how far from the kerb?!

[adunn01]

i don't see myself anything close to a gutter hugger when cycling, i take a position that i'd guess to be about half a metre from the kerb, maybe slightly more. on a decent road surface i'd say i cycle where the third line would be if we had triple yellow lines (think that makes sense!)

I've just been reading a fellow cyclists blog (i won't name him. as if nobody can guess.) where he mentions his normal cycling position is 1 metre from the kerb. this seems like an unbelievably strange standard road position to select imo and i don't see many people taking this position, but it got me thinking that maybe i'm missing something. Am I?!

 

[ianrauk]

myself, about the same as you; half a metre... until pinch points and parked cars then into primary

 

[PrettyboyTim]

Obviously it depends a lot on the local conditions, but about a metre out sounds about right to me. To be honest through so much of my commute is past parked cars I have to stay further out than that.

 

[gbb]

Half a metre for me under normal, clear conditions. Next to parked cars, i go to 1metre, and primary only very sparingly.
And so starteth the road positioning arguement

 

[HelenD123]

Nearer to a metre out for me.

 

[Landslide]

My rule of thumb is at least one (large) pace away from the kerb (in case a pedestrian steps off it unexpectedly) or if passing parked cars, at least one (large) car door away from the cars (in case a motorist opens one unexpectedly).

 

[fossyant]

Now't wrong with what you are doing.... I do that too - up to 1m out. No 1 Ride assertively - look, signal, move.

The crossings/restrictions on my commute I have less problems with - i.e. the drivers hold back usually - I wave "Thanks".... and this works... i.e Primary.....

But my training rides at weekends are different:-

On one run, out of town, we have some islands...terrible for cyclists..it's not on a major commute route, but it has made my training rides very dangerous...40 mph wide roads.... easy pass of cyclists, then some silly islands.....not funny..

 

[gavintc]

Travel in the track that a car's left wheel would be travelling. This piece of the road has less crap as the cars have swept it clean and ensures that cars will see you. I think it is called secondary and when approaching a narrow point - eg a traffic island where there is no room for a bike and a car, you need to dominate and I move into the middle of the lane to stop anyone thinking about coming past me.

 

[mr_cellophane]

About that for me. Can't believe the number of cyclist I see who treat double yellow lines like a cycle lane. Much too many bumps and dips that close to the kerb for me.

 

[Chrisz]

Travel in the track that a car's left wheel would be travelling. This piece of the road has less crap as the cars have swept it clean and ensures that cars will see you. I think it is called secondary and when approaching a narrow point - eg a traffic island where there is no room for a bike and a car, you need to dominate and I move into the middle of the lane to stop anyone thinking about coming past me.

That's about it for me too.

Gutter-hugging invites 'squeeze-byes', leaving you no room to manoeuvre should they squeeze by a little too close!

 

[HLaB]

Travel in the track that a car's left wheel would be travelling. This piece of the road has less crap as the cars have swept it clean and ensures that cars will see you. I think it is called secondary and when approaching a narrow point - eg a traffic island where there is no room for a bike and a car, you need to dominate and I move into the middle of the lane to stop anyone thinking about coming past me.

I don't actually cycle with a tape measure but that sounds about right to me.

 

[gbb]

Now't wrong with what you are doing.... I do that too - up to 1m out. No 1 Ride assertively - look, signal, move.

The crossings/restrictions on my commute I have less problems with - i.e. the drivers hold back usually - I wave "Thanks".... and this works... i.e Primary.....

But my training rides at weekends are different:-

On one run, out of town, we have some islands...terrible for cyclists..it's not on a major commute route, but it has made my training rides very dangerous...40 mph wide roads.... easy pass of cyclists, then some silly islands.....not funny..

I have a few of them on one of my routes...definately one of the rare times i'll take primary

 

[boydj]

Travel in the track that a car's left wheel would be travelling. This piece of the road has less crap as the cars have swept it clean and ensures that cars will see you. I think it is called secondary and when approaching a narrow point - eg a traffic island where there is no room for a bike and a car, you need to dominate and I move into the middle of the lane to stop anyone thinking about coming past me.

+ 1 more.

This probably puts me 4 to 5 feet out for my default 'secondary' position on a lot of the roads on my commute, which are mostly reasonably wide. I'll come in a bit closer if the lanes are narrower, but very seldom less than 3 ft out - away from the crap and more visible to motorists - with a bit of 'wiggle' room if required.

 

[adunn01]

as an update, I tried that whole 1m from the kerb thing to do and it felt ridiculously wide. It was pretty much an encouragement to close over-takers.

I've now convinced myself that the original blogger who I read saying 1m was just over-estimating his distance from the kerb, there's no way that far out is necessary or safer.

 

[wafflycat]

My default position is a secondary position, dependent upon width of road, it's about where the tyre track of nearside vehicle would be. If needed, I will take a primary postion in the middle of the lane, such as coming up to a pinch point such as pedestrian refuge. I've found that cycling further out into the main lane away from the gutter means I get more room given to me by drivers and on the odd time someone is a bit close, I've got a bit of 'escape room' to y left, whereas if you cycle effectively in the gutter and you get a close overtake, that 'escape room' is denied you.

To the OP - have a look at the new national cycle training standards...