Safe cycling on Highland Roads
As part of Karen Newman’s series on cycling the NC500 -she has provided some advice about safer cycling on Highland roads, single track roads and passing places
Most of the minor Highland roads, and some A- roads, are narrow single track with regular passing places.
There are a few points to note which may not be obvious to cyclists and drivers unused to these roads. This advice has been put together using the Highway Code, Bikeability courses and literature and the experience of local cyclists and drivers. The use of the primary position to claim your space on the tarmac has been approved by our local police. Following this advice can make your journey smother and safer and will be courteous to other road users.
Always remember that a cyclist will come off worst in a collision with another vehicle and only use the following advice with this fact in mind! It requires a bit of forward thinking and judgment of speed and distance to use passing places efficiently and to allow vehicles to pass safely and efficiently. Consider the following:
Most single track is wide enough for a bike and car to pass in safety as long as there are no potholes and both cyclist and driver slow down and take care.
Look ahead for oncoming vehicles and listen for those approaching from behind and take note of suitably placed passing places – most are marked with diamond-shaped signs so you can see them from a distance.
Make a judgement as to who will get to the passing place first – you or the car.
The convention is that the first one to get there gives way and waits on their side of the road, either in or opposite the passing place, for the other to pass. Don’t go into a passing place on the opposite (right hand) side of the road as this only confuses the issue – stick to your own side and wait for the other vehicle to pass.
- As long as I signal my intentions clearly and in good time, there are 2 situations where I may not stick to this convention
- On a steep, narrow ascent, eg the Bealach na Ba to Applecross. I may use passing places on the right hand side of the road (ie not my side) to get off the main carriageway. This allows me to cycle on very slowly and be more in control of my own destiny. The cars can get past me quicker meaning I am less likely to have to stop and put a foot down – getting going again is hard work!
- If a large vehicle, such as a lorry or big campervan, needs to pass and the nearest passing place is on the right hand side. Use this right hand passing place – it is safer to let the big vehicle take the straightest line rather than making it weave on and out of a passing place.
Be sure to signal to let drivers know what you are doing.
- If a vehicle has stopped at a more distant passing place, put on a spurt of speed if you can so they don’t have to wait for what probably seems like ages to them – they usually appreciate it with a wave and smile.
- Give a polite wave, or nod of the head if both hands are needed on the bars, to acknowledge the other driver. If a motorist has been particularly considerate, and they usually are, I always try to give a big smile and a cheery “Thank you!”, even if working hard up a long hill.
- Don’t wear ear-buds to listen to music – you will definitely need to use all your senses.
- Keep a more frequent look over your shoulder when battling into a head wind as the sound of the wind in your ears can mask the sound of a vehicle approaching from behind,
- If you can confidently do a track stand, all the better.
For vehicles approaching from behind:
- Listen and look out for vehicles behind you on a regular basis.
- Look for and use the next suitable passing place, usually one on the left hand side.
- Watch out for any following vehicles – you may not have seen or heard them; don’t pull out in front of them
NB. Occasionally, you meet a driver who either doesn’t understand the conventions of using passing places or doesn’t consider that cyclists have the right to use the road and will not pull over for you; you can end up being forced off the road. On wider single track roads, you can usually pass safely as long as the driver acknowledges your presence by slowing down; those on loaded tourers or wobbling up a steep hill may need more room.
On narrow single track, where you consider that there is not space for a car and the bike to pass safely, consider the following advice:
- Try not to let motorised vehicles bully you out of the way – adopt what Bikeability calls the ‘primary position’ towards the centre of the road, rather than taking false refuge in the ‘secondary position’ closer to the left hand side. The primary position says to the driver “This is my road – and I need all of it to keep me safe!” The latter may be interpreted as an invitation for the driver to squeeze past. (more information here on the primary position)
- Hopefully the driver will understand this message, slow down and perhaps put a wheel on the verge to give you more space to pass.
- In the unlikely event that the motorist doesn’t understand this message, be ready to move over swiftly to the left and hop off the bike if necessary. Don’t end up playing chicken with each other in the middle of the road – it’s not worth the potential for a road rage incident, not to mention that the cyclist will always come off worst should the driver not actually stop!
For cyclists riding in a group:
- As on any road, keep the size of the group manageable – split into a number of smaller groups if necessary. On single-track, 3 or 4 should be the maximum – any more will not fit into a passing place.
- Leave enough space between small groups or between single cyclists to allow a bus or lorry to safely overtake and slip in between the groups/single cyclists. If a small group splits up because of hills etc, consider each member as a single cyclist and leave an appropriate space between each one.
- The leading cyclist should make the decision about which passing place to use, then all in the group should do as he/she does. Hand signals can help communicate to each other and to vehicles. Don’t all doing different things – it can get very confusing for the passing drivers as well as the group members.
- The rear cyclist can listen and look out behind and shout “Car behind!” to the rest of the group, but especially to the leader who can then take appropriate action.
- Be aware that shouts between cyclists can be annoying to local residents, especially those who live opposite big potholes and get frequent groups cycling past. Use agreed hand signals to alert those behind you to the presence of potholes and other obstacles.
- When riding two abreast, be aware that the Highway Code says “Do not ride more than two abreast.” and “Ride in single file on narrow or busy roads.” How you interpret this is up to you but be aware that some motorists are not aware of this part of the Highway Code and may give you some personal ‘advice’ about riding two abreast!
Finally, this link makes interesting reading and dispels a few myths that drivers, and cyclists, may have about cyclists and cycling.
https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/featured/10-cycling-myths-uncovered
