Cycle lanes - compulsory ?
Discussion
A regular section of road I use (A320 between Woking and Chertsey)was once just a standard 2 way 2 carriageway ( 1 in each direction. Some years ago it was converted to 2 lanes in one direction and one lane in the other (seperated by double white lines). Needles to say the lanes are now very narrow.
There is a perfectly good cycle lane seperated from the road by 6 to 8 feet of grass and shrubery, yet I cosnistatnly see cyclist using the road.
It is very B****y dangerous as there is not room to pass them without changing lane (or at leats using 50% of the outside lane)
When there is a cycle lane are cyclist obliged by law to use it, or can they choose to still use the road.
Most of the cyclists appear to the the road racer type, so maybe the speed they do ( say 15 - 30 mph) is not consistant with using the cycle lane, but hey its a road not a sporting venue for them!
Anybody got any thoughts about this ?
There is a perfectly good cycle lane seperated from the road by 6 to 8 feet of grass and shrubery, yet I cosnistatnly see cyclist using the road.
It is very B****y dangerous as there is not room to pass them without changing lane (or at leats using 50% of the outside lane)
When there is a cycle lane are cyclist obliged by law to use it, or can they choose to still use the road.
Most of the cyclists appear to the the road racer type, so maybe the speed they do ( say 15 - 30 mph) is not consistant with using the cycle lane, but hey its a road not a sporting venue for them!
Anybody got any thoughts about this ?
If you can't change lane to over-take something, you should not be on the roads yourself!
Cycle lanes can be badly lit / maintained / full of glass etc etc. Cyclists don't have to use them, but thankfully many do. Those with enough road-sense and confidence are free to use almost all roads - and rightly so. Yes, it may be a minor inconvenience to you as a motorist...get over it.
As for "road-racer types" - perhaps they are just riding bikes most suited to the road, and wearing the best fitting clothing for the job in hand, making progress on a bike?
Cycle lanes can be badly lit / maintained / full of glass etc etc. Cyclists don't have to use them, but thankfully many do. Those with enough road-sense and confidence are free to use almost all roads - and rightly so. Yes, it may be a minor inconvenience to you as a motorist...get over it.
As for "road-racer types" - perhaps they are just riding bikes most suited to the road, and wearing the best fitting clothing for the job in hand, making progress on a bike?
tigger 1
Why the hostility?
You’re not a road racer cyclist are you?
I am simply stating that the highways dept have put in an extra lane because its needed, which is effectively then blocked when a cyclist chooses to use the road (which can also be poorly lit / maintained and covered in glass) instead of the cycle lane.
The number of times I have seen a lorry move out around a cyclist and cause a car coming up in the next lane to brake or swerve, makes me think it is only a matter of time before there is a bad accident on this road.
Costly cycle lanes have been introduced specifically to segregate motor vehicles and cyclists.
If I was cycling on this road (and I do cycle sometimes)I know where I would feel safer, poorly lit / maintained and covered in glass or not !
Why the hostility?
You’re not a road racer cyclist are you?
I am simply stating that the highways dept have put in an extra lane because its needed, which is effectively then blocked when a cyclist chooses to use the road (which can also be poorly lit / maintained and covered in glass) instead of the cycle lane.
The number of times I have seen a lorry move out around a cyclist and cause a car coming up in the next lane to brake or swerve, makes me think it is only a matter of time before there is a bad accident on this road.
Costly cycle lanes have been introduced specifically to segregate motor vehicles and cyclists.
If I was cycling on this road (and I do cycle sometimes)I know where I would feel safer, poorly lit / maintained and covered in glass or not !
WokingWedger said:
If I was cycling on this road (and I do cycle sometimes)I know where I would feel safer, poorly lit / maintained and covered in glass or not !
Try it. Personally I use the safest option available to me. This is not always the cycle path (although from your description the one you're on about seems perfectly okay).pdV6 said:
WokingWedger said:
If I was cycling on this road (and I do cycle sometimes)I know where I would feel safer, poorly lit / maintained and covered in glass or not !
Try it. Personally I use the safest option available to me. This is not always the cycle path (although from your description the one you're on about seems perfectly okay).What's the worst that can happen to you on a normal road?,
Yung Man said:
pdV6 said:
WokingWedger said:
If I was cycling on this road (and I do cycle sometimes)I know where I would feel safer, poorly lit / maintained and covered in glass or not !
Try it. Personally I use the safest option available to me. This is not always the cycle path (although from your description the one you're on about seems perfectly okay).What's the worst that can happen to you on a normal road?,
WW - apologies, it wasn't meant to be as hostile as it reads. I just get sick of "anti-cyclist" stuff on here. I'm not a lycra-clad road racer either (far too small), although I do like to throw bikes up and down hills.
Yung Man said:
pdV6 said:
WokingWedger said:
If I was cycling on this road (and I do cycle sometimes)I know where I would feel safer, poorly lit / maintained and covered in glass or not !
Try it. Personally I use the safest option available to me. This is not always the cycle path (although from your description the one you're on about seems perfectly okay).What's the worst that can happen to you on a normal road?,
Personally, I've had far worse crashes and done a lot more injury (bodily and mechanical) on cycle paths than roads. Not counting off-road mountain biking before anyone starts.
tigger1 said:
..... although I do like to throw bikes up and down hills.
Are you some sort of modern day Sisyphus? 
Back on topic, exactly the same thing happens on my commute. Really good cycle lane, no glass, well lit, brand new and (judging by the amount of unecessary signage) very expensive. But loads of cyclists prefer the busy, narrow road.
[devil's advocate mode]
Let's face it, even if it was compulsory, would it make a difference to (most) cyclists?
[/devil's advocate mode]
tigger1 said:
Yung Man said:
pdV6 said:
WokingWedger said:
If I was cycling on this road (and I do cycle sometimes)I know where I would feel safer, poorly lit / maintained and covered in glass or not !
Try it. Personally I use the safest option available to me. This is not always the cycle path (although from your description the one you're on about seems perfectly okay).What's the worst that can happen to you on a normal road?,
"Death in both cases".
What I meant as you probably know is what are the chances of getting a serious injury or worse when using either a cycle lane or a road.
Yung Man said:
tigger1 said:
Yung Man said:
pdV6 said:
WokingWedger said:
If I was cycling on this road (and I do cycle sometimes)I know where I would feel safer, poorly lit / maintained and covered in glass or not !
Try it. Personally I use the safest option available to me. This is not always the cycle path (although from your description the one you're on about seems perfectly okay).What's the worst that can happen to you on a normal road?,
"Death in both cases".
What I meant as you probably know is what are the chances of getting a serious injury or worse when using either a cycle lane or a road.
As for likelihood - I can't be the only person who's had as much trouble on cycle paths as on roads?
(And yes...I am cursed to roll bikes up and down hills for all eternity!)
Edited: for shitty
Edited by tigger1 on Wednesday 14th November 14:59
tigger1 said:
That's not what you asked though - you asked "what's the worst that can happen to you"...
As for likelihood - I can't be the only person who's had as much trouble on cycle paths as on roads?
This discussion is no good without facts and figures but IMO a person is less likely to be injured or killed when riding a pedal cycle on a cycle lane as apposed to riding a pedal cycle on the open road.As for likelihood - I can't be the only person who's had as much trouble on cycle paths as on roads?
Thats not to say you won't have any kind of accident on a cycle path/lane but if you do it's less likely to be the fault of a car/vehicle driver and more likely to be the result of your own incompetence.
Yung Man said:
tigger1 said:
That's not what you asked though - you asked "what's the worst that can happen to you"...
As for likelihood - I can't be the only person who's had as much trouble on cycle paths as on roads?
This discussion is no good without facts and figures but IMO a person is less likely to be injured or killed when riding a pedal cycle on a cycle lane as apposed to riding a pedal cycle on the open road.As for likelihood - I can't be the only person who's had as much trouble on cycle paths as on roads?
Thats not to say you won't have any kind of accident on a cycle path/lane but if you do it's less likely to be the fault of a car/vehicle driver and more likely to be the result of your own incompetence.
If I have an accident on a separate cycle path it had better not be due to a car!! That's about the stupidest thing I've read today. Well done.
Edited by tigger1 on Wednesday 14th November 15:15
Without wishing to find myself mugged by the lycra brigade...
Whilst there is no obvious compulsion in law, there was a case where it was ruled that a cyclist on an NSL, not using the available cyclepath, was guilty of inconsiderate riding (I think that was the charge -- not as funny as wanton and furious cycling, but there it is)
The cyclists lobby were up in arms and last I saw were looking to fund an appeal. I don't know the result. If I dig it up, I'll post it.
Whilst there is no obvious compulsion in law, there was a case where it was ruled that a cyclist on an NSL, not using the available cyclepath, was guilty of inconsiderate riding (I think that was the charge -- not as funny as wanton and furious cycling, but there it is)
The cyclists lobby were up in arms and last I saw were looking to fund an appeal. I don't know the result. If I dig it up, I'll post it.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/ne...
This article probably as good as any other:-
- Daniel Cadden was the cyclist
- the CTC are the lobby
- it was turned over on appeal
The Highway Code has been changed to make it easier to convict.
If I were a cyclist, I'd be very very visible from behind on NSL roads if I weren't in a cycle lane - cars approaching from behind at 60+ differentials need all the warning they can get to not make a mistake.
This article probably as good as any other:-
- Daniel Cadden was the cyclist
- the CTC are the lobby
- it was turned over on appeal
The Highway Code has been changed to make it easier to convict.
If I were a cyclist, I'd be very very visible from behind on NSL roads if I weren't in a cycle lane - cars approaching from behind at 60+ differentials need all the warning they can get to not make a mistake.
7db said:
Without wishing to find myself mugged by the lycra brigade...
Whilst there is no obvious compulsion in law, there was a case where it was ruled that a cyclist on an NSL, not using the available cyclepath, was guilty of inconsiderate riding (I think that was the charge -- not as funny as wanton and furious cycling, but there it is)
The cyclists lobby were up in arms and last I saw were looking to fund an appeal. I don't know the result. If I dig it up, I'll post it.
That's quite interesting. Was he holding up other motorists? If so, then he's doing the same as a slow driver..so a fair cop.Whilst there is no obvious compulsion in law, there was a case where it was ruled that a cyclist on an NSL, not using the available cyclepath, was guilty of inconsiderate riding (I think that was the charge -- not as funny as wanton and furious cycling, but there it is)
The cyclists lobby were up in arms and last I saw were looking to fund an appeal. I don't know the result. If I dig it up, I'll post it.
PS I'm not a member of the lycra brigade - and didn't join this thread for a fight, apologies to Yungman, it just seems our views are incompatible,
tigger1 said:
I can't be the only person who's had as much trouble on cycle paths as on roads?
Yung Man said:
more likely to be the result of your own incompetence.
tigger1 said:
If I have an accident on a separate cycle path it had better not be due to a car!! That's about the stupidest thing I've read today. Well done.
You obviously don't live near the A580 (East lancs road), when there is congestion you regularly see Corsas and the like using the cycle lane.Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff