Etiquette when over taking in Bike Lane

Irish Gunner · 03-06-2026 08:38AM #1

As per heading

With the new bike lane from Fairview nearly into town which I use and no issues until yesterday. Along the way few shores and holes some I know some I don’t. When I am cycling and someone wants to take over they usually say or shout.However yesterday someone ran into the back of me and told me I did not indicate to move out. I may have moved a bit to avoid a shore but he ran into the back of me and I went head over onto Tarmac. Just bruised and sore all over.

Just wondering what others do on bike lanes.If I am overtaken someone, which I rarely do and not enough space, I would say something. Also I don’t tailgate which this person was doing.

I was furious with him for this and he did stop but never took responsibility

Anyone any opinions

Tom1991 · 03-06-2026 08:50AM

I use it three days a week and the best ya can do is try look over the shoulder before moving or a mirror so you can see, nobody is signaling to avoid the shores or some object in the bike lane .

If someone ran into the back of you in car it would be their fault for not anticipating that you might need to stop or maneuver im the same opinion here and hopefully it doesnt put you off in the future.

tnegun · 03-06-2026 08:55AM

Unless there's loads of room I always call out that I'm passing on the right as for the guys who draft when commuting that's the height of ignorance and dangerous IMO.

dp22250 · 03-06-2026 08:56AM

Much safer on the road. No reason for that disrepair of the lane.

blackbox · 03-06-2026 09:11AM

A polite ding on your bell before overtaking.

This was the norm when I was cycling in the Netherlands and it worked very nicely.

CramCycle · 03-06-2026 09:17AM

I'd either give a polite shout, freewheel with extremely loud (and expensive) freehubs for a few seconds on a approach or take a really wide berth around them. All this said, sounds like they were in the wrong for cycling to close to you.

breezy1985 · 03-06-2026 09:19AM

Where is this cycle lane ?

Is it single width or double ?

Macy0161 · 03-06-2026 09:22AM

Someone goes into the back of you, it's their fault. fwiw if I'm passing in the cycle lane I'd give a ding of the bell or "on your right".

Saying that, the fact they spent how much on the water system and cycle lane, and still left the shores and manholes in the cycle lane tells you all you need to know about Irish cycling infrastructure. Couldn't possible discommode people driving if they had to access the manholes or clear the drains.

o1s1n · 03-06-2026 09:29AM

Sorry to hear that happened to you, say you got some fright.

He's completely in the wrong alright but it's definitely a good idea to keep an eye over your shoulder, like checking your blind spot in a car when you're changing lane.

Seth Brundle · 03-06-2026 09:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520406#Comment_124520406

The lane goes from Fairview to Connolly - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZoYqBx11MENVscNK6

It is wider than single but not wide enough to be double.

Personally, if I were to move out to overtake, I'd look behind and also point towards the ground to my right. Depending on who I'm passing, I might also shout "coming past" or "bike up" to alert the person ahead. I would be of the view that the person passing is the one to be most vigilant so the lad that went into the OP should have anticipated it or let you know they were there

Tombo2001 · 03-06-2026 09:41AM

100% not your fault

On a related topic - if you had been badly injured there, which you could have been, where was your man….what are his obligations?

I dont want to get into sounding like Facebook punters with the 'all cyclists need licence plates' trope…

But it is an issue.

Irish Gunner · 03-06-2026 09:56AM

Ok seems most people agree

When Cycling I aim to be aware of my surroundings and if someone is behind me or in front and apply same process if I was driving a car. It wont put me off cycling as not first accident but just annoyed at punter whom did it to me. I was lucky and just a visit to doctor confirmed just bruising. However I always wear a helmet and this saved my head. Work was ok and can wfh so no issue there. Only cost was to doctor and fix bike and to me I should have got his number like in any "claim"

Alkers · 03-06-2026 10:24AM

Hmm I'm not sure if I agree with much of the sentiment above.

When overtaking, in a cycle track or otherwise, there is no obligation to announce to people where you are. A bus or a car wouldn't give you that courtesy on the road or in a cycle lane.

The obligation in any vehicle is that you check it is clear and signal your intention when you move off of your current path, e.g. changing lane, turning, moving around an obstacle etc. You have made a blind assumption that there was nothing in your blind spot and then maneuvered into that space without checking or signalling. On a motorcycle, the shoulder check to see if that space is clear is called a "life saver" for this exact reason. You can't be swerving left and right without checking and not expecting this to happen some day.

blackbox · 03-06-2026 10:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520401#Comment_124520401

Why not just ring your bell?

magicbastarder · 03-06-2026 10:39AM

two reasons for that - we have eight bikes in the garage, and only two have bells. the six which don't are mine.

the second reason is that for many, a bell is passive aggressive. a friendly call is more universally accepted, and can actually carry information.

or; just because it's the law doesn't mean it's good. ringing a bell is like beeping a horn in a car.

o1s1n · 03-06-2026 10:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520575#Comment_124520575

When you're in a car overtaking someone you come out early enough around them so that if they do something unexpected, you've enough time to react.

If you cycle into the back of someone you had the person completely in front of you the whole time, so should have left enough space to react.

Crashing into something in front of you that you can see the whole time is down to your own reactions either not being quick enough or you being too close.

irelandrover · 03-06-2026 10:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520637#Comment_124520637

Depends how late they swerve in front of you surely.

If the OP changed lanes and was immediately hit in the back then they changed lanes too late and the person overtaking didnt have enough time to react. If they were hit a few seconds after changing lanes tthen the person who crashed into them had time to react.

CramCycle · 03-06-2026 11:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520469#Comment_124520469

It is an issue but only on an individual level, at a population level it is so rare or costs so little to society that the cost of introducing one would eclipse any perceived benefit which would be minimal anyway. Who would be responsible, the guy who rear ended him would.

Tombo2001 · 03-06-2026 11:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520736#Comment_124520736

Yeah thats fair - its unimplementable, its not a cost issue per se, its a feasibility issue.

TerrieBootson · 03-06-2026 11:31AM

Ring your bell if you're behind. Not liking a law doesn't exempt you from it, despite what some think. Also, when moving from side to side you are (however you feel about it), required to signal.

HeidiHeidi · 03-06-2026 11:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520620#Comment_124520620

I disagree.

I use the cycle lane on the Grand Canal a lot, and I love when people coming past me ding on the bell or say something to let me know they're passing.

Bikes are usually completely silent, and I'm firmly concentrated on all the vehicular traffic.

I've been almost knocked onto the footpath by cyclists who came speeding by with no margin whatsoever (not waiting for a gap in the cars so that they can safely overtake, same as you have to do in a car) and it drives me mad. If I'm overtaking, I treat it the same as when I'm driving, wait for a gap when I can pull out a decent amount and pass safely without impeding the overtakee.

Using that bike lane at rush hour, I'm almost more scared of the bikes than the cars!

CramCycle · 03-06-2026 11:56AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520764#Comment_124520764

That is being disingenuous for many reasons, first, many bikes are exempt from having a bell under the 1963 RTA. Second, ringing a bell in Dublin is as likely to get someone to assault you as it is to get them to be aware and act appropriately to your presence. Third, moving from side to side implies any lateral movement, which is also not true. Cars at motorway speed have a large amount of lateral movement within a lane, but are not required to signal. Of course signal is required for a lane position change of note, but slight deflections for potholes etc, are both to be expected and not required to signal for a variety of reasons, including safety. One of the reasons again why you don't cycle against the kerb, to give you room to make those slight deviations, the same reason that when overtaking you should give a reasonable amount of space.

CramCycle · 03-06-2026 11:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520769#Comment_124520769

I found that bells seem to get a very aggressive reaction form some. The bike who gave you no room for the overtake, this would not have been helped by them ringing a bell, they were cycling dangerously and in an ideal world would get an FPN (unrealistic I know with current enforcement levels), what you describe for your overtake is what everyone should do, be they a motorist or cyclist, but you get d*cks in both groups unfortunately.

Citizen Six · 03-06-2026 12:10PM

I usually call out, 'passing on your right', I'll often ring my bell as well, if I'm on a bike that has one. As mentioned, people find a bell ring to be aggressive, when really it isn't.

The path in through Fairview allows for overtaking, but it's very tight. Nervous cyclists might not like being passed here, so better to give them warning.

It's cyclists going the wrong way that I'm more worried about. 🤣

ollaetta · 03-06-2026 12:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520827#Comment_124520827

Some people react oddly to bells for some reason. I've had it on the road but also a few times from pedestrians on shared spaces. I never go fast on those due to the unpredictability of walkers so I've no idea why people take offence at being warned there's a bike overtaking.

Paddigol · 03-06-2026 12:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520764#Comment_124520764

Another RTA expert. Welcome. Tell us, what's the legal definition of "side to side" and where can I find it? Just asking so that I know what to do next time I need to avoid a hazard/ debris on my travels. Thanks.

Who knew it could be so difficult to cycle a bike in a responsible manner (is it too soon to ring my bell/ too late… how loud should I ring it, once, twice?, how should react to hearing a bell - should I stay where I am? take my eyes off the path to check behind me? ohmygod is this a lycra warrior coming to close-pass me?? are they being passive aggressive? should I admonish them?, should I take my hand off the bar/ brakes to indicate to someone who may/ may not be behind me that I'm imminently moving left/ right of the single lane in order to avoid the usual plethora of debris and hazards found in cycle lanes?). Truly, I must be some kind of cycling god given the fact that in all my years cycling none of these hypotheticals has troubled me. Maybe I should become some kind of Cycling Consultant, dispensing my wisdom to all.

TerrieBootson · 03-06-2026 12:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520815#Comment_124520815

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the exemption for training? It's not the bike that's exempt, but it's particular use, specifically for training?

TerrieBootson · 03-06-2026 12:47PM

Missed quote

TerrieBootson · 03-06-2026 12:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520891#Comment_124520891

Reductio ad absurdum. If that's all you can muster…….

khamilton · 03-06-2026 12:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520764#Comment_124520764

Which law requires using a bell (rather than having one), and which law governs signalling when staying in a lane but changing positioning within that lane?

cletus · 03-06-2026 12:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124520934#Comment_124520934

According to the legislation (S.I. No. 190/1963 - Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963), the requirement is :

"93. (1) Every pedal cycle (other than a cycle constructed or adapted for use as a racing cycle) while used in a public place shall be fitted with an audible warning device consisting of a bell capable of being heard at a reasonable distance, and no other type of audible warning instrument shall be fitted to a pedal cycle while used in a public place."

Consider yourself corrected.

Etiquette when over taking in Bike Lane

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