Not cycling, but I have found that since I have been following your driving advice, my dashcam clips have become very boring indeed. Long may that continue.
Saying taking primary will "discourage close passes", fails to consider that triggers severe road rage in some drivers, sometimes leading to much more dangerous situations - deliberate tailgating and being forced into the kerb.
Absolutely! I've tried AN's advice on my daily commute in Swindon and definitely got more aggro from motorist who (I think) perceive a cyclist in primary as intentionally holding up traffic.
Well, I was riding in primary the other day and a driver tried to ram me off the road, then got out and told me I was "riding like I owned the road". A tussle ensued before he got tired and saw sense. I did remind him he was on camera. Was this being recorded for social media? No. But it might well end up there.
In my experience, too many motorists don't understand the concept of primary position and if/when cyclists will use it. Unfortunately, it's the same category of motorists that merely want to pass cyclists instead of overtake them. These motorists are also the ones that want the intimidate and bully cyclists. Alas I don't see it changing any time soon. Unfortunately, whilst I think Ashley is trying to do some good, videos like this are red meat to many.
@Shm5547 totally agree with you. One can't always take primary when needed because one ends up creating a new risk. Even if one goes fast enough to be close to the speed limit of 20mph, if it's a stretch of road where cars can go faster than that, some drivers see it as a deliberate attempt just to block them. This follows by them putting their car just inches from your back wheel and if it's possible, they'll have a go at you. And it's not even about getting on with their journey faster because they might end up in a red light not too far ahead, it's about how dare the cyclist ride anywhere else other than the gutter. In some situations where *I have to* take primary, I'm constantly checking behind me and get out of the way as soon as I can to minimise the risk that comes with this sort of drivers. This type of behaviour is a lot more common than drivers would think.
Most drivers don't think primary position is ever valid. They think if it as "taking up the whole lane" or acting as if "they own the road" or "baiting drivers". These people almost definitely don't think close passing is a big deal. It's never the fault of the victim for "encouraging" dangerous behaviour in others.
@@InBodWeTrust wouldn't have made a difference he'd still be claiming some rule out of context to justify it. Maybe even walk into the cyclist and start shouting at them for not giving way to him.
5:22 Why are there white lines making a supposed cycling lane? People driving expect people on bikes to be in that lane whatever the the circumstances. The pretend cycling infrastructure makes it more dangerous for people on bikes and more confusing for people driving.
More victim blaming this - fairly common in your cycling videos, which I feel are primarily designed to bait cyclists. In almost all of those situations the motorist shouldn’t have passed. I suspect they would have just passed closer (or got angrier) if the cyclist took up a more primary position. The cyclist is the victim in these instances, they can ride where they want and the motorist should overtake safely. They’re no more at fault than a woman who attracts unwanted attention because of what she’s wearing (I.e. not at all).
I posted a comment very similar to this - also highlighting how victim blaming like this would not be acceptable in other situations - someone on this channel seems to have not liked it and deleted my post.
3:13 That driver was despicable and should be prosecuted for dangerous driving. Actually disgusting. I don’t understand how you can have that little care for other people.
Ashley, any chance you could leave the e-bike at home some time and do some normal cycling in a hilly area among impatient drivers? Some times I get the feeling you're not experiencing cycling in the same way a lot of people do on conventional bikes.
That’s why he’s happy to stop at roundabouts etc. where normal cyclists would try and adjust their speed on the approach so they could keep going without stopping. It’s easy if you can just stop and then power off again.
@@Tailspin80 It doesn't really matter what you ride or how hard it is. If you have to stop at a roundabout you stop rather than continuing on and putting yourself or others at risk.
@@Zeyr01 You have options as you approach roundabouts, junctions and traffic lights. If you slow down on the approach and give yourself time and space you can often time it so you don’t have to come to a complete halt while also not being unsafe or getting in anyone’s way. It’s something any driver will do naturally, particularly when merging on to roundabouts. I ride using SPD clipless pedals and when you stop it means unclipping and then clipping in again, as well as changing down a few gears before stopping and having to work to get back up to speed. An e-bike with flat pedals eliminates some of these issues so is not representative of normal cycling.
@@Tailspin80 I totally agree with everything you said there including the bit about not being representative of normal cycling but none of that process you outlined there is excuse to not stop at a roundabout when you have to.
What I cannot stand is when I clearly make an effort to ride near the side so drivers can pass safely, but someone passes very close anyways. When this happens, I make a dramatic shift from secondary to primary position so that the driver and any others who observed the close pass can see me take back the lane upon being disrespected. I realize that the offending driver has already passed at this point so I'm effectively punishing other drivers who may have been more reasonable, but I dont want anyone to see the close pass and think that I was OK with it. I aim to convey this message: "If drivers wont safely use the space that I give them, then I wont give drivers that space." This story introduces optimism as a factor in the decision whether to take a primary or secondary position. If I'm optimistic that drivers will pass safely, then I will take a secondary position as soon as I feel there is enough room to share the lane. But if I become pessimistic, then I will hold a primary position until there is a very generous amount of room to pass.
Ashley, your driving videos are absolutely amazing, incredible insight; I genuinely feel grateful that we get the benefit of not only your skills, but also your judgement, and big picture lens in situations; I might even say it’s like having an adult in the room. However I do feel you would benefit from reaching out to some of these you tubers (perhaps you have), rather than confronting them. (I’ve commented something similar before). Appreciate they might also attack you, but ur often the ‘adult’ in these types of situations, and I think it would be amazing to see a conversation between you and some of these guys. I also feel you are really well placed to be a bridgehead to combat the tribal nature of a lot of this subject. When I watch some of these Cyclimg videos from UA-camrs (perhaps with the exception of cycling mikey who clearly is on a bit of a crusade), I recognise some of the behaviour in my own cycling in London (the good and the bad), and I dont see Silvio’s cycling as performative for views (although only he would know). I recognise the exhaustion of being constantly put in danger for zero reason by ‘must get in front ‘ and punishment passes. I also recognise that my emotional response sometimes makes me make the wrong decisions in situations. I’m a big car nut and also a cyclist, so I’ve got skin in both camps, and recognise I’ve got much to learn still in both disciplines, a fact I hadn’t appreciated until I started watching your videos several years ago. Sorry for the long post, I really want to see this channel land with cyclists. Keep up the excellent content ! Cheers .
@@AshleyNeal-JustCycling well that’s disappointing, I actually just posted a comment on his video which this is a response to, I hope he reflects , but all credit to you for reaching out!
Top comment. Intent is often hard to prove, but I often wonder, despite learning alot from Ashley's perspective, if cyclists often stay in secondary for fear of creating more aggravation. Don't do much road cycling these days but know I've stayed beside the pavement in order to be as little nuisance as possible to drivers. I'm not saying that's the right mentality but I don't think I'm alone in that thought process. And like you I've still reacted angrily to close passes, and don't feel I've brought that upon myself, even if like Ashley says I could have done more to prevent said close pass...
@@Albert5522 totally agree, and reflecting on your comments, perhaps I watch some of those cycling videos as a form of catharsis, that its not just me, and it really is that bad, my despair is earned!. Totally different emotion to watching Ashleys videos where I genuinely watch to learn (unlike the many myriad of dashcam sites and ai channels, if u want to watch rubbish driving and road rage), that’s why I see the opportunity for cycling which Ashley cycling channel can provide. Acknowledge and validate the emotion, but also hopefully make people go… did I contribute to this situation? What could I have done differently? is being morally right worth dying for?
The main contributing factor of the incident in the penultimate clip was the sudden end of the cycle lane he was in. It forced bikes and cars into the pinch point. If the road markings and surface weren't terrible he might've spotted it sooner. However, he should have then backed off, and certainly shouldn't have had a go at the driver. It caught them both out. If you don't know the road, the bike lane might not be the safest place for the cyclist.
Another example of poorly designed bit of cycle infrastructure purporting to protect you with a paint line on the straight, wide road where you need protecting least and disappearing completely at the pinch point where you could do with a bit of protection.
Adopting primary on a hill in the town centre in rush hour surrounded by buses and taxis requires a force of will I just can't muster on some days and so I'm intimidated off the road. I've been cycling since age seven and so have been on the road for over 50 years and I currently do 1000s of KM every year. I'm experienced. AN is generally a force for good but I wish he'd remember he cycles for pleasure (and youtube content, oh the irony!) and does so on the flat, outside of rush hour and on an electric assist which gives a much quicker pick up from junctions so he can more easily keep up with the flow of traffic. AN challenge: ride one of those heavy hire bikes in heavy traffic and see how that alters the perception and ride.
I think it’s great you’re pointing out the cyclist’s contribution to these incidents, whilst still acknowledging the responsibility ultimately lies with the driver who’s going to do all the damage
I agree mostly with Ashley but on this, NO. It is far better to get close passed than it is to get hit by a maniac, of which there are plenty out there. Ashley himself posted a few videos where a tiny inconvenience led to the maniac attempting to ram a car. A cyclist would have zero chance. Rule 72 is just advice, it is not legally enforceable and is completely in the grey area. What exactly is a quiet street? What is slower moving traffic? You do not invite another road user to close pass you by riding secondary, the driver chose to do so themselves. As a car driver, what a cyclist does or doesn't do, never leads me to break the law. Because I have eyes and a brain.
Yep agree - primary may be theoretically a deterrent but in reality results in even closer passes - the passer should be judging if it’s at a safe speed and distance otherwise drivers would be moaning constantly about annoying cyclists weaving in and out of primary and secondary- can’t have it both ways - it’s an everyday occurrence not just one for capturing content
@@AshleyNeal-JustCycling not a good look calling your viewers idiots - when you’re close passed in primary, it’s usually aggressive and at speed - swinging into secondary does not happen as someone is passing which is what you’re suggesting - your theory and reality simply don’t match and this is from many people saying their real world experience is quite the opposite of how you perceive the world to work in the case of cycling - I follow your driving channel with interest but strongly disagree with you on this based on my casual, but substantial cycling experience on the roads 😐
@@AshleyNeal-JustCyclingI am confused - are you advising to sit in primary position and then try to dodge out of the way into secondary position if/when a car overtakes? I don't know many who would have the reflexes, or speed, to pull that off.
I agree. The sort of driver that close passes you probably doesn’t even understand the difference between primary and secondary and just sees bikes as annoying little mobile roadblocks. I find 99% of drivers are great and give you loads of space without being prompted but every so often one just flies by as if you don’t exist. I have an offside mirror and watch vehicles approaching. You can generally tell the ones that are likely to be dangerous and think about escape options.
Whilst your points are valid, and you are instructing on correct protocol, as an experienced regular cyclist I can categorically tell you that in some situations cycling to the letter of the rules as they stand will put you in just as much danger, of not more. And this is because a minority of drivers behave with impunity and contempt for other road users. And considering that in those hands a car becomes a lethal weapon, sometimes you adjust your riding to suit, in order to avoid direct confrontation, because you never know if one of them will just snap and drive straight in to you.
It's a fair point but does not have any standing regarding this video when Silvio decides to pass moving vehicle on its left with parked cars so close.
@@AshleyNeal-JustCycling Maybe not, and I wouldn't overtake on the right of moving traffic unless specifically in a turning lane, but you mentioned how secondary position invites overtake - on some wider roads even sitting in primary doesn't stop overtake attempts even when it isn't safe, especially when approaching a bottleneck or blind bend with oncoming traffic unaware of your presence.
Ashley is so bitter and vindictive about these things sometimes. This is just one of those point-scoring videos, like when he invited that cyclist for a driving lesson just so he could talk down to him.
Bitter and vindictive? I genuinely don't see this. Help me see things through your lens and time stamp and explain where he's being bitter or vindictive?
Bitter and vindictive was probably a bit strong. I think I'd actually amend that to "petty" or "passive aggressive" like @tailspin80 above. I couldn't timestamp it - I'm referring to the actual premise of this video. What's happened is Silvio made a video about Ashley, so Ashley's just retaliating in a shameless bit of tit-for-tat criticism. That cyclist's riding really is quite a high level, so Ashley's jumped on very minor faults the rider made to try to assert his knowledge and authority over him.
what's the answer if by riding in secondary baits a driver to pass you for the "content" but riding in primary ANGERS the driver to pass you even more dangerously? Is the cyclist baiting content in both scenarios?
The one that then immediately runs straight into a free for all with pedestrians, posts, and then the entrance to a petrol station forecourt? Absolutely awful cycle lane. Everybody is safer with the cyclists not using it.
The cycle lane that ends right at the pinch point, becomes a poorly marked shared path at the same point as the pedestrian crossing and that appears to end totally 50m further on? Another bit of crap cycling infrastructure that is only ever going to bring cyclists into conflict with pedestrians. I will happily use cycle lanes where they reduce risk but that one doesn’t so I would have kept to the road.
@@Mw9d-m8nFirstly, please understand I’m only playing ‘devils advocate’ here but … ‘bring cyclists into conflict with pedestrians’? I see 3 pedestrians, of note, one of whom is stationary at the crossing. The pavement also seems only marginally less wide than the road itself! Rather than blaming ‘infrastructure’ (which you & I are unable to do much about, I suppose) I might suggest it’s a case of ‘absolving oneself from responsibility & placing the onus upon motor vehicles’!🤔😉✌️
you don't need the 1.5m stuff, what you need is the older "treat a cycle as the same size as a car", which will give you a similar passing distance, and indeed often result in safer passing
Problem with that is that most people don’t seem to know how wide their vehicle is and thus they think passing without touching the virtual vehicle still results in a scrape by…
The problem with that was the Courts generally interpreted it as 'no contact, no offence'. It used to be quite normal on a country road to have car go past at 60 mph with 30cms to spare.
5:43 "trouble follows you around" well I disagree. Anyone who cycles regularly will encounter this sort of driving behaviour. I recall even you Ashley getting into an interaction with a van driver the one time you tried cycling to the supermarket!
Yep common occurrence- admittedly Sylvio seems to start some kind of conversation rather than adapt a bit and just report the close passes. Being in primary may be a deterrent but more often than not it will result in an even closer pass - theory versus reality in my experience…
Plus the woman in a Fiesta complaining that Ashley ‘should be at the side of the road’ after making a dubious pass into a T junction. I’ve been side swiped more than once by drivers getting it wrong by trying to rush into the space ahead of me and been the target for a hard punishment pass that turned into a hit and run. There’s no road craft that can predict or control those drivers.
@@Umski I think Silvio is talking to the driver and using social media as he has had a very poor response from reporting incidents to the police. Reporting to the police in my area is a pointless task at the moment, it just seems to go into a black hole.
4:15 I would have probably passed on the left there too. It's an opportunity to escape the dodgy driver. It's all about the balance of risk, that seemed the less risky option IMO. I would also say that Silvio might not have been looking to pass that van on the left earlier, just trying to keep momentum going and taking a position to the left of the van so he can see the road surface better. As the van driver accelerates away, Silvio moves back more centrally in the lane. Silvio isn't perfect, nobody is, but I don't think he is riding to create content. He's just trying to get somewhere by bicycle and documenting the awful driving he has to deal with.
5:50 I'm not happy to see Sylvio moving through like this at a pedestrian crossing. We can argue all day about whether he was technically infringing the Highway Code (rules 165 and 191 - yes, I had to look them up) but it doesn't seem like good practice to me. Some pedestrians are very vulnerable and a bike is quite sufficient to cause life-changing injury.
The main takeaway from this video is: "Two wrongs make a wrong." I agree with you Ashley regarding cycling position. Cyclists don't do this correctly or safely enough in general, and this invites idiot motorists with little to no spatial awareness to perform a dangerous overtake.
I get your point about secondary enticing some drivers to come past, but primary is not a fix for dangerous overtakes. This is why I think saying that secondary means a cyclist is ok with coming past is an incorrect assumption. Just last saturday I was cycling on twisty forest roads (Finland) and taking primary before a blind bend or a crest of a hill literally had no effect. Drivers forced past closely when they couldn't even see behind the bend or hill. And in my experience, this is very common. So, if it has no effect, would I want to be closer to a potential head on crash or as far away from it as possible?
Honestly, anybody that can have a UA-cam channel dedicated to poor driving clips, must have a large contribution to a lot of the situations. If you drive/ride defensively, there just won't be enough situations to keep a channel going. Just look at Ashley, he has maybe 10 minutes of driving fails per month, and he is a driving instructor, so is on the road for a large part of the day (and we all know what behaviour driving school vehicles cause in some drivers).
I have started a channel @MotorwayMadness-yq6eg and none of the clips have any bearing what I as the cammer was doing. My remit is that they will only be what others have done wrong. The only scrapes I get into are muppets tailgating me as I am being careful.
And even then, people unfamiliar with the Hanney moan because his clips aren't eventful enough! These people don't seem to comprehend that most normal people don't get into hair raising situations on the daily 😂
I understand your point about primary position. For non-confident riders, this just isn’t an option and they get close passes. For more experienced riders taking primary, it can lead to more dangerous overtakes and unpleasant confrontations. Silvio could be more proactive with his position, but this doesn’t excuse those overtakes
Has anyone seen the video on other dashcam videos of a cyclist riding in primary in roadworks and the car driver is leaning on the horn telling him to move over and the comments saying the cyclist is doing on purpose to make videos
On cycling Channels like Silvio there will always be trolls in the comments overly criticising his riding and defending the car driver for driving dangerously towards Silvio unprovoked. If you ride correctly during rush hour you still get many stupid drivers and pedestrians and just have to learn to deal with them. The trolls don’t even ride a bike so will never know why cyclists don’t always use the cycle lane or why cyclists filter which they keep calling undertaking or why cyclists ride in the middle of the “road” it’s the lane and they think that cyclists should move out of the way for cars when time and time again you will always catch the car in another traffic queue.
I know the junction at 3:12 and can confirm that the lane the BMW was in is marked as both straight ahead and right turn. Although it tends to be used more commonly by buses for turning right than cars, because of the left lane after the turn being a bus lane and the right lane being a normal driving lane. The positioning of the 201 bus doing the right turn in this clip is unusual for that junction. Regardless, if cycling, I would have positioned in front of the BMW to do that turn to avoid the conflict. Silvio put himself in a risky position.
3:00 this is the junction at Herne Hill station in London approaching along Dulwich Road. There are three lanes with the centre lane able to go left or right, albeit that there is a left filter that comes on before full green. Car driver did nothing wrong initially in making the turn but, obviously, should have stayed behind the cyclist until safe to pass. It’s a dangerous junction with lots of pedestrians, the station, buses and Brockwell Park so always needs a high level of attention no matter what form of transport you’re riding/driving/walking.
I'm always flabberghasted by cyclists who (rightly) get upset when a car close passes them, but will happily move *even closer* to the car *while it is next to them* in order to close pass a slower cyclist. Is it dangerous or not?
Full disclosure, I'm also a Silvio subscriber. I do understand your point better in this video verses the original one, but I never thought you were measuring skirts like so many commenters made out. When I ride I try to minimise the friction when I have to take the lane, so for example @4:44 I would already be easing off and falling in behind the van if possible or behind the BMW if the driver is a space closer. Sure, the van driver should have seen the pinch point and waited to overtake, but once they're alongside it's an uphill battle to get a driver to acknowledge their mistake and correct it. What irritates me is that it's so obvious on the bike when a driver intends to go past or not -- especially ICE vehicles as I can easily hear their throttle position which tells me if they are letting off, maintaining speed, or even accelerating past (you can use the road noise / regen / brakes for electric cars, but it's not as effective). All that's needed then is a shoulder-check to confirm. Another example is @6:06 where I simply wouldn't have accelerated in the new road. There was nobody following the Renault so it's a perfect time to just aim at the back of the taxi and coast. Drivers understand the message surprisingly quickly when it's advantageous for them, so let the motor vehicle use its advantage and I'm back in behind them looking at the scenery rather than worrying about a car up my arse. However, I often see YT riders ending up beside vehicles and LOOKING AT OR IN THE VEHICLE! I've never had time to do that because I'm too busy indicating to the vehicle following them. I don't cycle in the UK, but I'd estimate on low-speed roads >80-90% of drivers give way when you signal next to the driver in front, i.e. if Silvio had signalled next to the van the drivers following would have grown their gap (though how much of this is a panic response to thinking I'm about to turn right I couldn't say). If you try to battle with the ones that can't or won't see the hazard developing, your experience of cycling on the roads will be poor.
It would have been great if, for once, you'd made a follow up video responding to the majority of the / top rated comments that also took issue with your original video, instead of doubling down with "a few of Silvio's clips that prove your point perfectly". How hard would it have been to maybe use one of his clips to help back up your point, but also maybe address some of the comments by including at least one clip where Silvio (or, at the very least, another active uploader) was riding in primary position, and the driver still passed them dangerously? Or maybe you could have found one or two clips to support your theory about how riding in secondary invites close passes, rather than doubling down on this ridiculous theory that it's done on purpose, when you have no evidence to support it. Again, could have been an interesting, balanced follow-up, yet somehow ended up being another take-down piece on a channel with far fewer viewers / subscribers than your own. Well done
Ashley's Sunday Roast gets served up two days early.... Good job that I had enough of an appetite to digest this even though I would prefer to crack on with Gran Turismo 4 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
4:35 Looks like the driver should have seen the cycle lane ending and held back. Notwithstanding that, I’ve got the impression that the 1.5m doesn’t apply (wouldn’t be prosecuted) when there is a solid line cycle lane like this at the start of this clip. The safest thing to do is give 1.5m at all times however just treat it as a cyclist in secondary.
Now if you comment on Silvio’s channel suggesting that he should be braking to avoid danger, you get accused of victim blaming and you get called a troll 😂
It seems to be a certain similar age of both drivers and cyclists who are just inflexible or unwilling to help themselves or follow rules, like no close passing or taking priority. They've reached the point where "I'm right you're wrong and I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing even if it causes an accident because I'm right" is their only mindset and they are inflexible on their being a better way, especially if it can make their latest video tweet etc more popular
I will take a primary position at moments when an overtake would clearly put my life at risk, such as the approach to a roundabout when I do not intend to turn left, or yellow bollards that do not leave room for others to pass. Silvio's secondary position at 5:14 seems almost suicidal, given the risk of a side-swipe. Generally, though, I am not prepared to act as the lane police, and I don't feel particularly safe riding in the middle of a lane in front of an impatient driver. If someone overtakes me at a slightly inopportune moment and causes me to brake, I think I'm fairly forgiving.
I think I said in the original video that riding in urban area requires more primary position riding, due to proliferation of narrow streets, parked vehicles and street furniture. In the rural area I'm in, its more difficult to constantly command a primary position, especially with the speed some vehicles are approaching at. As an aside, I posted some videos of close passes on my UA-cam a couple of weeks ago, I'd be interested in your take Ashley. Border Velo is the channel. They cover several years.
It never ceases to amaze me that people will happily have a go about how everyone else is terrible and trying to kill them, yet won't lift a finger to protect their space bubble, nor regulate their speed to keep themselves safe. They will, however, post content that shows how crap their self-preservation skills actually are, and call it an example of everyone else being a poor road user...
I remember seeing comments on Twitter after the original video stating how you are saying _every_ cyclist goes out looking for problems by putting themselves in danger purposely. They completely missed the point of the video and point blank refused to accept the message, even going as far to say Ashley was blaming cyclists for getting close passed I have tried correcting a few by saying it isn’t just limited to cyclists but is a “dash cam” mentality but they cannot see beyond their own agenda. I do believe a couple may have realised the message of the video but still go out to generate content
I would hope so. For me, when riding I try to give cyclists I'm passing 1-1.5m depending on the speed I'm passing them. On the receiving end, I've had plenty of close passes by other cyclists who think they're in the Pro Peloton or some X-Games assault course and weaving in and out squeezing past me and other cyclists and cars to gain a precious few seconds. And when they pass at a high relative speed which is just as scary as a car doing the same and they're usually a lot closer than many of the close passes from a car.
Despite applying to all road users, unfortunately The Highway Code is too often written as if it is only addressing car drivers. This means it is unclear whether all the rules apply to all road users at all times. It is also confusing that some aspects of the code are advice and some are laws. But, if the Code does apply to all road users, then Rule 163 also applies to cyclists: "give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders and horse drawn vehicles at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car. As a guide leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds." Note, this is ADVICE only but it's good advice and choosing to ignore it opens up cyclists to the following LAW, which is all encompassing: Rule 68: "You [cyclists] MUST NOT ... ride in a dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner." So, would passing another cyclist closer than 1.5m be dangerous, careless or inconsiderate? Depends on the circumstances, but it could certainly be seen as "inconsiderate" at best in many cases and, therefore, illegal.
I did notice on a couple of the examples cycle lanes weren't being used and abruptly disappeared at the pinch points. Cycling is far from safe, I'd be inclined to use the cycle lane and pootle along the pavement when the road narrows, the chances of meeting a walker are very slim.
I ride like that sometimes but it’s hard to pootle when you are on your way to work. All the sections shown would be safer for people on bikes if those white lines didn’t exist.
Because the cycle lane ends directly at the pinch point forcing you to either rejoin the road at the most dangerous point or navigate the shared, narrowing pathway at the pedestrian lights. It’s less risk to cycle in the road imho.
when cycling it’s the constant need to make decisions. Staying clear enough of parked cars, drivers behind and in front not getting too close, whether to be in primary position or secondary position. Still, got to remember that cyclists are still more vulnerable especially on the road and car drivers are protected by 1.5-2 tonnes of metal, which have more than 100 bph to kill. doesn’t justify cyclists not following the highway code or creating situations to create content. If there is protected cycling infrastructure i would use it. But unfortunately the way our urban environments are designed vehicles will always be King and these conflicts with cyclists will always occur even if cyclists ride properly.
I’ve never understood some cyclist's constant scolding of people for not keeping them safe when they don’t seem interested in doing that themselves. If you can't do what needs to be done to keep yourself safe why do you expect anyone else to do that?
I do think that plays a significant part in ill feeling towards them. The emphasis is always the accommodation to keep them safe. So ok, of course all motorists should drive responsibly with the safety of everyone in mind that obviously goes without saying. Yet, it’s this mindset that so many of them seem to have. This absolute freestyle, the ‘I can do anything and everyone else has to adapt around me’ attitude that sees them put themselves into the risky scenarios for essentially no reason at all. Least of all the deliciously ironic double standard of them treating pedestrians every bit as bad and worse than what they think motorists do to them.
@@andyedwards7800 But they still need to keep themselves safe. I understand motorists need to do their bit to keep cyclists safe, but if cyclists expect that from them, they need to lead by example and do what they can to keep themselves safe. If you know you are in a potentially dangerous situation, does it not make sense to act in a way that makes the situation less dangerous for you, rather than just hope others will do that for you? I know this isn't all cyclists and I know most of them are sensible on the road. It's just a small minority that gives them a bad reputation for riding dangerously and expecting motorists to ensure they are safe while not doing that themselves. I'm not victim-blaming here, I just don't get their attitude.
if motorist was perfect there be no need for cycle cameras are speed cameras cyclist dont go out of there way for content its there all the time there 1000s of youtube dash cam footage that proves it
Exactly! What I don’t understand is why should we tolerate bad drivers and accept them to do the damage they cause. Roads Police will always say you might be a good driver but it’s the others you have to worry about. If the police actually banned drivers straight away when they drive dangerously we might have more safer drivers on the road. But no! They just give them a warning letter no wonder motorists still drive badly and they have an audacity that there is a “war on them”
Keep up the good work Ashley - your videos are excellent. On my commute, there is a nasty section of the A663 through the village of Newhey onto Jubilee near junction 21 of the M62. Going to work isn’t too bad as it is downhill and is easy to take the lane. Coming home uphill is a nightmare to be fair. The road is relatively narrow. Some drivers are still in “motorway” mode. I’ve reported maybe a 100 drivers to Operation Snap for careless driving (most have been prosecuted). Recently I enquired if the incident data is analysed with a view to putting safety measures in place. Unfortunately only collision data is taken into consideration. Since then, I have been riding the dangerous sections on the (quiet) pavement.
I take up primary position when unsafe to be overtaking, I have a rear view camera so can see who’s approaching a few times some attempt to overtake but I blast my horn everyone close by starts looking and driver backs down is comical if you’re bark is loud they back off then soon it opens up I move over wave then it safe to overtake making them look silly with that earlier attempt, tho I always have space to my left just in case
I recently followed a cyclist up a very steep, very narrow, very winding country lane. I could not safely pass him but that did not stop him from a) waving me on, even though there was very limited visibility to see oncoming vehicles and even if the road was clear, I would not be able to overtake and still leave him at least 1.5m, or b) continuing to ride at 5mph while wobbling all over the road, not least because he was also having to dodge potholes. So, was he "baiting" me so he could put a video on social media? I don't think so. I think he was just riding in a careless and inconsiderate manner because it was a difficult circumstance and didn't know what to do. As a motorist it was my responsibility to protect him ... from himself. He could - and should - have pulled over (into a gateway, for instance) and allowed me and the very long tailback of vehicles behind to pass safely, but instead chose to ride on for more than a mile (at 5mph) while the less patient members of our impromptu parade started to honk and hoot from behind. I guess those right at the back would have no idea why there was a hold up. This cyclist was no kid. He was an older chap, with Lycra and a helmet, and looked like he has plenty of miles under his pedals. But he was caught out by an extreme road, which would have challenged the Tour de France pro's. A less patient, less experienced, more easily-led driver would have tried to overtake and either knocked the bike and rider into the bottom of a hedge, or smashed into an oncoming vehicle, or both. It was only due to watching Ashley's videos that I wasn't tempted to make that mistake.
I believe it is called Bikeability now, funded under Active Travel England "In 2023/24, ATE agreed a multi-year funding settlement of £50 million for the Bikeability Programme up to 2024/25. In 2023/24, more than 500,000 children booked on to cycle training, with more than 310,000 children booked on to level 2 on-road training."
I did the training course to teach it, although I didn't bother with the final assessment as I was never going to use it. I do know what it's all about though, and Silvio is a mile off. As are most of the social media cyclists.
@josephmarsh8235 mikey follows him ams regularly defends him. He recently appeared on the BBC defending cyclists who mow down blind pedestrians... of course defends him 😁
It baffles me when cyclists get triggered by Ashley's videos, I'll never understand it. Ash teaches us how to be safer on the roads as they are now and what to look out for and what to do in certain situations, etc. He advocates road safety for all road users and doesn't show favouritism to cars no matter what some cyclist say about him. Bad drivers/cyclists are everywhere, no matter how much infrastructure there is they will always be there. If you can recognise them, you can avoid them. There are many tell tale signs with bad road users but many times they are ignored and the situation made worse than it needed to be....like J Vine going behind the van reversing and then stopping, which was unnecessary. Be the solution not the problem. You can avoid 90-95% of the incidents happening with advice from Ashley, the other 5-10% will happen regardless what you do, and those drivers/cyclists need to be reported and taken off the road ASAP.
Sadly Silvio is probably going to end up as a RTC statistic. When.... not if. Silvio, if you read this.... is your life really worth the paltry pennies you might be getting from the UA-cam content?
This silvio guy is a very arrogant entitled bikey with a me-me-me attitude. He does not even play nicely eith other bike riders. Just look at the way he blasted though the peds at 7.20. or at 6.39, so enraged about close passes, he 'close passes' another bike rider, putting himself even closer to the orange car. Funny how these bikeys don't like being close passed, but are happy to do it themselves.
Hope Silvio does not have an ego and heeds your sound advice. As a motorist, i have learned to treat cyclists the same whether in primary or secondary.
Ashley, whilst you are undoubtably qualified to advise and give guidance on your channel on road use, I have never seen any cycling videos (other than yours) where any of the content posters are remotely qualified to comment on any skills used on the road. It seems that each provider is solely fixated on only one aspect, be that close passing or phone use and not how to ride correctly. It is right that you have given a critique of Silvio's riding to show how simply unqualified he is to comment on the failings of others. These cycling videos are no better than if presented by a learner motorbike rider having only passed their CBT. As road users we can all benefit from real informed critiques otherwise we only exist in our little bubble and learn nothing.
The first clip, the main thing I saw was a large segregated cycle lane. About one third of the road width has been segregates, to provide a safe place for cyclists, allowing them and larger vehicles to flow at their own speeds. So Silvio chose to ride in the road, which is bloody selfish. This is one reason drivers will act poorly towards him. Share. At 6:30, he passes two vehicles on the approach to a pedestrian crossing, overtaking them on the approach. A traffic offence when he passes the leading vehicle, as he is a vehicle. But he is choosing which rules he follows. What he has done, is the same as pushing to the front of a queue, which would not be tolerated in most circumstances, as we are a nation of polite queuers. The orange car may have already worked to pass him once, now has to do so again. I can understand why he might be aggrieved. In South Wales this afternoon, I had a car deliberately use the right lane at a roundabout, signed for a right turn, to go ahead, effectively pushing ahead of 6 cars. On the next stretch of road, that car then drove at 50mph, on a national speed limit road, clear, no junctions or other hazards, holding up all of us that had previously been travelling at 60. That sort of behaviour results in annoyance, and then poor overtakes. Earlier this morning, while training a fleet driver, we caught up with a cyclist, downhill, between Stroud and Gloucester. Solid white line for some distance, cyclist freewheeling down the hill at around 12mph. We, and the growing queue behind were stuck. The cyclist knew we were there, and passed three good spots to move in and allow the traffic to pass, but chose not to do so. The Highway Code tells drivers of slow moving vehicles to allow others to pass, this does apply to cyclists, not just tractors. (And the stereotypical two old ladies in a Nissan Micra) Even earlier, with the same driver, we'd caught another cyclist, on that long sold white line stretch, but uphill, with no passing places. With the cyclist making good progress at 12mph, uphill, we were unable to pass. Cyclist however, was getting a bit wound up as we would not pass, (after I'd got the driver to increase the following distance), gently increasing his work to try to increase speed. If he'd slowed a little, we could have overtaken, but apparently unaware of the 10mph threshold, he kept on trying to kill himself with the effort. It brightens the day.
On your first point, the segregated cycle lane at 2:40 is so short that no cyclist would ever use it. If you look at the rear view camera it starts and stops in the space of maybe 40 metres. When it ends the cyclist would have to stop, look for a gap in the traffic and get up to speed again. It’s been created by some council planner with tick boxes to tick. On the cyclist doing 12 mph when the HC says max 10 to cross a solid white line - you’re right, but it’s just guidance and no one is going to be able to measure the cyclist’s precise speed. If you can get by safely it would be fine and you would never get prosecuted (although you might fail a driving test).
2:13 is it any wonder motorists get pissed off with cyclists, the local authority has clearly spent a huge amount of money constructing a separated cycle lane, reduced the width of the road to do so, and probably not had the resource to maintain the road, and the cyclist would rather ride on the road to create an issue, to have content for their channel.
Council should have spent more and continued the cycleway further instead of turning into a launch ramp into a pedestrian area. Looks like Silvio is moving at over 20 mph and continuing into the next junction. Better to keep road position away from peds at that speed.
Fair play for the bravery Ashley. Internet is home to under and misinformed. I cant read all the comments below, it makes me angry that people still dont see this. Even with the Highway code on the screen the dunning krieger hat gets put on. I dont like dead centre, im also a motor cyclist, dead centre is bad ground, slippy. My primary is 2/3 - 3/4.
Not cycling, but I have found that since I have been following your driving advice, my dashcam clips have become very boring indeed. Long may that continue.
Ashley is great on driving but his more limited experience on bikes - e-bikes at that - shows.
Excellent, just as we need it. Many thanks!
Saying taking primary will "discourage close passes", fails to consider that triggers severe road rage in some drivers, sometimes leading to much more dangerous situations - deliberate tailgating and being forced into the kerb.
Absolutely! I've tried AN's advice on my daily commute in Swindon and definitely got more aggro from motorist who (I think) perceive a cyclist in primary as intentionally holding up traffic.
Well, I was riding in primary the other day and a driver tried to ram me off the road, then got out and told me I was "riding like I owned the road". A tussle ensued before he got tired and saw sense. I did remind him he was on camera. Was this being recorded for social media? No. But it might well end up there.
Send it to Ashley and let him review it. You might find you could’ve done something better, or most probably you came across an absolute throbber.
In my experience, too many motorists don't understand the concept of primary position and if/when cyclists will use it. Unfortunately, it's the same category of motorists that merely want to pass cyclists instead of overtake them. These motorists are also the ones that want the intimidate and bully cyclists. Alas I don't see it changing any time soon. Unfortunately, whilst I think Ashley is trying to do some good, videos like this are red meat to many.
@Shm5547 totally agree with you. One can't always take primary when needed because one ends up creating a new risk. Even if one goes fast enough to be close to the speed limit of 20mph, if it's a stretch of road where cars can go faster than that, some drivers see it as a deliberate attempt just to block them. This follows by them putting their car just inches from your back wheel and if it's possible, they'll have a go at you. And it's not even about getting on with their journey faster because they might end up in a red light not too far ahead, it's about how dare the cyclist ride anywhere else other than the gutter.
In some situations where *I have to* take primary, I'm constantly checking behind me and get out of the way as soon as I can to minimise the risk that comes with this sort of drivers.
This type of behaviour is a lot more common than drivers would think.
@@amendo78 100%.
Had exactly the same experiences you describe.
Most drivers don't think primary position is ever valid. They think if it as "taking up the whole lane" or acting as if "they own the road" or "baiting drivers". These people almost definitely don't think close passing is a big deal. It's never the fault of the victim for "encouraging" dangerous behaviour in others.
I think most drivers don't even understand why cyclists use primary position.
7:18 If Sylvio was the pedestrian he'd be making a video on how the cyclist didn't stop for him.
And he'd have been wrong - the pedestrian had no priority at that point. 🤷♂
@@InBodWeTrust wouldn't have made a difference he'd still be claiming some rule out of context to justify it. Maybe even walk into the cyclist and start shouting at them for not giving way to him.
5:22 Why are there white lines making a supposed cycling lane? People driving expect people on bikes to be in that lane whatever the the circumstances. The pretend cycling infrastructure makes it more dangerous for people on bikes and more confusing for people driving.
I got hit by a car a few weeks ago whilst stationary and in primary plus some. It's no wonder cyclists don't do it
More victim blaming this - fairly common in your cycling videos, which I feel are primarily designed to bait cyclists. In almost all of those situations the motorist shouldn’t have passed. I suspect they would have just passed closer (or got angrier) if the cyclist took up a more primary position. The cyclist is the victim in these instances, they can ride where they want and the motorist should overtake safely. They’re no more at fault than a woman who attracts unwanted attention because of what she’s wearing (I.e. not at all).
I posted a comment very similar to this - also highlighting how victim blaming like this would not be acceptable in other situations - someone on this channel seems to have not liked it and deleted my post.
3:13 That driver was despicable and should be prosecuted for dangerous driving. Actually disgusting. I don’t understand how you can have that little care for other people.
Ashley, any chance you could leave the e-bike at home some time and do some normal cycling in a hilly area among impatient drivers? Some times I get the feeling you're not experiencing cycling in the same way a lot of people do on conventional bikes.
He's not. This video and many others show this.
That’s why he’s happy to stop at roundabouts etc. where normal cyclists would try and adjust their speed on the approach so they could keep going without stopping. It’s easy if you can just stop and then power off again.
@@Tailspin80 It doesn't really matter what you ride or how hard it is. If you have to stop at a roundabout you stop rather than continuing on and putting yourself or others at risk.
@@Zeyr01 You have options as you approach roundabouts, junctions and traffic lights. If you slow down on the approach and give yourself time and space you can often time it so you don’t have to come to a complete halt while also not being unsafe or getting in anyone’s way. It’s something any driver will do naturally, particularly when merging on to roundabouts. I ride using SPD clipless pedals and when you stop it means unclipping and then clipping in again, as well as changing down a few gears before stopping and having to work to get back up to speed. An e-bike with flat pedals eliminates some of these issues so is not representative of normal cycling.
@@Tailspin80 I totally agree with everything you said there including the bit about not being representative of normal cycling but none of that process you outlined there is excuse to not stop at a roundabout when you have to.
What I cannot stand is when I clearly make an effort to ride near the side so drivers can pass safely, but someone passes very close anyways.
When this happens, I make a dramatic shift from secondary to primary position so that the driver and any others who observed the close pass can see me take back the lane upon being disrespected. I realize that the offending driver has already passed at this point so I'm effectively punishing other drivers who may have been more reasonable, but I dont want anyone to see the close pass and think that I was OK with it. I aim to convey this message:
"If drivers wont safely use the space that I give them, then I wont give drivers that space."
This story introduces optimism as a factor in the decision whether to take a primary or secondary position. If I'm optimistic that drivers will pass safely, then I will take a secondary position as soon as I feel there is enough room to share the lane. But if I become pessimistic, then I will hold a primary position until there is a very generous amount of room to pass.
They will tell you if they cool from their actions. In harder inclines or narrow points il hop on path for cool. Im in primary before i find out.
Ashley, your driving videos are absolutely amazing, incredible insight; I genuinely feel grateful that we get the benefit of not only your skills, but also your judgement, and big picture lens in situations; I might even say it’s like having an adult in the room. However I do feel you would benefit from reaching out to some of these you tubers (perhaps you have), rather than confronting them. (I’ve commented something similar before). Appreciate they might also attack you, but ur often the ‘adult’ in these types of situations, and I think it would be amazing to see a conversation between you and some of these guys. I also feel you are really well placed to be a bridgehead to combat the tribal nature of a lot of this subject. When I watch some of these Cyclimg videos from UA-camrs (perhaps with the exception of cycling mikey who clearly is on a bit of a crusade), I recognise some of the behaviour in my own cycling in London (the good and the bad), and I dont see Silvio’s cycling as performative for views (although only he would know). I recognise the exhaustion of being constantly put in danger for zero reason by ‘must get in front ‘ and punishment passes. I also recognise that my emotional response sometimes makes me make the wrong decisions in situations. I’m a big car nut and also a cyclist, so I’ve got skin in both camps, and recognise I’ve got much to learn still in both disciplines, a fact I hadn’t appreciated until I started watching your videos several years ago. Sorry for the long post, I really want to see this channel land with cyclists. Keep up the excellent content ! Cheers .
I asked Silvio for a ride out and he wouldn’t because I ride an e-bike. Inclusive cycling for everyone is not in his psyche
@@AshleyNeal-JustCycling well that’s disappointing, I actually just posted a comment on his video which this is a response to, I hope he reflects , but all credit to you for reaching out!
Top comment. Intent is often hard to prove, but I often wonder, despite learning alot from Ashley's perspective, if cyclists often stay in secondary for fear of creating more aggravation. Don't do much road cycling these days but know I've stayed beside the pavement in order to be as little nuisance as possible to drivers. I'm not saying that's the right mentality but I don't think I'm alone in that thought process. And like you I've still reacted angrily to close passes, and don't feel I've brought that upon myself, even if like Ashley says I could have done more to prevent said close pass...
@@AshleyNeal-JustCyclingThis reaction simply proves that he's an idiot and probably not worth talking to.
@@Albert5522 totally agree, and reflecting on your comments, perhaps I watch some of those cycling videos as a form of catharsis, that its not just me, and it really is that bad, my despair is earned!. Totally different emotion to watching Ashleys videos where I genuinely watch to learn (unlike the many myriad of dashcam sites and ai channels, if u want to watch rubbish driving and road rage), that’s why I see the opportunity for cycling which Ashley cycling channel can provide. Acknowledge and validate the emotion, but also hopefully make people go… did I contribute to this situation? What could I have done differently? is being morally right worth dying for?
Silvio often moves out towards overtaking vehicles, and this obviously makes any overtake look closer than it was.
Silvio’s number one fanboy Roadbiker thinks he does absolutely nothing wrong 😂😂😂
The main contributing factor of the incident in the penultimate clip was the sudden end of the cycle lane he was in. It forced bikes and cars into the pinch point. If the road markings and surface weren't terrible he might've spotted it sooner. However, he should have then backed off, and certainly shouldn't have had a go at the driver. It caught them both out.
If you don't know the road, the bike lane might not be the safest place for the cyclist.
Another example of poorly designed bit of cycle infrastructure purporting to protect you with a paint line on the straight, wide road where you need protecting least and disappearing completely at the pinch point where you could do with a bit of protection.
@@Mw9d-m8n they're only really useful when the traffic isn't moving.
Adopting primary on a hill in the town centre in rush hour surrounded by buses and taxis requires a force of will I just can't muster on some days and so I'm intimidated off the road. I've been cycling since age seven and so have been on the road for over 50 years and I currently do 1000s of KM every year. I'm experienced.
AN is generally a force for good but I wish he'd remember he cycles for pleasure (and youtube content, oh the irony!) and does so on the flat, outside of rush hour and on an electric assist which gives a much quicker pick up from junctions so he can more easily keep up with the flow of traffic.
AN challenge: ride one of those heavy hire bikes in heavy traffic and see how that alters the perception and ride.
I think it’s great you’re pointing out the cyclist’s contribution to these incidents, whilst still acknowledging the responsibility ultimately lies with the driver who’s going to do all the damage
main takeaway? If ya gonna have a YT channel on road behaviour...at least read up on the Highway Code!
I agree mostly with Ashley but on this, NO. It is far better to get close passed than it is to get hit by a maniac, of which there are plenty out there. Ashley himself posted a few videos where a tiny inconvenience led to the maniac attempting to ram a car. A cyclist would have zero chance. Rule 72 is just advice, it is not legally enforceable and is completely in the grey area. What exactly is a quiet street? What is slower moving traffic? You do not invite another road user to close pass you by riding secondary, the driver chose to do so themselves. As a car driver, what a cyclist does or doesn't do, never leads me to break the law. Because I have eyes and a brain.
Yep agree - primary may be theoretically a deterrent but in reality results in even closer passes - the passer should be judging if it’s at a safe speed and distance otherwise drivers would be moaning constantly about annoying cyclists weaving in and out of primary and secondary- can’t have it both ways - it’s an everyday occurrence not just one for capturing content
More idiocy. Primary gives you a larger safety space to the left if someone’s going to overtake.
@@AshleyNeal-JustCycling not a good look calling your viewers idiots - when you’re close passed in primary, it’s usually aggressive and at speed - swinging into secondary does not happen as someone is passing which is what you’re suggesting - your theory and reality simply don’t match and this is from many people saying their real world experience is quite the opposite of how you perceive the world to work in the case of cycling - I follow your driving channel with interest but strongly disagree with you on this based on my casual, but substantial cycling experience on the roads 😐
@@AshleyNeal-JustCyclingI am confused - are you advising to sit in primary position and then try to dodge out of the way into secondary position if/when a car overtakes?
I don't know many who would have the reflexes, or speed, to pull that off.
I agree. The sort of driver that close passes you probably doesn’t even understand the difference between primary and secondary and just sees bikes as annoying little mobile roadblocks. I find 99% of drivers are great and give you loads of space without being prompted but every so often one just flies by as if you don’t exist. I have an offside mirror and watch vehicles approaching. You can generally tell the ones that are likely to be dangerous and think about escape options.
Whilst your points are valid, and you are instructing on correct protocol, as an experienced regular cyclist I can categorically tell you that in some situations cycling to the letter of the rules as they stand will put you in just as much danger, of not more. And this is because a minority of drivers behave with impunity and contempt for other road users. And considering that in those hands a car becomes a lethal weapon, sometimes you adjust your riding to suit, in order to avoid direct confrontation, because you never know if one of them will just snap and drive straight in to you.
It's a fair point but does not have any standing regarding this video when Silvio decides to pass moving vehicle on its left with parked cars so close.
@@AshleyNeal-JustCycling Maybe not, and I wouldn't overtake on the right of moving traffic unless specifically in a turning lane, but you mentioned how secondary position invites overtake - on some wider roads even sitting in primary doesn't stop overtake attempts even when it isn't safe, especially when approaching a bottleneck or blind bend with oncoming traffic unaware of your presence.
Ashley is so bitter and vindictive about these things sometimes. This is just one of those point-scoring videos, like when he invited that cyclist for a driving lesson just so he could talk down to him.
The cyclist invited him.
He is a bit passive-aggressive. I think it masks aggressive-aggressive from his younger driving days!
Bitter and vindictive? I genuinely don't see this. Help me see things through your lens and time stamp and explain where he's being bitter or vindictive?
Bitter and vindictive was probably a bit strong. I think I'd actually amend that to "petty" or "passive aggressive" like @tailspin80 above.
I couldn't timestamp it - I'm referring to the actual premise of this video. What's happened is Silvio made a video about Ashley, so Ashley's just retaliating in a shameless bit of tit-for-tat criticism.
That cyclist's riding really is quite a high level, so Ashley's jumped on very minor faults the rider made to try to assert his knowledge and authority over him.
@@_Shadbolt_ There were some key mistakes Silvio made in fairness such as the convergence in which his bike lane ended and joined the road
what's the answer if by riding in secondary baits a driver to pass you for the "content" but riding in primary ANGERS the driver to pass you even more dangerously? Is the cyclist baiting content in both scenarios?
Ashley doesn't cycle enough to realise that riding in primary is not the solution to all problems that he thinks it is.
meanwhile, in the US, a cyclist uploaded video of himself riding in the oncoming traffic lane with oncoming traffic.
Maybe he was watching Ashley Neal for tips, forgetting that this is a UK channel, and got himself confused on which lane he was supposed to be in 🙃
@@thecrispymaster no, he was doing it on purpose, for content.
2:14… “Silvio should have been here”
How about Silvio considers using the bloody cycle lane 6ft to the left 🤷♂️🤦♂️
The one that then immediately runs straight into a free for all with pedestrians, posts, and then the entrance to a petrol station forecourt? Absolutely awful cycle lane. Everybody is safer with the cyclists not using it.
The cycle lane that ends right at the pinch point, becomes a poorly marked shared path at the same point as the pedestrian crossing and that appears to end totally 50m further on? Another bit of crap cycling infrastructure that is only ever going to bring cyclists into conflict with pedestrians. I will happily use cycle lanes where they reduce risk but that one doesn’t so I would have kept to the road.
@@Mw9d-m8nFirstly, please understand I’m only playing ‘devils advocate’ here but … ‘bring cyclists into conflict with pedestrians’? I see 3 pedestrians, of note, one of whom is stationary at the crossing. The pavement also seems only marginally less wide than the road itself!
Rather than blaming ‘infrastructure’ (which you & I are unable to do much about, I suppose) I might suggest it’s a case of ‘absolving oneself from responsibility & placing the onus upon motor vehicles’!🤔😉✌️
@@razzle1964 you can only see three people when you get there!
I see Ashley's "cycling education" is being put to excellent use right here
you don't need the 1.5m stuff, what you need is the older "treat a cycle as the same size as a car", which will give you a similar passing distance, and indeed often result in safer passing
Problem with that is that most people don’t seem to know how wide their vehicle is and thus they think passing without touching the virtual vehicle still results in a scrape by…
@@Umski yes this is true, as a casual glance round a carpark demonstrates
The problem with that was the Courts generally interpreted it as 'no contact, no offence'. It used to be quite normal on a country road to have car go past at 60 mph with 30cms to spare.
5:43 "trouble follows you around" well I disagree. Anyone who cycles regularly will encounter this sort of driving behaviour. I recall even you Ashley getting into an interaction with a van driver the one time you tried cycling to the supermarket!
Yep common occurrence- admittedly Sylvio seems to start some kind of conversation rather than adapt a bit and just report the close passes. Being in primary may be a deterrent but more often than not it will result in an even closer pass - theory versus reality in my experience…
Plus the woman in a Fiesta complaining that Ashley ‘should be at the side of the road’ after making a dubious pass into a T junction.
I’ve been side swiped more than once by drivers getting it wrong by trying to rush into the space ahead of me and been the target for a hard punishment pass that turned into a hit and run. There’s no road craft that can predict or control those drivers.
@@Umski I think Silvio is talking to the driver and using social media as he has had a very poor response from reporting incidents to the police. Reporting to the police in my area is a pointless task at the moment, it just seems to go into a black hole.
4:15 I would have probably passed on the left there too. It's an opportunity to escape the dodgy driver. It's all about the balance of risk, that seemed the less risky option IMO.
I would also say that Silvio might not have been looking to pass that van on the left earlier, just trying to keep momentum going and taking a position to the left of the van so he can see the road surface better. As the van driver accelerates away, Silvio moves back more centrally in the lane.
Silvio isn't perfect, nobody is, but I don't think he is riding to create content. He's just trying to get somewhere by bicycle and documenting the awful driving he has to deal with.
5:50 I'm not happy to see Sylvio moving through like this at a pedestrian crossing. We can argue all day about whether he was technically infringing the Highway Code (rules 165 and 191 - yes, I had to look them up) but it doesn't seem like good practice to me. Some pedestrians are very vulnerable and a bike is quite sufficient to cause life-changing injury.
The main takeaway from this video is: "Two wrongs make a wrong."
I agree with you Ashley regarding cycling position. Cyclists don't do this correctly or safely enough in general, and this invites idiot motorists with little to no spatial awareness to perform a dangerous overtake.
I get your point about secondary enticing some drivers to come past, but primary is not a fix for dangerous overtakes. This is why I think saying that secondary means a cyclist is ok with coming past is an incorrect assumption.
Just last saturday I was cycling on twisty forest roads (Finland) and taking primary before a blind bend or a crest of a hill literally had no effect. Drivers forced past closely when they couldn't even see behind the bend or hill. And in my experience, this is very common. So, if it has no effect, would I want to be closer to a potential head on crash or as far away from it as possible?
if you're in primary, you can dodge to secondary.
Primary will give you more space to escape than secondary.
1 foot off the centre line. Dam if they polite and im holding them up il hop on path for them. If they rude and impatient il "not see the drop path"
Honestly, anybody that can have a UA-cam channel dedicated to poor driving clips, must have a large contribution to a lot of the situations. If you drive/ride defensively, there just won't be enough situations to keep a channel going. Just look at Ashley, he has maybe 10 minutes of driving fails per month, and he is a driving instructor, so is on the road for a large part of the day (and we all know what behaviour driving school vehicles cause in some drivers).
I have started a channel @MotorwayMadness-yq6eg and none of the clips have any bearing what I as the cammer was doing. My remit is that they will only be what others have done wrong. The only scrapes I get into are muppets tailgating me as I am being careful.
By being observant and driving safely and normally it is still possible to have enough numpties to fill a channel.
And even then, people unfamiliar with the Hanney moan because his clips aren't eventful enough! These people don't seem to comprehend that most normal people don't get into hair raising situations on the daily 😂
*Channel
And heres me thinking the drivers had to be trained to use the road...
You've just summed up nearly all dashcam uploaders, cyclists and drivers
I understand your point about primary position.
For non-confident riders, this just isn’t an option and they get close passes.
For more experienced riders taking primary, it can lead to more dangerous overtakes and unpleasant confrontations.
Silvio could be more proactive with his position, but this doesn’t excuse those overtakes
Has anyone seen the video on other dashcam videos of a cyclist riding in primary in roadworks and the car driver is leaning on the horn telling him to move over and the comments saying the cyclist is doing on purpose to make videos
On cycling Channels like Silvio there will always be trolls in the comments overly criticising his riding and defending the car driver for driving dangerously towards Silvio unprovoked. If you ride correctly during rush hour you still get many stupid drivers and pedestrians and just have to learn to deal with them. The trolls don’t even ride a bike so will never know why cyclists don’t always use the cycle lane or why cyclists filter which they keep calling undertaking or why cyclists ride in the middle of the “road” it’s the lane and they think that cyclists should move out of the way for cars when time and time again you will always catch the car in another traffic queue.
As with most 'bad driving/riding channels, I watch a few videos and never return if they look like a content-warrior.
I know the junction at 3:12 and can confirm that the lane the BMW was in is marked as both straight ahead and right turn. Although it tends to be used more commonly by buses for turning right than cars, because of the left lane after the turn being a bus lane and the right lane being a normal driving lane. The positioning of the 201 bus doing the right turn in this clip is unusual for that junction. Regardless, if cycling, I would have positioned in front of the BMW to do that turn to avoid the conflict. Silvio put himself in a risky position.
3:00 this is the junction at Herne Hill station in London approaching along Dulwich Road. There are three lanes with the centre lane able to go left or right, albeit that there is a left filter that comes on before full green. Car driver did nothing wrong initially in making the turn but, obviously, should have stayed behind the cyclist until safe to pass. It’s a dangerous junction with lots of pedestrians, the station, buses and Brockwell Park so always needs a high level of attention no matter what form of transport you’re riding/driving/walking.
I'm always flabberghasted by cyclists who (rightly) get upset when a car close passes them, but will happily move *even closer* to the car *while it is next to them* in order to close pass a slower cyclist. Is it dangerous or not?
Full disclosure, I'm also a Silvio subscriber. I do understand your point better in this video verses the original one, but I never thought you were measuring skirts like so many commenters made out. When I ride I try to minimise the friction when I have to take the lane, so for example @4:44 I would already be easing off and falling in behind the van if possible or behind the BMW if the driver is a space closer. Sure, the van driver should have seen the pinch point and waited to overtake, but once they're alongside it's an uphill battle to get a driver to acknowledge their mistake and correct it. What irritates me is that it's so obvious on the bike when a driver intends to go past or not -- especially ICE vehicles as I can easily hear their throttle position which tells me if they are letting off, maintaining speed, or even accelerating past (you can use the road noise / regen / brakes for electric cars, but it's not as effective). All that's needed then is a shoulder-check to confirm.
Another example is @6:06 where I simply wouldn't have accelerated in the new road. There was nobody following the Renault so it's a perfect time to just aim at the back of the taxi and coast. Drivers understand the message surprisingly quickly when it's advantageous for them, so let the motor vehicle use its advantage and I'm back in behind them looking at the scenery rather than worrying about a car up my arse.
However, I often see YT riders ending up beside vehicles and LOOKING AT OR IN THE VEHICLE! I've never had time to do that because I'm too busy indicating to the vehicle following them. I don't cycle in the UK, but I'd estimate on low-speed roads >80-90% of drivers give way when you signal next to the driver in front, i.e. if Silvio had signalled next to the van the drivers following would have grown their gap (though how much of this is a panic response to thinking I'm about to turn right I couldn't say). If you try to battle with the ones that can't or won't see the hazard developing, your experience of cycling on the roads will be poor.
It would have been great if, for once, you'd made a follow up video responding to the majority of the / top rated comments that also took issue with your original video, instead of doubling down with "a few of Silvio's clips that prove your point perfectly".
How hard would it have been to maybe use one of his clips to help back up your point, but also maybe address some of the comments by including at least one clip where Silvio (or, at the very least, another active uploader) was riding in primary position, and the driver still passed them dangerously?
Or maybe you could have found one or two clips to support your theory about how riding in secondary invites close passes, rather than doubling down on this ridiculous theory that it's done on purpose, when you have no evidence to support it.
Again, could have been an interesting, balanced follow-up, yet somehow ended up being another take-down piece on a channel with far fewer viewers / subscribers than your own. Well done
Cycling in secondary is not meant to encourage people to overtake and it is not a message to overtake .
Ashley's Sunday Roast gets served up two days early....
Good job that I had enough of an appetite to digest this even though I would prefer to crack on with Gran Turismo 4 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
4:35 Looks like the driver should have seen the cycle lane ending and held back.
Notwithstanding that, I’ve got the impression that the 1.5m doesn’t apply (wouldn’t be prosecuted) when there is a solid line cycle lane like this at the start of this clip. The safest thing to do is give 1.5m at all times however just treat it as a cyclist in secondary.
Now if you comment on Silvio’s channel suggesting that he should be braking to avoid danger, you get accused of victim blaming and you get called a troll 😂
It seems to be a certain similar age of both drivers and cyclists who are just inflexible or unwilling to help themselves or follow rules, like no close passing or taking priority. They've reached the point where "I'm right you're wrong and I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing even if it causes an accident because I'm right" is their only mindset and they are inflexible on their being a better way, especially if it can make their latest video tweet etc more popular
I will take a primary position at moments when an overtake would clearly put my life at risk, such as the approach to a roundabout when I do not intend to turn left, or yellow bollards that do not leave room for others to pass. Silvio's secondary position at 5:14 seems almost suicidal, given the risk of a side-swipe. Generally, though, I am not prepared to act as the lane police, and I don't feel particularly safe riding in the middle of a lane in front of an impatient driver. If someone overtakes me at a slightly inopportune moment and causes me to brake, I think I'm fairly forgiving.
I think I said in the original video that riding in urban area requires more primary position riding, due to proliferation of narrow streets, parked vehicles and street furniture. In the rural area I'm in, its more difficult to constantly command a primary position, especially with the speed some vehicles are approaching at.
As an aside, I posted some videos of close passes on my UA-cam a couple of weeks ago, I'd be interested in your take Ashley. Border Velo is the channel. They cover several years.
I think the Renault driver at 6:43 thinks they aren't allowed in the chevron area.
Storm Ashley incoming.😅
😂😂😂
Now I’ve just read the news this makes sense 😂
@@AshleyNeal-JustCycling Enlighten me, please.... Even if it requires sending an email.
I'm intrigued
LOL Brill.
There is a storm due Sunday night to the UK and they’ve named it Ashley 👍
6:58 Luckily, the cyclist didn't move out for the man next to the van.
What about his close pass of the cyclist he overtakes during the orange Renault incident?
Rules don't apply to social medial cyclists.
6:14 The Renault driver is a serial close pass merchant.
Probably got their "Licence" from a CEREAL Packet 🤣
It never ceases to amaze me that people will happily have a go about how everyone else is terrible and trying to kill them, yet won't lift a finger to protect their space bubble, nor regulate their speed to keep themselves safe.
They will, however, post content that shows how crap their self-preservation skills actually are, and call it an example of everyone else being a poor road user...
I remember seeing comments on Twitter after the original video stating how you are saying _every_ cyclist goes out looking for problems by putting themselves in danger purposely. They completely missed the point of the video and point blank refused to accept the message, even going as far to say Ashley was blaming cyclists for getting close passed
I have tried correcting a few by saying it isn’t just limited to cyclists but is a “dash cam” mentality but they cannot see beyond their own agenda. I do believe a couple may have realised the message of the video but still go out to generate content
Trouble is that stupid does not know that its stupid. Have a nice weekend Smilerbob. 😊
I have a question. Does a cyclist have to give another cyclist 1.5 meters when they pass them?
I would hope so.
For me, when riding I try to give cyclists I'm passing 1-1.5m depending on the speed I'm passing them.
On the receiving end, I've had plenty of close passes by other cyclists who think they're in the Pro Peloton or some X-Games assault course and weaving in and out squeezing past me and other cyclists and cars to gain a precious few seconds. And when they pass at a high relative speed which is just as scary as a car doing the same and they're usually a lot closer than many of the close passes from a car.
Despite applying to all road users, unfortunately The Highway Code is too often written as if it is only addressing car drivers. This means it is unclear whether all the rules apply to all road users at all times. It is also confusing that some aspects of the code are advice and some are laws.
But, if the Code does apply to all road users, then Rule 163 also applies to cyclists: "give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders and horse drawn vehicles at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car. As a guide leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds."
Note, this is ADVICE only but it's good advice and choosing to ignore it opens up cyclists to the following LAW, which is all encompassing:
Rule 68:
"You [cyclists] MUST NOT ... ride in a dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner."
So, would passing another cyclist closer than 1.5m be dangerous, careless or inconsiderate? Depends on the circumstances, but it could certainly be seen as "inconsiderate" at best in many cases and, therefore, illegal.
I did notice on a couple of the examples cycle lanes weren't being used and abruptly disappeared at the pinch points. Cycling is far from safe, I'd be inclined to use the cycle lane and pootle along the pavement when the road narrows, the chances of meeting a walker are very slim.
Do you think it's why some motorists get triggered and pass dangerously?
I ride like that sometimes but it’s hard to pootle when you are on your way to work. All the sections shown would be safer for people on bikes if those white lines didn’t exist.
Why in Silvio's first clip is he even in the road when there is a cycle lane?
Because the cycle lane ends directly at the pinch point forcing you to either rejoin the road at the most dangerous point or navigate the shared, narrowing pathway at the pedestrian lights. It’s less risk to cycle in the road imho.
when cycling it’s the constant need to make decisions. Staying clear enough of parked cars, drivers behind and in front not getting too close, whether to be in primary position or secondary position. Still, got to remember that cyclists are still more vulnerable especially on the road and car drivers are protected by 1.5-2 tonnes of metal, which have more than 100 bph to kill. doesn’t justify cyclists not following the highway code or creating situations to create content.
If there is protected cycling infrastructure i would use it. But unfortunately the way our urban environments are designed vehicles will always be King and these conflicts with cyclists will always occur even if cyclists ride properly.
Clearly not enough education for many people on roads cyclists and motorists alike .
The increase in cyclists has invariably led to the increase of cycling clip hunters, as if dash cam channels didn’t have enough of them.
Silvio is a cyclist with very little ability to cycle, Silvio thinks everybody but Silvio is responsible for Silvio's safety.
Ashley has no ability whatsoever. No qualifications, just an ego.
@@peterwillson1355 lol what
@@BobsBurgers1234 He drives cars....He is NOT a cyclist.
I’ve never understood some cyclist's constant scolding of people for not keeping them safe when they don’t seem interested in doing that themselves. If you can't do what needs to be done to keep yourself safe why do you expect anyone else to do that?
Because the people in the 2 tonne metal boxes have almost all the control in the situation.
I do think that plays a significant part in ill feeling towards them. The emphasis is always the accommodation to keep them safe. So ok, of course all motorists should drive responsibly with the safety of everyone in mind that obviously goes without saying. Yet, it’s this mindset that so many of them seem to have. This absolute freestyle, the ‘I can do anything and everyone else has to adapt around me’ attitude that sees them put themselves into the risky scenarios for essentially no reason at all. Least of all the deliciously ironic double standard of them treating pedestrians every bit as bad and worse than what they think motorists do to them.
@@andyedwards7800 But they still need to keep themselves safe. I understand motorists need to do their bit to keep cyclists safe, but if cyclists expect that from them, they need to lead by example and do what they can to keep themselves safe. If you know you are in a potentially dangerous situation, does it not make sense to act in a way that makes the situation less dangerous for you, rather than just hope others will do that for you? I know this isn't all cyclists and I know most of them are sensible on the road. It's just a small minority that gives them a bad reputation for riding dangerously and expecting motorists to ensure they are safe while not doing that themselves. I'm not victim-blaming here, I just don't get their attitude.
Deelited Manchester has Ashley on his channel, Worth teaching him some safety lessons.
if motorist was perfect there be no need for cycle cameras are speed cameras cyclist dont go out of there way for content its there all the time there 1000s of youtube dash cam footage that proves it
Exactly! What I don’t understand is why should we tolerate bad drivers and accept them to do the damage they cause. Roads Police will always say you might be a good driver but it’s the others you have to worry about. If the police actually banned drivers straight away when they drive dangerously we might have more safer drivers on the road. But no! They just give them a warning letter no wonder motorists still drive badly and they have an audacity that there is a “war on them”
Another deluded and victim-blaming video
1:23 this should be fun..... carry on Ashley.... I've got my popcorn and diet cola drink.
Keep up the good work Ashley - your videos are excellent. On my commute, there is a nasty section of the A663 through the village of Newhey onto Jubilee near junction 21 of the M62. Going to work isn’t too bad as it is downhill and is easy to take the lane. Coming home uphill is a nightmare to be fair. The road is relatively narrow. Some drivers are still in “motorway” mode. I’ve reported maybe a 100 drivers to Operation Snap for careless driving (most have been prosecuted). Recently I enquired if the incident data is analysed with a view to putting safety measures in place. Unfortunately only collision data is taken into consideration. Since then, I have been riding the dangerous sections on the (quiet) pavement.
Silvio is possibly the worst UA-cam cyclist I've seen ... considering I've also seen Jeremy Vine, that's saying something.
I take up primary position when unsafe to be overtaking, I have a rear view camera so can see who’s approaching a few times some attempt to overtake but I blast my horn everyone close by starts looking and driver backs down is comical if you’re bark is loud they back off then soon it opens up I move over wave then it safe to overtake making them look silly with that earlier attempt, tho I always have space to my left just in case
5:08 he undertook him
Useful advice
I find that on this channel I get quality advice both as a car driver and as a cyclist
It's like Ashley has been reading my comments! 😂😂😂
Noticed roadbiker isn’t here defending Silvio! 😂
@TheMirrorGuy lol I think we definately have some validation here. But it's not legal tender on silvios page 😁
Silvio is a class bad example of commuting
Ashley is talking nonsense. In the first example, the road does NOT narrow, so why would Silvio change position?
I recently followed a cyclist up a very steep, very narrow, very winding country lane. I could not safely pass him but that did not stop him from a) waving me on, even though there was very limited visibility to see oncoming vehicles and even if the road was clear, I would not be able to overtake and still leave him at least 1.5m, or
b) continuing to ride at 5mph while wobbling all over the road, not least because he was also having to dodge potholes.
So, was he "baiting" me so he could put a video on social media? I don't think so. I think he was just riding in a careless and inconsiderate manner because it was a difficult circumstance and didn't know what to do.
As a motorist it was my responsibility to protect him ... from himself.
He could - and should - have pulled over (into a gateway, for instance) and allowed me and the very long tailback of vehicles behind to pass safely, but instead chose to ride on for more than a mile (at 5mph) while the less patient members of our impromptu parade started to honk and hoot from behind. I guess those right at the back would have no idea why there was a hold up.
This cyclist was no kid. He was an older chap, with Lycra and a helmet, and looked like he has plenty of miles under his pedals. But he was caught out by an extreme road, which would have challenged the Tour de France pro's.
A less patient, less experienced, more easily-led driver would have tried to overtake and either knocked the bike and rider into the bottom of a hedge, or smashed into an oncoming vehicle, or both. It was only due to watching Ashley's videos that I wasn't tempted to make that mistake.
Silvio seems like the type of rider that never did Cycling Proficiency in school (do they even still do that?).
yes, and road safety training.
He just annoys me
I believe it is called Bikeability now, funded under Active Travel England
"In 2023/24, ATE agreed a multi-year funding settlement of £50 million for
the Bikeability Programme up to 2024/25. In 2023/24, more than 500,000 children booked on to cycle
training, with more than 310,000 children booked on to level 2 on-road training."
Yes, I have seen kids do it, will depend on the LTA though.
I did the training course to teach it, although I didn't bother with the final assessment as I was never going to use it. I do know what it's all about though, and Silvio is a mile off. As are most of the social media cyclists.
I do wonder whose side jeremy Vine, or cycling Mikey would be on here? 😂😂😂
Why do you care what those oddballs think?
@@goodyeoman4534 I don't, I was being silly! 😂
@josephmarsh8235 mikey follows him ams regularly defends him.
He recently appeared on the BBC defending cyclists who mow down blind pedestrians... of course defends him 😁
Thank you Ashley
It baffles me when cyclists get triggered by Ashley's videos, I'll never understand it.
Ash teaches us how to be safer on the roads as they are now and what to look out for and what to do in certain situations, etc. He advocates road safety for all road users and doesn't show favouritism to cars no matter what some cyclist say about him.
Bad drivers/cyclists are everywhere, no matter how much infrastructure there is they will always be there. If you can recognise them, you can avoid them. There are many tell tale signs with bad road users but many times they are ignored and the situation made worse than it needed to be....like J Vine going behind the van reversing and then stopping, which was unnecessary.
Be the solution not the problem.
You can avoid 90-95% of the incidents happening with advice from Ashley, the other 5-10% will happen regardless what you do, and those drivers/cyclists need to be reported and taken off the road ASAP.
My advice often is in conflict with some cyclists who prefer to play the victim.
Sadly Silvio is probably going to end up as a RTC statistic. When.... not if. Silvio, if you read this.... is your life really worth the paltry pennies you might be getting from the UA-cam content?
@@chrisl1797 How else is he going to pay for his pod? Absolutely Bugbroken.
🍿 😂
Keep it up boss videos
This silvio guy is a very arrogant entitled bikey with a me-me-me attitude. He does not even play nicely eith other bike riders.
Just look at the way he blasted though the peds at 7.20.
or at 6.39, so enraged about close passes, he 'close passes' another bike rider, putting himself even closer to the orange car.
Funny how these bikeys don't like being close passed, but are happy to do it themselves.
Hope Silvio does not have an ego and heeds your sound advice. As a motorist, i have learned to treat cyclists the same whether in primary or secondary.
Ashley, whilst you are undoubtably qualified to advise and give guidance on your channel on road use, I have never seen any cycling videos (other than yours) where any of the content posters are remotely qualified to comment on any skills used on the road. It seems that each provider is solely fixated on only one aspect, be that close passing or phone use and not how to ride correctly. It is right that you have given a critique of Silvio's riding to show how simply unqualified he is to comment on the failings of others. These cycling videos are no better than if presented by a learner motorbike rider having only passed their CBT.
As road users we can all benefit from real informed critiques otherwise we only exist in our little bubble and learn nothing.
As a cyclist it is good to see an other cyclist/driver encourage people to share the road, and to ignore fools like this idiot, and cyclingMikey
What has Mikey done except catch people using phones
The first clip, the main thing I saw was a large segregated cycle lane. About one third of the road width has been segregates, to provide a safe place for cyclists, allowing them and larger vehicles to flow at their own speeds. So Silvio chose to ride in the road, which is bloody selfish. This is one reason drivers will act poorly towards him. Share.
At 6:30, he passes two vehicles on the approach to a pedestrian crossing, overtaking them on the approach. A traffic offence when he passes the leading vehicle, as he is a vehicle. But he is choosing which rules he follows. What he has done, is the same as pushing to the front of a queue, which would not be tolerated in most circumstances, as we are a nation of polite queuers. The orange car may have already worked to pass him once, now has to do so again. I can understand why he might be aggrieved. In South Wales this afternoon, I had a car deliberately use the right lane at a roundabout, signed for a right turn, to go ahead, effectively pushing ahead of 6 cars. On the next stretch of road, that car then drove at 50mph, on a national speed limit road, clear, no junctions or other hazards, holding up all of us that had previously been travelling at 60. That sort of behaviour results in annoyance, and then poor overtakes.
Earlier this morning, while training a fleet driver, we caught up with a cyclist, downhill, between Stroud and Gloucester. Solid white line for some distance, cyclist freewheeling down the hill at around 12mph. We, and the growing queue behind were stuck. The cyclist knew we were there, and passed three good spots to move in and allow the traffic to pass, but chose not to do so. The Highway Code tells drivers of slow moving vehicles to allow others to pass, this does apply to cyclists, not just tractors. (And the stereotypical two old ladies in a Nissan Micra)
Even earlier, with the same driver, we'd caught another cyclist, on that long sold white line stretch, but uphill, with no passing places. With the cyclist making good progress at 12mph, uphill, we were unable to pass. Cyclist however, was getting a bit wound up as we would not pass, (after I'd got the driver to increase the following distance), gently increasing his work to try to increase speed. If he'd slowed a little, we could have overtaken, but apparently unaware of the 10mph threshold, he kept on trying to kill himself with the effort. It brightens the day.
On your first point, the segregated cycle lane at 2:40 is so short that no cyclist would ever use it. If you look at the rear view camera it starts and stops in the space of maybe 40 metres. When it ends the cyclist would have to stop, look for a gap in the traffic and get up to speed again. It’s been created by some council planner with tick boxes to tick.
On the cyclist doing 12 mph when the HC says max 10 to cross a solid white line - you’re right, but it’s just guidance and no one is going to be able to measure the cyclist’s precise speed. If you can get by safely it would be fine and you would never get prosecuted (although you might fail a driving test).
2:13 is it any wonder motorists get pissed off with cyclists, the local authority has clearly spent a huge amount of money constructing a separated cycle lane, reduced the width of the road to do so, and probably not had the resource to maintain the road, and the cyclist would rather ride on the road to create an issue, to have content for their channel.
Council should have spent more and continued the cycleway further instead of turning into a launch ramp into a pedestrian area. Looks like Silvio is moving at over 20 mph and continuing into the next junction. Better to keep road position away from peds at that speed.
@@bigejit9994 I agree that cycle lanes need to be continuous, I said the same about bus lanes when I worked for my local city council.
Cyclists, or anyone who is willing to put their life on the line to make a UA-cam video, they need their head looking at.
Or maybe those making the accusations for clicks does?
Fair play for the bravery Ashley. Internet is home to under and misinformed. I cant read all the comments below, it makes me angry that people still dont see this. Even with the Highway code on the screen the dunning krieger hat gets put on. I dont like dead centre, im also a motor cyclist, dead centre is bad ground, slippy. My primary is 2/3 - 3/4.
"I'm in the right safety be damned" 🪦