FEATURE
particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders. Be aware of drivers behind you and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when you feel it is safe to let them do so.”
The implications of this particular change are not yet clear, but some experts (including Cycling Weekly magazine) have suggested this could put traditional club rides under threat. If the new rule creates an expectation that cyclists should stop to let motor vehicles pass, riding in groups could be very difficult, although the true impact of this change is yet to be seen. Other changes include guidance on road positioning (rules 67, 72, and 213), priority at cycle tracks and advice that cyclists do not have to use them (rule 140), drivers should allow cyclists and pedestrians to cross in front of them in slow traffic (rule 151), rules on advanced stop lines (rule 178), and drivers should give priority to cyclists at roundabouts (rule 186).
So what does this all mean? While the UK continues to lag behind other countries where cycling is a national mode of transport, the Netherlands
often cited as the gold standard, this change to the rules is a welcome acknowledgement by the Government that work is desperately needed. The hierarchy of road users will hopefully begin to instill in
drivers that getting behind the wheel of the motor vehicle is not a right, it’s a privilege, and one that comes with significant harm to the planet, and to other people. While it’s not a silver bullet, with any luck it might be the start of the reset we need in the national mentality when it comes to cars. Updating wording giving greater priority to cyclists and pedestrians, at crossings, junctions, and when riders are filtering, is again a step closer to acknowledging that active transport is a valuable and essential asset, and that people should be choosing to walk or cycle. The one thing I would like to see next is a change in the driving test process, a change in the licensing system that makes drivers acknowledge the impact they’re having on the world before turning on the engine – a reminder that driving is not owed to you as soon as you turn 17. If we truly want to reduce congestion in our cities, reduce the carbon impact of motor vehicles, and get more people riding their bikes, for fitness, mental health, would-be bike riders need assurance that their lives matter once they’re outside of their cars. ■
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February 2022 | 23
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