militant cyclists

[Acklam_Lad]

My question would be to anyone who drives a motor home or tows a caravan what driving qualifications and experience do you have for driving a vehicle of that size?

I am not having a go at you but the law that allows us to jump into a huge vehicle without any experience. I had never towed a vehicle before, bought a caravan and was allowed to go anywhere in it.

Depends as to when you took your test.

Before 2001 (I think) allows you to drive pretty much anything up to LGV

After 2001 you need to sit a test for anything above 3.5mt

But I agree with what you say… the dynamics of driving a car to then a car with caravan are very different… not just weight based

 

[diggerman]

here we go.
Now, at this point I'm on the other side of quite a narrow road and driving under 30mph.
I'm a bit confused and need advice.
Is this a driving offence?
Am I crazy to think this isn't a driving offence?
What am I supposed to do?

I suppose it depends on how close the back of your vehicle was to the cyclist as you went into the bend.
Have to say though, in a vehicle that size - what are you meant to do on a narrow road?
As long as someone is careful and mindful of other road users, is there really any need to report people?

 

[Cuthbert]

obviously his cycling mate behind has the camera and sent this to the police.

Am I guilty?

I'm a cyclist, and I'd feel perfectly comfortable with you going past like that. (But I guess it's not up to me).
I generally pull over to let cars past. Certainly if I'm on narrowish roads, if it's been a few minutes without a passing opportunity. I think that too many people (including some cyclists) are inconsiderate.

 

[1finny]

think that too many cyclist are inconsiderate.

Can you just change that to too many people?
Some will be cyclists, some car drivers, some pedestrians etc

The thread is divisive enough

 

[Zoophonic]

I'm a cyclist, and I'd feel perfectly comfortable with you going past like that. (But I guess it's not up to me).
I generally pull over to let cars past. Certainly if I'm on narrowish roads, if it's been a few minutes without a passing opportunity. I think that too many cyclist are inconsiderate.

Not at that corner I wouldn’t - not with a campervan. Post 48 explains excellently why.

 

[Cuthbert]

They do it because, in general, it can be really dangerous..

I’ve just come back from my ride today - nearly every driver was brilliant, and I was on some country lanes so they had to be patient at times.

There was only one (and that’s all it takes) who blasted past me with about 2 foot to spare. I can handle it but it does make me frickin angry.

Incidentally - sounds like you have learnt a bit - mebe change the title of the thread to
Motorists can learn something

Why make them be patient though?
The way I see it, drivers are trying to get from a to b. When I'm out on my road bike, I'm training / enjoying myself. It seems much easier for me to unclip and let the cars past, than make then sit behind being held up. I appreciate that I'm in a cycling minority here, but I don't seem to have these incidents of cars speeding past too close to me, which are being mentioned.

Edit: On reflection, I appreciate that if you're commuting to work, or using your bike as your source of transport, then stopping and unclipping all the time is impractical, so retract some of the above.
(I'm lucky that when I'm out in my bike it's for enjoyment, so I have the luxury of being able to stop).

 

[Cuthbert]

Can you just change that to too many people?
Some will be cyclists, some car drivers, some pedestrians etc

The thread is divisive enough

Yes, no problem! I will do

Done.

 

[newusername]

I'm a cyclist, and I'd feel perfectly comfortable with you going past like that. (But I guess it's not up to me).

IIRC the yellow line on a train platform is 1.25m from the edge and when a non-stopping service goes through, most people step back and give themselves a bit more room from something that isn't going to misjudge the gap or swerve in when they see an oncoming vehicle appear.

 

[MolteniArcore]

Have to say though, in a vehicle that size - what are you meant to do on a narrow road?

Wait until it is safe to pass. Which would mean giving AT LEAST 1.5 metres and until you are on a straight patch of road.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

Mmm

Depends as to when you took your test.

Before 2001 (I think) allows you to drive pretty much anything up to LGV

After 2001 you need to sit a test for anything above 3.5mt

But I agree with what you say… the dynamics of driving a car to then a car with caravan are very different… not just weight based

I feel it would be better for all those that drive motor homes or tow caravans to complete some kind of competency course before being allowed out on the road.

I’m out here in France and they are a lot of motor homes on the roads and some (not all) of the driving through small villages is ridiculous with many speeding.

For the last 9 years I have left my caravan in France and don’t tow any more. I save on fuel costs, Euro Tunnel prices and the storage is slightly cheaper than what I was paying at home. We just email them when we are coming out and the pitch number, they wash the caravan and take it to our site. When we arrive it is perfectly situated and already level.

Back to cyclists - There was a guy on the main road into the local town on one of them contraptions that they lay down and pedal with their hands (can you pedal with your hands ). He had a flag so people could see him and a huge tailback of traffic. The worst part about it is next to the road is a cycle path.

For me he is just a lunatic who wants people to look at him.

 

[gregorgregorovich]

I went out for a ride yesterday, got home and the wife asked how my ride was and I replied that I'd enjoyed it, because nobody tried to kill me. Went out again this morning, fluorescent yellow helmet, bright yellow top, 2 forward facing lights with one on rapid flash mode. Didn't even get off our estate before some numpty went to pull out in front of me from a side road causing me to swerve and brake at the same time. I may also have sworn a little bit and offered to take them to a well known opticians.

 

[Bristolboro]

We drive a motorhome like that around Scotland on the nc500, last thing I'd want to do is overtake on a corner

Actually, I could see that the road was clear ahead (I'm not stupid to drive blind around a corner). Btw I've been driving this van for 10 years with no other incident.
My main issue is that I felt that I had given enough room for the cyclist and he was not in danger. The van does not get any closer to him as I go around the corner.
It's a fine line. Is this cyclist truly in danger in this situation or his is mate behind just out on a jolly to report vans because he likes doing it and he can?

At the end of the day I just take the 3 points and give cyclists a wider berth because that way everyone is happy. Lesson learnt.

 

[Bristolboro]

I went out for a ride yesterday, got home and the wife asked how my ride was and I replied that I'd enjoyed it, because nobody tried to kill me. Went out again this morning, fluorescent yellow helmet, bright yellow top, 2 forward facing lights with one on rapid flash mode. Didn't even get off our estate before some numpty went to pull out in front of me from a side road causing me to swerve and brake at the same time. I may also have sworn a little bit and offered to take them to a well known opticians.

Sorry to hear that.
Why not report him as this sounds genuine dangerous driving rather than my case.

 

[Bristolboro]

Actually agree with the idea that motorhome drivers should have to do a course. It's a different beast to a car especially old one's with no power steering or rear view camera. A lot of owners of larger vans I know bash their vehicles, often in car parks.

 

[gregorgregorovich]

Actually, I could see that the road was clear ahead (I'm not stupid to drive blind around a corner). Btw I've been driving this van for 10 years with no other incident.
My main issue is that I felt that I had given enough room for the cyclist and he was not in danger. The van does not get any closer to him as I go around the corner.
It's a fine line. Is this cyclist truly in danger in this situation or his is mate behind just out on a jolly to report vans because he likes doing it and he can?

At the end of the day I just take the 3 points and give cyclists a wider berth because that way everyone is happy. Lesson learnt.

Sorry, but the van will get closer to him as you go round the corner, it was called the cut in factor by the HGV Instructor who taught me. As to your point about reporting the driver who caused me to swerve, I'd be phoning the Police at least once a week to report bad or aggressive driving. However, I must admit that the gap you left was, I thought , better than a lot of other road users.

 

[MolteniArcore]

I went out for a ride yesterday, got home and the wife asked how my ride was and I replied that I'd enjoyed it, because nobody tried to kill me. Went out again this morning, fluorescent yellow helmet, bright yellow top, 2 forward facing lights with one on rapid flash mode. Didn't even get off our estate before some numpty went to pull out in front of me from a side road causing me to swerve and brake at the same time. I may also have sworn a little bit and offered to take them to a well known opticians.

Doesn’t matter what you wear, his vis or black, the ones that aren’t looking just don’t see you. It’s a nightmare!

 

[diggerman]

Wait until it is safe to pass. Which would mean giving AT LEAST 1.5 metres and until you are on a straight patch of road.

But surely a bit of 'give and take' on both sides wouldn't hurt.
I've seen cyclists refusing to budge from almost the middle of their side of the road.
Courtesy and respect for other road users should go both ways.

 

[MolteniArcore]

But surely a bit of 'give and take' on both sides wouldn't hurt.
I've seen cyclists refusing to budge from almost the middle of their side of the road.
Courtesy and respect for other road users should go both ways.

Deffo. I try and do that whenever I can. When out on my own I often pull in if there is a line of traffic behind me etc. The problem is always the odd one or two, drivers and cyclists alike. But the odd one or two drivers can kill and that’s the problem

 

[gregorgregorovich]

But surely a bit of 'give and take' on both sides wouldn't hurt.
I've seen cyclists refusing to budge from almost the middle of their side of the road.
Courtesy and respect for other road users should go both ways.

Yes, you're right, it should go both ways. But, I'd love to take some people out on a tandem, I'd even do all the pedalling, just so they could see just how skewed is the reality of the relationship between drivers and cyclists.

I've been aware of it for years, about 35 years ago a close friend was killed at Eston baths crossroads by a lorry turning left onto the Trunk Road. That is too often the tragic reality facing the family and friends of far too many cyclists.

 

[RedAsABeetroot]

But surely a bit of 'give and take' on both sides wouldn't hurt.
I've seen cyclists refusing to budge from almost the middle of their side of the road.
Courtesy and respect for other road users should go both ways.

To be fair this would be one of my biggest criticisms of the initial image. The cyclist is too close to the curb and therefore "encouraging" someone to squeeze past. If he'd been 1m further right I doubt this would have happened.
If I'm overtaking a cyclist my aim is to get totally on the opposite side of the road. Bikes aren't like cars and if people aren't confident or are unsettled it's very easy to swerve a couple of feet either way, plus there is a chance they may swerve to miss one of the many potholes we're blessed with.
P.s. for non-cyclists here's what can happen if your back wheel unexpectedly catches the curb.