Sometimes on these threads the debate is about points of law - this one is about doing the right thing and being seen to do the right thing.outnabike wrote: I mean a two ton vehicle must not come close to a cyclist so it doesn't hit the cyclist. It is a totally different scenario for a cyclist to come close to a vehicle.
.....an advisory passing distance applies to bicycle riders passing pedestrians. This is a safety advisory recommendation only, not a road rule change.
If you position yourself within a metre of a stationary vehicle (say at traffic lights) I cannot see much wrong with that provided you are careful. But you cannot ride within a metre of a slow moving vehicle to gain a small traffic advantage and then expect the driver of that vehicle to be enthusiastic about giving you the metre clearance you demand, if you cross paths further up the road.
If I encounter a pedestrian on a bike path (I cannot recall meeting any on the road), I ring my bell and/or call out. If they show signs of having heard me, I pass them as far away as I can get, sometimes actually veering off the path. If they show no sign of having heard me (some walk around with ear buds in) I slow right down before I pass. If I encounter children (walking or of bikes), I slow right down whether they appear to have heard me or not. I call this "doing the right thing". You shouldn't need a law to tell you to do what's right.