Safe Speed Forums

Spotted this letter from a CW reader in this week's letters. Sadly he did not win the Ba#lackbun Carbon Wrap Airstick which he wanted to win as "defence" :lol;

Ok .. per his letter . he's 59 and been cycling for 40 years. He has noted




It's FUN






He has a point in that you overtake with some space and margin of safety just as in a car though?


So cyclists .. how much space to do you give a fellow cyclist if overtaking him or her? What would be your optimum comfort degree for passing?

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Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

At my age and state of decrepitude I rarely pass another cyclist As for being passed it rather depends on whether the overtaker gives any warning of his presence. If he gives the correct warning then a few inches is plenty. If he insists on being stealthy then a few feet is in order.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

I do not think you can answer In Gears question in feet or metres just the same as you cannot measure a safe speed in MPH. What is your perception of the cyclist you are overtaking? How are they likely to react to you especially if they do not hear you coming up behind them. What are the road conditions like? Is the surface bad are they likely to swerve out to avoid pot holes etc? A ring on the bell or a cheery greeting might help in this respect. What are traffic conditions like? Will your pulling out wide cause problems for another road user? Personally I will put COAST into practice and endevour to give them as much space as I can without going over the centre line of the road. As for being overtaken I fitted a mirror to the bike and regularily check it just like when in the car so as to ensure as far as I can no one gets the jump on me without my knowledge.