epnnf

Its so annoying. Ride along, car behind, plenty of room for them to pass, BUT THEY DONT.

hooCycles

I come across these cars too. Some of them will sit 100 yards back for several miles.

I'm sure most of the responses you'll get on here will be along the lines of "They're not causing you any harm. Don't worry about it.", but I don't necessarily agree. The problem is not between you and the non-passing car, but rather with the cars behind the non-passing car whose drivers build up pressure for the whole time that the non-passer doesn't pass. When the non-passer finally does pass or turn, you are sometimes faced with a long line of pissed-off drivers who may think that you were the reason why they have been travelling at 15 mph for the past 10 minutes.

With that said, my advice would be to not worry about it since they aren't causing you any harm.

Cyril 

If it's safe to do so, I'll motion them around me and give them a friendly wave as they pass.

Number400

+1 for a little communication!

Shimagnolo

When that happens to me, I abruptly stop, turn around, and glare at them.
They pass immediately.
I've even had turkeys do that when I am off to the side in a clearly marked bike lane.

alcjphil

I am always thankful for careful drivers like this who will not pass until it is safe. The danger is from less patient drivers behind who may not be as careful when their turn to pass comes

Chris0516

For me, it isn't a case of 'why won't they'. It is a case of, when I don't want them to pass me i.e. blind hill, blind curve, two-lane road with on-street parking, during weekdays when the aggressive motorists' are out in force.

I choose when I feel it is safe, for both, me, and the motorist, to pass.

canklecat

The admiring glances from loitering vehicles are okay by me. I've been working on my shapely calves. And my claws and mandibles are much stronger now that I've been cycling a few months. But my stink gland is still weeeaaakkk.

Unless they're creepy stalker kidnappers in which case, not cool.

kickstart

Its a non issue.
I would prefer that they pass, but its not my decision, and there might be a consideration I'm not aware of. I detest those who believe they may make those kind of decisions for others, because without fail, they're the ones with the worst judgment.

gregf83 

Many don't pass because they are uncomfortable crossing the center line so they wait until they can pass without crossing. If I'm driving I don't mind straddling the center line or maybe just putting a tire on the line if there is oncoming traffic. Most traffic lanes are about 12 ft wide so there's 24 ft of roadway for two 6 ft wide vehicles and a bike. Plenty of space if drivers are competent.

If someone doesn't pass I just assume they're not competent and are happy they wait. I don't want an elderly driver putting themselves in a position where they might panic and push me off the road.

Worknomore

Most likely they are texting and haven't a clue you are there.

AlmostTrick

Coast down, drift farther right, and if necessary, look back and wave them on. (when safe to do so) Works for me.

Sometimes they wait back because they're about to turn, and don't want to overtake a cyclist when it is not necessary or safe to do so.

Chris0516

If there is a place where I can turn off the road. But I won't pull over to the side. Unless it is Fire/EMS. Otherwise, I would just be setting myself up for a close pass.
Apart from a motorist preparing to make a turn, I don't want a motorist making that determination. Because, That invariably is a setup for being cut off. By an over eager and/or impatient motorist. Who doesn't want to be behind a cyclist for any reason, when their only recourse with another motorist is their horn. Unless they cross the double-yellow line to pass another motorist.

10 Wheels

I have talked with a couple of them.

They said they were protecting me.

cale

They won't pass because they are waiting for you to pull over so it's safe to pass. If that's the case, the traffic behind them will let them know that it's time to pass.

WhereIsBusyBee

I almost always find that when I'm annoyed with a car for doing that, they are actually doing the right thing. Trying not to cut me off when then turn into an upcoming driveway, trying not to pass over a hill, etc...

Then I realize that I'm more impatient with the cars than they are with me, I try to take a deep breath, and ride on. Laugh at myself a bit.

That being said, I ride in an overall bike-friendly community.

Shimagnolo

Strange.
As well as being annoying, I'm worried that the driver shadowing me will trigger road rage by the motorists he is blocking behind him. That could cause unpredictable/dangerous behaviour, such as passing on the right. Also, their rage could be aimed at me, instead of the driver.

wphamilton

The reason I hate it is that it feels like passive/aggressive making us into the bad guy.

Pull over at the first chance, stop and let the line pass. I know that it's disagreeable but we don't have much choice legally speaking (and with respect to common sense and courtesy) when there is a long line behind us that can't get around. Technically, assuming that it is possible to pass the cyclist but he won't, the stalker car should pull over. He is a slow moving vehicle and required to let the line pass, but since he won't do that it falls on us to resolve the situation.

AlmostTrick

Hmmm... I never pull over to the side off the road for vehicles. (other than emergency vehicles)

Usually, motorists who wait behind when the opposite lane is clear are very timid drivers, and that's fine, they can play it safe.

After a long enough time though, I sometimes want to encourage them to pass for reasons mentioned by others. Moving over from my normal "in the lane" position, to one giving them even more room does this. A wave can also help. In extreme cases, I've looked back at the driver, pointed directly at them, and then pointed with a sweeping arm motion to the open lane available for them to pass.

In my experience, these timid drivers always pass wide when they finally do, so there is no close pass concern.

If it's not safe to encourage a pass, I don't.

B. Carfree

Too true.

mconlonx

In our state the 3' passing law included language which make it clear that cars can pass cyclists, even over a double yellow line, when safe to do so. I like it because it explicitly puts the onus on cars to pass cyclists and in a safe manner. If a car is not passing me (when safe to do so) and holding up other traffic, that's on the car driver, not me.

Many states also have laws allowing passing of slower traffic even in no-passing zones.

But we also can't have it both ways -- expect to be treated like traffic, take the lane, and then get angry at cars which won't break laws regarding passing or lane-sharing...

Chris0516

Are you repeating me, or agreeing with me, just curious?
Yes, That is fine.
I do the same thing. As soon as I feel it is safe(if I don't turn off first), I will nod my head 'yes'.
True, same here.
Same here.

AlmostTrick

I don't see it as making a decision for others. More as offering options. A timid driver may fear that I might veer into their path, or that I may be spooked by their passing. I want them to know that I'm aware and ok with them passing.

If there are some other considerations preventing a motorist from passing that I'm not aware of, my communication cannot force them to do anything unsafe.

AlmostTrick

I was stating my standard operating procedure.

Chris0516

Okeydokey