Overtaking Parked Cars

[Paco de Bango]

No video footage i'm afraid, just a boring description:

I'm riding down a regular single carriageway, there's a car parked on my side of the road, the other side of the road is clear. I know a car is behind me. I do a shoulder check and the car behind me starts overtaking, but I put my arm out anyway expecting him to complete the overtake and overtake the parked car, but when he sees my arm come out he slams his brakes on and lets me go first.

No verbals were exchanged or rude signals given, it was all very amicable. I was just wondering, as I felt a bit guilty for making him brake, was i out of order, or was he out of order for trying the overtake when he shouldn't've?

 

[4F]

No you were not out of order.

 

[asterix]

Indeed not. I've done the same myself, and on blind bends when I know there is something coming and the driver behind is obviously going to do a suicide overtake. I have been thanked for it! But only once.

 

[Hacienda71]

He probably realised his mistake and was grateful hence no verbals either way. Not all car drivers are out to get us many simply don't think.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Agreed. The car driver should really have been looking ahead and anticipating that you would have to move out to pass the parked car. As he did then give you priority once you indicated, I would have given a wave of thanks afterwards.

 

[summerdays]

Make sure you start moving out to over take the car in plenty of time in a gradual smooth move rather than a last minute pull out around the car.

Oh the joys of a single car to over take rather than continuous parked cars or slalom courses!!!

 

[Paco de Bango]

Agreed. The car driver should really have been looking ahead and anticipating that you would have to move out to pass the parked car. As he did then give you priority once you indicated, I would have given a wave of thanks afterwards.

Cheers for that. thats what i was thinking, just wanted to check.

I did thank him with a wave too once i realised he was letting me go first.

thats me and the car driver

 

[Clandy]

Make sure you start moving out to over take the car in plenty of time in a gradual smooth move rather than a last minute pull out around the car.

+1 and once pulled out to pass the parked vehicle don't forget to maintain a safe 'door' distance from it.

 

[skudupnorth]

You were lucky that paid attention to your signal,normally my arm nearly gets ripped off !!!! Good result and you did the right thing

 

[addictfreak]

Could be either, depends on too many variables to comment on who is in the right, there might be just a few mph or a few yards between the correct decision to pass or wait. In this case the driver appears to have taken the safest choice and aborted his overtake, well done of him.
If a driver is obviously going to pass you, and he has room to do so, then I reckon you should not signal until he is past. For what its worth I never signal in such situations, I will pick my spot and let my road positioning make my intentions clear.

Very good of the driver to take note of your signals and act upon them.

I'm with you on that one. I would also give a little courtesy wave of thanks as the car passed.

 

[Paco de Bango]

Could be either, depends on too many variables to comment on who is in the right, there might be just a few mph or a few yards between the correct decision to pass or wait. In this case the driver appears to have taken the safest choice and aborted his overtake, well done of him.
If a driver is obviously going to pass you, and he has room to do so, then I reckon you should not signal until he is past. For what its worth I never signal in such situations, I will pick my spot and let my road positioning make my intentions clear.

Very good of the driver to take note of your signals and act upon them.

Fair points reiver, I think the guilt comes from my timing of the signal. The whole manouver was done in plenty of time (no sudden swerving), but as I checked over my shoulder, I signalled while thinking along the lines of 'where do you think i want to go as we both approach this parked car'. I was quite surprised when the driver took notice actually so fair play to her.

 

[Norm]

... I felt a bit guilty for making him brake, was i out of order, or was he out of order for trying the overtake when he shouldn't've?

I was quite surprised when the driver took notice actually so fair play to her.

Hmmm...

Anyway, IMO, you did nothing wrong. You used your signal to assert your position, and it does sound like it was assertion rather than aggression. You waved your thanks and everyone got on with their day.

Maybe the driver will look further up the road when overtaking a cyclist, which would be a good thing, but the wave of thanks means at least it's unlikely that (s)he has become another bike-hater.

 

[gaz]

I like to indicate and move out as early as possible for parked cars. Sometimes i will increase my speed to aid me in doing this. But if i see it late then i will often slow down and let a few vehicles past and then go around it.

 

[Paco de Bango]

Hmmm...

Anyway, IMO, you did nothing wrong. You used your signal to assert your position, and it does sound like it was assertion rather than aggression. You waved your thanks and everyone got on with their day.

Maybe the driver will look further up the road when overtaking a cyclist, which would be a good thing, but the wave of thanks means at least it's unlikely that (s)he has become another bike-hater.

him/her/it... there was definately something driving that car

 

[ROG.]

The car had plenty of opportunity to size up the situation but the cycle could have been assertive a little earlier and therefore influenced the car driver