Having returned to cycling only a couple of months ago after a break of more than 30 years, I wanted to find out what I could about cycling on the public highway in modern conditions. For more than half a century a book called Roadcraft has been the motorist’s bible, even though relatively few motorists have bothered to read it. I discovered recently that cyclists have had their equivalent for several years and, logically enough, it is called Cyclecraft (by John Franklin). For the past ten years it has been published by The Stationery Office (the UK government’s official bookshop) and it is recommended reading for the National Cycle Training Standard, known as Bikeability.
I do not propose to offer a detailed review of Cyclecraft here. Suffice it to say that it is a substantial book in more ways than one. After several short reading sessions I am only halfway through it. It requires and deserves to be read slowly and thoughtfully. In my opinion, any cyclist who deprives himself or herself of the knowledge contained within its 240 pages is already suffering a serious disadvantage in today’s road and traffic conditions. End of sermon!
Among the particularly interesting topics that I have come across in Cyclecraft so far is a description of the powers of observation of typical drivers. This led on to the importance of positioning on the road for cyclists. Here I was introduced to a concept that differed very sharply from my understanding of correct cyclists’ behaviour – namely the uses of primary and secondary riding positions. Here the secondary riding position was what we would have considered the norm 50 years ago, that is, 2-3 feet from the kerb except when overtaking obstacles or preparing to turn right. The primary riding position is new to me. It is in the middle of the lane of moving traffic that you, as a cyclist, are sharing with motor vehicles. It aims to put you where following drivers cannot fail to see you and where they cannot overtake you within the same lane. In a nutshell, it is the safest position for the cyclists in several situations which are clearly described and illustrated in Cyclecraft.
Cyclecraft is, in effect, the nearest thing we have in the UK to an official government manual on cycling and what it is saying is that in various situations on the road we cyclists should adopt the primary riding position, thus deliberately obstructing the progress of other traffic, when necessary in order to give priority to our own safety. To put it in the vernacular “I don’t have a problem with that”…
…except that there is no mention of primary and secondary riding positions in The Highway Code. This small book, which is the minimum required reading for anyone wishing to pass the UK driving test, indicates that the old golden rule still applies, that is (Rule 160) “Once moving you should keep to the left…” and also that everyone is expected to drive (or, presumably, cycle) with reasonable consideration for other road users. Very many drivers of motor vehicles, and especially those who already mistakenly believe that they are entitled to priority over cyclists, will regard it as anything but “reasonable consideration” when a cyclist judges it necessary to adopt the primary riding position – even when the manoeuvre is carried out with due attention to prior observation, signalling etc. Furthermore, although Roadcraft is recommended to “Any driver wishing to develop their skills and safety to a more advanced level”, the only reference to cyclists that I have found is where we are listed among roadside hazards – which hardly amounts to an advanced level of information about how cyclists can be expected to behave.
Cyclecraft, Roadcraft, and The Highway Code are all published by The Stationery Office and all three were revised in 2007. It seems to me that those responsible for The Highway Code and for Roadcraft are lagging behind in their understanding of best practice in cycling. Either that or Cyclecraft, despite being the recommended Bikeability handbook, has got it wrong.
If there have been changes in the behaviour which cyclists are entitled, and officially encouraged, to adopt for their own safety, surely it is high time that drivers were made aware of these changes. Given the current increasing popularity of cycling, and its further enhanced profile thanks to our brilliant Olympians, this seems to me to be an excellent time to launch a more thorough revision of The Highway Code (and of Roadcraft) in conjunction with a high profile publicity campaign.
Just Williams 
The primary riding position is safest but it takes some nerve to hold it. You just have to remember that an infuriated driver is at least one who won’t kill you accidentally, and probably won’t kill you deliberately either. I save it for the most dangerous times – when I think a car might turn left over me without looking, e.g. at traffic lights, on roundabouts, and when it’s too narrow to pass. Other times I am nice and cycle over to the left
We call the primary riding position “taking the lane” over here, and there are times when cycling advocates say you are better off to do it. I think there’s a good article on commutebybike.com about it. I kind of did it for a short stretch on a weird little roundabout the other day, but the speed limit there is 15mph/24kph, and since it was downhill I was probably doing closer to 20mph anyway. The guy behind me didn’t seem to mind, or at least didn’t exhibit any aggressive behavior trying to pass me. I will have to research whether there is a U.S. equivalent of these publications, particularly the first book.
Nice to know the U.S. isn’t the only country where drivers aren’t taught what cyclists are allowed to do, let alone what’s recommended.
My position on the primary position, or taking the lane, is to do it only when necessary, and for as short a period as possible. I always signal first before entering a lane, then try to match my speed as closely as possible to the traffic around me. And I always give a wave of thanks to any driver who slows down to make room for me.
“Taking the lane” is a very apt description. If motorists are unaware of it, and as it is not in our Highway Code, how would a cyclist get on in Court in a dispute involving our primary riding position?
I call it ‘controlling the lane’ and tend to do it only when I can see that a driver would put themselves, oncoming traffic and me at risk by trying to squeeze past. I often find that putting a hand up in a stop postion helps if the driver is about to pull out into oncoming traffic, then waving them through when it’s clear. This then makes it feel like a collaborative effort between cyclist and driver to stay safe, it also acknowledges that the cyclist knows they are occupying a large part of the road. Drivers always appreciate being waved through, but it has to be done only if you’re sure the driver is safe to move out and has time and space enough to make the move. A thumbs up to the driver when they wave when in front is also a must.
I will sometimes control the lane when going downhill fast in order to avoid drains etc at the kerb, also very good on 30mph limit descents when a car would need to go 35 plus to get past. There’s a reason why 30mph limits are enforced so I find it best not to encourage drivers to pass if I’m on the limit, controlling the lane keeps them at 30 for the duration of the descent.
Good post, very informative.
Thanks. I visit your “Highway” blog fairly frequently. Great writing and I enjoyed the Maen Mawr video in particular having lived for many years in Ceredigion close to very similar scenery.
The US instructional guides are the brief Street Smarts (http://bikexprt.com/streetsmarts) by John S Allen, and the more extensive Effective Cycling (http://www.amazon.com/Effective-Cycling-6th-John-Forester/dp/0262560704) by John Forester. The US training program that descended from EC is the League of American Bicyclists’ BikeEd (http://bikeleague.org/programs/education). There is no nationally sanctioned standard like Bikability.
EC and Cyclecraft share a common heritage, since Forester’s boyhood was spent in England under the influence of the Cyclists’ Touring Club (http://ctc.org.uk).
Thanks for that info Bob. I didn’t know that John Forester had written in the US as well.