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https://www.****/news/article-10319707/Highway-Code-rule-change-cyclists-priority-drivers.html
The changes enshrine the concept of a 'hierarchy of road users' and place more responsibility onto the shoulders of motorists.
I would add that the edict that cyclists should give way to pedestrians on paths or shared cycle lanes is a little confusing because it could imply that the latter has right of way, i.e., under no obligation not to block the wide of the path. I'd also like a recommendation that cyclists should ride on the left of shared paths because I'm sick of the idiots who bear right come hell or high water, especially on canal paths.
By the way, don't read the Daily Mail comments unless you want your blood to boil 😀
Not sure how many drivers will see this, which is the key thing.
As cyclists, we need to make sure we treat cyclists the way we want to be treated by drivers. That's going to be interesting I think
Trying to keep left on shared paths is the only significant time I get into conflict with other cyclists.
By the way, don’t read the Daily Mail comments unless you want your blood to boil 😀
luv me car
luv me daily mail
'ate lycra louts
simple as
I must admit, I thought that motorists had to give way to peds. crossing already?
If that is all real, then the rule 72 seems a bit odd
"1. Ride in the centre of your lane, to make yourself as clearly visible as possible, in the following situations:
on quiet roads or streets – if a faster vehicle comes up behind you, move to the left to enable them to overtake, if you can do so safely"
Was there advice previous that a cyclist should move to the road edge out of the primary road position to allow a vehicle to pass? I can see that being interpreted by some drivers that a cyclist should just get out of their way?
Did the 1-1.5m pass of a cyclist not make it in to the Highway code yet?
I realise there is a lot of common sense required for anyone to use the road but that rule in particular sends a weird message IMO
I must admit, I thought that motorists had to give way to peds. crossing already?
Only if already on the road. This rule change implies you should give way if you see someone waiting to cross at a junction
Ah thanks. I thought I was going a bit mad there for a bit.
"...if you can do so safely”
Is the pertinent change.
Whether folks understand that, is the sticking point, and I feel that a comprehensive, simple to understand, TV information campaign is required
Not sure how many drivers will see this, which is the key thing
My 18 year old daughter recently passed her test. I don't think she read the Highway Code. I don't think she's alone in that.
“…if you can do so safely”
Is the pertinent change.
Whether folks understand that, is the sticking point, and I feel that a comprehensive, simple to understand, TV information campaign is required
Definitely going to be no change without proper communication.
Just checked the new HC and they haven't specifically stated the 1.5m passing guidance, just repeated that wishy washy "give as much room as you'd give a car"
Opportunity missed, I fear
I have a question.
If I'm driving along a road, pass a cyclist travelling at say 15mph, then up ahead i want to turn left. I slow down to turn, the cyclist catches up a bit. I have to judge their speed and stop to let them continue past me before I turn, if it looks like by me turning they would have to slow down.
On a relatively unmarked junction I can see that being quite dangerous. Drivers don't often look backwards when deciding to move forwards and that will be a hard habit to adjust.
I'm not saying it's wrong, I think that there may need to be more road markings indicating that drivers may be passing over the path of cyclists on their left.
If I'm cycling, currently I'm watching indicators and slowing down accordingly as I know the driver will not look to see where I am in their passenger mirror. more so, I'd probably move to the outside of the lane to 'overtake' the turning car.
Anticipating people crossing the road should be OK and slightly easier to manage (as long as the driver behind realises!)
I don't see a question, but I think the answer is - the car about to take a left turn shouldn't overtake a cyclist.
If I’m driving along a road, pass a cyclist travelling at say 15mph then up ahead i want to turn left.............
I must be misunderstanding this question?
If a car overtakes and then needs to pull in affecting the cyclist then it simply should NOT have overtaken in the first place.
Following cars have to slow down for left-turning cars, why should following cyclists not have to? Plus passing on the left is contrary to the highway code unless traffic is moving slowly in lanes.
Drivers don’t often look backwards when deciding to move forwards and that will be a hard habit to adjust.
In your scenario, the driver has just recently overtaken the cyclist, so should be very much aware of their presence, and be looking out for them. If the driver knew that they would be making a left turn soon, they should probably not pass the cyclist.
If I’m driving along a road, pass a cyclist travelling at say 15mph, then up ahead i want to turn left. I slow down to turn, the cyclist catches up a bit. I have to judge their speed and stop to let them continue past me before I turn, if it looks like by me turning they would have to slow down.
But that is the case anyway. Don’t overtake someone if you are about to turn left & can’t do so without obstructing the other person while you are turning. You just have to wait for the (literally) extra couple of seconds behind the bike.
OK, I get what your all saying and your right, and in practice, I'd not overtake, so maybe it's a non issue that I only think of because people do overtake without considering the amount of space left to make a turn. (unless it's obvious that you've only got 50m and there's a bike 'in the way')
if the cyclist thinks that, quite rightly, he will have right of way if travelling on past the left turn, i wonder how many side swipes there will be vs now, where the cyclist may see the signal on the car and exercise caution. Would this in itself cause more confusion if the driver expects the cyclist to go ahead and waits...
what if there are lights and the cyclist arrives at the lights just at the moment they start to turn to green, does the car have to wait for the cyclist to pass the junction before making the turn?
I don't like the implication that you should only ride in primary on quiet roads or slow moving traffic. There's an A road near us that's the only road between two villages, but has lots of bends and isn't wide enough to overtake without crossing the white line. The only way to avoid being overtaken on a bend is to ride in primary, but I can see the way the new rule is written leading to motorists taking exception to that.
The section on riding in primary position is confusing and was discussed a lot when the initial ideas were aired. All of the other stuff is positive but it's difficult to see what positive impact that will have.
Following cars have to slow down for left-turning cars, why should following cyclists not have to?
But you wouldn't overtake a car then immediately slow down to turn left. Or would you?
Anyway:
Rule H3 explicitly states that drivers “should not cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles going ahead when turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane, just as you would not turn across the path of another motor vehicle.”
Oh and have the updates been officially released? If I google all I get are loads of links to press articles, nothing yet on gov.uk