Cycle Event Marshals
Discussion
There are almost weekly cycle 'events' on the roads in my neck of the woods, which appear to be getting ever bigger & ever more bad natured towards local road users & pedestrians.
The pedestrian crossing may as well not have traffic lights, as all the competitors just jump red lights & its only a matter of time before someone will get hurt....
This Sunday morning, they had a marshal at a mini roundabout with a red flag. As soon as a group of riders came along, wanting to turn, the marshal stepped into the road, & stopped the traffic with his red flag. I was under the impression that only police or highways officers were allowed to direct traffic.
Questions for PH:
1. Is cycle racing actually permitted on public roads?
2. Is the marshalling in this case illegal?
The pedestrian crossing may as well not have traffic lights, as all the competitors just jump red lights & its only a matter of time before someone will get hurt....
This Sunday morning, they had a marshal at a mini roundabout with a red flag. As soon as a group of riders came along, wanting to turn, the marshal stepped into the road, & stopped the traffic with his red flag. I was under the impression that only police or highways officers were allowed to direct traffic.
Questions for PH:
1. Is cycle racing actually permitted on public roads?
2. Is the marshalling in this case illegal?
TooMany2cvs said:
Probably. But are you going to ignore his little flag while shouting "It's my right of way, loser!"?
Wouldn't really be a problem if they were all just a bit less militant about it. The marshal bloke was pretty obnoxious - similar to a GP receptionist or librarian.....JPJPJP said:
Yes to 1, no to 2
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/accreditedmarsha...
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
Interesting links. I was not aware re marshalling. Perhaps they need to pass a politeness test.https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/accreditedmarsha...
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
Paul Dishman said:
I think the way that unofficial marshals directing events on the road go about dealing with members of the public pretty much guarantees the way that the public will respond to them.
Someone stopping traffic and having a smile and a friendly word about a short delay while the peloton clears the road will get a much better response than the hi-viz red flag waver whose perceived power has overcome his ability to interact with fellow humans.
Of course, there's always the awkward git, on both sides.
Someone stopping traffic and having a smile and a friendly word about a short delay while the peloton clears the road will get a much better response than the hi-viz red flag waver whose perceived power has overcome his ability to interact with fellow humans.
Of course, there's always the awkward git, on both sides.
I asked two pretty straightforward questions & got almost instant replies with official links to the correct information. Much as I can't stand MAMILS & f
king cycle road racing events, it seems I have to put up with it & move on.Even by PH standards, I'm amazed at some of the later posts!
popeyewhite said:
Stop there.
Using the roads for "sport"? With traffic passing at up to 70 mph while you're trying to shed a few seconds off a mile with your head down? Shut the road or go somewhere there's no other traffic.
I've seen an event on the A24 near Horsham not so long ago, dual carriageway section, with 50 odd MAMILs competing in the same lane as lorries, busses, vans & cars. My passenger mentioned 'organ doners' when we overtook them......Using the roads for "sport"? With traffic passing at up to 70 mph while you're trying to shed a few seconds off a mile with your head down? Shut the road or go somewhere there's no other traffic.
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