My first real concern when commuting...

[mattyashy]

So I've been commuting for a while now, and I'm used to close passing and the rest of it. But yesterday, the dreaded white van really pissed me off. Basically I'm cycling coming up toward a part of the road where a bollard is in between the two sides of the road. Just coming up to it, and a white van slides between me and the bollard at a slight angle - so that he could fit. Obviously I'm still moving forward, and he was a long vehicle, so a very close pass ensues between me and the back of this long white van.

I should have been more aware, or maybe more in the primary to prevent such a pass - but I think he would have carried out the manoeuvre whatever, and at the speed he did. I don't think he realised he even did anything wrong.

Any tips or experiences on such a pass?

 

[rh100]

I take it you're talking about a bollard or island in the center of the carriageway? The WVM is an @rse for passing you on that - I always ride primary in those now, bang in the middle of my lane - there is no way they should be going past anyway and primary just ensures it.

edit: reread the post - it seems he went past last minute just before the bollards? I guess it just needs primary earlier, maybe?

 

[Origamist]

On the approach to ped refuges, chicanes, and other traffic calming measures have a good look behind (preferably long before you are close to the obstacle), try to get eye contact with the following driver (making sure it is clear to claim the centre of the road) signal, and move into the centre of the lane. Even if you've claimed the centre of the lane, keep an eye out behind as some drivers will still try to needlessly overtake. If this happens be prepared to swerve and/or brake. Vigilance and road position are crucial in these circumstances.

 

[mattyashy]

Yeah he passed into it just before, so by the time the road had slightly narrowed, I was right up by the middle to back of the van. Very close.

 

[upsidedown]

I used to get complacent about going through those, but now it's primary, early, every time. If you're in primary they have to make a real effort to do it, so much more unlikely.

 

[BentMikey]

Yes, it's easy to think that the van would have done that anyway, but you can make him decide to go or not go earlier by cycle craft:

* Choose the gap in the traffic you're going to negotiate into well back from the pinch point (in this case your bollard). You can do this via regular looks behind so you can judge the speed and spacing of overtaking traffic.

* Signal right and take the chosen gap by moving out to the middle of the lane, as defined by where the traffic moves, rather than paint markings on the road. In some cases this might mean the 2/3rds or 3/4 lane position, i.e. to the offside. Sometimes the driver behind won't want to let you out and will speed up. If this happens, you can just stay left, and then take the next gap behind them, better to have an impatient driver in front of you. This is also why you must negotiate out early, to make sure you have plenty of time and space to do it all properly. Negotiating out too late in the process and too close to the pinchpoint is a mistake I find myself making.

* Now you're well out in the lane, it's likely that the driver behind will wait for you. That doesn't always happen though, so check back as you approach the pinch point. If you see or hear the driver start an overtake, you can make a palm backwards stopping motion if there's time, or simply duck left and brake to avoid their error. Once they're past you may need to signal right and go back to primary pronto, assuming there's room before the car following the overtaker, to make sure you protect yourself through the pinchpoint.

* Once past the pinch point, you can probably go left again to make their overtake easy. A thank-you or thumbs up makes for good driver relations, and helps them to realise you're not trying to hold them up on purpose. I also quite often point to the pinch point, and make a narrowing squeeze with my thumb and forefinger. The combination of this and the thumbs up often results in a thank-you hazards flash from the driver.

I quite often add a you may overtake wave, but I realise that this is controversial and may not necessarily be best practice.

 

[Origamist]

* Signal right and take the chosen gap by moving out to the middle of the lane, as defined by where the traffic moves, rather than paint markings on the road. In some cases this might mean the 2/3rds or 3/4 lane position, i.e. to the offside. Sometimes the driver behind won't want to let you out and will speed up. If this happens, you can just stay left, and then take the next gap behind them, better to have an impatient driver in front of you. This is also why you must negotiate out early, to make sure you have plenty of time and space to do it all properly. Negotiating out too late in the process and too close to the pinchpoint is a mistake I find myself making.

* Now you're well out in the lane, it's likely that the driver behind will wait for you. That doesn't always happen though, so check back as you approach the pinch point. If you see or hear the driver start an overtake, you can make a palm backwards stopping motion if there's time, or simply duck left and brake to avoid their error. Once they're past you may need to signal right and go back to primary pronto, assuming there's room before the car following the overtaker, to make sure you protect yourself through the pinchpoint.

* Once past the pinch point, you can probably go left again to make their overtake easy. A thank-you or thumbs up makes for good driver relations, and helps them to realise you're not trying to hold them up on purpose. I also quite often point to the pinch point, and make a narrowing squeeze with my thumb and forefinger. The combination of this and the thumbs up often results in a thank-you hazards flash from the driver.

I'd add that if you are taking more than 3/4 of the lane, you need to check over both shoulders to ensure you keep an eye on pushy undertaking manoeuvres as well as silly overtaking.

If you're going to take your hands off the bars in order to gesture to drivers, be careful, as you will not have the same level of control over your bike in what is a potentially tricky situation. I'd therefore be wary of doing this, or be certain that the moment was right for a bit of non-verbal communication. Once clear of the obstacle, I'm all for a thank you wave or thumbs up.

 

[jonny jeez]

On the approach to ped refuges, chicanes, and other traffic calming measures have a good look behind (preferably long before you are close to the obstacle), try to get eye contact with the following driver (making sure it is clear to claim the centre of the road) signal, and move into the centre of the lane. Even if you've claimed the centre of the lane, keep an eye out behind as some drivers will still try to needlessly overtake. If this happens be prepared to swerve and/or brake. Vigilance and road position are crucial in these circumstances.

+1 on that...Good advice and a neat way of dealing with the "taking of Primary" (which some find uncomfortable), if you make eye contact...more than once, you'd be amazed how accomodating car drivers can be.

mattyashy, now you are aware of the hazard and the point that it occurs on your ride, take Origamists advice and start this move slightly ealier as you approach next time.

Good luck.

 

[jonny jeez]

Yes, it's easy to think that the van would have done that anyway, but you can make him decide to go or not go earlier by cycle craft:

* Choose the gap in the traffic you're going to negotiate into well back from the pinch point (in this case your bollard). You can do this via regular looks behind so you can judge the speed and spacing of overtaking traffic.

* Signal right and take the chosen gap by moving out to the middle of the lane, as defined by where the traffic moves, rather than paint markings on the road. In some cases this might mean the 2/3rds or 3/4 lane position, i.e. to the offside. Sometimes the driver behind won't want to let you out and will speed up. If this happens, you can just stay left, and then take the next gap behind them, better to have an impatient driver in front of you. This is also why you must negotiate out early, to make sure you have plenty of time and space to do it all properly. Negotiating out too late in the process and too close to the pinchpoint is a mistake I find myself making.

* Now you're well out in the lane, it's likely that the driver behind will wait for you. That doesn't always happen though, so check back as you approach the pinch point. If you see or hear the driver start an overtake, you can make a palm backwards stopping motion if there's time, or simply duck left and brake to avoid their error. Once they're past you may need to signal right and go back to primary pronto, assuming there's room before the car following the overtaker, to make sure you protect yourself through the pinchpoint.

* Once past the pinch point, you can probably go left again to make their overtake easy. A thank-you or thumbs up makes for good driver relations, and helps them to realise you're not trying to hold them up on purpose. I also quite often point to the pinch point, and make a narrowing squeeze with my thumb and forefinger. The combination of this and the thumbs up often results in a thank-you hazards flash from the driver.

I quite often add a you may overtake wave, but I realise that this is controversial and may not necessarily be best practice.

+1 again, well put Mikey...I'm trying to find that section in C.Craft right now!

 

[Matty]

I'd add that if you are taking more than 3/4 of the lane, you need to check over both shoulders to ensure you keep an eye on pushy undertaking manoeuvres as well as silly overtaking.

If you're going to take your hands off the bars in order to gesture to drivers, be careful, as you will not have the same level of control over your bike in what is a potentially tricky situation. I'd therefore be wary of doing this, or be certain that the moment was right for a bit of non-verbal communication. Once clear of the obstacle, I'm all for a thank you wave or thumbs up.

Agreed. I wouldn't under any circumstance wave someone through. That comes across as taking the piss, plus it's for the driver to decide it's safe to pass. 'I didn't mean to knock that child down, but the cyclist waved me pass so it must have been safe'.

Basic manners is good. A thank you.

 

[rh100]

Agreed. I wouldn't under any circumstance wave someone through. That comes across as taking the piss, plus it's for the driver to decide it's safe to pass. 'I didn't mean to knock that child down, but the cyclist waved me pass so it must have been safe'.

Basic manners is good. A thank you.

Same as flashing your lights in your car to give someone the go ahead - not always advisable.

I do wave someone past sometimes if on a country lane and they are holding back, I do it when I pull aside to give them room - but only if I can see it's clear without doubt.

 

[BentMikey]

I'd add that if you are taking more than 3/4 of the lane, you need to check over both shoulders to ensure you keep an eye on pushy undertaking manoeuvres as well as silly overtaking.

If you're going to take your hands off the bars in order to gesture to drivers, be careful, as you will not have the same level of control over your bike in what is a potentially tricky situation. I'd therefore be wary of doing this, or be certain that the moment was right for a bit of non-verbal communication. Once clear of the obstacle, I'm all for a thank you wave or thumbs up.

Two good points, but if 3/4s of the lane leaves room for an undertake, there's a good chance you don't need to take primary through the "pinch" point.

Totally agree on the second - I do this only through the quiet moments when capitulation and acceptance has become established.

 

[BentMikey]

On the flashing of headlights/waving someone through, I'm in two minds. In the end the decider for me was that no signal from you takes away anyone else's responsibility to check it's safe, and it's simple good manners to make it easier for others.

The encouragement seems to be needed more when on the recumbent, as some drivers are often less willing to overtake and don't know what to do around me to a much greater degree than when I'm on the upright.

 

[buddha]

About a year ago a WVM tried to overtake me whilst I was going through/past a traffic island (me in primary). Just before the island he brakes hard and then BANG! He hits the bollard. I went to see if he was okay and did my best not to laugh. But the men doing roadworks across the road were wetting themselves

 

[Origamist]

Two good points, but if 3/4s of the lane leaves room for an undertake, there's a good chance you don't need to take primary through the "pinch" point.

I was thinking more on the approach to the pinch point.

I've mentioned before that I used to think narrow pinch points presented the most acute problems for cyclists. However, experience has taught me that wider pinch points are in many ways more problematic as drivers often think that you should cycle in the gutter in order for them to pass you with a foot spare, and only a few inches from the refuge/bollard during the overtake. These "wider" pinch points create a critical road width that can lead to trouble - narrow pinch points tend to discourage overtakes as there is simply not enough room to share the lane. I take the centre of the lane through pretty much every pinch point I come to.