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How many of you know?
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:05 pm
by bluejackhustler
What the law is regarding vunerable road users and the space you have to allow them?
Vunerable roads users include horseriders, cyclists and motorcyclists.
I'm not at this time asking for your own opinions or experiences with any of the above, i'm just asking how much room do you give them and do you give way to them in the same way you would say, another car?
This may seem like the most pointless thread ever to some of you, but some will fully appreciate why I'm asking.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:09 pm
by A1ex
Didn't think there was a set distance. Thought it was give them space and pass with caution when safe to
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:13 pm
by bluejackhustler
Thankyou for your reply Alex. Thats what I'm after. An opinion based on what you see as correct.
I'm not about to start arguments here, I'm simply curious as to what you all think!!!
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:19 pm
by rob quilter
I give a couple of feet normally I reckon, if its a horse i slow right down.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:23 pm
by A1ex
No worries, I give bikes at least a couple feet depending on the speed of the road. I give pedestrians & horses more and tend to slow down more as there's a bigger speed difference.
That being said, I don't understand why some people go around bikes like they're buses and wait for a space big enough to put a bus through.
I've been a cyclist in a city too, the amount of people I have flying past within inches when I'm in the cycle lane is scary

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:23 pm
by 2lude
Legal if its traveling sub 10 mph you have the right to pass if safe and legal to do so
General rule of thumb (in accordance with the hire and reward (taxi driving) nvq level 2 ) is you may pass if safe to do so ie with a horse leave ample room ie a car width room and pass cautiously and always be aware of other traffic and keep your speed slow so not to spook the animal
All in all common bloody sense
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:03 pm
by NafemanNathan
I don't know the rules, but to me logic suggests that...
With cyclists, leave enough room for them to fall in without ending up under your wheels.
With runners, same as above. It doesn't take much to twist an ankle in a pot hole neither of you saw.
With walkers, just over an arms reach.
With horses, 10 to 15 miles an hour max, so as not to scare/surprise them and this also keeps sound levels down as well.
Speedwise for Cyclists/Runners/Walkers I stick to the speed limit as a max... They know the speed limit of the road so it's their own risk. If I can see the road ahead is clear and I'm caining it then I will drive on the complete other side of the road... Unless there's a cyclist/Runner/Walker/Horse there, in which case I just plough through the one on my side!
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:07 pm
by indigolemon
NafemanNathan wrote:I don't know the rules, but to me logic suggests that...
With cyclists, leave enough room for them to fall in without ending up under your wheels.
With runners, same as above. It doesn't take much to twist an ankle in a pot hole neither of you saw.
With walkers, just over an arms reach.
With horses, 10 to 15 miles an hour max, so as not to scare/surprise them and this also keeps sound levels down as well.
Speedwise for Cyclists/Runners/Walkers I stick to the speed limit as a max... They know the speed limit of the road so it's their own risk. If I can see the road ahead is clear and I'm caining it then I will drive on the complete other side of the road... Unless there's a cyclist/Runner/Walker/Horse there, in which case I just plough through the one on my side!
I like your style.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:25 pm
by rob quilter
Drive fast, give the runner a 1 ft gap, then get your passenger to open the door as you overtake them.

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:35 pm
by Shiny
I only slow down for horses if the rider is fit. As for distance, hopefully close enough to sniff her rubber riding boots as I trundle past with my gentleman's sausage in hand.