Pulling over and letting people past?

[thomas]

So, I've got a question. How often or when would you stop to let other motorists past?

In countrylanes I'll wave people past when I can go into a layby or slow down so they can use a layby on the otherside to get past. That's generally on leisure rides though.

On my way to work there's a reasonable section of road which, unless you've got a powerful car and are quite lucky it's near impossible to get a chance to overtake - doubt you could even squeeze past. The roads a few miles long and has got the odd drive way you can pull in to. The only problem then is trying to get back out into the road as it's very busy in rush hour.

Now, I don't want to be a pain or be like a caravan driver - but I don't want to stop every few minutes and waste time. I try to put a fair bit of effort in so would be averaging around 16-20mph (depending on how i'm feeling and if I'm going to or from work). I did stop this morning as there was a massive hgv behind me and I did get a nice big thumbs up for it, but that's the only time I have (admitidly, I've only done the route 5 times now).

When would you pull over and let people past?

 

[upsidedown]

I always get suckered into pulling in to let them past, only to to have them completely blank you as if it was your duty to pull in.
Promise to stand ground next time and repeat process............

 

[numbnuts]

I do on country lane, but on main roads they have to take there chances like everybody else

 

[thomas]

I always get suckered into pulling in to let them past, only to to have them completely blank you as if it was your duty to pull in.
Promise to stand ground next time and repeat process............

Yeah, I made a point of carrying on waving after the lorry to show that I did pull in. Most people blanked but the women at the end gave a half arsed smile. I wasn't really expecting much from the people behind the lorry, but if he hadn't of said thank you that would of put me in a mood .

I don't think I'll make a habit of pulling in...

 

[HLaB]

Cycling through the twisty roads of the Trossachs yesterday I pulled over a fair bit. I guess its a respect thing with me if the drivers are being respectful I'll pull in and on the whole drivers were being very respectful. I think only one driver thanked me though
On the commute unless I'm going slower than traffic jams I don't tend to pull in at all; I sometimes adopt a secondary position but the roads are plenty wide enough on my route. I quite often like to let a big vehicle like a bus out though and draft them

 

[Maz]

When I'm on the 70-dual carriageway on my commute...i need to get in the RH lane but sometimes there's a car already there speeding towards me. I beckon them on to drive past me and I slot in behind them.

 

[gbb]

The commute doesnt really have any points where i need to allow anyone past..but if i find myself at T/Ls with a bus behind me, i'll often wave him past as the lights go green, and let him get on. I figure its best not to get hooked up with him for the sake of 10 seconds.
He appreciates it (i'm personally not looking for thanks) and hopefully it will stand me in good stead with bus drivers in general (if they remember me)

An example of the opposite was seen this morning. My commute takes me along a road that has bus only sections, where the road narrows to one lane for the busses. This morning, i saw a cyclist hold his line and force the bus to nearly stop, bringing them very close together. This may on the face seem quite right (cyclist holding his line)...but he's entering a point where he has no legal right to be. Its busses oly at that point. A lovely advert for cyclists

In the countryside, where possible i will always use passing points, slow down, even stop is circumstances dictate its safer, better for everyone etc etc.
I work on the principle i may even have right of way, but whats the point of endangering myself, or pissing other people off.
At this point i should say i wave the person forward. It gives me the moral high ground, and lets them think its a situation in MY control, not theirs.
For the sake of a few seconds...

 

[palinurus]

Rarely. Sometimes on my commute I'll get an HGV stuck behind me, If there's a handy layby or place to pull in I will. I'll pull in for cars on singletrack lanes, can't think of any occasions when I've done it under any other conditions.

 

[Plax]

I'll pull over for cars on single track country lanes. On main roads I don't bother as they can get past me if they are patient. The only time I let a vehicle pass is if it's a lorry with a wide load (i.e. one of those massive static caravans).

 

[MacB]

Doesn't tend to arise on my commute but it is something I would do, in the same way I'll do various courteous things when cycling or driving. Sometimes you get thanked, sometimes not, but I find it puts me in a better frame of mind. I also like to give a wave of thanks and a big grin if I receive extra nice/cautious treatment. The big grin always seems to provoke a positive response.

 

[Eat MY Dust]

I will stop and let buses and HGVs pass on my "big" hill on the way home. It's double white lines in the middle and TBH I don't want a giant vehicle sitting on my back wheel when I'm doing 12 mph! Almost 100% of the time I'll get a some sign of thanks from the driver (not so much the buses).

p.s. I don't have to let the cars past as there's enough room for them top overtake without endangering my life!

 

[thomas]

Glad to hear people have pretty much the same attitude as me!

 

[purplepolly]

I often have a bus or HGV behind me as I'm stopping at lights or in a queue and wave them on when the traffic starts to move even if I'm in the ASL. Otherwise there always seems to be room for overtaking. btw bus drivers usually thank me and HGV drivers ignore me but then maybe the bus drivers recognise me, which is partly why I try to be nice to them.

 

[marinyork]

I usually let the trams past. I also let HGVs past if they aren't rat running on some totally inappropriate route.

 

[hambones]

Most of my commute is on quite tight twisting single lane carriageway but a combination of sensible riding position and appropriate assertiveness means I have an incident free commute and never have to pull over to let anyone pass. Of course a lot depends on what people consider a close overtake - less than 18 inches for me.
Tonight, due to temporary lights, I did have to ride 1 1/2 miles with a bus behind me because the other side had a long line of traffic so overtaking was not possible. I managed to hold around 25mph so it turned into a great workout.