overtaking and bike lanes.

[Veganpower]

I was going down a hill today probably over 30 mph. I was in a bike lane coming closer to a car. Ordinarily I don't pass cars on the left. Since I was in a bike lane I thought why not. As I approached the car and got just behind it the driver pulled into the bike lane!

I guess she didn't see me but it did start me thinking if overtaking the car would have been allowed? the funny thing is when see did spot me she gave plenty of room on her left too bad this was when the cycle lane had ended and we were approaching traffic - so again the driver was in my way as I wanted to be on her right to overtake the stationary traffic ( a head bang in place of a face palm).

Thanks in advance but no need to point out I was doing over the speed limit.

Other questions from today include; can I ride on a 40mph dual carriageway? For anyone that knows Reading I'm referring to the IDR where in goes past the police station towards the fire station.

All in all a lovely day out on my bike. I did everything I needed to do (with the exception of a big shop) without the car. very happy

 

[jazzkat]

The only place you can't legally ride is the motorway - whether it's a good idea is a different matter
You should be fine on a 40mph dual. (not that I know the specific road)
Overtaking on the left is a very very bad idea. Not the least because the driver won't expect it.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Legally you can ride on any public road except motorways, though there are plenty of legal roads were you would be mad to ride on, but each to their own.

Was the cycle lane a full width lane or just a strip for a bike? If it was a full width lane then I would be happy staying in the lane and going by cars, if it was a narrow strip I would wait

 

[fossyant]

Ideally you don't want to be passing cars on the left at high speed, and 30 or above is too much. Ideally you would slow behind the car as you were approaching traffic.

I wouldn't be in a bike lane at those speeds though, they are full of crap.

Overtake on the outside if you need to.

 

[Veganpower]

Legally you can ride on any public road except motorways, though there are plenty of legal roads were you would be mad to ride on, but each to their own.

Was the cycle lane a full width lane or just a strip for a bike? If it was a full width lane then I would be happy staying in the lane and going by cars, if it was a narrow strip I would wait

I would say it was normal width, not one of them silly pretend cycle lanes.

 

[Veganpower]

Ideally you don't want to be passing cars on the left at high speed, and 30 or above is too much. Ideally you would slow behind the car as you were approaching traffic.

I wouldn't be in a bike lane at those speeds though, they are full of crap.

Overtake on the outside if you need to.

no, it was a long road. I was no where near traffic at the time. It was a good hill and the driver was just pooteling along slowly. If it happens again I'll be on the right in a flash

 

[Veganpower]

[QUOTE 2944605, member: 30090"]You cannot ride on motorways.

And you cannot ride on roads that display this sign (as some A roads do):

View attachment 38656 [/quote]

I was looking for a sign couldn't see one, but I chickened out at the last second and went up a fly over.

 

[Dan B]

[QUOTE 2944605, member: 30090"]
And you cannot ride on roads that display this sign (as some A roads do):

View attachment 38656 [/quote]
Not many that I've ever seen. Some short stretches (flyovers and underpasses mostly) but for the most part a-roads are just roads

 

[Sharky]

The only place you can't legally ride is the motorway - whether it's a good idea is a different matter
You should be fine on a 40mph dual. (not that I know the specific road)
Overtaking on the left is a very very bad idea. Not the least because the driver won't expect it.

A long time ago, one of my club mates was driving to a race, with his bike on the roof rack. He broke down on the hard shoulder. He had to get to the next emergency phone, so being a cyclist and a bike on top, what did he do?

He got his bike down and road towards the next phone and this on a motorway!

Needless to say, he was spotted by the cops and given a warning.
I think his argument was that although cyclists are not allowed on a motor way, pedestrians aren't allowed either and getting there by bike was quicker!

Keith

 

[maltloaf]

I get a problem now and then where the A38 reaches Gloucester, there's a narrow strip of cycle lane.
As you reach the outskirts there is often queuing traffic there at the roundabout but the cycle lane is clear so I can filter past the waiting cars.
More than once I've had pig headed drivers steer into the cycle lane to stop me

 

[jazzkat]

I get a problem now and then where the A38 reaches Gloucester, there's a narrow strip of cycle lane.
As you reach the outskirts there is often queuing traffic there at the roundabout but the cycle lane is clear so I can filter past the waiting cars.
More than once I've had pig headed drivers steer into the cycle lane to stop me

If it's standing traffic then I'd say go for it, although you'd have to take each situation on it's own merit, but I'm no commuter so what do I know!
As for the cars pulling over, just do what Peter would do

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM9Eh2uQ7Ek

 

[Paul.G.]

I was going down a hill today probably over 30 mph. I was in a bike lane coming closer to a car. Ordinarily I don't pass cars on the left. Since I was in a bike lane I thought why not. As I approached the car and got just behind it the driver pulled into the bike lane!

I guess she didn't see me but it did start me thinking if overtaking the car would have been allowed? the funny thing is when see did spot me she gave plenty of room on her left too bad this was when the cycle lane had ended and we were approaching traffic - so again the driver was in my way as I wanted to be on her right to overtake the stationary traffic ( a head bang in place of a face palm).

Thanks in advance but no need to point out I was doing over the speed limit.

Other questions from today include; can I ride on a 40mph dual carriageway? For anyone that knows Reading I'm referring to the IDR where in goes past the police station towards the fire station.

All in all a lovely day out on my bike. I did everything I needed to do (with the exception of a big shop) without the car. very happy

I've seen quite a few riders on the IDR in the last couple of weeks, not a road I would ever cycle on, especially as there are plenty of back roads around that area which would keep you away from the fast heavy traffic.

 

[BikeLiker]

Not many that I've ever seen. Some short stretches (flyovers and underpasses mostly) but for the most part a-roads are just roads

Non motorway special roads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_road#Non-motorway_special_roads
BTW, speed limits only apply to motor vehicles, not cycles.

 

[Sara_H]

If it's standing traffic then I'd say go for it, although you'd have to take each situation on it's own merit, but I'm no commuter so what do I know!
As for the cars pulling over, just do what Peter would do

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM9Eh2uQ7Ek

I need to hire him when we do our protest about bikes in contra flow cycle lanes!

 

[Veganpower]

I've seen quite a few riders on the IDR in the last couple of weeks, not a road I would ever cycle on, especially as there are plenty of back roads around that area which would keep you away from the fast heavy traffic.

As was my instinct, which was why I didn't. I was coming from halfords going to emmer green so it was a direct route. I ended up going through town and stopping at several traffic lights. Hey ho it was still fun.