Advocacy & Safety - What would you prefer?

What would you prefer in this situation?

There is a significant hill and you are struggling to travel up it. The road is also narrow with no shoulder and winding so visibility around corners is bad. Of course because it's so steep going up, people coming down in cars or cycling come down quite fast.

Now I have this situation as both a cyclist and a motorist.
As a cyclist would you prefer motorists to stay behind you and follow you slowly up, or to overtake you, possibly dangerously due to lack of visibility?

As a cyclist for me....
I would kinda prefer people to overtake me. If someone is following me like that, even though I know it's safer for both of us, I can't get rid of the feeling I am being stalked. However I do also know that if a car was to overtake me and hit another one coming in the opposite direction, there would be a fair chance of my being taken out at the same time.

As a motorist...
On the road I am thinking of, there is no way in hell I am going to overtake a cyclist. I have a small underpowered (by most people's standards) car that takes a bit to speed up. I'm not going to risk another car coming from around the corner I can't see while overtaking. I know it's only a short road so it's not going to take up much of my time. However, I have been abused by other motorist behind me when behind a cyclist. (screw him).

The same sort of situation can be seen in busy double lane-each-way roads where cars may have to wait for a break in the other and to get around you safely and such.

Your thoughts?

I prefer that cars pass me if it's safe. Very few I hate more than someone lurking behind me when I'm going slow. OTOH, I don't want them passing when they can't know if it's safe.

I'd want a pass in either case. If the hill were somewhere with even moderate traffic, I'd ride the sidewalk up or find a different route.

This happens to me sometimes when I am out on 2 lane roads near my house. If they stay behind me for too long I try to wave them ahead if I see a clearing. If this doesn't work I will pull over to the side, pick up my bike, and wait for traffic to subside, or pull off on a side road if possible. Even though this breaks my rhythm on the hill, it is worth it usually.

If someone's creeping behind you, pull over, stop and let them pass.

You may want to look for an alternate route or a trail but if you're in hilly country, you often don't have a choice of roads going up the hill.

As a motorist...
On the road I am thinking of, there is no way in hell I am going to overtake a cyclist. I have a small underpowered (by most people's standards) car that takes a bit to speed up. I'm not going to risk another car coming from around the corner I can't see while overtaking. I know it's only a short road so it's not going to take up much of my time. However, I have been abused by other motorist behind me when behind a cyclist. (screw him).


If this is the case as a motorist, then follow with plenty of distance - that way you are not breathing down the cyclists rear wheel giving the impression of 'creeping behind' and clearly show you are not impatient to pass. The least of you concerns should be any motorist behind you as you note.

Al

When the road curves to the left, you will have good visibilty on the road ahead. If there is no approaching traffic you can signal cars to pass safely.

I know the feeling you talk about when someone is just creeping along behind you. However, I'm convinced this isn't so bad. In my experience, this person is usually not "stalking" you and they usually end up being older drivers that are quite simply taking their time. I've learned to push back that uneasy feeling and let the motorist take his time.

Remember that you have as much right to use a public road as anyone else.

I would let the car go by. I agree with the original poster, it's better to let the car pass safely than to be involved with a 2 car collision taking you out in the process.

biking up the hill I'd prefer they pass me when possible, I try to hug the side in those situations giving them room as I'm going slow.

When I'm in my car I pass as soon as I get a hole, my car has plenty of go.

If you are going up a hill you probably are going 5-8 mph. What car is not capable of accelerating to 20 mph to overtake you?

I live in a pretty hilly area with a lot of cyclists, so I've encountered cyclists on hills a number of times. I generally tend to hang back and wait it out until visibility is good. Usually isn't long at all.

I've not been on the other end of that one, though - my legs aren't really in good enough shape to take some of the hills around here :P

In the UK the vehicle in front has right of way. I sometimes ride out in the middle of the lane to prevent being overtaken if I think the lane is too narrow. Some of our tracks/lanes are really single lane tracks.

If it was a tractor with a trailer a vehicle behind would have no option but to wait. Just because I'm a small cyclist doesn't mean they shouldn't wait.

I think the same whether I'm a driver or a cyclist - i.e. vulnerable road user always has right of way.

When in that situation I speed up as much as I can till I get to a place the vehicle can safely pass. It hurts buy hey, that's what I'm there for right?