Edinburgh Police have today (April 29 2022) released a warning to Scottish drivers after a group of cyclists - some of which were children - were unable to complete their route this morning.
In a tweet they said they had to speak to a driver about how to overtake safely and urged others to leave plenty of space while beside those on a bike.
The fresh warning comes as new Highway Code rules came into force on January 29 of this year which brought in for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians.
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Edinburgh's South East police tweeted: "Unfortunately due to having to speak to a driver about passing the bikes safely we were unable to complete the route.
"Please drive considerately when there are bikes on the road and give at least 1.5 metres when overtaking. #SaferSouth #OpSlowTime "
According to British Cycling, its 2019 State of Cycling report found that 87% of British Cycling members are close passed at least once a week.
At the time of publication, their Policy Adviser Chris Boardman said that close passing is “ostensibly a casual disregard for human life” which can be terrifying leading to many people stopping cycling altogether.
Because of this, they ask all road users to ensure they are aware of the Highway Code - specifically Rule 163 regarding overtaking which asks motorists: "Leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds."
They add: "We have urged the officials at the Department for Transport to consider how they explain the passing distance to people, given that 1.5 metres doesn’t mean a lot to many people – whereas a statement such as ‘the width of a large car conveys something far more visual.".
In addition to asking people to ensure they leave enough room between their car and the cyclist, the British Cycling website details that in addition to the 1.5 metre rule, people should also keep at least two metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing a pedestrian who is walking in the road.
Drivers should also pass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allow at least two metres of space.
