Whos fault?

somekindofwizard · May 2007

Last night I was going down Streaham Hill when another cyclist tried to overtake me, she was about two foot away from me and her front wheel was just about overlapping mine.

The problem was that a row of parked cars were rapidly coming up and she didnt move further out or slow down or speed up to get passed or basically do anything to give me leeway to move out to avoid them without risking crashing straight into her. So I ended up braking hard, when I caught up with her I asked why she didnt give me any room and in her opinion as she was passing and had no obstacles on her course she had the right of way and didnt have to make allowances.

Surely this isn't right is it?

Cab · May 2007

She's an idiot. If you're both passing parked cars then she needs to give you space, otherwise she's effectively going to cause an accident. Bluntly, if you're overtaking then its your responsibility to do so safely.

She was also passing far too closely. Two feet? Nothing like enough.

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Alcdrewcp · May 2007

That is just plain rude of her. She should of given you room, not forced you to stop. Next time just swerve into her, that'll teach her.

Eat My Dust · May 2007

Replace "another cyclist" with "car" and you wouldn't need to be asking whether she was in the wrong or not. Sounds like she's a bit of an idiot, I would have been well pis*ed off if she had given me that answer!!

SNAPS

BoydJ · May 2007

She's an incosiderate plonker and should have got a good yelling at as the situation developed.

However, you should have been aware of what was behind you well ahead of the parked cars and it sounds like you should have been moving out a lot earlier than you did, so you were the author of your own misfortune.

andy_wrx · May 2007

You could have caught her, passed her and then sqeezed her out against a parked car or other obstacle.

Then asked what it felt like. See if she had the same opinion.

Time to dig-out the Summer bike (why's it just started raining ? Is it something I said ?)

somekindofwizard · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by BoydJ

She's an incosiderate plonker and should have got a good yelling at as the situation developed.

However, you should have been aware of what was behind you well ahead of the parked cars and it sounds like you should have been moving out a lot earlier than you did, so you were the author of your own misfortune.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

To be honest I was just expecting her to either give way or to go past, I knew she was there as I was looking back a lot to see what she was doing. She was just so confident sounding that she convinced me I was in the wrong!

My own fault really, I have been trying to keep a lid on the road rage after having a go at the driver who left hooked me a few months ago, maybe it's time to start shouting again! (albeit slightly more restrained!)

Gussio · May 2007

You got overtaken by a girl?

Eat My Dust · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gussio

You got overtaken by a girl?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

[:D][:D][:D]

SNAPS

srw647 · May 2007

Actually, if you're being overtaken you have a responsibility to let the overtaker pass. Having said that, it doesn't sound as if she was behaving particularly sensibly. I would have just braked and let her go past, then moved out. No big deal; no need for yelling or histrionics.

Hackbike 6 · May 2007

That's true easier to be less stressed if you are more calm.

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thereisnospooncp · May 2007

You could always make a sharp movement with your right arm held horizontal to the road. If your arm accidently surprised said tailgater then problem solved.

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jedster · May 2007

She was completely out of order. She should only have overtaken if she was confident that she could get passed you without requiring you to brake. If you overtake and get it wrong (as she did) you should take responsibility to sort out the problem (move wider, brake) and if that's not possible, make a grovelling apology.

outrageous behaviour

spord · May 2007

I think in pretty much all transport regulations the overtakee has right of way over the overtaker. The overtakee should try to maintain a steady course though, i.e. not accelerate or change direction unexpectedly.

Unknown · May 2007

i think spord is correct,

you could have (if you didnt) tried calling to her (somewhere between talking and shouting so you can be heard) "could i have a bit of space please?"

BentMikey · May 2007

I like Andy_WRX's answer, I would have been tempted to do the same even if it is bad karma. In reality I think I would have signalled, told her to move right early, and squeezed across so she had not choice but to move over.

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spen666 · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by srw647

Actually, if you're being overtaken you have a responsibility to let the overtaker pass. ...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Where do you get that from?
Are yopu suggesting it is a legal or moral responsibility, if legal- source pleaxse- not just "the law", but the section and act

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markpbeaumont · May 2007

Spatial awareness..

Cunobelin · May 2007

BIG obvious hand signal straight out across her path!

Establishes that you are going to pull out and forces distance to be given.

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Dublin Commuter · May 2007

It sounds to me like you just could not handle been overtaken. Did you speed up as she tried to pass which meant that she had more difficulty overtaking you? I think most cyclists are guilty of this to a certain extent. You are cycling home on a nice sunny evening at a steady pace and suddenly you realise there is someone behind you on a bicycle. The natural inclination is to speed up. Likewise the person behind is trying to catch up with the person in front and to try and overtake. Next thing the race is on.
You should have speeded up and got her off your back wheel so that you could have safely moved out to pass the park cars. If you were not capable of that you should have had the courtesy to slow down slightly and allow her to pass.
Is what is really bothering you the fact that a girl was able to overtake you?!!

somekindofwizard · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dublin Commuter

It sounds to me like you just could not handle been overtaken. Did you speed up as she tried to pass which meant that she had more difficulty overtaking you? I think most cyclists are guilty of this to a certain extent. You are cycling home on a nice sunny evening at a steady pace and suddenly you realise there is someone behind you on a bicycle. The natural inclination is to speed up. Likewise the person behind is trying to catch up with the person in front and to try and overtake. Next thing the race is on.
You should have speeded up and got her off your back wheel so that you could have safely moved out to pass the park cars. If you were not capable of that you should have had the courtesy to slow down slightly and allow her to pass.
Is what is really bothering you the fact that a girl was able to overtake you?!!
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I never said I was bothered by someone overtaking me, if your faster than me I am not going to hold you off!! Doesn't mean I might not try and catch you up though! [}:)]

The road was downhill so there wasn't any major effort to go quickly on my half, I was going roughly 20mph and speeding up with the hill, she tried to overtake but didnt manage until I slowed down to avoid the parked cars and let her past. I was really just questioning wether it was my responsibility to brake or whether she should have given me more room or delayed her overtaking. I was under the impression that in a car, when you are overtaking someone, the responsibility is on you to get past and not on the undertaken car to slow down to make it easier and I certainly wouldnt have thought you should speed up to prevent them! It just confused me when I asked her why she didnt give me any room she effectively answered that she didnt have to.

srw647 · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by spen666

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by srw647

Actually, if you're being overtaken you have a responsibility to let the overtaker pass. ...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Where do you get that from?
Are yopu suggesting it is a legal or moral responsibility, if legal- source pleaxse- not just "the law", but the section and act
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Very easy to find. Highway code, section 144. "Being overtaken".

144: Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.

(My emphasis). Despite reference to drivers also applies to cyclists; accessed from cyclists' page http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/cyclists.htm.

somekindofwizard · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">

Very easy to find. Highway code, section 144. "Being overtaken".

144: Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dammit turns out she was right all along! nevermind, at least it is good to know for next time

davidmam · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by somekindofwizard

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">

Very easy to find. Highway code, section 144. "Being overtaken".

144: Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dammit turns out she was right all along! nevermind, at least it is good to know for next time
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

No she wasn't. Forcing you into obstacles is as bad as carving you up and is a no-no. She should have left more space.

..d

Fat bloke on a bike

BentMikey · May 2007

No, that's only Highway Code advice, and whilst sensible, doesn't cover your situation. She was being an utter blunt by overtaking you like that, and failed HC rule 143.

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Cab · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by davidmam
No she wasn't. Forcing you into obstacles is as bad as carving you up and is a no-no. She should have left more space.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Indeed, but when someone is in the middle of a stupid overtaking manoevre, let them go. Just 'cos they've broken the rules it doesn't excuse you.

Let me be clear, I think the overtaker here was bang out of order, it is ultimately her fault; you have to make sure you've got space to pass and don't endanger anyone else.

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Crooky · May 2007

You sound a bit timid to me. You should have shouted to her to move over.

flattythehurdler · May 2007

Tell her to stick to the broomstick.

Dan

Dublin Commuter · May 2007

I agree with cab

miffedcp · May 2007

if she was being reasonable she should have kept the same distance from the cars as she held on the road. Well that is my rule of thumb. Following this youd have both filtered round the cars and if she was faster would have continued overtaking at the same pace.

She was cutting you out and being a bit of a twonk but in future you should be filtering round cars far enough ahead of them si that you dont get into this position, pull out ahead of where you want to go and be asertive and dont wait till the last minute. Think of all road users as cars, I wouldnt let a car start to overtake me just before parked cars.

Also id have considered a shoulder shove ala McEwan to get my space if they were being a real fool but that would be rash and childish

j

nigeve · September 2009

Surely if she’s caused you to brake because of her actions then it was bad riding on her part…? If you sped up as you realised you were being overtaken then srw647’s comments are correct. Just as it’s dangerous to speed your car up when someone is trying to overtake you…
I got completely rinsed this morning by a rather fit chick on an expensive looking race bike (whilst I was slogging along on my old steely). I sped up after she had overtaken… I found inspiration (and energy) in the view from behind

Whos fault?

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