18th June 2014, Michelle and Andrew Cause a Stir

The Science and Legalities of the Driver, Cyclist Relationship..

MICHELLE & ANTHONY write:

On Wednesday night we went for a short cycle, from home (South Douglas Road) to relatives in Rochestown, so we were only cycling for 20 minutes.

The roads were quiet at 7.30 pm and even quieter on our way home at 9.15 pm. Normally we cycle single file, but when the roads are quiet like this at times we cycle two a breast. However, when we cycled two-abreast on Monday evening, an elderly motorist beeped at us and gave us the finger.

We were in an urban area with narrow streets, so whether we were in a single file or two abreast, the driver would have had to go to the opposite side of the road to pass us out.

From: UK Road Cycling Laws and Rules Explained

On narrow or windy roads its safest to command the lane, otherwise motorists will pass you out with millimetres to spare*. However, the regulations state that drivers should keep  a safe distance between the car and the cyclist when overtaking a cyclist. 
The cyclist’s own preservation is paramount since they are the more vulnerable road users and if a motorist wants to overtake them then they have to abide by the rules of the road.

Commanding the lane ( or assuming the “primary position in the centre of the lane) is particularly important at roundabouts/ junctions. If you don’t assert your position clearly in the centre, you get closely passed by and/or cut off by motor traffic.

If you command the centre of the lane you reduce the likelihood of a vehicle shaving past you, hence protecting yourself.
It appears that motorists need to know the rules of the road/show more respect for cyclists – a media campaign with a well known celebrity figure might raise awareness."

Editor's Footnote:

On Overtaking cyclists:
In some countries like Spain and parts of Australia motorists must leave a gap of 1 metre between the car and cyclist when overtaking. Cycle clubs and campaign groups all over the world are campaigning for an even greater gap of 1.5 metres to be made mandatory.

The 2013 Edition of the Rules of the Road makes the following statements about overtaking: 

"Never cut in front of cyclists or motorcyclists when overtaking them. Give them plenty of space. You should give extra space when overtaking a cyclist, as they may need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles.

Do not overtake a cyclist as you approach a junction if you are turning left. The cyclist might be continuing straight ahead.

When turning right through a gap in oncoming traffic (for example at a yellow box junction), watch out for cyclists who might be moving up on the inside (at the centre of the road) or might be travelling in a cycle or bus lane running in the opposite direction at the far side of the road."

The National Cycle Manual gives some indication as to the appropriate overtaking gap:

How wide is a Cyclist?

An individual adult cyclist on a conventional bicycle is approximately 750 mm wide. A further 250 mm will normally permit the use of accessories such as child trailers, panniers etc..

Wobble Room

Cyclists always wobble or wander from side to side in order to keep balance, particularly at lower speeds. A provision of 250mm wobble room is normally sufficient.

Additional width should be considered where cyclists will be slower and wobbling more, e.g. approaching junctions, at bends, or on uphill sections.

This would seem to infer that  motor traffic should allow 375 mm+250 mm+250 mm =875 mm minimum. However the width calculator for cycle lane design suggests that an additional width of 250 mm is required for traffic at 50 kph bringing the total recommended gap to 1,125mm.

On Cycling Two-Abreast:

In Ireland, it is legal to cycle two-abreast; However, cyclists must be sensible about it. Cycling two abreast is not advised in heavy traffic. The  rules and guidance on the  matter are a bit open to interpretation.. Road users just have to be reasonable and fair about it.

The 2013 Edition of the Rules of the Road makes the following statements about cycling two abreast: 

“In the company of one or more cyclists you must have due regard to other users of the road, and you must take full account of prevailing road conditions. On occasion it may be safe to cycle two abreast, but you must not cycle in a manner likely to create an obstruction for other users.”

"The table below sets down particular road traffic rules on cycling which you must obey.

Do's	Don'ts
Do cycle in single file when overtaking.	Don't ever ride or attempt to ride a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Do allow extra space when overtaking parked vehicles as the doors may open suddenly.	Don't ever ride on or across a footpath, other than where a cycle track is provided on the footpath.
Do cycle on cycle tracks where they are provided.	Don't ever hold on to a moving vehicle.
Do cycle in single file if cycling beside another person would endanger, inconvenience or block other traffic or pedestrians.	Don't ever cycle side-by-side with more than one cyclist.
Do cycle in single file in heavy traffic.	Don't ever cycle against the flow of traffic on one-way streets.
Do give your name and address, if requested, to a Garda.	Don't ever cycle through red traffic lights or pedestrian lights.
Do obey signals given by a Garda or school warden.	Don't ever cycle on a motorway.
Do obey all rules applying to road traffic signs and road markings, including signs and signals at traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, pelican crossings, level crossings and zebra crossings.	Don't ever cycle in a contra-flow bus lane.
Do know the meaning of hand signals for cyclists and use them when cycling.	Don't ever cycle without appropriate lighting during hours of darkness.

On Cycling In the Middle of the Lane:

 The "Cycle Safety Skills courses" provided in Ireland and the UK follow the Bikeability Training model and the ideas set forth in John Franklin's book: Cyclecraft. This teaches cyclists about the benefits of getting into the "primary position".

Quotes from CycleCraft: 

"The Primary Riding Position is:

- in the centre of the left most moving traffic lane,

- in the direction in which you wish to travel."

The Primary Riding Position should be your normal riding position, when you can keep up with traffic, when you need to emphasise your presence to traffic ahead, or when you need to prevent following drivers from passing you safely.

The philosophy is neatly summed up the poster below from: http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/6983/commuting/overtaking-cyclists/  

The logic seems to be, that motorists are less likely to overtake you, if you adopt this strategy. However, the Cycle Safety Skills trainers usually advocate kerbside ( secondary position) cycling in between junctions and primary position cycling at junctions.

But, I don't always do this myself when cycling through junctions, because sometimes it doesn't seem to make intuitive sense, or it just seems too difficult or dangerous to do.

So, I was keen to know what statistical evidence there is to support the idea that the primary position reduces the likelihood of being overtaken. Unfortunately, the two studies I came across suggest that in fact "taking the lane" seems to increase the likelihood of being hit by a motorist. The video below discusses the results of analysing the lane position of 3,235 cyclists in YouTube videos and then focusing on the videos in which cycle collisions occurred. In this sample the risk ratio for cyclists "taking the lane" in the primary position, was 9.19 compared to only 1.21 for cyclists travelling near the kerb.

Another study, which highlighted the risks of cycling too far out from the kerb was:

 "Drivers overtaking bicyclists: Objective data on the effects of riding position, helmet use, vehicle type and apparent gender" by Dr. Ian Walker and published in Accident Analysis and Prevention 39 (2007) 417–425 by Elsevier Ltd.

This study showed how the overtaking gap increased, the closer the cyclist got to the kerb.

Laura Laker gives a good overview of the topic here:
 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2011/aug/01/cyclist-take-the-lane
Another worth-a-look discussion can be found here:

http://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/the-primary-position-putting-uk-cyclists-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place/ 

Finally please share this video with all your motoring friends- especially  Bus drivers, HGV drivers and taxi drivers since they generally, seem to allow the least amount of room when overtaking cyclists!