Free Traffic Legal Advice

If the cyclist is in a separate marked lane, does the rule about close passing somehow no longer apply?


e.g.

1) The cyclist is travelling towards you on the other carriageway, but is very close to the white line as he is about to turn right. Are you required to move towards the kerb to give him 1.5m+?

2) The cyclist is riding close to the centre line (his handlebar end is almost on the white line), you move completely into the other lane to overtake, must you be at least 1.5m to the right of the centre line?

3) The cyclist is wholly within a marked cycle lane at the left of the carriageway (only separated by a painted line). Must you leave 1.5m+?

4) The cyclist is within a cycle lane separated from the road by a narrow raised kerb. Must you leave 1.5m+?


I would suggest that not keeping 1.5m+ away is dangerous. In case 4) you are unlikely to hit him because of the kerb, but what if he clips that kerb and falls off?

There was a graphic shared by some Police Forces on Twitter a few years ago that states that "If one moves into the opposing lane (to overtake) then the position of the rider (within his lane) is irrelevant". (Complete with typo on the version I link below)

https://x.com/SurreyRoadCops/status/1035083543016366080

It also had a graphic explaining that 12 bikes in single file become 8 in double file and are 3 times as quick to overtake- I suspect the graphic was quietly retired rather than being corrected.

Why do you think it wouldn't apply?

Obviously the white line endows the cyclist with superpowers.

Why do you think it wouldn't apply?

I think it does apply, as it would obviously be dangerous driving if the cyclist wobbled, or you sneezed, and you hit him, so it must be at least careless to be that close even if you don't.

Why I asked the question was I see plenty of close passes (and experience them as an occasional cyclist) in situations 1,3 & 4, and my attention was drawn to that graphic, supposedly posted by the Police, which effectively says that once you are in another lane, the position of the cyclist in his lane is irrelevant- situation 2.


There is also the current guidance "give a cyclist as much space as you would a car"- when travelling in traffic lanes in a town cars are often far closer than 1.5m.                                                         

Image searching that graphic, it was very popular in 2018/2019 then disappeared. I suspect a well meaning someone unofficially produced it (hence the typos and obvious errors) and it was withdrawn once it came to the attention of the Higher Ups as anything officially posted by a Police source should be 100% accurate and unambiguous (one hopes..).