When is close too close?

[Krellon]

Hi,

I wondered what your thoughts were on acceptable vehicle passes and when is close too close.

I had a few in the past on my commutes which I thought were maybe a little too close. Especially considering the speed they were doing.

Filmed with a wide angled GoPro Hero so they look further away than they actually were!

Here is a link to some of those passes. What do you think?


View: http://youtu.be/77-5-IPF-jk


Br

 

[clockman]

Far, far too close. There does seem to be some similarities, all bar one appear to impatience to pass you with oncoming traffic. The other was passing you on a dual carriageway with traffic close on offside.
None of these are acceptable, but the passes by the lorry and bus driver, by so called 'profesional' drivers is frankly appalling.

 

[Krellon]

Far, far too close. There does seem to be some similarities, all bar one appear to impatience to pass you with oncoming traffic. The other was passing you on a dual carriageway with traffic close on offside.
None of these are acceptable, but the passes by the lorry and bus driver, by so called 'profesional' drivers is frankly appalling.

What people also need to note is that the videos were filmed with a wide angled GoPro so they look further away than they actually were. They most certainly were closer than they look in the vid's.

Br

 

[Krellon]

Anything close enough to touch.

At any speed? Think about a 20+ tone truck doing 60+ mph past you at arms length? I think arms length is too close.
Somebody once told me that 2 door widths is recommended?

Br

 

[jarlrmai]

Way, way too close, a stronger position on your part may have helped avoid the overtakes, maybe not.

I find riding on narrow fast (40+) two lane roads with intermittent traffic pretty stressful its either close passes or annoyed drivers or both.

 

[MontyVeda]

the size of the vehicle makes a difference too.... a meter's room from an articulated lorry feels a hell of a lot closer than a Punto

 

[slowmotion]

If you instinctively move in your right elbow, it's too close. Prepare for a mighty dose of adrenaline.

 

[vickster]

From my current perspective, when the wing mirror catches the handlebar...

 

[boydj]

Far too close - but not helped by you riding too close to the edge. On that type of road you need to be riding a good 4 ft from the edge, or more, so that drivers have to move out to overtake and you have a bit of wiggle room if they don't move out far enough.

 

[Krellon]

Way, way too close, a stronger position on your part may have helped avoid the overtakes, maybe not.

I find riding on narrow fast (40+) two lane roads with intermittent traffic pretty stressful its either close passes or annoyed drivers or both.

I ca

Far too close - but not helped by you riding too close to the edge. On that type of road you need to be riding a good 4 ft from the edge, or more, so that drivers have to move out to overtake and you have a bit of wiggle room if they don't move out far enough.

Hi, I try too ride out as far as I can get away with on most rides but when the roads busy during rush hour I try to give them clearance. I dont expect them too overtake into oncoming traffic.

Br

 

[Andy_R]

I ca


.......... I try to give them clearance. I dont expect them too overtake into oncoming traffic.

Br

Because you're giving them clearance, they're taking it, even when they shouldn't. If you give an idiot just enough room to squeeze through, they will make every effort to do so.

 

[Maylian]

Because you're giving them clearance, they're taking it, even when they shouldn't. If you give an idiot just enough room to squeeze through, they will make every effort to do so.

Bang on, one of the clips you're riding over a drain cover so I don't know how you'd expect to deal with any potholes or emergencies. I understand not wanting to hold up traffic as you don't want to be "the enemy" but when you're a vulnerable road user you've got to think about yourself first. It is clear that most of these drivers passing too close aren't thinking about you!

 

[Schneil]

Because you're giving them clearance, they're taking it, even when they shouldn't. If you give an idiot just enough room to squeeze through, they will make every effort to do so.

100% agree with you . I tucked in too close to the kerb and this is what happened to me last month:

View: http://youtu.be/fL8pO-F_YYc


Now in a similar situation, I'm taking a stronger position.

 

[Maylian]

100% agree with you . I tucked in too close to the kerb and this is what happened to me last month:

View: http://youtu.be/fL8pO-F_YYc


Now in a similar situation, I'm taking a stronger position.

Very level headed and polite repremand, I'm impressed.

 

[Krellon]

Hi,

Today I rode further out from the curb as some posters suggested.
For the best part the drivers did give me a wider birth but I sensed there frustration with speed and revs.
One actually took a very silly risk in a overtake into a blind bend on a hill.


View: http://youtu.be/2sa1r0e2-68


These are the risky overtake maneuvers drivers take the further out we ride.
We become safer but oncoming traffic is put in more danger.
Looks like we can't win.

Br