Cyclist, another close call today

[Exfarmer]

Cyclists have every right to be there, But I would be in favour of them carrying some kind of insurance in order to use the road legally. They need to be accountable because they are not always in the right, at the minute they can cause an accident and technically ride away. Some kind of registration and insurance just like everyone else, horses too, I wouldn't move livestock across a road without at least public liability.
In this case however I would have sat behind them no matter what was behind me. It was obvious that they would speed up on the downhill and been out of your way.
I have stayed behind cyclists doing 5mph on blind corners, even when they wave you past, I would still sit until I had a clear view myself, they really hate it, but if something comes round that corner and I'm on the wrong side of the road and there's a collision I will be in deep trouble and the cyclist will not.

Actually virtually all club cyclists and most amateur cyclists hsve insurance through either through the club or their own house insurance, which gives third party cover in most circumstances. Nearly all clubs are affiliated to one of two national organisations. I am a member of both CTC And Cycle Uk

 

[devonbrion1998]

That's no different than starting to overtake a slow car then he decides to put his foot down, the bike would have been aware of the tractor getting ready to pass, and pulls a stunt like that, see it all the time here, their hell-bent on trying to ride like the wind, I think in their little minds they are at some race championship,whilst using a public road some common sense needs to be applied don't speed up whilst someone has started overtaking you.......

 

[hoff135]

Does the highway code apply to cyclists?

Rule 144 clearly states that you must maintain steady course and not increase speed while being overtaken

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

I can do over 25

not if you are over 2.55 meter wide

 

[hoff135]

not if you are over 2.55 meter wide

Im not

 

[Exfarmer]

Im not

And of course you are driving a JCB!

 

[B'o'B]

Have you never ridden a bike?
they go faster down hill than up hill!
If a car driver had done to you in your tractor what you did to those cyclists I imagine you would be thinking they were idiots.
Tractors, combines and telehandlers annoy anyone in a faster vehicle just as much as cyclists do. We are all just trying to do things as fast as we can.

 

[DrWazzock]

Came in behind 2 cyclists going up a hill. Had the tractor and 4 furrow plough on, they were doing about 15mph and couldnt get past. There was a lorry right on my tail followed by numerous cars.

Turned a corner at the top of the hill and went for the overtake going down hill now. Of course as always they sped up! Peddling for all they were worth. I was barely able to get back on to my side of the road in time for on coming traffic. Basically had to barge in just ahead of them. The alternative was to abandon the overtake but i had an artic lorry right on my tail.

What are these people trying to prove? Who is going to be the worst of in a collision, do they really think they have a chance or are they willing to risk there life to prove a point?

And who is in the right here? They sped up dramatically from when i started to overtake.

They then followed me for a mile down a slight hill holding everyone else up.

I think you are right, in respect that it would be courteous and pragmatic for the cyclists to let you in on the downhill stretch as you have the higher average speed, and so progress of the flow of traffic would be helped if you could get past them. I have done that many a time on my bicycle. Let the slightly faster tractor in so he can get on, rather than prove I can do 1 mph more than he can downhill then hold him up up the next hill.

Courtesy, forethought and pragmatism is in pretty short supply though nowadays, so just sit back and hold up the rest of the queue while the Lycra clad knobs up front have their King of the Road moment. That's what the pedants on here would expect you to do.

 

[hoff135]

And of course you are driving a JCB!

This isnt a thread about tractor speed limits, every tractor on the road is going flat out and everyone knows that. Mine will do 26/27.

What is in question is i started overtaking traffic thst was doing 15mph with plenty room ahead and having over 10mph speed advantage i had ample room to do so. But the cyclist sped up during my manoeuvre.

I actually got the tractor ahead fairly quickly but the sat at the side/end of the plough going as fast as they could. Keeping me out.

If the highway code applies to cyclists then it clearly states you dont increase speed whilst being overtaken and you fall back and maintain a 2 second gap

 

[bitwrx]

Does the highway code apply to cyclists?

Rule 144 clearly states that you must maintain steady course and not increase speed while being overtaken

Of course it applies to cyclists. But their not following it doesn't give you licence just to barge past.

Think about it? Mouldboard clocks cyclist in head cos you had to swing in early. Cyclist dies. Paramedic scrapes the bits into a body bag. Newly qualified local bobby - maybe 21 yrs old - goes to the family with the news. Family are left without a father/brother/mother/daughter/whatever. Untold suffering all round.

You go up before the beak on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, and say with a straight face 'but rule 144 clearly states...'

I tell you what, not getting the ploughing done would be the least of your worries that day.

Just cos they're being dicks, doesn't mean you have to be one too.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

The could easy do 40 mph down hill

 

[Shep]

Actually virtually all club cyclists and most amateur cyclists hsve insurance through either through the club or their own house insurance, which gives third party cover in most circumstances. Nearly all clubs are affiliated to one of two national organisations. I am a member of both CTC And Cycle Uk

Thank you that is good to hear, but it should be law for all cyclists and cycling specific insurance, also they still should have a means of identification so that they can be traced incase they just decide to disappear off Into the sunset, a reg no like motorbikes visible front and rear, either on the bike or on the rider, stored and registered on a national database. They are becoming a frequent hazard on the roads these last few years and their public image is not great, I am afraid regulation is needed.

 

[___\0/___]

Just cos they're not following the highway code, doesn't mean you can just barge past.

Think about it? Mouldboard clocks cyclist in head cos you had to swing in early. Cyclist dies. Paramedic scrapes the bits into a body bag. Newly qualified local bobby - maybe 21 yrs old - goes to the family with the news. Family are left without a father/brother/mother/daughter/whatever. Untold suffering all round.

You go up before the beak on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, and say with a straight face 'but rule 144 clearly states...'

I tell you what, not getting the ploughing done would be the least of your worries that day.

He didn't barge past he was conducting a safe manoeuvre and which ended up in a barge because of the actions of the people being overtaken.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

He didn't barge past he was conducting a safe manoeuvre and which ended up in a barge because of the actions of the people being overtaken.

Why would a slow moving vehicle over take something with far greater speed
But I agree cycles are hated ,
I try and be as helpful as I can and in that situation would have pulled over and stopped

 

[Derrick Hughes]

He didn't barge past he was conducting a safe manoeuvre and which ended up in a barge because of the actions of the people being overtaken.

Why would a slow moving vehicle over take something with far greater speed

 

[hoff135]

He didn't barge past he was conducting a safe manoeuvre and which ended up in a barge because of the actions of the people being overtaken.

At least somebody supports me. I was ahead quickly but getting back in was not easy. It was tight. Very tight. The artic lorry that was behind me was following the cyclists pretty close. Bailing out would have been very difficult.

If i was in a car doing 40 and someone overtook and i sped up to 60 not letting them in causing a head on crash i think id be the one going to jail

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

You all hold me up when I am on a sports bike Latest fashion hereabouts is for bloody yoofs to cycle down unlit country lanes. On unlit bikes, at night. Wearing dark clothes and plugged into some idiot device via earplugs.

How there isn’t more of them squished like hedgehogs I don’t know ?‍

 

[devonbrion1998]

At least somebody supports me. I was ahead quickly but getting back in was not easy. It was tight. Very tight. The artic lorry that was behind me was following the cyclists pretty close. Bailing out would have been very difficult.

If i was in a car doing 40 and someone overtook and i sped up to 60 not letting them in causing a head on crash i think id be the one going to jail

 

[___\0/___]

Why would a slow moving vehicle over take something with far greater speed

I have overtaken a car in the tractor before but never taken time to contemplate you point. Will make sure I do next time.

 

[ARW]

Some of you lot are arguing for the sake of it here. Think of it from the cyclists point of view
If I was the cyclist I would think I need to let this tractor get a lead on me so I can give it some down the hill. Not try and compete
I’ve had cyclists use my tractor as a slip stream then get annoyed if I pull in to let them past as I think I’m holding them up.