Why do some people cycle down a dual carriageway?

  • Thread starter Thread starter HAz
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HAz

HAz

HAz

Soldato
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It baffles me why they take such a risk, I see cars hurtle along going 80+ on some of the roads and then there's matey boy on his road bike going 15/20.

I was coming home one night about 22.00 on the same road going around 70 mph when i saw something to my left and it was some idiot on his bike with no lights on and it was pitch dark no street lamps, I'm surprised I didn't kill the fool.
 
The issue is not that cyclists choose to cycle on the public roads as they are perfectly entitled to do; it is that they irresponsibly choose to do so without lights in the dark.


Oh . . .


. . . and irresponsible idiots who drive at 80+ as they are NOT entitled to do :rolleyes:
 
I think the lack of cycle routes also plays a part, how else are they supposed to get from A-B?

with no lights would be just as irresponsible if it was on a 30mph stretch of road really.
 
Does my nut in, cyclists do it on my commuter route despite a perfectly good cycle lane next to the road. I've witnessed a few near misses and I'm sure there must have been some accidents as a result too. The council's solution has been to reduce the speed limit from 70 to 50 :mad:
 
paradisiac said:
I think the lack of cycle routes also plays a part, how else are they supposed to get from A-B?

with no lights would be just as irresponsible if it was on a 30mph stretch of road really.
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Well reaction times would be a lot better on a 30mph road, the guy i almost hit was only visible to me when i was beside him at around 70+mph.

On a 30 I would have seen him in time to make any manoeuvre and his chance of survival if i hit him would be a lot less.

I cycle on the roads quite often when its not raining and normally in day light, I wouldn't dare use a duel carriageway which is your typical road when everyone's in a hurry, packed full of cars going 70mph+ its just madness.
 
What annoys me is when there is a perfectly good, purpose-built cycle path along the pavement; But they still choose to cycle in the road.

Dey turk err roads!
 
HAz said:
Well reaction times would be a lot better on a 30mph road, the guy i almost hit was only visible to me when i was beside him at around 70+mph.

On a 30 I would have seen him in time to make any manoeuvre and his chance of survival if i hit him would be a lot less.

I cycle on the roads quite often when its not raining and normally in day light, I wouldn't dare use a duel carriageway which is your typical road when everyone's in a hurry, packed full of cars going 70mph+ its just madness.
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I disagree, the 30mph country lanes down here make it near on impossible to see anything at night that doesn't have a light. my point is, cycling without a light is stupid no matter what the speed is.

but you really should have not been doing 70mph+ as that is also illegal ;)
 
paradisiac said:
motorists pay road tax, cyclists do not. therefore motorist wins :p
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Please tell me that was a sarcastic comment and not the typical quote from somebody who doesn't know what they are talking about!


As much as I cycle myself, I'm not sure I'd want to on dual carriageways, they are just too dangerous. There was an A road bypass built in the early 90s where I use to live which even has a mini-cycle lane on it instead of a hard shoulder. Trouble is, it is obviously full of rubble and bits that have broken of vehicles. I'm not sure why they bothered with that, as any cyclist who does want to use the dual carriageway will have to just use one of the main lanes anyway.
 
paradisiac said:
I disagree, the 30mph country lanes down here make it near on impossible to see anything at night that doesn't have a light. my point is, cycling without a light is stupid no matter what the speed is.

but you really should have not been doing 70mph+ as that is also illegal ;)
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Well your still going to die if a car hits you at 70mph but at 30 the chances are a hugely decreased.

I was probably going about 75 so no big deal there really...
 
Yep, cycling on a dual carriageway is too scary for me, but I could sort of imagine it if I was a fanatic cyclist and felt comfortable on busy roads... But without lights? that's just stupid. I think there should be far more cycle lanes though, and then this wouldn't be a problem.
 
GreatAuk said:
Yep, cycling on a dual carriageway is too scary for me, but I could sort of imagine it if I was a fanatic cyclist and felt comfortable on busy roads... But without lights? that's just stupid. I think there should be far more cycle lanes though, and then this wouldn't be a problem.
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The alternate route is via the seafront which would take about 15 more mins and is along a 30mph road with lovely views, it makes no sense to me.
 
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