A concerned Caerlaverock commuter got in touch to ask us to share their concerns regarding the safety of overtaking vehicles:
“As a regular commuter myself by cycle from Glencaple to Dumfries, most car drivers slow down to a respectable speed and pass me at a safe distance.
Unfortunately there are still a few ‘regulars’ who do exactly the opposite and scare the ‘bejabbers’ out of me every time they whizz by at top speed, missing me by inches.
I sometimes wish they were in my shoes to experience how it feels to be passed like that whilst on a bike – maybe they would slow down and take more care, who knows?”
Scott Sunderland puts this concept across succinctly, “If you’re a driver who believes a close pass on a cyclist (less then a meter) is ‘safe’ why not try walking between the yellow & white lines while a train is passing?”…
As cyclists ourselves, we have been gathering information on the subject of respecting all road users for a wee while now (we have also experienced one or two (or even quite a few) hairy moments cycling on the road to town). And as friends of pedestrians, horse owners and motorcyclists, we are aware it affects other road users too. We include them here when using the word ‘cyclist’.
The Cycling Scotland Campaign, Give Everyone Cycle Space, www.cyclingscotland.org, reminds us that cyclists require at least as much space as a car to overtake.
This video clearly explains the amount of space to give cyclists whilst overtaking:
The National Cycle Network is a series of safe, traffic-free paths and quiet on-road cycling and walking routes that connect to every major town and city.
As you can see from this map, National Cycle Route 7 (which links Inverness to Sunderland as part of a meandering 601 mile coast to coast route) passes through Caerlaverock, taking in Kelton, Glencaple, Shearington and Bankend before heading out towards Annan. There are a lot of cyclists from serious cycle clubs to family fun pedals who use our route.There are many reasons for people to get on their bike: health and fitness, environmental or financial reasons, for leisure and pleasure, to see and smell and appreicate the world we usually whizz past and sometimes just so there’s one less car on the road!
Most cyclists are also drivers and most cyclists and drivers are considerate.
However, we have experienced being overtaken with just inches to spare as an oncoming vehicle approaches. We have also been overtaken on corners and before bends. With hedge-edged roads, it’s not possible for us (in our higher positions) to see if anything is coming.It seems daft to have to say that it is common sense, and much appreciated, if drivers pull back and wait until it is safe to overtake. A vehicle coming the other way would make a right mess of your car…
Edmunds.com found that sometimes an adjustment to attitude can help – to see cyclists as a family member, a friend, a friend of a friend, or a neighbour somehow makes people a little more patient. When drivers humanise cyclists this way, they stop perceiving riders as mere objects.
It would be much appreciated for all concerned (cyclists, as well as other car drivers, passengers and all road users) for everyone (cyclists included) to be aware, take responsibility, show patience and to be considerate.
And please put your phone away until you arrive!
