What's your minimum amount of comfortable passing clearance?
 

In other words, how close do motorists have to pass before you think: "You @$$hole."

I mostly ride in the center of my lane, so, for me, it's half a lane; the driver should be in the next lane. I could get by with a few feet, but riding far to the right is an invitation to get clipped, and it's a choice between half a lane, or half a foot, which is an easy choice.

Also, I like leeway. A strong gust, debris in the road, or a suicidal squirrel can send a car or a bike lurching more than a foot leeward, and you can't really see the wind while you're cycling.

What's the relative speed? What's my speed?

The lower either of those numbers, the less distance in want.

One foot for every 10 mph at which the overtaking vehicle is travelling would be nice. Higher speeds require more room for error or unexpected events.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7943101_n.jpg
As you can see from this photo,in turkey its not even a meter :)
An i noticed that i am swearing at them more often than i breat air :)

I am comfortable passing cars with only 3" spare, so I dont demand them to give me any more space, but I am happy when they give me a couple of feet. I get scared when a pick-up passes towing a trailer that is wider than the truck

In reality, if they don't hit me I am OK. I would prefer that drivers simply obey the law and give me at least 2 feet. However, I have been road cycling for so long that I've gotten used to people passing me closely. It is pretty aggravating when people pass with a foot or less to spare, particularly when they usually have a lot of room in their lane that they aren't using. For some reason, school bus drivers seem to be some of the worst offenders.

as much clearance as they are reasonably capable of giving me. If i hug the right when they can't clear me and i get buzzed by someone making an honest effort to get by, then that's MY fault. I like tons of clearance, but I'm also realistic

3ft

That assumes there are more lanes available. What if it is a two lane road and no space to pass? Do you make them wait or do you move over and let them by?


That is debatable. On one hand, you may get clipped by a mirror or something, but you probably won't incur as much road rage (dangerous!) and are probably less likely to literally get run over.

I go through city traffic so it's not that fast most of the time. And neighborhood backroads make for easy passes. I'm 100% ok with sharing the lane with a vehicle as long as we're both going to be sensible. I can stay on the white line and they can fit and go by also, doesn't bother me. I hate when they ride on my rear wheel like I"m slowing them up when there's enough lane to go by

The distance I allow

A few feet. Less than that and it'll be too close at intersections when I put my left foot down at the stoplight. I don't like resting my right foot on the curb like I've seen others do because I'll have to squeeze back into lane position to proceed in the same direction. That and the gutter is usually a mess. I wouldn't ask anybody to stand in a puddle or on a sewer grate.

Part of my commute in is one (travel) lane in each direction, and up hill to boot. I hold my position in the middle of the lane, until there's a long-enough gap in the parking lane, then I'll move into it and let the cars go by safely. It's a pain in my arse, because then I need to wait for a break in traffic and merge back in. Other than this one section, though, for 8 blocks out of my 4.7 mile commute, I'm either on multi-lane streets ( mostly one way ) or back roads.

Every time I ride to the right, someone buzzes me, and I don't let this happen. I live in a residential neighborhood near a freeway exit/entrance, so often when I have to drive ( like for heavy groceries ), I'm forced to wait for freeway people in their traffic. That's the nature of public roads; nobody in particular owns them, and we all have to put up with other road users.

One foot on slow residential streets and three feet on higher speed roads, I let the motorists know when they encroach on anything less that what I consider a safe passing distance, since I don't wish to let them get complacent or let them think that I consider it appropriate in passing that closely all the time.

I am very surprised by those who are OK with 1ft or similar distances on slower streets. The last thing I want is a vehicle a foot over from me while we are traveling at similar speeds which means it can last a relatively long time and distance during which roadway conditions can change significantly and drivers may forget you are adjacent.

Who else have felt their tailpipe exhaust heat their calf. That is when it's time to shoot back with any projectile you can lob. There is no excuse for coming closer to a cyclist than 1 meter.

you asked if it was comfortable not what I know I'll be given. often just a hair breadth is what I get and it scares the whatevers out of me. I am most comfortable when the driver completely clears over to the other lane as I really know they've seen me.

I voted half a lane, but I could have said a few feet just as easily. It really depends on speed.

+1, except the vote I cast was a few feet. My on-road commuting is on roads w/ either 25 or very occasionally 35 mph speed limits. If speeds were higher, I'd probably lean towards wanting a minimum of a half-lane to really feel comfortable.

A few feet would be ideal, To me speed is a factor in relation to distance. slower speeds I'll put up with a foot. faster speeds 3 ft minium.

I've had my close calls of my jacket being clipped by mirrors more times than I like.

my left elbow has been clipped by mirrors 3 or 4 times. Twice, I've been clipped by a bus. I'm usually riding in tight places so I take whatever space I can get. Im fine with cars on my left... its car doors on my right I'm mostly concerned about. I can ride through getting clipped... not smashing into car doors.

A few feet if the speeds are moderate...the faster traffic is going the more space I want.

If speeds are low like most downtown streets, just don't touch me.

A few feet. Law in both the states I commute through is 3', but as long as they don't clip me, I'm happy.