RULE 165: Overtaking

WAS: You must not overtake if you have to enter a bicycle or bus lane

You MUST NOT overtake

• if you would have to cross or straddle double white lines with a solid line nearest to you (but see Rule 129)
• if you would have to enter an area designed to divide traffic, if it is surrounded by a solid white line
• the nearest vehicle to a pedestrian crossing, especially when it has stopped to let pedestrians cross
• if you would have to enter a lane reserved for buses, trams or cycles during its hours of operation
• after a ‘No Overtaking’ sign and until you pass a sign cancelling the restriction

NOW: Undertake using the Red Undertaking Lane

For advice on using the ‘Green Undertaking Lane’ see Rule 140: Cycle Lanes. In contrast to the ‘Green Undertaking Lane’ which is indicated by the symbol of a push bike, ‘The Red Undertaking Lane’ is indicated by the words ‘BUS LANE’.

NOTE FOR MOTORCYCLISTS: There are three fully operational (and legal) ‘Red Undertaking Lanes’ which are operational on Finchley Road, Brixton Road and East India Dock Road. Motorcycles may use these bus lanes legally at any time as part of a pilot study.

NOTE FOR OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES: Using any bus lane during its hours of operation is not encouraged as it may incurr a £120 fine, UNLESS using only a foot or two to undertake (or for motorbikes, filtering purposes), which doesn’t really count as being illegal.

RULE 140: Cycle Lanes

WAS: You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane

Cycle lanes. These are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply.

NOW: Use the ‘Green Undertaking Lane’

When traffic has come to a standstill (or for motorcyclists, when you are unable to filter between traffic lanes), you may be able to make use of the ‘Green Undertaking Lane’ (indicated by the symbol of a push bike). According to the Department for Transport and rule 140 of the Highway Code, technically you MUST NOT drive or park in a mandatory cycle lane. However, as with Advanced Stop Lines, these road markings can be ignored with almost complete confidence that breach of this rule will not be enforced. It is appropriate to filter into the bike lane at any time, whether or not there is a moving stream of cyclists currently using the lane. Cutting in front of moving cyclists is perfectly acceptable, if not preferable in order to remind cyclists of the road users’ hierarchy. Most bike lanes are not yet designed to accommodate motor vehicles, so you may become ‘stuck’, effectively blocking off the lane to cyclists behind you. In case they do not welcome this rest point you have provided them, rev your engine to reinforce the road users’ hierarchy.

RULE 163: Overtaking

WAS: Give vulnerable road users at least as much space as you would a car

Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so.

You should:

• not get too close to the vehicle you intend to overtake
• use your mirrors, signal when it is safe to do so, take a quick sideways glance if necessary into the blind spot area and then start to move out
• not assume that you can simply follow a vehicle ahead which is overtaking; there may only be enough room for one vehicle
• move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking, once you have started to overtake. Allow plenty of room. Move back to the left as soon as you can but do not cut in
• take extra care at night and in poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distance
• give way to oncoming vehicles before passing parked vehicles or other obstructions on your side of the road
• only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so
• stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left
• give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car

NOW: Give vulnerable road users at least as much space as you would a car (except cyclists)

If a cyclist appears to be in the ‘middle of the road’, approach them quickly from behind and, preferably getting as close to them as physically possible without actually knocking them off, drive next to them before swerving sharply around and in front of them. You can judge for yourself where ‘the middle of the road’ is at any given time. It needn’t be the metric middle, nor any logical middle, but will depend largely on where the cyclist is in relation to ‘your way’.

At all times, cyclists should be aware that it is a clear road, and not their safety, that is paramount. Intimidating them like this will really ‘show them who’s boss’ and let them know that they are too slow to be in your way. If effective, it is hoped that this will really ‘teach them a lesson’ so that next time they will use the IFL (also known as ‘The Invisible Feeder Lane’, or ‘Magical Feeder Lane’), for example when approaching junctions they wish to turn right at.

NOTE: To reinforce your authority, you may also let the cyclist know exactly how inconvenient they are by honking your horn and/or shouting at them.

RULE 178: Junctions controlled by traffic lights

WAS: Do Not unnecessarily encroach on the cyclists’ waiting area

Advanced Stop Lines. Some signal-controlled junctions have Advanced Stop Lines to allow cycles to be positioned ahead of other traffic. Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red and should avoid blocking the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times, e.g. if the junction ahead is blocked. If your vehicle has proceeded over the first white line at the time that the signal goes red, you MUST stop at the second white line, even if your vehicle is in the marked area. Allow cyclists time and space to move off when the green signal show.

NOW: Think Inside The Box

ASLs were first introduced to give cyclists a head start at the lights, however the lack of enforcement of rule 178 means it has become perfectly acceptable to completely ignore these road markings, or better still interpret the push bike symbol inside the green box as a motorbike/moped/taxi/bus/white van symbol. So, when the lights are on red, simply position yourself inside the box, or motorcyclists may use a variation on the technique, which involves move anywhere in front of the box. Although technically illegal, this allows you to gain an advantage not only over the traffic behind you but also over any cyclists either side you. If effective, you should now find yourself ‘owning the road’.