MrGrumpyCyclist wrote:
"When I do use a designated cycle lane thank you for realizing that this does not give you carte-blanche to ignore highway code rule 163..."
Unfortunately, I have to refer to you the same technical flaw that I pointed out earlier: he passed you with as least as much space as he did with the van.
And yes, he more than likely was a pillock.
MrGrumpyCyclist wrote:
" There are some other drivers who think that it is OK to pass me at speed within a few inches in this circumstance, making cycle lanes often more dangerous than if they hadn’t been there."
I'm not sure the issue is as clear cut as that.
MrGrumpyCyclist wrote:
("Well, I didn't hit you" is pretty close to "Well, he didn't encroach on the cycle lane".)
Not really. It's funny how you view things being closer than how I view them
He also left a gap to the cycle lane (the gap to the wheel was about half the width of the cycle lane itself, as he passed you), so something else must have occurred for that to been as close as he was.
MrGrumpyCyclist wrote:
Steve wrote:
I would like you to clarify the following (I don't wish to strawman you, so please do correct me if my interpretation is wrong):
Are you now saying that you now would, and would recommend, riding in the centre of that lane by default?
No, that's a very good question, not strawman and not nitpicking
in fact I have indeed been thinking about it on and off today.
Yaaay, for both accepting the question in the spirit for which it was intended, and for reflecting on the incident.
MrGrumpyCyclist wrote:
Incidentally, it is fortunate that I am a fairly good cyclist and checked behind (as I always do) before moving to the edge of the cycle lane to get around the severely sunken, badly repaired drain that you can see.
You checked; that's a really good thing. So you must have had at least some awareness.
However, there was still a lack of space, and time, for you to react. I’m curious to know why you maintained position when you must have known something was amiss.
I would have been further in. The pedestrian argument doesn't apply here.
Yes I saw the grate was sunk, but I still would have been more left than you were; doing so would have left more room. In that situation I would have considered going over the grate, to give myself even more room. Not that it mattered too much; you were still about a second away from the grate after the BMW passed you.
Could you imagine what would happen if you were further out and that BMW still wanted to thread the needle? I can. You would have been at a greater risk of a left-hook from such p155-taking drivers, especially those frustrated by the needless hold up. Added to that is the strong possibility of slow/stationary vehicles wanting to turn right; your being further right when approaching that could end up being really nasty.
If you tell me where that occurred (privately by PM if you wish), I will tell you what speed the passing BMW was doing.