giving me such a wide berth and looking as they pass that they've failed to see oncoming traffic.

 

[sabian92]

Is it bad that I laughed a little? Lesson learned I say. Glad he didn't injure you or anyone else.

Not at all. He did deserve it - if you can't concentrate on 2 things at once, don't try to drive between them.

 

[Cycling Dan]

The video is a bit deceptive. There is actually plenty of room for a car to pass a cyclist and leave enough room. If I blocked at every island (they're every 50 yards or so) on this road, I feel I'd run the risk of drivers becoming aggressive towards me, and make my journey far more dangerous. This is the 1st time in 3 years of cycling down this road that anyone's done this, and they were probably just distracted by my unusual transport. That's the thing about trikes, they're far safer (imho) than 'normal' bikes because they're so rare, but the flip side is that drivers tend to focus on me, and not what's going on around them, I've had a fair few drivers giving me such a wide berth and looking as they pass that they've failed to see oncoming traffic.

There is a new complex been built near where i live called the cobalt business park the biggest in the country and they have widened pinch points where you can have a car pass and there be plenty of room well over the 1.5meters

 

[Mugshot]

Am I odd that I would have stopped to see if they needed a hand?

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

That could have been nasty for you.

 

[Drago]

They took those bottlenecks out again in Milton Keynes because they caused more accidents than there had been without them.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Am I odd that I would have stopped to see if they needed a hand?

Given that the driver had made a decent effort to give plenty of space, I'd have felt bad just carrying on. (I'm not criticising the OP.)

GC

 

[GrasB]

As much as I'd want to stop & see I'd say it's better to carry on. I'lll be fine if the guy is going to admit he got it wrong, however if the guy decides it's the riders fault it could get very nasty.

 

[Mugshot]

As much as I'd want to stop & see I'd say it's better to carry on. I'lll be fine if the guy is going to admit he got it wrong, however if the guy decides it's the riders fault it could get very nasty.

It's a possibility, but it may have given the opportunity to have a chat to the driver about the stupid road layout and it was more a suggestion of offering to help a fellow human being as opposed to getting embroiled in a who was in the right discussion
I'm not criticising either OP.