Take heed you two-wheel hating tw@ts...
https://road.cc/content/news/highway-code-changes-become-law-next-month-288327
https://road.cc/content/news/highway-code-changes-become-law-next-month-288327
For all you roadbike haters..
- Thread starter Chris_D
- Start date
304frp said:
Most riders are simply trying to get about safely and without aggro, most drivers likewise. Unfortunately a small minority of each 'faction' insist on riding / driving like self-righteous tw@ts and I doubt very much whether this minority will either heed the requirement to give precedence to bikes, or to ride safely and considerately. Waste of time.
(I cycle, motorcycle and drive)
(I cycle, motorcycle and drive)
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( I used to motorcycle, now just cycle and drive )
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hence the new legislation! hopefully it will enable their licences to be removed more quickly. No one is an angel or a driving god , but if it even alters our driving behaviour it’s a good thing .Ewazix said:
( I used to motorcycle, now just cycle and drive )
It became an offence to “hog” the middle lane (or outside) on a motorway in 2013, I haven’t seen any decrease in numbers doing it, mobile phones is an even better example of people ignoring legislation, law and the chance of a fine, points and death or causing death.
I ride my road bike alone, am always courteous and rarely have problems, there is the odd angry driver who presumably has had a bad experience with other cyclists and think I’m the same, no problem, I rarely react. I get frustrated when I see groups of roadies riding aggressively and without courtesy but it’s more frequent of people in vehicles, again no problem, I avoid or ignore confrontation.
To me, that’s the real problem, people seem to love confrontation alot more these days sadly
I ride my road bike alone, am always courteous and rarely have problems, there is the odd angry driver who presumably has had a bad experience with other cyclists and think I’m the same, no problem, I rarely react. I get frustrated when I see groups of roadies riding aggressively and without courtesy but it’s more frequent of people in vehicles, again no problem, I avoid or ignore confrontation.
To me, that’s the real problem, people seem to love confrontation alot more these days sadly
The real issue seems to be the need to overtake a bike no matter what and no matter where. Last week I was head to head, stopped, to a car overtaking a bike in a bend. The other driver seemed to gesticulate that it was my problem as I should have allowed him to be there.
As and ex cyclist I am very much aware just how vulnerable you are on a bike - but whilst there are some aggressive drivers there are also some very aggressive selfish cyclists -- I was forced to follow the "bunch" of Durham University cycle club for a few miles due to their arrogant three abreast club training session.
Drivers and Cyclists should be tolerant of each other.
Drivers and Cyclists should be tolerant of each other.
The proposed new rules for cyclists in the Highway code is 'cyclists' should ride in single file when drivers wish to overtake, and it is safe to let them do so. When riding in larger groups on narrow lanes, it is sometimes safer to ride two abreast'
As a keen recreational cyclist this is very sensible but the problem that I encounter with friends is that too many motorists do not give enough room when overtaking cyclists, drive far too fast and do not understand that it is not always safe to overtake. Particularly on rural roads.
As a keen recreational cyclist this is very sensible but the problem that I encounter with friends is that too many motorists do not give enough room when overtaking cyclists, drive far too fast and do not understand that it is not always safe to overtake. Particularly on rural roads.
I think it's at least a step in the right direction as cycling is more popular than ever in the UK now it seems.
Being based in NL most of the time I'm pretty much spoilt when it comes to cycling opportunities in the relative safety of dedicated and separated cycle lanes, although it's not a perfect system especially where cyclists and motorists share the same road/space.
When I'm back in the UK I'm loathed to get out on the bike as it seems so dangerous in comaprison to cycling in NL. e.g. I couldn't believe there was a cyclist on the East Lancs road with motorists including artics having to pull out into lane 2 to avoid him. I htink it's a 60 limit on that dual carriageway isn't it? Bonkers scary.
What compounds the danger is that while there is hardly any dedicated and physically separated cycle lanes in the UK there will always be the opportunity for conflict and accidents and not all motorists have the same awareness or reaction abilities for avoiding cyclists. You can wear all the hi-viz gear and flashing lights but at the end of the day there will always be old dodderers or people on their phones who don't see you until it's too late.
e.g.
https://road.cc/content/news/ps440-fine-driver-92-who-hit-cyclist-cambridge-288389
Being based in NL most of the time I'm pretty much spoilt when it comes to cycling opportunities in the relative safety of dedicated and separated cycle lanes, although it's not a perfect system especially where cyclists and motorists share the same road/space.
When I'm back in the UK I'm loathed to get out on the bike as it seems so dangerous in comaprison to cycling in NL. e.g. I couldn't believe there was a cyclist on the East Lancs road with motorists including artics having to pull out into lane 2 to avoid him. I htink it's a 60 limit on that dual carriageway isn't it? Bonkers scary.
What compounds the danger is that while there is hardly any dedicated and physically separated cycle lanes in the UK there will always be the opportunity for conflict and accidents and not all motorists have the same awareness or reaction abilities for avoiding cyclists. You can wear all the hi-viz gear and flashing lights but at the end of the day there will always be old dodderers or people on their phones who don't see you until it's too late.
e.g.
https://road.cc/content/news/ps440-fine-driver-92-who-hit-cyclist-cambridge-288389
The problem is that some "professional/hardened" cyclists see dedicated bikes lanes mainly for "non professional" cyclists. So will use and slow down the main carriage way.
Many roads are not suitable for additional bike lanes, just look at some parts of London
All bicycle's should have some form of visible identification plates.
Many roads are not suitable for additional bike lanes, just look at some parts of London
All bicycle's should have some form of visible identification plates.
I kind of agree and disagree.firebobby said:
I agree in principal wherever a dedicated bike lane has been provided then cyclists, whether your an old lady doing 7km/h on your shopper-bike with Bonzo the chihuahua sitting in the front basket or whether you're a wanabe Bradley Wiggins on a £8k Cervelo hammering along at 40km/h should stick to the bike lanes. The problem for the group cyclists is coordinating the risk of how you react to the little old lady on a narrow bike lane with a closing-speed of 30km/h +, which is why they sometimes opt to use the road. I see this happening most summer Sundays here in NL and it causes tangible resentment from motorists and this of course can lead to conflict. I'm also guilty of doing this myself on occasion and can literally feel the brooding resentment of passing motorists.
No easy solution to that one apart from bringing in stricter rules for either or both parties.
e-bikes that are capable of doing certain speeds are. They need to be registered and have numberplates and riders need to have lights on at all times and wear helmet/hiviz gear. These are probably the element that are most dangerous to other cyclists here in NL as they are responsible for a massive increase in accidents with other cyclists. I've nearly been taken out twice by e-bike idiots who seem to think it's ok to whizz through cycling lane red lights at 40km/h. Problem is you can't hear them coming and before it's too late slower cyclists have inadvertently moved into their path. There seems to be very little consideration given by cylce-path users here in NL of what may be coming up behind you and if you're travelling faster than most you always have to look ahead as far as possible and second-guess what people are going to do, esp kids on their phones weaving about.ronk said:
I think all cyclists should be accountable at the end of the day as some are totally irresponsible and take the right to ride a bike and safety for granted. If you're a motorist here and you hit a cyclist and the cyclist suffers injuries or death you get the book thrown at you no matter if the cyclist was crossing your path at a junction with no lights on.
A kiwi friend of mine learned that the hard way years ago when he started living in Amsterdam and didn't realise the rules for being aware of cyclists. He hit one at a junction then got scared and fled the scene and ran back to the UK a couple of days later because someone at his work told him he would probably go to prison for it. Someone at the scene got his number plate and he was eventually traced. An international arrest warrant was issued and he endured a lengthy and expensive court case culminating in a huge punitive fine including loss of earnings for the cylist and other reparations. If he'd have stayed at the scene to assist he probably would have just got a fine. What a tool.
pvr said:
That's not strictly true PVR. If that was the case then you'd have crackpots riding full pelt at any old car and making claims galore!
There have to be extenuating circumstances such as a motorist blocking a fietspad or pulling out in front of a cyclist as in the case of my kiwi mate.
I smacked into a van who was crossing a fietspad because I wrongly thought he was slowing to a stop for me, but he didn't stop. His fault ofc as I had right of way but my bad for not second-guessing the dufus. In any case I ploughed headfirst into the side of his brand new kangoo van leaving a wonderful impression of my proboscis and the leading edge of my helmet in the pristine white panel :lol:
I was out for the count for a couple of minutes and the cops and a medic on a motor turned up but you know how that goes here in NL; medic looks me over and says 'you look ok, you want to go to the hospital?'. Cops: 'ok, nobody dieded. Your bike has no damage, everyone on their way now please, you're holding up traffic.'
:lol: I could/should have pursued it as actually my bike sustained head-stock damage that I didn't notice until later and had to be replaced. Could have been worse but then it would have entailed getting insurance companies involved and maybe a counter-claim by the van driver for denting his van. One of the countless lost incidents not reported.
They need to make bike lanes mandatory, any cyclist not using them when they are available should be fined or have their bike seized 
Gets my vote and if a cyclist gets hot outside of the bike lane..tough.Flyingfifer said:They need to make bike lanes mandatory, any cyclist not using them when they are available should be fined or have their bike seized
Motor vehicle drivers should also be able to hunt cyclists who break those rules
