The primary cycling position – when and why to use it
As part of Karen Newman’s series on cycling the NC500 – Karen has provided some advice about adopting the primary position….
I wrote this article for our local community Facebook page and for the NC500 in 2017. It was aimed at drivers to alert them to the presence of children learning to ride in Poolewe and inform them about why we teach the primary position. Many local cyclists found it very useful to help them to ride more assertively and safely so I think it is worth including here.
Encountering Cyclists on Highland Roads and Cycle Training Methods
If you were passing through Poolewe on Friday afternoons on your NC500 holiday, you may have seen a small group of children from the primary school doing cycle training with my colleague and myself who are both qualified Bikeability trainers (Cycling Proficiency for those of a certain age!), delivering the Dept of Transport and police approved course.
Learning To Approach Junctions In Poolewe
Whilst we recognise the fact that the vast majority of drivers are safe and considerate to cyclists, the children have been a little intimidated by a number of ‘close pass’ incidents on Poolewe Bridge and on the single track roads just outside the village. Some of these drivers may have been local people, some visitors. In addition, the instructors have both had similar incidents during our own cycling, both locally and in the wider area, some of which have been reported to the local police.
When encountering another vehicle on single track roads, we teach the children to adopt the ‘primary position’ (ie. cycling near the centre of the road) when they judge that the road is too narrow for a car to safely pass them – the intention of this is not to be antagonistic but to give a message to the driver to slow down or wait at a passing place or other suitable wide part of the road (as appropriate) for the cyclist to safely pass.
If the cyclist takes a position near the verge, it almost invites a car to try to pass them; on many single track roads and on Poolewe Bridge, there is not enough room for both road users to pass safely. We also teach the children how to use judgement of speed and distance to decide when it is appropriate and correct to use a passing place on the left, just as the driver of any vehicle should, and to be considerate to other road users.
The Primary Position On Poolewe Bridge
A more experienced cyclist may be happy to allow a car to pass on the wider single track roads as long as the vehicle’s speed is appropriate– the cyclist may adopt the primary positon just to ask the driver to acknowledge his or her presence and slow down.
A vehicle approaching from behind is a different matter as the cyclist can’t observe carefully enough to make judgements about vehicle size and speed and will probably not be happy to let it overtake between passing places – he or she will be justified in using the primary position in this situation to prevent unsafe or intimidating overtaking. Please allow the cyclist (as the more vulnerable road user) to make these judgements and do not try to force them out of the way – they may be more aware of debris and rough road surfaces which will need more space to circumnavigate safely.
Dealing With Traffic On The Bridge
We are very aware that some drivers will not understand why a cyclist is apparently randomly cycling down the middle of the road! This is why we have felt the need to let the community and visitors know why we teach this slightly assertive cycling style which is actually a defensive method to safeguard cyclists in vulnerable situations. We have asked the local police for advice and they support the appropriate use of the primary position. This video, made by a driving instructor and a cycle trainer, explains the use of the primary position better than I can in this space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJHXzt7TC2k West Midlands Police has produced this illustration of how much space a cyclist needs on a good road surface.
Overtaking Clearance
The presence of potholes etc. can increase the 0.75m to the verge by a considerable margin, and a less experienced cyclist (eg. a child), a loaded touring cyclist, or a cyclist slowly tackling a long steep hill (eg. the Bealach na Ba) will need more space for safety.
We hope that cyclists act responsibly and considerately on our roads, but if you do happen to encounter one who doesn’t, please don’t label all cyclists as bad! Be assured that responsible cyclists do not ‘think they own the road’ – they are just cycling defensively and trying to help drivers to overtake or pass safely by considered use of the primary position. As cyclists (and drivers ourselves) we know that the majority of motorists are considerate and friendly and are happy to be a little patient when encountering a cyclist on our roads.
