Review of Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists
Discussion
littlebasher said:
In my example, this is the location
https://goo.gl/maps/atT2Ha3GFUZUKnm78
He was just around that corner. Sunny day just like that image, with him slowing wobbling up the hill almost on the center white line
Came up on him really fast at 75mph. Maybe naive of me, but it really wasn't what i was expecting to come across!
Not sure why this was a problem. Surely you needed to be able to stop for any obstruction in the road, whether debris, broken down vehicle or cyclist? Surely you would not have expected to overtake a cyclist without moving to Lane 2 whatever his position within lane 1? Therefore his assertive position in the lane is safer than a nearside position. Or have I misunderstood? https://goo.gl/maps/atT2Ha3GFUZUKnm78
He was just around that corner. Sunny day just like that image, with him slowing wobbling up the hill almost on the center white line
Came up on him really fast at 75mph. Maybe naive of me, but it really wasn't what i was expecting to come across!
Pica-Pica said:
Salted_Peanut said:
Recently, I saw the same thing: someone cycling on a dual carriageway with a 70mph limit and an unsighted bend. As a cyclist, I think it's madness. I wouldn't cycle on a 70 mph dual carriageway (surely a Darwin Award?), but I'm amazed how many people do.
And the law says we can cycle on 70 mph dual carriageways unless the authorities take out a specific traffic regulation order banning bicycles from a particular section of road. I've not yet seen a No Cyclists sign on a dual carriageway, have you?
Yes. A stretch of the A55. It is a special road.And the law says we can cycle on 70 mph dual carriageways unless the authorities take out a specific traffic regulation order banning bicycles from a particular section of road. I've not yet seen a No Cyclists sign on a dual carriageway, have you?
“Two sections between (Junction 23) Llanddulas to (Junction 17) Conwy are signed as a 70 mph (110 km/h) speed limit because they are actually special roads. This is because these sections were built under legislation for building motorways but they were never declared as motorways.[3][4] Legally it means these two stretches of the A55 are neither part of the national UK motorway network nor trunk roads. As such, the national speed limit does not apply so 70 mph (110 km/h) signs (the maximum speed permitted on UK roads) are used instead. Unlike other sections of the A55 that have National Speed Limit (NSL) signage and are accessible to all motor vehicles, motorway restrictions are enforced on these two stretches of road (therefore no pedestrians, learner drivers, farm vehicles etc).“
waremark said:
Surely you needed to be able to stop for any obstruction in the road, whether debris, broken down vehicle or cyclist? Surely you would not have expected to overtake a cyclist without moving to Lane 2 whatever his position within lane 1? Therefore his assertive position in the lane is safer than a nearside position.
You are, of course, correct. But (irrespective of positioning) I still think it's madness to cycle on a 70 mph dual carriageway I might be allowed to cycle there, but it's leaving my safety to chance (hoping that every driver behind me is going to be 100% on the ball, not chatting on the phone). Even with a strobing rear light, it's reasonable to expect that cycling on a 70 mph road will take many drivers by surprise.
Anyone so inclined can join a webinar organised by the all party parliamentary group on cycling & walking to discuss this Highway Code review
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/97539806...
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/97539806...
Salted_Peanut said:
The new (proposed) rules appear to make Primary the default position for cycling, i.e. the centre of the road. While I know – because I cycle – about the Primary and Secondary positions, this change is going to be a Big Deal for many drivers.
A lot of cyclists are going to get killed or maimed if they do that.WJNB said:
Salted_Peanut said:
A lot of cyclists are going to get killed or maimed if they do that.I'd much rather use the primary position as the default.
It's the epitome of vehicular cycling; Less "I'll squeeze by between them and oncoming traffic", No need to cross the stream of traffic for right turns or to select lanes at junctions - Safer overall.
It's not "Holding people up", They're free to overtake when it's safe to do so. All it requires is a press of the foot on the gogo pedal and a twirl of the wheel; It's hardly an imposition for motor traffic to overtake safely.
It's the epitome of vehicular cycling; Less "I'll squeeze by between them and oncoming traffic", No need to cross the stream of traffic for right turns or to select lanes at junctions - Safer overall.
It's not "Holding people up", They're free to overtake when it's safe to do so. All it requires is a press of the foot on the gogo pedal and a twirl of the wheel; It's hardly an imposition for motor traffic to overtake safely.
Haltamer said:
I'd much rather use the primary position as the default.
It's the epitome of vehicular cycling; Less "I'll squeeze by between them and oncoming traffic", No need to cross the stream of traffic for right turns or to select lanes at junctions - Safer overall.
It's not "Holding people up", They're free to overtake when it's safe to do so. All it requires is a press of the foot on the gogo pedal and a twirl of the wheel; It's hardly an imposition for motor traffic to overtake safely.
There are times that I feel like primary position would get me squished. [Some] Dual Carriageways come to mind, e.g the A34...It's the epitome of vehicular cycling; Less "I'll squeeze by between them and oncoming traffic", No need to cross the stream of traffic for right turns or to select lanes at junctions - Safer overall.
It's not "Holding people up", They're free to overtake when it's safe to do so. All it requires is a press of the foot on the gogo pedal and a twirl of the wheel; It's hardly an imposition for motor traffic to overtake safely.
That's not that primary position is wrong, it's that the A34 is treated [incorrectly] as a de-facto motorway, rather than the all purpose trunk road that it is. Frankly, my judgement of the situation is that a proper hard shoulder on a motorway would be a safer place to be! But hey, it was an irresistible, legal, shortcut. Not a particularly busy time, and only 3.6 miles.
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