Letting motorists past on hills

southdownswolf

drlodge wrote:

He's not doing anything illegal, debatable whether he's doing anything wrong. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should...

Completely agree, wrong was probably the incorrect word to use... :?

I wonder if the cars and motorbikes would have kept behind him if the cop wasn't there though...?

dodgy

Steve236 wrote:

and to do my bit for the good image of cyclists.

Do it because you think it's appropriate, not for some BS collective responsibility thing.

I'm not responsible for anyone else's cycling, or driving. I am responsible for my own, though. And yes, I would be doing my best to make life easier for anyone following.

Mikey23

Staying alive is my primary agenda. If being courteous to other road users helps me to achieve this then its got to be a good plan...

homers_double

I'd have mown the bastard down.

hipshot

Tricky one this. It really depends on the road. Ive been on club rides where we've briefly mounted the pavement en masse (there were no pedestrians/obstacles) on long winding climbs where overtaking is difficult.

Sometimes it's less dangerous to do that than having HGVs try to overtake and suddenly cut you off when an oncoming car appears round a bend.

mfin

southdownswolf wrote:

drlodge wrote:

madasahattersley wrote:

holiver wrote:

This was on reddit and was getting a lot of attention.

http://instagram.com/p/rs4NFpyLuj/

What sort of tugger rides his bike slap bang in the middle of one of the most famous driving roads on the planet? IDC if he has the right to that's just asking for trouble.

Well said, I was think exactly this. He should be riding (as I would) as near to the side of the road as is safe giving the motorists behind a fair chance to pass. Sitting in the middle of a road lke that is just asking for trouble.

Whilst I agree that he is more than a bit of an eejit for riding like that, I guess he is not actually doing anything wrong or else the cop in the 4x4 would pull him over.

You are actually watching the video? Not the still preview shot of the cyclist behind the police 4x4?

earth

Sometimes its essential.

The other day I was going up hill along a narrow lane. I could hear traffic behind so I looked around and it was a 4X4. I looked ahead again and there was another one coming down the hill. The lane was only about shoulder width wide. So I pulled in at someones driveway only to find the 4X4 behind indicated left - it was their house. So I carried on a bit and the one behind me pulled into the driveway only to reveal another 4X4 behind it. I pulled in again and watched as the 4X4 coming down the hill negotiated around the other one coming up the hill by driving up the verge until it was leaning over at 45 degrees. Then the 4X4 going up hill had to stop again to get past another 4x4 coming down !!

drlodge

I love it when I've got cars behind and see a car coming the oppsite way, it means I can squeeze past the upcoming car and leave them all to fight out how to pass each other. Meanwhile I'm someway into the distance...

earth

drlodge wrote:

I love it when I've got cars behind and see a car coming the oppsite way, it means I can squeeze past the upcoming car and leave them all to fight out how to pass each other. Meanwhile I'm someway into the distance...

It's a good tactic and in the case of hill climbing not wrong. But I believe this is also the thinking behind redlight and pedestrian crossing jumpers.

me-109

southdownswolf wrote:

drlodge wrote:

He's not doing anything illegal, debatable whether he's doing anything wrong. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should...

Completely agree, wrong was probably the incorrect word to use... :?

I wonder if the cars and motorbikes would have kept behind him if the cop wasn't there though...?

There are actually two police cars in that queue. The presence of so many bikes and a muscle car hints that this may just be a popular twisty so would be well policed. Penalties for crossing the yellows are quite high, so in all probability they wouldn't overtake.

volociroldster

Surely common road sense applies folks, or am i alone! I ain't a serious 'climber' but have seen many that think they are hogging the ramp on busy A class roads to the detriment of other road users. Serious 'climbers' do proper 'climbs' that are out of the way and pose little nuisance to other road users. By the way, whilst i aspire to do the croix de fer, madeleine and galibier in one weekend i doubt i ever will. That's climbing!

Nick Cod

Personally I wave them through if I can see it's clear and the driver can't. However I'm not a fan of stopping to let motorists past, I'll give room when opportunity arises as I wouldn't want to hold anyone up by intentionally blocking their way

When I'm driving if I get stuck behind a rider I always try to give them plenty of room and not make them feel pressured to pull over or give way. The road will open up eventually and opportunity for everyone to carry on as normal will come

dean7879

With me, if a vehicle has been behind me for a particular long time( everyone got their own opinion on how long a 'long time' is) then i will pull over and let them pass. Usually its big trucks i have problems with.

Just do whatever you feel comfortable with. If you start to feel uncomfortable, thats the best time to let the cars pass.

davidof

I wouldn't stop to let a car past. If you are driving up ditchling beacon you've got to expect to be held up. If driving slowly is an issue for the driver he can stop and let the cyclist get to the top, chill out and admire the view.

Pulling to the left? You've got to be careful not to put yourself in a position where the driver attempts a pass then cuts in on you. That is a big risk on narrow roads where they can encounter another car coming down the hill.

Maybe car drivers could pull over when I catch them on the flat or downhill? Bikes seem to be a red rag to a bull for most drivers, they need to take a long hard look at their driving and their attitudes to other road users. On Britains crowded roads they are not going to be going very far once they pass you.

That said, I'm not looking for confrontation and happy to indicate to drivers that I know they are they and I'm happy for them to pass (wave, elbow flick).