Originally Posted by chephy
It bugs him that he's getting safe passing distance from cars?? Gosh, you never know what's going to bother some folks! I'd be so damn happy if drivers changed lanes to pass by default! Maybe I should move to your area!
Our road system is set up with "one vehicle per lane" in mind, so in general as a driver I find it better to give the cyclist a full lane even if he/she isn't claiming it by riding down the centre. If a lane is very wide (so that I can give at least four feet of clearance to the rider), I may stay in the same lane, but it really isn't difficult to change lanes and is just less stressful for everybody. Some riders are rather unpredictable and swervy, so I want to give as much room to the cyclist as I can.
As a cyclist in Toronto I find that if it is easy for drivers to change lanes, they usually will do so and if not, they'll try to squeeze by. So chances are the drivers in your area are not really going out of their way to "overcorrect", as you put it; it's just that there isn't a whole lot of traffic on the road, so lane changes are a breeze.
I think I understand what Chephny is trying to say. From my perspective, what I find annoying and dangerous is the apparent unawareness on the part of most drivers overtaking of the option they have to slow down for a cyclist. I have seen many a driver give me more space than I need - and it may seem unusual, illogical to get "bugged" over being given too much space; but, when that extra space causes the overtaking car to pull into the oncoming lane when oncoming traffic is present or approaching, then, yes, it bugs me very much. Even on most of the two lane roads that I travel, there is sufficient space for me on my bike, oncoming traffic, and an overtaking driver to negotiate if the overtaking driver doesn't over react. If he/she isn't comfortable operating in such close quarters, then, I feel it the responsibility for him/her to slow down until the opposite lane is clear of oncoming traffic. Then he/she can pass me with as much clearance as he/she feels he/she needs to overtake me comfortably.
More often than not, I see overtaking autos get long honks from oncoming drivers who are obviously confused as to why someone is driving in their lane. The honkers aren't aware of my presence - nor should they need be aware of it. It's wrong and dangerous in that situation for the overtaking driver to use the opposite lane to overtake me.
It's as though drivers feel that, no matter what, they have no obligation to slow down for a bike, even if they risk a collision with oncoming traffic.
The other issue is speed. Cars often pass me in these situations at such a high rate of speed that they are unaware of how far they travel in the opposite lane before they can safely negotiate the auto back into the correct lane. If only they would slow down to pass this would not be a problem.
Caruso