Is it wrong to expect the right of way priority over oncoming traffic if you are on a bike heading up a steep(ish) hill, with parking on both sides such that two lines of cars could not easily get past, but a car and a bike could? ie either that the cars heading downhill stop and wait for you, or that they move over enough to make way for you?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Sail before steam?
(11 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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That's the way the pinch-point priority-signs are arranged on Kaimes Road... presumably it's to reduce the need for hill starts (with concomitant risk of careering backwards into something) and to discourage people racing downhill... I'd never expect it, though. Even where it's signed I expect it to be ignored.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"or that they move over enough to make way for you?"
I assume that 'you' in this case is on a bike? But you said a car and a bike could get past, so... I'm confused. Or is it just that it's a bit tight?
In situations where there isn't space for one bike + one car I always take the position that if I am to the left of the centre white line* then I should have right of way (unless opposing traffic is already moving through the narrow bit).
*Of course, This Is Edinburgh so white lines may not be available.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'd like to think so, at least in terms of general politeness. In fact, that would be good at all pinch points whether on a hill or not. After all we are the ones putting the effort in, whilst they are lazy bs ( ;) ).However I suspect there is no right of way.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I think Rule 155 applies (or should) cars on both sides of the road effectively create a single track road.
Not of course that the highway code actually means any thing to your average driver but I always give way to anyone coming up a hill.
155
Single-track roads. These are only wide enough for one vehicle. They may have special passing places. If you see a vehicle coming towards you, or the driver behind wants to overtake, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite a passing place on your right. Give way to vehicles coming uphill whenever you can. If necessary, reverse until you reach a passing place to let the other vehicle pass. Slow down when passing pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.
Posted 13 years ago # -
When I did an one-day advanced driving course, the instructor very heavily emphasised that no one has right of way on the road.
Posted 13 years ago # -
True but ceding priority is effectively the same for your average punter. Arguing the toss between "right of way" and priority is simply semantics to the average man on the
busbike.Posted 13 years ago # -
@cb - there was room for a car and a bike to pass, but this moron in a wide car was hogging it down the middle. presumably he saw that there was no room for a car coming uphill, but there would have been room for me!
Posted 13 years ago # -
I encounter this quite a bit in my estate - I treat myself as a vehicle, and if there isn't room for two cars to pass, then I'll cede priority or take up all the available room.
I've had too many close passes to think that drivers are capable of passing a cyclist safely in a space that would preclude passing a car.
Robert
(Who has had a punishment pass too many this week. Next week the answer may be different...)Posted 13 years ago # -
@SRD of course, the driver should have ceded priority as you were heading uphill, had he any courtesy...
But would you have wanted him squeezing past, knowing what you know about his driving standards, even if he had tried to accommodate you? Better to be delayed by an idiot than hit by one!
Robert
Posted 13 years ago # -
Don't forget that some drivers believe that cyclists must give way to drivers at all times. This sounds like one of these.
The "give way to the person going uphill" works pretty well at the top of the Innocent Tunnel. I once had one man barge through forcing me out of the way but at all other times people coming downhill have given way (or I have if it is me!).
Posted 13 years ago #
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