Cyclists Rights on narrow roads

dilemna

beverick wrote:

Firstly, and irrespective of other road traffic law, he should only sound his horn to warn you of his presence and not as a rebuke which is what sounds to have happened. Similalry you should not have 'given him the finger'.

Now onto the specific circumstances. Although there is no specific law covering what you're talking about, as a road user you do have an obligation not to cause an obstruction.

Highways Act Sn 137 applies "If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a Highway he is guilty of an offence..."

So I'd say if you were aware of faster traffic behind you and it was safe to do so, you were obliged to move over and let that traffic pass. Irrespective of the law I'd say you'd have been well advised to move over.

There is nothing in law to say that following traffic has a legal right to overtake. In fact the onus is on the overtakor to ensure that their proposed manoevre is safe. However, they have started the overtake the overtakee has a legal obligation not to obstruct them.

Bob

Key word obstructs, which you are not doing, you are cycling albeit at a lower speed than other traffic travelling more quickly past you. So if this leglisation is valid it has no relevance. Under your logic a car travellling at 60mph could obstruct another vehicle trying to pass at a much higher speed which is absurd.