CrankyOne

County road, 45 mph limit but 50 - 60 mph typical. Unusual that there are no approaching cars at the moment as this is a fairly busy road. Bicycle rider can't really ride on the shoulder due to debris so he's as far right as practicable (and farther right than many along here who would be taking the lane). Do you pass?

Alaraine

From the picture, i would say yes, but i might wait till i could see Down the hill before doing so.

thewinwizard

Not at this point. I see a solid line on my side.

pacificaslim

I would do what 99% of drivers do: go slightly over the yellow line and pass. I can't imagine getting ticketed for that maneuver. If I was the cyclist, it wouldn't bother me either.

CliffordK

Slow down to 5 to 10 MPH faster than the bike, then carefully pass as above.

It is hard to tell the condition of the shoulder. It looks fairly clear from the photo, but I've ridden sewups long enough to not like to ride on debris (but that is changing with clinchers). However, I think the cyclist should be 2 or 3 feet to the right.

genec

I tend to agree... and I don't need a solid line to tell me to wait.

Now the other factor not mentioned is the cyclist's speed... if said cyclist was doing 5MPH while approaching this little rise, and I could possibly pass before the rise... but frankly, everything in this scene says to wait.

I have NEVER been in a car in a situation in which a minute or three of waiting for someone else on the road, would make any difference in my life.

genec

The biggest reason not to "go slightly over" at this rise, is you never know if someone on the other side is doing the same thing for the same reason.

Looigi

Me too. I don't see any reason to slow down. It just prolongs the length of time you're near the cyclist and the distance and time it take to pass.

genec

And sitting in your rolling couch is just too much to take for another minute or two?

I go through this discussion with my wife from time to time... she likes to drive, and thus she tends to be in the drivers' seat while I tend to navigate and make phone calls etc. There are lots of narrow roads in the mountain and coast areas of California... Whenever this sort of question comes up, I always ask... what fire is she going to...

Or better yet, ask your self... would you want someone flying past you like that?

CliffordK

There are many reasons to slow down.

• If the bike swerves towards the car for some unforeseen reason, there is more time for the car driver to react.
• If there is, in fact, a car coming over the hill, one can react quicker, and slam on the brakes and pull in behind the bicycle if necessary.
• A collision between bike and car at 20 MPH is much less damaging than one at 60 MPH, and the car can stop quicker in case of an accident.

It also depends a bit on the vehicle. A truck, or car pulling a trailer that is wider than the car should be more cautious than an ordinary passenger car.

One thing about the yellow lines. They are painted with the visibility as would be required to pass a fast moving vehicle. So, if you're in a car driving at 60 MPH that passes a car driving at 50 MPH, it takes much more space than it takes to pass a bike going at 10 to 15 MPH.

BTW: what is the road sign that is barely visible? That may also impact one's driving.

02Giant 

At this point no, I would wait until I could see over the crest of the road. It appears there may be a sign on the right warning of a stop sign ahead, if that is the case, another reason to wait.

molten

With the area where 'Genec' lives: Genec KNOWS that motorists WON'T let cyclists drive over the lines, into the road.
Motorists are the type rather sideswipe, hence give lesser gap to the cyclists. Hence shoving the cycling toward the should of the road.
This is all a mindset game. That possibly turns into a hit-and-run.

rebel1916

Why in the world wouldn't I pass? I literally can't imagine reason not to pass. I would be in the other lane for maybe 30 feet, knowing that a tractor trailer doing 75 was on the other side of that rise wouldn't change my decision. Jeez Louise.

CliffordK

If there is a stop sign on the other side of the hill, then oncoming traffic won't be going 70 MPH.

kickstart

As pictured, no because there is a stop ahead beyond the rise, similar conditions sans the stop with no oncoming traffic, yes.

B. Carfree

In almost every instance I would pass that cyclist. Then again, I do almost all my travelling about on a bike, so the only issue for me would be whether or not the road was clear behind us.

More to the point of the OP: While the lane position of the cyclist may be ambiguous (folks like myself are generally either fully in the lane or fully out), if I were that rider I wouldn't be fazed in the slightest at being passed by a motorist. There's plenty of asphalt even if Scotty beams an oncoming car into play for everyone to deal.

I'm assuming that the cyclist in this photo is a slow-mover (one of those 10-15 mph riders) and that the way is clear (easier to tell in real life than in a photo). If he's riding much faster, I'd just chill and wait for a better passing location. Of course I'd also wait if there was any sign of oncoming traffic. Just treat the cyclist as an obstruction and go over the solid yellow when safe to do so. (There have been a few legal beagles who have filed briefs regarding this behavior in my state and I've never heard of a judge disagreeing.)

I've had instances on small shoulder rural highways with limited sight lines when I have had to slow my big rig to cyclist speed for a few miles because I couldn't be certain of a safe pass. It doesn't cause me any discomfort at all; I just settle in until it is safe to pass. Traffic is traffic, whether it's a horde of car-addicted suburban commuters bringing the interstate to a stand still or someone on a bike cruising along at his best pace.

kickstart

If I were that cyclist, I would prefer that people pass as soon and quickly as safely possible rather than vacillate behind me.

TobinH

Nah I'd wait until I could see down the hill. And I'd be completely in the other lane when I did it.

decosse

+1

Just to add... From a cyclist viewpoint, tho I personally wouldn't want someone to blast by me, I prefer they don't dawdle if the way is clear. All of my cycling involves being on fastish (40 mph) suburban streets or state highways, and having a car pacing me is nerve-racking. I'm not sure what they are going to do, and if there is a hazard in the shoulder or bike lane, I can't move out.

ItsJustMe

I ride like that a lot of the time. I would absolutely pass. It annoys me when people do not pass in these situations. It makes me nervous having cars hang behind me when there's no need to.

The yellow lines are painted in locations calculated assuming that a car is passing another car and it will take 1/4 mile to do and the car will have to move over an entire lane. When passing a bike, you can get the whole thing over in 150 feet and only have to move half a lane so you can get back in the lane faster. Therefore I don't think the lines are 100% applicable to passing bicycles. In some cases, sure. I don't advocate passing cyclists really close to a blind hill or corner, but you can certainly do it closer than you could when passing a car.

baron von trail 

All clear. Gun it and blow coal in the cyclists face as I blast my horn which plays a few notes from Dixie like the General Lee.

...oh, and yell Hee Haw!

FBinNY 

Absolutely, I pass him.

I ignore the painted lines and operate under "old law" namely wait until there's enough sight distance to see beyond what I'll need as passing room, and no oncoming traffic. Then I move over as much as necessary to have safe passing room -- typically leaving a 6' wide "lane" between my car and the fog line. or more if needed -- then complete the pass. I have no issue straddling the line during the pass because that makes it a less abrupt maneuver, and allows me to swing back into lane in less linear distance.

CliffordK

Shouldn't you mount a Semi Horn, Ship Horn, or Train Horn on your vehicle... just to wake up the apparently dazed cyclist?

vol

Just before any of you pass him, would you give a brief and light honking just to make him aware? If I were in his situation I would appreciate, both to not be startled and to make sure not to make the slightest move to the left (even though I have mirrors)--I would probably move to the right for you.

If you are driving a large/wide vehicle such as a truck, maybe you should slow down and give warning?

dynodonn 

Is this a trick question? There's plenty of room to pass without having to fully change lanes.