A runner in the road

[Joe Rocket]

This is a situation I've never come across before.

I'm driving my car on a normal French road in daytime, wide enough for lorries to pass in both directions, road markings in the centre and at the sides and grass verges. I see a figure on my side of the road close to the verge but not a cyclist so I begin to slow. I can see random headlights coming towards me and I identify a group of bikers. I now know it's a runner on my side coming towards me. The bikers widen to two by two formation and fill the left hand side of the road and I'm slowed down to 20 kph. The bikes are now on me, I can't move into the oncoming lane and the runner hasn't leapt onto the verge and that leaves me a very tight space to pass both bikers and runner! I kept my position and gave both bikers and runner equal space at 10 kph.

WTF!

I didn't expect that at all. I had to run that in my head several times before I realised the difference, I treated the runner like a cyclist but I didn't take into account he was closing down my braking space which made the situation so much more dangerous.

What are your thoughts as I feel I handled the situation poorly. 

[UK_Vstrom650]

It sounds like the only other thing you could have done would be to stop and allow runner and/or bikes to pass before continuing.

At least you slowed down to 10kph - many drivers wouldn't have and close passed both at speed and/or crossed into the oncoming lane forcing the bikes to move.

[nigel s]

As above, but don't feel bad about it, just chalk it off and remember for next time.

As a cyclist and in past years ( not now, the knees can't take it) a runner , I try to be aware of my environment. I would have hopped in the hedge if I had been running. Riding my bike on the road I will do the same (mountain bike and it is fun to throw up the hedge/ kerb ) , it does bring a smile  and a wave from the other road user.  Safest for me and ....polite...?

But both sets can have some total asses who give the rest a bad name. Plus a lot listen to music when exercising which means they may not have even been aware of your approach, crazy...I know. And  the militant type cyclists, racing on the road, swerving out  to overtake each other , and some refuse to have a mirror on the bike 'cos "it is a carbon road bike the mirror weighs too much/ doesn't make me look cool " ???..........try those sorts of shananigans on a motorbike  group ride and see how long your licence lasts before you run out of people who will ride with you.
When approaching these sort you have to figure in the "Total Dick " other road user factor.

Minor rant over.

Drive /ride safe


Ho Hum

[The Doctor 46]

Many years ago I was walking down a narrow country road, facing oncoming traffic, which was just as well because  a big lorry came towards me at speed brushing the hedges on my side of the road. If I hadn't dived and I mean dived deep into the hedge I wouldn't be typing this.

Slowing to 10k was a good thing, the riders and runner should have been more alert and polite but they were not . To me, you were the only one concerned enough to take action, which you did. Don't feel bad, be proud.

[Joe Rocket]

I've had further thoughts and feel that stopping and hazard lights were more the answer as well as a timely horn warning (not in anger) before I reached the runner.

To be honest the situation really took me by surprise hence I was still moving whilst passing the runner. Also without laying blame on the bikers at all they were oblivious of the danger, albeit on the other side of the road.

[StromGeeza]

I do a short section (400 odd metres) of my regular run that take in a NSL stretch of road, fortunately speeds are lower as It's approaching a junction, and I run facing oncoming traffic round the outside of a sweeping bend. Drivers are pretty courteous in slowing down a little and giving a wide berth. It helps they can see me in good time.
The law here is clear that where there's no footpath,  pedestrians and other vulnerable road users have right of way and if you can't pass without forcing them off the road, then you wait until you can pass safely.
Slowing down was the right thing to do, a closer (than you'd ideally like) passing width gets a lot safer then.

[Brockett]

0850 Tuedsay last, on a narrow, steep bend on a rural road, a MAMAL cyclist. I slow and crawlled up the hil about four car lengths behind until eventually the road flattens with enough sighting distance for me to overtake on the other side of the road. Later I am stopped in the next village in a line of cars waiting to thread our way past 30 or so parked vehicles. Suddenly the cyclist speeds past clattering the mirrors of the standing traffic. Only just skimmed mine but others were given a right bash and others looked broken.  It seems that the space we quite rightly give cyclists is not something they have to give anyone else.

[Brockett]

Reminds me that a few weeks ago with my friend driving  we came upon a group of cyclists ( what is the collective " an entitlment"? ) two abreast and wide enough apart to be blocking the lane. As we got nearer on of the second pair moved forward to ride just left of the white lane as if to be sure to block any move we could make to overtake.  We followed them for a mile untill at a junction my friendloudly sounded his horn. The "leader of the pack" turned around and gave a "glare" and my friend sounded his horn again and he kept looking round until he called you make as much noise as you like ".  My friend called out " No, but now I have your faces on dash cam the police will be able to identify you".  Which did change his demeanor somewhat.

[Brockett]

 Someone I know well ( no names no writs) has been using his helmet cam to record the use of mobile phones by car and van drivers. He uploades the video to a specific site and by the end of the day he gets a message regarding the action to be taken. So far he's caused over 130 charges to be brought.  Some of the videos he has sent to me are frightfull. One time he filmed a driver in traffic inching forward while looking at her phone as another female driver on the phone ran into the back of her. I think it's about time that anyone using a phone while driving is banned for a year and then has their car crushed. Even if it isn't their car.

[nigel s]

Another reason not to drive a car seems to me. Hard to fiddle with your phone on a bike ( well ..most bikes )

Another plus for bikes v cars v militant cyclists... a few years ago I came up on slow moving cars, made my way to the front and a road cycling club was out.
As I made my way past them safely a few in the front were racing and swerving about , not keeping an eye behind ( see earlier post about mirrors) .
I gave a gentle "I'm here toot " and their demeanor also changed...but to angry arm waving and pointed fingers.
Silly really, I think they were embarrassed at being caught out not paying attention ...and the alpha males at the front had to "display" .The rest of the group were fine ( two wheel camaraderie  )
I waited till I could pass safely and continued on my way at 1mph faster than the angry/ hopped up lead rider. Using the usual  single finger salute till they were out of sight.

Don't THINK I broke any laws?...just expressing my free speech...

Ho Hum

[UK_Vstrom650]

Don't tarnish all cyclists with the same brush and we should avoid using inflammatory language for cyclists. We really need to avoid buying into culture wars etc.

The person on a bicycle in Brockett's post who damaged car wing mirrors was out of order and if caught should be made to pay for repairs. They're clearly a tw@t in life.

Cycling two abreast on the road is permitted in the highway code, just like motorcyclists are allowed to filter. It's amazing how many cars don't like me filtering past them in slow traffic and when the warning light on their wing mirror comes on, they actively try to block me going past...
Maybe the solution is to ban all cars and let cyclists and motorcyclists have quiet roads to themselves?

This is a bit off topic from the original post and I still think Joe did a good job in slowing down.
Had that been me running I'd have gone on the verge, and when I cycle (always on my own), I move out of the way where I can if I'm holding up traffic, but it's not every time a car catches up to me, which some people would argue I should...

[Brockett]

I am not anti-cyclist after all I have a motor bicycle. We share the common hazzards or poor quality roads and the risk of being run down by everything that is bigger. But when someone is behaving like a knob they are still a knob.

[nigel s]

UK_Vstrom650, as to cyclists you are right . As I have posted previously , it is just a certain few who are the problem spoiling it for the rest of us. The individual bad behaviour needs to be called out when it happens , while realising that the majority are just fine.

Ban all cars ...ban all cars...ban all cars 

Wouldn't that be nice, but as a high % of 4 wheelers can't manage their vehicles safely as is ,putting them on two wheels would be carnage.

Though.........then again.....Darwin had a point.


 Ho Hum

[Brockett]

Maybe all vehicles should be restricted to 70mph Yes that means us too. However, why o why o why (etc.) can a government impose a national upper speed limit of 70mph and allow vehicles that can almost trebble that speed onto the road. As a fair traffic cop said to my son recently "if you have the power, you will use it."  One of my friends ( 78) has just bought an AMG with a sqillion BHP and over 150mph, V8,  £700 yearly road tax yadda! yadda! He did spout the figures but meh! its a car and of no interest to me. There is no way he will be able to use that sort of power on the road and he lives in Norfolk where the map shows no blue roads and only a few green ones.  Yesterday I did a journey accross the county and down lanes and through places I'd never heard of. Built up areas all 30mph and most rural roads without a building in sight were 40mph with a few 50s and 60s on twisty roads that my Honda Jazz a.k.a. "The Slug" managed 45 ish. However, lots of big 'posh' cars tearing about at silly speeds on single track lanes that are only just wide enough for one car at a time. There are no pavements or safe areas for padestrians and no body was out there walking.  Maybe not a safe place for me to be puttering along on my Enfield.

[nigel s]

 Brockett ,

I gave that last post a like .......

But 70 mph  top speed restriction...............NOPE.

Not that I EVER go over that.....It is just that it makes 69mph wheelies REALLY  REALLY  hard 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XS67Jmb82eQ?feature=share

Ho Hum