Waiting to join dual carriageway and dropped kerbs
Discussion
Second time I've had an issue with this, from the same bloke (middle aged know-it-all cyclist), which resulted in a very heated argument on Saturday morning.
Basically, near where I live there is a side road that joins at 90 degrees to a 40mph dual carriageway. Immediately to the right of the junction is a big tree, some railings and a pelican crossing which badly obscure the sight lines, so I tend to hang back about 5 metres from the give way markings in order to get a better view of what is coming- much safer in my opinion and stop sme having to hang the front of the car into oncoming traffic to see past the obstructions.
View I get from car:
streetview
Cyclist bloke seems to have an issue with this, as it means the back of my car is blocking the dropped kerb- stopping him from cycling directly from Highview drive onto the pavement (shared use path). I'm pretty sure that even if I pulled right up to the give way line I'd still be in the way, not to mention the fact that there is another dropped kerb about 10-15 metres back up Watson Avenue that he could use.
View of dropped kerbs:
streetview 2
He punched my car as he cycled past which resulted in me getting out to ask him what his problem is. This is the second time that the same bloke has done the same thing-first time was about a year ago and he stuck his head in my open driver's window and started swearing at me- and I wondering if either he is a moron or does in fact have a point and I'm in the wrong? Is there an issue with stopping over dropped kerbs?
I cycle to work so this isn't an anti-cyclist thread ;-)
Basically, near where I live there is a side road that joins at 90 degrees to a 40mph dual carriageway. Immediately to the right of the junction is a big tree, some railings and a pelican crossing which badly obscure the sight lines, so I tend to hang back about 5 metres from the give way markings in order to get a better view of what is coming- much safer in my opinion and stop sme having to hang the front of the car into oncoming traffic to see past the obstructions.
View I get from car:
streetview
Cyclist bloke seems to have an issue with this, as it means the back of my car is blocking the dropped kerb- stopping him from cycling directly from Highview drive onto the pavement (shared use path). I'm pretty sure that even if I pulled right up to the give way line I'd still be in the way, not to mention the fact that there is another dropped kerb about 10-15 metres back up Watson Avenue that he could use.
View of dropped kerbs:
streetview 2
He punched my car as he cycled past which resulted in me getting out to ask him what his problem is. This is the second time that the same bloke has done the same thing-first time was about a year ago and he stuck his head in my open driver's window and started swearing at me- and I wondering if either he is a moron or does in fact have a point and I'm in the wrong? Is there an issue with stopping over dropped kerbs?
I cycle to work so this isn't an anti-cyclist thread ;-)
Edited by lufbramatt on Monday 31st March 11:53
Edited by lufbramatt on Monday 31st March 11:54
The guys a moron, if your stationary then he should wait for you to shift or go around.
Think of it like a bell mouth at a T-junction, if your sat at the give way markings, what do pedestrians do if they want to cross? they have to either wait or go around.
Its not like your parked over the footpath is it.
Think of it like a bell mouth at a T-junction, if your sat at the give way markings, what do pedestrians do if they want to cross? they have to either wait or go around.
Its not like your parked over the footpath is it.
And looking at streetview, he was cycling in the road up Highview drive so should be waiting at the give way markings onto Watson Avenue anyway.
Mrs Lufbramatt wasn't massively impressed with me getting out so wanted to make sure I was right! the thing is, I'm pretty chilled out, so just wanted to have a chat, but one day he's going to do that to someone that jumps out of a car with a knife and stabs him.
Mrs Lufbramatt wasn't massively impressed with me getting out so wanted to make sure I was right! the thing is, I'm pretty chilled out, so just wanted to have a chat, but one day he's going to do that to someone that jumps out of a car with a knife and stabs him.
Edited by lufbramatt on Monday 31st March 12:05
oyster said:
Lazy kid - crossing road not more than 20 metres from a crossing!
Yep not uncommon on that bit of road, it's a nightmare. It goes to NSL a bit further up so cars are often doing more than 40. Worst offenders always seem to be the girls that work at Asda just along from where the crossing is, that come out of work and walk straight across the road, having to climb over the Armco halfway over. Madness.Highway code 243 maybe applies?
code said:
Parking
243
DO NOT stop or park
near a school entrance
anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
in front of an entrance to a property
on a bend
where you would obstruct cyclists' use of cycle facilities
except when forced to do so by stationary traffic.
I'm not sure if stop in this context would include waiting at a junction, or if it just means when waiting to pick somebody up etc.243
DO NOT stop or park
near a school entrance
anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
in front of an entrance to a property
on a bend
where you would obstruct cyclists' use of cycle facilities
except when forced to do so by stationary traffic.
budgie smuggler said:
Highway code 243 maybe applies?
The wheelchair users can still use (and should be using) the second dropped kerb that is further away from the main road- as that is the one that matches with the dropped kerb on the other side of the road. I am not obstructing this area of dropped kerb. The one nearest the main road does not have an equivalent on the other side- you end up having to cross diagonally else you end up in the middle of Highview drive PLUS even if I pulled right up to (not over) the give way line, the back of my car would still be over the dropped kerb.code said:
Parking
243
DO NOT stop or park
near a school entrance
anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
in front of an entrance to a property
on a bend
where you would obstruct cyclists' use of cycle facilities
except when forced to do so by stationary traffic.
I'm not sure if stop in this context would include waiting at a junction, or if it just means when waiting to pick somebody up etc.243
DO NOT stop or park
near a school entrance
anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
in front of an entrance to a property
on a bend
where you would obstruct cyclists' use of cycle facilities
except when forced to do so by stationary traffic.
budgie smuggler said:
Highway code 243 maybe applies?
In most cases if you approach a T junction where the roads have pavements and you want to turn left but are waiting for a gap in the traffic you will be blocking a dropped pedestrian kerb. code said:
Parking
243
DO NOT stop or park
near a school entrance
anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
in front of an entrance to a property
on a bend
where you would obstruct cyclists' use of cycle facilities
except when forced to do so by stationary traffic.
I'm not sure if stop in this context would include waiting at a junction, or if it just means when waiting to pick somebody up etc.243
DO NOT stop or park
near a school entrance
anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
in front of an entrance to a property
on a bend
where you would obstruct cyclists' use of cycle facilities
except when forced to do so by stationary traffic.
I'm pretty sure no codes or laws are broken in doing so
OP - it sounds to me as if Mr cyclist has a screw loose.
Even if you were in the wrong (which I don't think you are) any cycilst with an ounce of common sense could wait a minute ... and most normal people don't punch cars!
If your vehicle was longer, say towing a trailer or a LWB Transit van, would that mean you were blocking the dropped kerbs when you were at the junction? If this is the case then there's probably a lot of motorists going to be blocking dropped kerbs all over the country.
From what you say, if it's all the truth, the cyclist is a fully cheese coated bellend.... This is from a fellow cyclist. Dropped kerbs being blocked to me would be when a car is parked there, not simply waiting to pull out of a junction when traffic conditions allow.
Hopefully the cyclist will learn the error of his ways soon. People like him give cyclists an even worse name than they already have.
From what you say, if it's all the truth, the cyclist is a fully cheese coated bellend.... This is from a fellow cyclist. Dropped kerbs being blocked to me would be when a car is parked there, not simply waiting to pull out of a junction when traffic conditions allow.
Hopefully the cyclist will learn the error of his ways soon. People like him give cyclists an even worse name than they already have.
t, he'd be better off cycling on the road.JimbobVFR said:
IMO the cyclist is an utter bellend, however this screenshot seems to suggest there is easily space to not block the dropped kerb as this VW camper seems to indicate.
Camper van man sits much higher and further forward than me in my passat though- note position of the steel railings around the pelican crossing and the tree which block all the view down the road unless you hang the nose of the car over the give way line... Or hang back a bit.Edited by lufbramatt on Monday 31st March 21:23
He sounds like a bit of a moron, I think you're driving in a sensible manner. I guess he just doesn't like being held up. What would he do if you pulled up to the line and other cars were queuing behind you also blocking the kerb? He should either get on the pavement earlier or queue like everyone else.
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