Cycling on single track roads.

webboo
webboo Posts: 6,087
edited April 2019 in Road general
I was out on single track road when a car came up behind, he had to stay behind for a couple on hundred metres till he could pass. As he passed he shouted something and sounded his horn, I gestured as to say what was the problem. He then stopped and ask why I had raised my arm to which I said because he sounded his horn. He the informed me I should read the Highway Code as it says cyclists are supposed to give way to cars on single track roads.
As I have never read this I didn’t argue and off he went, I have had a look on line and I can’t see anything saying this.
Was he right or had he just made it up.

Comments

  • david7m
    david7m Posts: 636
    Sounds like BS. How about if it really narrow and you stopping still couldn't get him through? My thoughts were he should wait till it's safe and give you 4 foot clearance.
  • Darius_Jedburgh
    Darius_Jedburgh Posts: 675
    I ride a lot on single track roads. I get this ocassionally. I tell them that they are not allowed to pass me without 4 feet of clearance - even if I'm stationary - and if they like I'll phone the police, and report them for a road rage assault.
    I get my phone out and take a picture of their number and they leave PDQ.
    Probably does little to engender good relations but the drivers invariably have fixed ideas that they are in the right, so nothing I can say or do will change things.
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    No such rule for cyclists. Here is the definitive;

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82

    PP
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Pilot Pete wrote:
    No such rule for cyclists. Here is the definitive;

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82

    PP
    I looked at that but wondered if I’d missed something as his comment was” I don’t mind cyclists but” my normal reaction would have been to tell him he was talking bol*cks and should do one. But I met guy out on the roads and he shown me some new roads. So I didn’t want to spoil his day by him ending up thinking he’d been riding with a psycho. :shock:
  • handful
    handful Posts: 920
    As stated by others its BS but I ride a lot on those kind of lanes and always try and pull over at the first opportunity to let them past. To be fair I'd be wound up if I was in my car and wanted to pass a cyclist who just ignored me for miles!
    Vaaru Titanium Sram Red eTap
    Moda Chord with drop bars and Rival shifters - winter/do it all bike
    Orbea Rise
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Yes I would pull over as we did but it was only 200 hundred yards not 2 miles.
  • Cheeseface22
    Cheeseface22 Posts: 133
    Sounds like you did the right thing and the driver was simply impatient and rather uninformed about sharing the road with other users.

    I often go through a single track with soft verges. I can easily ride on to the grass to give way to vehicles, which 95% of drivers gesture thanks towards me (the other 5% might have, but I couldn't confirm their gestures).

    If it's a single track with the west country style hedge on both sides, then I would probably look behind to acknowledge that there's a vehicle behind waiting to pass, and then signal left at the next "passing" point and let the vehicle pass. I don't think it would be wise to stop where there's not enough space for the vehicle to pass through safely.

    Unfortunately, these things happen. I got tooted by a white van as it passed me on a normal, single carriage way. It was wide enough road for it to pass comfortably, straight road, clear view ahead, no oncoming traffic, previous vehicles passed me without any issues, yet I got tooted by the van as it passed me (though not a close pass). No reason what so ever for the driver to use the horn, but unfortunately, these things happen.
  • shimanobottombracket
    shimanobottombracket Posts: 376
    handful wrote:
    As stated by others its BS but I ride a lot on those kind of lanes and always try and pull over at the first opportunity to let them past. To be fair I'd be wound up if I was in my car and wanted to pass a cyclist who just ignored me for miles!

    Yeah this. I believe that slower people should always let faster people pass, whether on foot or on wheels. This way the faster people can continue going fast and slower people can continue going slow AND not piss anyone else off.

    I'm a cunt tho. When I drive just about anything and everything pisses me off. Had some dawdler doing 25mph and I ended up overtaking him. I unintentionally went significantly over the speed limit to do so (I intended to speed, just not as much as I did). Any time where I am stuck behind someone, but especially when someone is driving really slow approaching a green light really grips my shit. I don't actually go apeshit or tailgate, but I am at risk of a fuckin heart attack. If I never had to drive again, it would be a great privilege. I see why some drivers are mental.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    ShimanoBottomBracket wrote:
    I believe that slower people should always let faster people pass, whether on foot or on wheels. This way the faster people can continue going fast and slower people can continue going slow AND not wee-wee anyone else off.

    I'm a **** tho. When I drive just about anything and everything pisses me off. Had some dawdler doing 25mph and I ended up overtaking him. I unintentionally went significantly over the speed limit to do so (I intended to speed, just not as much as I did). Any time where I am stuck behind someone, but especially when someone is driving really slow approaching a green light really grips my shoot. I don't actually go apeshit or tailgate, but I am at risk of a fuckin heart attack. If I never had to drive again, it would be a great privilege. I see why some drivers are mental.

    I think you've identified one of the mental ones. You need help. Counselling possibly. Anger management and maybe a speed awareness course. And if you cannot modify your attitude / behaviour behind the wheel, consider surrendering your driving licence before you kill somebody.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    This is why the roads are dangerous. Humans can't be trusted. Chill out man.
  • shimanobottombracket
    shimanobottombracket Posts: 376
    I'l just try to drive less. I'l stick to my bike coz it's better.
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    This problem will be solved when cars drive themselves and it will be illegal for an ape to be at the wheel.
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • term1te
    term1te Posts: 1,462
    drlodge wrote:
    This problem will be solved when cars drive themselves and it will be illegal for an ape to be at the wheel.


    So a self driving car won't come within four foot of me if I'm on a bike? That will gridlock most of rural Britain.
    The Master
    The Moser
    The VN
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Cheeseface22 wrote:
    If it's a single track with the west country style hedge on both sides, then I would probably look behind to acknowledge that there's a vehicle behind waiting to pass, and then signal left at the next "passing" point and let the vehicle pass. I don't think it would be wise to stop where there's not enough space for the vehicle to pass through safely.
    This is my approach on the country lanes around here - normally just a waved hand to acknowledge they were there and make it look like I'm making an effort to get to a passing place more quickly than a dawdle ...
    I've been fortunate recently - they've all approached just as I was getting to a wider bit of the road so I can just wave them past - usually get a thanks off them...

    You do still get knobs in cars - like the one who didn't slow down on approaching a dozen cyclists - not even a bit - until I started to ride AT him... then he looked a little worried - even then, he didn't slow down anywhere near enough. Shame he didn't stop as I would've liked to educate him in road etiquette.
  • shimanobottombracket
    shimanobottombracket Posts: 376
    Slowbike wrote:
    Cheeseface22 wrote:
    If it's a single track with the west country style hedge on both sides, then I would probably look behind to acknowledge that there's a vehicle behind waiting to pass, and then signal left at the next "passing" point and let the vehicle pass. I don't think it would be wise to stop where there's not enough space for the vehicle to pass through safely.
    This is my approach on the country lanes around here - normally just a waved hand to acknowledge they were there and make it look like I'm making an effort to get to a passing place more quickly than a dawdle ...
    I've been fortunate recently - they've all approached just as I was getting to a wider bit of the road so I can just wave them past - usually get a thanks off them...

    You do still get knobs in cars - like the one who didn't slow down on approaching a dozen cyclists - not even a bit - until I started to ride AT him... then he looked a little worried - even then, he didn't slow down anywhere near enough. Shame he didn't stop as I would've liked to educate him in road etiquette.

    You'd have better luck placing a juicy steak in front of your dog and telling him not to eat it.
  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    I live out in the sticks and I try when possible to ride on quiet back roads so often these can be single track. If a vehicle comes up behind me I won't instantly stop but keep going until I find a passing place to pull in and wave them through. As long as it's not more than a few hundred metres I think this is reasonable and most drivers are fine. Very occasionally one will blast horn or make comments but then they get it back big time. I also give a thumbs up or nod in thanks to any drivers who wait for me to pass as it should work both ways.


    As a generalisation I find tractor drivers the worst, often blast past without slowing etc and if you get hit by 10 tons of farm machinery there's only one winner....
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Term1te wrote:
    drlodge wrote:
    This problem will be solved when cars drive themselves and it will be illegal for an ape to be at the wheel.


    So a self driving car won't come within four foot of me if I'm on a bike? That will gridlock most of rural Britain.

    Isn't gridlock where it all stops ? So if the car is behind you it would stay back. No gridlock.

    If the car is oncoming it would stop and the cyclist could get past and both continue. No gridlock.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    ShimanoBottomBracket wrote:
    Slowbike wrote:
    Shame he didn't stop as I would've liked to educate him in road etiquette.

    You'd have better luck placing a juicy steak in front of your dog and telling him not to eat it.

    True enough ... would've made me feel a bit better though... ;)
  • amrushton
    amrushton Posts: 1,313
    Motorists don't want to know about the highway code. My opinion now is get them out of your 'bubble' as quickly as possible and avoid the discussion/confrontation. You never know who is in the car, how many mates they have and/or they have a weapon. Some amped up thug is not going to worry about the old guy in cleats (me) citing the Highway Code. I've had a couple of moments where I have wondered if I have met a maniac - one spectacular one where it escalated from him challenging me to a fight to threatening a lady bystander who berated him for his foul language with cutting her throat!!
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    I wasn’t the one quoting or as it turns out mis quoting the Highway Code. It was the motorist.

Categories