Single track roads = Close passes okay?

[Matthew_T]

When cycling down single track roads, do you think it is acceptable to allow people to pass you closely just to enjoy your ride?
I know it might be a bit dangerous, but on a country road, drivers slow down for you anyway, therefore a close pass is controllable and acceptable.

What do other people think about this?

 

[Chutzpah]

It would have to be dead slow for me to find it acceptable. And only then if I've pretty much signalled to the driver (by a look, a wave or an obvious movement to the side of the road) that I'm expecting him/her to do it.

But truth be told, on most single track lanes around here (and there's lots of them) drivers will just slow and wait for you to get to a passing point. And then to me it's common courtesy to slow/stop and let them through. Most drivers I encounter in the lanes are used to cyclists, dog walkers, horse riders and other cars so are really good.

 

[gaz]

I control the road to make sure the driver passes when I want them to. I will pull in and slow down and maybe even stop to let a driver pass.

As you say, i want to enjoy my ride and i don't want to annoy other road users but that doesn't mean I will allow them to pass me unsafely.

 

[Hip Priest]

But truth be told, on most single track lanes around here (and there's lots of them) drivers will just slow and wait for you to get to a passing point. And then to me it's common courtesy to slow/stop and let them through. Most drivers I encounter in the lanes are used to cyclists, dog walkers, horse riders and other cars so are really good.

I agree with all of that.

 

[HLaB]

I control the road to make sure the driver passes when I want them to. I will pull in and slow down and maybe even stop to let a driver pass.

As you say, i want to enjoy my ride and i don't want to annoy other road users but that doesn't mean I will allow them to pass me unsafely.

+1 and you find that 90% of folk are grateful that you do and you have that little positive moment that makes you feel good.

 

[BentMikey]

No - I take the lane until they've almost stopped, or are going at my speed, before I choose whether it's safe to let them past:

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfxW-i6mgEM[/media]

 

[BentMikey]

p.s. I'm towing a child trailer there with a 2 year old, and I'm convinced that 'ker in the minibus would have driven straight past me at speed if I'd not forced him to pull in and stop.

 

[PpPete]

I control the road to make sure the driver passes when I want them to. I will pull in and slow down and maybe even stop to let a driver pass.

As you say, i want to enjoy my ride and i don't want to annoy other road users but that doesn't mean I will allow them to pass me unsafely.

This - every time.
There are NO safe or acceptable close passes.

 

[Thomk]

My experience wasn't on a path as narrow as BentMikey's but I think, as he says, taking control is sensible. My clip and the discussion can be seen here:

http://www.cyclechat...ut-of-my-lycra/

 

[mcr]

I've had a few hairy experiences with cars coming towards me on such roads and barely slowing down while passing, forcing me on to the grass verge - I've seen people suggesting be brazen and force them to stop by holding the road, but it's not that easy! At least when they're behind me you're in control of the situation.

 

[PK99]

I control the road to make sure the driver passes when I want them to. I will pull in and slow down and maybe even stop to let a driver pass.

As you say, i want to enjoy my ride and i don't want to annoy other road users but that doesn't mean I will allow them to pass me unsafely.

+1

 

[PK99]

This - every time.
There are NO safe or acceptable close passes.

I was very nearly knocked off yesterday by an unacceptably close pass - by another cyclist on the Tamsin Trail in Richmond Park. the guy zipped past on the inside (ie my left) without any warning and all but touching my bars of the way through.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

If I'm driving I'd rather wait for the cyclist to indicate what he wants me to do.

 

[Bollo]

My commute takes in many single lane roads and on the whole there's enough give-and take to make it stress free. I don't get too precious about who's going to give way but there are times when there just ain't enough road and you have to take control. In these cases, I'd at least expect the driver to wait until I signal that I'm happy and to go past dead-slow.

And I'd be grateful if you were't checking facebook on your iphone while you did it, Ms Audi Q7 driver! Yes you were close enough for me to see!!