Passing or Not Passing Cyclists

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live right off Beach and Knowles near Kensington and drive this road 4 days a week. More often than not, I’ll come up to a cyclist from behind. I don’t pass them for 4 very good reasons

1) it’s unlawful to cross the double yellow center line to pass someone, and I would have to cross the line to maintain the 36” separation from a cyclist required by law.

2) sight lines on this curvy road are terrible. Even if I wanted to pass, there’s few places where it’s safe.


3) I’m content to drive slow behind the cyclist and let traffic pile up behind me because it gets everyone caught in the jam angry at cyclists - and I like that.

4) it stresses the cyclist out because there’s a car 2 seconds behind them (the lawful following distance) and they can’t enjoy their ride because they’re constantly having to be alert for when this car might try to pass them. So it annoys them. Which I also like.

Why can’t you just pass them within 3 feet? If I were the cyclist, I’d rather have you drive by me at only 2 feet away than just lurk behind me. No one is going to give you a ticket for it.

DP: These narrow winding roads have very few passable stretches, and often when you get to one, there is oncoming traffic anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live right off Beach and Knowles near Kensington and drive this road 4 days a week. More often than not, I’ll come up to a cyclist from behind. I don’t pass them for 4 very good reasons

1) it’s unlawful to cross the double yellow center line to pass someone, and I would have to cross the line to maintain the 36” separation from a cyclist required by law.

2) sight lines on this curvy road are terrible. Even if I wanted to pass, there’s few places where it’s safe.


3) I’m content to drive slow behind the cyclist and let traffic pile up behind me because it gets everyone caught in the jam angry at cyclists - and I like that.

4) it stresses the cyclist out because there’s a car 2 seconds behind them (the lawful following distance) and they can’t enjoy their ride because they’re constantly having to be alert for when this car might try to pass them. So it annoys them. Which I also like.

Why can’t you just pass them within 3 feet? If I were the cyclist, I’d rather have you drive by me at only 2 feet away than just lurk behind me. No one is going to give you a ticket for it.

Because if a cyclist is “taking the lane” , as they call it when they ride in the middle of the lane instead of the side near the white line, it is impossible (and illegal) for a car to pass them WITHOUT going over the double yellow centerline of the road. If a crash happened because of that, or an oncoming car ran off the road to avoid the passing car and crashed, the passing driver is at fault. And I assure you, you will definitely be ticketed if you’re being over the centerline causes a crash. And almost surely sued, as well.


And yes, the cyclist would absolutely prefer you pass them instead of lurking behind them, because having a car just lurking behind you while you ride is super annoying and distracting and definitely makes their ride a frustrating experience. And that is the whole point. To frustrate them - legally and safely - in the same way they frustrate drivers by insisting to be on the busiest roads and slowing down traffic.


If you dislike cyclists on busy roads, follow them two seconds behind them, as the laws says, and do not pass them. It drives them insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the road is that dangerous that you don’t feel comfortable passing them, people shouldn’t be cycling on it. Pure entitlement and selfishness.

They can move over so you can pass. Also, if the road is so dangerous you probably shouldn’t be driving that much faster than they’re going, anyway.

There's no shoulder on Beach at all. The roads are wind-y so you can't see oncoming traffic to know if it's safe to pass.

Beach is not a commuter street. This stretch is closed three days of the week +holidays to bikers and pedestrians. The bikers on Beach are generally VERY fast and can nearly keep up with the speed limit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the road is that dangerous that you don’t feel comfortable passing them, people shouldn’t be cycling on it. Pure entitlement and selfishness.

They can move over so you can pass. Also, if the road is so dangerous you probably shouldn’t be driving that much faster than they’re going, anyway.

There's no shoulder on Beach at all. The roads are wind-y so you can't see oncoming traffic to know if it's safe to pass.

Beach is not a commuter street. This stretch is closed three days of the week +holidays to bikers and pedestrians. The bikers on Beach are generally VERY fast and can nearly keep up with the speed limit.

The speed limit is 25. Only a very few cyclists can maintain that.


They should use Beach from Fri-Sun. And stay off it the rest of the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the road is that dangerous that you don’t feel comfortable passing them, people shouldn’t be cycling on it. Pure entitlement and selfishness.

They can move over so you can pass. Also, if the road is so dangerous you probably shouldn’t be driving that much faster than they’re going, anyway.

There's no shoulder on Beach at all. The roads are wind-y so you can't see oncoming traffic to know if it's safe to pass.

Beach is not a commuter street. This stretch is closed three days of the week +holidays to bikers and pedestrians. The bikers on Beach are generally VERY fast and can nearly keep up with the speed limit.

You can always move over to let a car pass even if there’s no shoulder. I move over to let cars pass on streets with parked cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I frequently commute on Beach Drive which is a bike path. It is a 2 lane road, speed limit 25 mph with many curves. I drive the speed limit. Frequently, I will be behind a cyclist, trying to give ample room even if driving slowly. And frequently, they will signal for them to pass me - but I often don't want to. Because of the shape of the road, it can be difficult to judge oncoming traffic. They are in front of me, so can see more, but I still would need to speed up and safely pass them. Is there a polite way to say thanks, but no thanks? I know they are annoyed, but isn't this part of sharing the road?

Yes, you do that by honking at them until they pull off to allow faster moving traffic to pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live right off Beach and Knowles near Kensington and drive this road 4 days a week. More often than not, I’ll come up to a cyclist from behind. I don’t pass them for 4 very good reasons

1) it’s unlawful to cross the double yellow center line to pass someone, and I would have to cross the line to maintain the 36” separation from a cyclist required by law.

2) sight lines on this curvy road are terrible. Even if I wanted to pass, there’s few places where it’s safe.


3) I’m content to drive slow behind the cyclist and let traffic pile up behind me because it gets everyone caught in the jam angry at cyclists - and I like that.

4) it stresses the cyclist out because there’s a car 2 seconds behind them (the lawful following distance) and they can’t enjoy their ride because they’re constantly having to be alert for when this car might try to pass them. So it annoys them. Which I also like.

Christ, lady. Learn how to drive. If no one is coming, just hit the gas, move over the center line if you need to and, pass, and get back over. It's not that hard. If you can't get out of your own way, consider taking the bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live right off Beach and Knowles near Kensington and drive this road 4 days a week. More often than not, I’ll come up to a cyclist from behind. I don’t pass them for 4 very good reasons

1) it’s unlawful to cross the double yellow center line to pass someone, and I would have to cross the line to maintain the 36” separation from a cyclist required by law.

2) sight lines on this curvy road are terrible. Even if I wanted to pass, there’s few places where it’s safe.


3) I’m content to drive slow behind the cyclist and let traffic pile up behind me because it gets everyone caught in the jam angry at cyclists - and I like that.

4) it stresses the cyclist out because there’s a car 2 seconds behind them (the lawful following distance) and they can’t enjoy their ride because they’re constantly having to be alert for when this car might try to pass them. So it annoys them. Which I also like.

Completely agree with you, it's just not a road meant to pass bikes. The Trail is not wide enough for bikes. Cars who are commuting should use commuter roads like 355 or Knowles.

And I get a lot of enjoyment following 2 seconds behind a cyclist, per the letter of the law (which works out to about 20-22 feet depending on speed) and harshing their buzz because I’m continuously back there, forcing them to maintain their pace and be on constant alert for whatever I might do next. I’ve even had other cyclists who wanted to ride ride faster forced to wait behind me as I followed a slower cyclist in front - because they couldn’t safely pass me (or legally, for that matter - but when has legal ever stopped a cyclist?). It’s pretty funny too. They keep looking back over their shoulder every few seconds, wondering why you’re not passing (not legal, thank you) or they’ll wave for you to pass them (sorry, not legal, my friend) and you just stay back there and it annoys TF out of them.

I dislike cyclists, even though I ride a bike myself sometimes. But I stick to the neighborhood streets or bike paths rather than ride of “real” roads like Beach Drive. So when I come upon a cyclist on Beach, I simply comply with the law, and it makes them crazy.


These riders could avoid this if they’d simply ride at the posted speed limit, which would be 25 mph on Beach - but most can’t. They plod along about 18-20 mph most of the time, if it’s a flat section. If they rode faster, I’d have to increase my following distance!

You're the problem, and I say this as a very frequent driver and occasional cyclist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cyclists and cars are used to sharing Beach Dr. Just be mindful of each other. The only cyclists I give a side eye to are the "pelotons" riding down Beach drive . Annoying AF.

I’m an avid cyclist. I completely agree that the large groups taking an entire lane and going 15 on Beach are maddening. I cringe when I see it because I’m sure that every car stuck behind it is has a driver well on their way to hating cyclists. I’d hate to be stuck behind them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live right off Beach and Knowles near Kensington and drive this road 4 days a week. More often than not, I’ll come up to a cyclist from behind. I don’t pass them for 4 very good reasons

1) it’s unlawful to cross the double yellow center line to pass someone, and I would have to cross the line to maintain the 36” separation from a cyclist required by law.

2) sight lines on this curvy road are terrible. Even if I wanted to pass, there’s few places where it’s safe.


3) I’m content to drive slow behind the cyclist and let traffic pile up behind me because it gets everyone caught in the jam angry at cyclists - and I like that.

4) it stresses the cyclist out because there’s a car 2 seconds behind them (the lawful following distance) and they can’t enjoy their ride because they’re constantly having to be alert for when this car might try to pass them. So it annoys them. Which I also like.

Christ, lady. Learn how to drive. If no one is coming, just hit the gas, move over the center line if you need to and, pass, and get back over. It's not that hard. If you can't get out of your own way, consider taking the bus.

I was pulled over on Beach drive for doing what you suggest - not for crossing the double yellow - but the officer said I was going too fast when I was passing -

I wanted to pass as quickly as possibly knowing there were more turns and potential oncoming traffic ahead …

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the road is that dangerous that you don’t feel comfortable passing them, people shouldn’t be cycling on it. Pure entitlement and selfishness.

This I can't stand bikers.

[Anonymous]

As a driver I try to give cyclists the same consideration they give me.

[Anonymous]

Beyond - Beach drive. This is a problem all over the area. Full respect and patience for those that can only commute via a bike; share the road with infinite patience.

The ones that do it recreationally and can ride almost anywhere else less dangerous; why am I dealing with these guys? I don't think the law was written with these guys in mind.

I used to ride my bike every weekend and I did it on a trail or I did it on a road with little traffic. I commuted to work a few times. My attitude was safety for myself and others around me. I took a few timed risk crossing busy intersections when I had to. But for the most part using my body as a shield so I can protect my rights to ride on a busy road is stupidity. Do these people not have kids or family that their actions unnecessarily jeopardize their family lives as well? They look like Karens on wheels at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beyond - Beach drive. This is a problem all over the area. Full respect and patience for those that can only commute via a bike; share the road with infinite patience.

The ones that do it recreationally and can ride almost anywhere else less dangerous; why am I dealing with these guys? I don't think the law was written with these guys in mind.

I used to ride my bike every weekend and I did it on a trail or I did it on a road with little traffic. I commuted to work a few times. My attitude was safety for myself and others around me. I took a few timed risk crossing busy intersections when I had to. But for the most part using my body as a shield so I can protect my rights to ride on a busy road is stupidity. Do these people not have kids or family that their actions unnecessarily jeopardize their family lives as well? They look like Karens on wheels at this point.

Sort of up to them if they want to take risks with their health, isn’t it? If it’s okay with their families, I don’t see why you need to get upset about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cyclists and cars are used to sharing Beach Dr. Just be mindful of each other. The only cyclists I give a side eye to are the "pelotons" riding down Beach drive . Annoying AF.

I’m an avid cyclist. I completely agree that the large groups taking an entire lane and going 15 on Beach are maddening. I cringe when I see it because I’m sure that every car stuck behind it is has a driver well on their way to hating cyclists. I’d hate to be stuck behind them.

They do it all along Falls Road in Potomac as well (the stretch between Tuckerman Lane and McArthur Boulevard), which is a far, far more congested road than Beach Drive (and a lot less scenic). While I have found the cyclists on Beach Drive to be very polite and wave more me to pass, the ones on Falls Road take up the entire lane and engage in casual conversation with their friends while traffic piles up behind them.