- Thread starter colnerov
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Tangledfeet
Think outside, no box required.
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That is you opinion and you are entitled to it. I don't agree, nor does the government or the vast majority of the cycling community.
They have done in Kidderminster town center.
Car go up and Bikes comes down it. Lol big green strip of paint. But it's not 2 metres wide.
Been there, seen it numerous times, each time riding 3ft or so from the kerb on the left side of the road.
Vehicles driving on wrong side of road heading straight for you in their belief that cyclists have no right to be there at all.
Also had artics overtake, at speed, on blind left bends, missing my head by inches, because at 7am on a sunday, presumably, there might be oncoming traffic.
And yes i have been hit by dangerous drivers (to my permanent injury), with no thought to my safety, merely an irritance and delay of seconds.
The level of intimidation on our roads is outrageous, if you ran down the street waving a knife you'd be huckled by plod, but, in the eyes of many, classed as allowable sporting behaviour to use a vehicle as a weapon.
We really are in a sorry state
It has to be about perception and what the individual feels is safe too.
I rack up 25 miles a day cycling to work and back and I suppose you just get used to traffic whistling past in your close proximity (in fact if I've been off for a few days the first day back sometimes feels a bit worrying). What I feel is safe and acceptably close is likely to be considerably different to someone that's experiencing cars coming past at 60mph for the first time though.
Road users full stop need to be more considerate and consider their actions and that applies to cyclist's and scooterists as well as drivers.
skotl
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That's reminded me of the most hateful roundabout in Edinburgh, at Stenhouse:
The roundabout feels much smaller than the pic makes out, but the problem is the pedestrian crossings at every exit. You've been looking right, waiting for the traffic to clear then jump onto the roundabout, make haste and then come to a sudden stop on the roundabout as there are pedestrians crossing at your exit.
Meanwhile, behind you, people are continuing to look right waiting for a gap and leap out without thinking they need to check the roundabout is clear.
I've had a few near-rears on that one.
yet spend time in Holland and there are very few issues , I spent a week there waiting for a lorry to be ready , and in a week I dont think i heard a car horn peep once , and the bike usage there was amazing. The system is set up to favour bikes and it works so well , it was an inspiration . But the bikes and the traffic were kept away from each other and I think thats the secret.
Hood
I am obsessed.
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And that is my biggest issue with SOME of the cyclists here. Perfectly good cycle path made separate from the road running alongside it over a small embankment but they refuse to use it. There is also one made alongside the dual carriageway between Dundee and Arbroath and although not as common as on the other road you still get a few travelling on the 70mph dual carriage way.
Feet 'n Inches
Out of the rat-race at last
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You don't unless the road ahead is clear (the other side of the line) and the cyclist is doing less than 10 mph - that's the rule at the moment but it may be revised with this new version of the code.
Years back there was a legal precedent set regarding the distance a vehicle should take when passing a cyclist. The judge said, at the time, that cyclists should be allowed 'wobble room' which was defined as around 6 feet away. Even if I have to wait for a few minutes before passing a cyclist, that's the distance I'll take from them.
Im not saying that it's the case in this instance but as a cyclist there are a few big issues with the majority of cycle paths that stop people using them. In no particular order.
The cycle path stops for every junction whereas the road proceeds along. In an urban setting this can mean stopping to cross every 100 yards, would we accept that as drivers?
Mixed use paths (pedestrian and cyclist) are not suitable for higher speed cycling (and I don't mean racing along in a peleton). Mixing bicycles and pedestrians is as bad as cars and bikes.
Cycle paths are often overgrown and littered with broken glass etc.
The cycle path will often stop and start again on the opposite side of the road, meaning you have to cross the road (I can think of one that does this a dozen times in half a mile).
Cycle paths often come to an abrupt end putting you back on to the road that it's designed to take you off.
That's just a few off the top of my head. I'm in no way advocating the Dutch model whereby the cyclist has right of way and is always in the right in event of an accident, but if we want to move cyclist's from the road the infrastructure needs improving.
And before anyone thinks I'm totally cyclist friendly, I fully agree with every sentiment regarding riding 2 abreast, red light jumping etc. If cyclist's want equal rights and protection on the road, then they must set the example and abide by the laws of the road.
Pretty much agree with all the above reasons for not using cycle paths, plus my own experience of coming off on an engine oil slick across the cycle path. It looked like a wet patch. Also, cycling 3ft from the kerb is fair enough because most of the sharp stones and broken glass, and quite a few manhole covers tend to be inside that zone, but moving over a bit when someone wants to pass indicates a willingnes to give and take. I do take issue with the red lightning storms that some cyclists feel is OK to point at approaching traffic. Just the other day, I watched as several cars gave some bright rear flashing lights cyclists zero dwell time, just to get past. It's like being poked in the eyes.
frank horton
V twins are great but 4"s rule.........
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Bikes like horses are dangerous....
just stick to motorcycles.....hahaha...
just stick to motorcycles.....hahaha...
eLuSiVeMiTe
Member
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Given the above il be reconnecting mine up.
Pulled it over lockdown as draining my battery.
If I step off the road without looking that's my fault not the driver who hits me.
Same as if I'm weaving about like a drunk on a pushbike. (Regularly see riders like that round here )
KemppiFrog
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Umm, over on another forum a Dutch member says that the fact that bikes have right of way has made 'some' riders oblivious to cars. He has twice recently watched riders get hit by cars, seriously, because they pulled out without looking and the driver had no room to miss them.
Bit different, but I notice that all trucks buses etc now have signs giver the 'dead' areas where drivers can't see you. Angles morts with a diagram showing the bit where their mirrors cover and where they can see you out of the side window. The space between is black. This in UK too?
MattF
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We don't discriminate against vehicle type. Whether it be two wheels or four, a tool on the road is a tool on the road.
However, with cyclists, (both pedal & motor), their behaviour alone denotes that they're usually far more arrogant & foolhardy in their manner. There are far fewer of them on the roads than four wheeled vehicles drivers, yet the ratio who behave arrogantly &/or stupidly is far higher.
eLuSiVeMiTe
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Na. Far more pancake flippers in cars around here mate
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