Legality of overtaking cyclists

Sparky

One of the things cycle training made me aware of is that I have the right to make myself safe on the roads. By taking the dominant position you make yourself more visible to other drivers. They then have the right the right to overtake you if they wish to and can do so safely.

By regularly looking behind myself and making eye contact with the driver behind they tend to start relating to me as a human being rather than just another bloody cyclist in their way. If you wish you can look behind you and pull in a little towards the inside to help them overtake. This enables you can continue to defend your position for when you need to move across and make the right turn.

I have the right to position myself in such a way that I am most visible to the cars behind, but by interacting with them, keeping regular eye contact and giving clear signals I can keep this amicable and avoid giving the drivers behind any unexpected surprises.

Since the training I find that car drivers are more tolerant of my taking a stronger position on the road as I am maintaining a non verbal dialogue with them.

Rather than being a cyclist blocking their path and not giving them any indication that I am aware of their presence or acknowledging them behind me, I am another human being, smiling and informing them of what I am doing. This has made a huge difference to my experience on the road.

I am now more part of the traffic and also have greater control of what is going on around me. Because I am frequently the front of the queue of traffic my cycling is smoother and faster. The chances are here in London (am not sure where you are based) that we will all come to traffic lights again pretty soon so their racing past will not get them anywhere faster.

Great advice.

Alternatively I find that bizarrely....when holding a machete in my indicating hand, no cars seem to overtake me....ever.