Ah but that image I posted is actually from Direct.gov, whether that's what it actually says or not in the code, they're still implying it in their literature. Again conflicting stuff.
There are two ways you can interpret what's in the Highway Code. Either you have to imagine the bike's the size of a car and overtake that 'car' (as in that image) or you have to leave the same gap between the bike and your car as you would when overtaking a car.
There are two ways you can interpret what's in the Highway Code. Either you have to imagine the bike's the size of a car and overtake that 'car' or you have to leave the same gap between the bike and your car as you would when overtaking a car.There may be two ways you can interpret what's in the Highway Code, but the words are absolutely clear.
There may be two ways you can interpret what's in the Highway Code, but the words are absolutely clear.
They really aren't.
Does it mean move as far across the road as you would when overtaking a car or, leave the same space between yourself and the cyclist as you would when overtaking a car?
3 cars trying to overtake at once? - that's just plain stupid, they'll never all fit
DezB - so as long as you don't brush a cyclist's bars, you've left enough room? 
Give vulnerable road users as least as much SPACE as you would a car
miketually - Member
leave the same SPACE between yourself and the cyclist as you would when overtaking a car?
By jove, I think he's got it.
What it does omit, is to always completely forget that the cyclist existed as soon as your rear wheels are past him.
(Christ. Gary, I hit him. Knocked him off. Reversed over him, opened the door, spat and said "ha that'll teach you scumbag". He then said sorry and shook my hand. Bye then)
By jove, I think he's got it.
And yet the official photo on the official site seems to interpret it differently...
That car is leaving an awfully big space between itself and the bike. If it was overtaking a car leaving that much space, it'd be off the road.
When overtaking parked cars, often a negative amount of space is left resulting in missing wing mirrors. Lots of drivers seem to think this space is adequate when overtaking cyclists.
Sorry DezB consider this me dropping it. I guess I've got a chip on my shoulder as in my five mile commute I get more cars give me what I consider to be too little space than I do cars that actually give me enough space.
Personally for me, if I could put my hand out and touch the car, it's too little (if I signaled you'd take my arm off). Sadly, I could put my hand out and touch the car most of the time.
miketually - MemberDo you understand the concept of at least????
By jove, I think he's got it.
And yet the official photo on the official site seems to interpret it differently...That car is leaving an awfully big space between itself and the bike. If it was overtaking a car leaving that much space, it'd be off the road.
GaryLake - Member
Sorry DezB consider this me dropping it. I guess I've got a chip on my shoulder as in my five mile commute I get more cars give me what I consider to be too little space than I do cars that actually give me enough space.Personally for me, if I could put my hand out and touch the car, it's too little (if I signaled you'd take my arm off). Sadly, I could put my hand out and touch the car most of the time.
My commute is 15 miles and that means I probably get it 3 times as much. Which is why, when I'm driving, I respect cyclists and give them enough room 
I apparently had a near miss recently. Was driving down a hill I'm very familiar with. At the t-junction at the bottom of the hill I turned left- another car was parked on the corner so I had to go onto the other side to get round him. I stopped at the nearby set of lights some fella is tapping my window. I wound it down and he announces "you almost knocked me of my bike!" and told me he had had to brake to avoid a collision. I apologised and that was the end of it, but tbh it $hit me up a bit 'cause even though it was raining the fella was in a hi-vis.
My only thought was that he was obscured by the cars parked along the road he was on and as I'd had to go out onto the wrong side of the road to make the turn I'd managed to miss him. Also wondered whether there was a bit of exaggeration there as he was cycling on an slight, but long upward gradient where you cant get up much speed at all.
It brought back memories of one incident where on a long stretch of road I'd overtaken a cyclist. As a cyclist myself I gave the guy lots of room, so I was a bit surprised when having slowed in traffic he passed me making all sorts of gestures and obscenities. No idea what that was about?
I've also been on the flip side and been hit pretty much head on by a van whilst waiting to turn right at a T-junction. The junction is one of those stupidly wide ones and at the time had very worn markings so drivers coming off the nearby a-road routinely cut the corner. I had the sun behind me and the guy just careered into me.
A couple of clips caught on my phones 'blackbox' recording app;
The first clip, a mountain biker on the pavement causes a ped to jump out the way and then nearly takes off my wing mirror, whilst I'm distracted and trying to straighten up the van the lorry in front stops sharpish and I have to stand on the brakes.
Second and third clips, the same car in the space of 3 minutes, overtakes a moped into oncoming traffic, then having got her confidence up, passes a cylist with less than 6 inches to spare, on a blind bend. On both overtakes, almost immediately afterwards were nice long stretches with plenty of visibility. 50mph road.
I admit they aren't going to take your breath away, but you forget how many instances of poor driving you've seen when you suddenly realise you have 25 clips of near misses over just a few months. Its only a matter of time before I find I've video'd a smash.
I've hit a car driver due to their error. Once or twice.
2retro4u
Marin County, Cali
Although I am a cyclist myself, last year I endangered a cyclist while driving on a narrow road. I still think about the consequences had I not missed him, and I swore then and there that in the future I would hold up traffic until it was safe to pass, no matter how many impatient drivers were behind me.
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