How to overtake bicycle

[Guest]

Hi, if a bicycle is at the left side of the lane next to the pavement can I overtake in the same lane or do I have to swerve right over to the other side of the road like when I overtake a car?

[techno]

Whatever is safe, why wait to swerve right out if something is coming the other way.

You could if you feel do a maverick style fly by

[Guest]

Reason I ask is because in the highway code Rule 163 it sais: `give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car'. I want to get into good practice for my test.

And BTW what's a `maverick style fly by'?

[techno]

Buzzing the tower

For your test just give them a few yards you'll be past in a split second anyway, I would have thought that was enough, I suppose it begs the question how much room do you give a car?

[Guest]

Hmm so do I still need to indicate?

[Stu]

Your supposed to give them enough room so that if they fell off you wouldn't run over their head!!

Well that's what I was taught

[freetime101]

No need to indicate, if safe use the other lane (there is no "wrong" side of the road), if not slow down a bit and give as much room as safely possible...

After your test do whatever is safe

[mealexme]

how much room do you give a car that is taking up a whole lame? personally, depending on the view of the road ahead I can be anything from almost touching the white line to being (ideally) in the middle of the other lane, so I would ideally there would be half a lane between me and the vehicle I am overtaking, so I would give a cyclist the same. if they are riding just out from the curb I usually go out just over the white line if the road is clear, but if not then I would position myself where the right wheel of a car would go on the road, which is about half a lane away which should be enough for your test, as long as you do a life saver before changing lane position

[techno]

After your test do whatever is safe

Or whatever might give you a laugh

[freetime101]

After your test do whatever is safe

Or whatever might give you a laugh

 

Second gear wheelie on the inside

[Weebl]

Reason I ask is because in the highway code Rule 163 it sais: `give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car'. I want to get into good practice for my test.

 

It means leave as much room as you would for a car, not pretend the bike is as wide as a car. When you overtake a car you don't give it a cars width extra, you give it enough room so if the driver is half asleep and on his phone he won't hit you as he wanders across the lane, or if stationary enough room that if they opened the car door it would not hit you. Do the same for a bike, enough room that you won't hit him if he swerves out of the gutter, wanders mid lane or falls off. Horses are a bit different, I always slow right down and get right on the other side of the road. I don't fancy a ton of horse in the face

As to indicating, you can, but bear in mind if you were approaching a junction and indicated to overtake, a following or oncoming car could easily read that as you wanting to turn. That will pretty much fail you there and then (misleading other road users) so unless you can see a good reason to do it (you really want somebody to know you are moving across the lane) then don't, just mirror, lifesaver and move out.

[Guest]

OK, thanks guys this has been really helpful thanks a lot