Passing a bike on a dual carriageway:-(

****s gonna ****. Hope you got the reg.

They’re everywhere unfortunately. I have nothing useful to add other than that. 

Straddle the lanes for a pass give the chap on the bike some protection. Give him the space he needs but make it clear there's no gap to undertake.

If I'm coming up to a known bad spot I'll often not overtake a cyclist.

As I’m doing about 65 mpg

Decent fuel economy...

I've been that person, while you're not actually breaking any laws, dicing with dickheads on thar sub-one mile DC section of an A-road where they all need to light the afterburners in case someone beats them to the next queue makes you feel like you must be...

Straddle the lanes for a pass give the chap on the bike some protection. Give him the space he needs but make it clear there’s no gap to undertake.

If I’m coming up to a known bad spot I’ll often not overtake a cyclist.

This is presumably the answer. But it’s giving less space than I should.

Some days I’m going faster. But I don’t think even a a touch over 70mph would have helped

I do have the registration but I can’t see I can do much with it.

Of close we drive up the rest of the A road and exactly the same speed

I do have the registration but I can’t see I can do much with it.

I guess you report it anyway. It may be the case that the driver has history of poor behaviour and it might generate a conversation with police.

To be fair, you're kinda crazy if you're on a dual carriageway with a bike unless you *have* to be.

I bet there are a lot of dead "correct" people.

Definitely report it. As mtbfix says, it might help build a picture if he's the type to drive like this regularly - either enough of these type of report could accumulate, or it could help flesh out a case which came from a single incident with a dashcam - helps to stop people being able to claim "it was a one off loss of calm your honour, I usually drive like an angel" etc

maybe the cyclist has a cam and your story will corroborate.

Log it.

Yeah why would you not?

I see bad driving, bad cycling and everything else on the roads these days, can't always blame drivers for all the wrongs, having had to go through the heart of Bristol yesterday i was a little shocked with how many cyclists really do put their life in the hands of car drivers with the way they were swerving across them, around them and so on, and of course seeing the amount of car drivers who are more interested in their facebook updates and text messages than driving, or doing daft stuff to try and get to work that little faster.

I was always taught to only change lane if you're not going to interfere with traffic in that lane.

For sure what the other driver did was wrong, but if you checked properly before moving would it have happened?

WTF? He wasn’t interfering with traffic. He was overtaking a vulnerable road user in the correct manner. The other car driver was exercising his right to be a massive dickhead

I see bad driving, bad cycling and everything else on the roads these days, can’t always blame drivers for all the wrongs, having had to go through the heart of Bristol yesterday i was a little shocked with how many cyclists really do put their life in the hands of car drivers with the way they were swerving across them, around them and so on, and of course seeing the amount of car drivers who are more interested in their facebook updates and text messages than driving, or doing daft stuff to try and get to work that little faster.

Fascinating stuff, what's it got to do with this thread!

No other traffic, give the cyclist the full lane.  Other traffic, I straddle both lanes and leave right indicator on, as although you are closer than you need to be, it reduces risk from the undertaking scenario.

On a practical note, it's not always possible to pass without (safely) impeding those doing 80mph quarter of a mile behind you.  You'd simply get trapped behind the cyclist and look like you can't read the road ahead in order to plan your pass!

WTF? He wasn’t interfering with traffic. He was overtaking a vulnerable road user in the correct manner. The other car driver was exercising his right to be a massive dickhead

What he's saying is saying is, did the OPs move into the right hand lane induce a manoeuvre from the dick driver? i.e. with the OP moving into their land were they presented with the choice of braking or undertaking? Like 5lab I was taught never to change lanes if that forced another road user to make a change in speed or lane to compensate. Partly manners, partly because it relies upon them being alert and partly it induces poor choices. If this was the case the OP could have elected to brake to the cyclist's pace until they could have moved into the faster lane without impact instead of pulling out when they did.

That's not to excuse the driving of the dick driver

These days I'd never want to be that cyclist. Back in the day when time trialling I'd actively seek out races on dual carriageways - Saturday afternoons on the A1 or A14 with lots of cars and lorries to be pushed and sucked along by, and ideally a bit damp made for some of the fastest times in the UK. Makes me shudder now thinking about it.

Like 5lab I was taught never to make a manoeuvre that forced another road user to make a change.

Blimey, you must just get in your car, mutter a bit and get back out again.

Fascinating stuff, what’s it got to do with this thread!<br /><br />

not much, just stating that this stuff isn’t unusual any more, roads are full of numpties all over

Blimey, you must just get in your car, mutter a bit and get back out again.

Well, it seems to work ok. I 'think' it was on the advanced drivers course or an equivalent thing (kind of) I did when still in the forces - can't remember. But yes, with anticipation, you can do it - emergencies not withstanding. It's harder in a slow old van and puny engined car mind.

I was always taught to only change lane if you’re not going to interfere with traffic in that lane.

For sure what the other driver did was wrong, but if you checked properly before moving would it have happened?

To be clear

I change lanes for the cyclist, into an empty lane

Whilst in that lane a car grows every larger in my mirror. I think actually it appears in the inside Lane. It was going much faster than me, 80 is a guess

As I understand it the driver behind should have slowed to my speed. Waited say 3 seconds for me to pull over. Instead they over took me on the inside. Squeezing between me and the cyclist

The cyclist was on a road I wouldn’t cycle on. But the road position and visibility of the cyclists were excellent

The road really isn’t that busy. Most days at that time we are all in the left lane 200 metres apart. We were also approaching a round about with a slip road coming up for joining traffic. Some times I pull across about there to let traffic join

Well, it seems to work ok

Does it? So if you pull onto an empty road get up to say the 30 limit and a car comes up behind, surely you have made it make a change?

Does it? So if you pull onto an empty road get up to say the 30 limit and a car comes up behind, surely you have made it make a change?

I edited my first post to be more clear but I think you quoted before I did...."Like 5lab I was taught never to change lanes if that forced another road user to make a change in speed or lane to compensate." HTH

I edited my first post to be more clear but I think you quoted before I did….”Like 5lab I was taught never to change lanes if that forced another road user to make a change in speed or lane to compensate.” HTH

I was within your rule

 

Years ago i was waiting to turn right on my bicycle in my village. Oncoming car (1) so waited for him to pass. Car (2) behind him decided he had to overtake (it was in a 30) and pulled out. Car 1 went by me on the right, car 2 on my left. Probably missed my by whisker

So the OP forced somebody who was traveling at an illegal speed to perform an illegal manoeuvre? Fascinating stuff. The other driver was in the wrong end of conversation really.

To be fair, you’re kinda crazy if you’re on a dual carriageway with a bike unless you *have* to be.

The normalisation of this line of thinking needs to stop. We cyclists are authorised to use these roads by right not licence. We need to reframe this thinking everytime it pops it's nasty little head up. We don't want the same traffic laws that are in force in USA and Australia where car is considered king. They aren't if we want to maintain a pleasant road environment.

The normalisation of this line of thinking needs to stop. We cyclists are authorised to use these roads by right not licence. We need to reframe this thinking everytime it pops it’s nasty little head up. We don’t want the same traffic laws that are in force in USA and Australia where car is considered king. They aren’t if we want to maintain a pleasant road environment.

So just to be clear......and as I said above this was once me........you feel the A1 should be a 'pleasant road environment' for a push bike?

I'm at the other end of the paradigm - let's make the dual carriageway as efficient a place to drive your car as possible....so all cars choose that option and stay there. And if that means it's a no bike zone then fair dos.

What he’s saying is saying is, did the OPs move into the right hand lane induce a manoeuvre from the dick driver? i.e. with the OP moving into their land were they presented with the choice of braking or undertaking?

The car in question was way back in the same lane as me. Yes they would have eventually had to brake. But that’s the nature of a dual carriageways. You can’t go faster than the vehicle in the right hand lane.

Are you now satisfied that we have 2 road users, me and the bike, meeting every legal requirement and a third car falling short of the expected standards of driving?

Are you now satisfied that we have 2 road users, me and the bike, meeting every legal requirement and a third car falling short of the expected standards of driving?

To be fair, I think we've moved on. Sorry.

When I pass a someone cycling along a dual carriage way I tend to straddle the two lanes and slow down a touch, better to not leave too much a gap, the recommended 1.5m is ideal IMO.

Personally I try not to cycle along a dual carriageway if I can, obviously we can all take a wrong turn but I'd be getting out of there asap.

I see cyclists daily riding along the A8 past Edinburgh airport, this is a 40mph dual carriage way and can be very busy. There is a cycle path that runs alongside it. It's not great for road type bikes as it's a bit rough but I'd rather use it than dice with heavy traffic. It's just a matter of time until someone cycling along the road is ran over. 

We all take risks every day but I'd try to limit my exposure to hazards and risks as much as I possibly can. 

You would not get me cycling on a dual carriageway or A road for any money, just because you can doesn’t make it a sensible idea . Closing speeds are much much higher, and it’s that that is dangerous. Sure if you can keep up with the traffic speed and pedal at 60mph then it becomes less dangerous.

Occasionally I see people on the A5 which is a mixture of dual carriageway or fast A road. I think the cyclists are nuts, especially when there are some beautiful quiet lanes just metres away.

In OP’s case yes other driver was an arse, but that’s just another reason not to cycle on a dual carriageway. There is no point being right if you are dead

You'd have to force me at gunpoint to cycle along a dual carriage way. I mean, I know we can, but **** knows why you'd want to.

I think cyclists are nuts/masochists for going on some of the fast and busy A-roads near me, when there are backroad alternatives. But the idea that they should be prevented from having a horrible ride if they want is worse.

OP did the right thing, and undertaker was a ****. Unfortunately, good drivers sometimes have to take positions which protect vulnerable road users from ****s, straddling the lane in this instance.

Certainty of safety riding along a dual carriage way would not make them any more of a pleasant place for me to ride my bike. They're very dreary places. I ride alongside one every day there's thick hedge in places, a strip of brush in others. The noise and fumes still prominent in the experience.  Have seen cyclist riding along the dual carriage way in the rain in the dark... no thank you!

I've seen this on the A50, NSL. Overtook several cyclists taking part in a TT, moved back to L1 for a couple of minutes then back to L2 with everyone else for another gaggle. Everyone except one driver!
This is a road where it wasn't an isolated cyclist that was difficult to see but a field of 120(?) that we'd been overtaking for a couple of minutes, all with flashing rear lamps.
The cyclists weren't causing a problem and traffic wasn't too heavy. They should have been perfectly safe because by their number their presence was easily anticipated and the reason for other drivers moving should have been clear, but there was nothing really that you could do that wouldn't make matters worse when one amongst us decided to dive down the nearside. Some drivers shouldn't be allowed out, fortunately no collisions occurred
Arguably more cyclists on dual carriageways would make them safer for cyclists, but there's an understandable psychological block on this and I can think of far more picturesque places to cycle than a NSL dual carriageway

Wow the self entitlement of some drivers on here is mind boggling. Why should cyclists not be able to ride on an A road? If I wasn’t allowed to ride on an A road I’d struggle to get places. I’m often on the A86 it’s a nice quiet road. I also quite like a cycle over the Lecht on the A939 and the A93 over Glenshee is another favourite of mine. Next you’ll be telling me I don’t pay Road tax.

Dual carriageways aren’t all the same. I obviously wouldn’t cycle on the A9 or A96 dual carriageway sections but there are some dual carriageways in Inverness and Aberdeen with a 30mph limit.

As for the OP sounds like he did the right thing it’s the dangerous undertaking driver at fault. Hard to predict when you’re going to encounter one of these idiots.

So just to be clear……and as I said above this was once me……..you feel the A1 should be a ‘pleasant road environment’ for a push bike?

Yes it should. I've ridden down Spanish dual carrigeways without a qualm, it is a source  of shame that our driving culture is so bad that is not regarded as possible here.

EDIT - "Efficient for cars" is just newspeak for lawless driving attitudes.

Dual carriageways aren’t all the same.

Yes, I think the ones people are probably saying they would not ride on are the 60mph ones, the same as the 60mph A roads.

I cycle on 60mph A rods for very short stretches and it is not an enjoyable experience. As I am riding for enjoyment then I don't want my ride to be on roads that are really not enjoyable.

Wow the self entitlement of some drivers on here is mind boggling.

Its nothing about self entitlement its about self preservation. If I am going on a motorway journey I will take our 'big' car because its more powerful and robust, its easier to keep up with the traffic and would be safer if involved in a crash.

I apply the same principle to cycling if the risk is high I stay well away. Yes I could ride on a dual carriageway but IMO to even consider it is just plain stupid and too high risk as I cannot pedal at anything like the same speed as the other road users.

EDIT – “Efficient for cars” is just newspeak for lawless driving attitudes.

No it's not - or if it is - it's in your head.

Wow the self entitlement of some drivers on here is mind boggling.

You come across as a sneerer. And then later in your text your describe the nuance of the situation. And then even a "I obviously wouldn’t cycle on the A9 or A96 dual carriageway sections"....very much exactly like the people you criticise.

Does life confuse you, so you just have to lash out with sweeping statements?

Wow the self entitlement of some drivers on here is mind boggling. Why should cyclists not be able to ride on an A road? If I wasn’t allowed to ride on an A road I’d struggle to get places. I’m often on the A86 it’s a nice quiet road. I also quite like a cycle over the Lecht on the A939 and the A93 over Glenshee is another favourite of mine. Next you’ll be telling me I don’t pay Road tax.

Don't think i've read anywhere on this thread anyone saying cyclists shouldn't ride dual carriageway, they're saying they personally wouldn't, as it's just too problematic. I'm in that camp as well, but again, it's down to what the 'dual carriageway' is, if it's a dual lane dual carriageway with national speed limit i'm avoiding it like the plague, most of those have pathways next to them anyway around here anyway, if it's a dual carriageway with cycle lane, like we have in several areas here, then it's fine, most of these were dual lane until being redone and are single lane with cycle and walkways now, same with dual carriageways that are 30s or 40s, although they can be painful it's they're short as you have the overtakers dying to get past everyone, as someone else said, to get to the next queue of traffic!

Although there isn't an official minimum speed limit on most motorways, travelling too slowly can be considered dangerous and you might attract the attention of the police. In this case, you'd usually be let off with a verbal warning, but you could be prosecuted for careless driving.

Driving too slowly can also impede the safety of other drivers. When on the roads, we all have a duty to try to anticipate the movement of others. Driving particularly slowly can cause a hazard to other motorists, who may not have correctly assessed their speed. It can force harsh braking, increasing the risk of a pile-up. It also encourages actions like tailgating or unsafe overtaking, particularly if a queue builds up behind the slow driver, and there is peer pressure involved.

So whilst you can legally ride your bike on a dual carriageway, that doesnt make it a sensible thing to do

It hinges on your definition of a dual carriageway; plenty are 30/40mph with cycling accommodated, often the ones in towns & cities. The more rural or ring-road style 60/70mph roads are somewhere I personally wouldn't ride, granted.