John Thompson-Mills: How the new cyclist overtaking laws affect all road users
KEEN bike rider John Thompson-Mills assesses the impact of the new cyclist overtaking laws. The results from day one were mixed.
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YESTERDAY I rode just over 60km, in part for a family visit but also to see how motorists were reacting to the new cyclist overtaking laws.
Most of my riding was on 60km/h main roads with a bike lane, but I also rode on some roads in the foothills, an 80km/h speed limit and no bike lane.
On the main roads, in a section with no bike lane, only once did a car not move away from me as they passed. Ignorance, inattention or deliberate behaviour? We will never know.
A car drove into a roundabout as I turned right and would have hit me if I didn’t stop. The driver apologised but clearly wasn’t looking properly.
But all the other cars were fine ... well done motorists.
In the foothills, if a car was coming up behind me as I approached a tight corner, I pointed my right hand towards the ground which I hoped drivers would interpret as a signal to slow down. And do you know, several cars actually did slow down and once I was around the corner, I signalled with my right hand when it was safe for them to pass. One driver even waved at me in their rear vision mirror as they overtook me.
One driver though wasn’t prepared to slow down, or wait, or move safely around me on a tight bend, and so I opted to ride into what you would technically call the gutter. This was the safest option as they were going too fast and were way too close to me.
Hopefully that driver will get a visit from the karma police before they seriously injure someone.
So, that tosser aside, it really was quite good out there yesterday. It may not be the same tomorrow, but we can only hope.
Over time people I’m sure people will adjust, but all it takes is one idiot or a moment’s inattention and the outcome could be drastically different.
See you on the road, and hopefully you’ll see me.