Man of Honour
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So you would also get motor vehicles that don't pay VED paying something?
So would you scrap VED and go back to road tax?
Why shouldn't cyclists be able to use the motorway?
- Thread starter scorza
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So you would also get motor vehicles that don't pay VED paying something?
So would you scrap VED and go back to road tax?
The A3 is full of cycle paths, atleast the bits that go through Hampshire are
. Anywho, I wouldn't cycle on a motorway. But I think they should be designed so that cyclists, and other slower, more environmentally friendly vehicles can safely use them.
Not strictly true
The bike itself may cause no emissions but a cyclists ability to generate stop/start (Or at least slow/fast) driving conditions on roads where this would not otherwise be an issue increases the fuel consumption of the other vehicles affected.
In some cases this can be quite significant EG an HGV slowing from 40 to 12 and then accelerating back up to 40 to get round a cyclist on an otherwise clear NSL highway will consume about half a litre of additional fuel to complete this manoeuvre that would not otherwise have been consumed.
Cyclists in urban environments which are already stop start are not really an issue but growing numbers of extra-urban cyclists will have a significant effect. Individual drivers, especially of cars, will not notice this much but overall an extra-urban cyclist who is concerned about the planet should give up cycling and buy a motorbike. he will produce rather less emissions overall by doing so!
The A3 is full of cycle paths, atleast the bits that go through Hampshire are
Anywho, I wouldn't cycle on a motorway. But I think they should be designed so that cyclists, and other slower, more environmentally friendly vehicles can safely use them.
You realise that would pretty much defeat the point of having motorways in the first place?
They are designed the way they are for high speed traffic to flow efficiently (supposedly), hence the lack of traffic lights and sharp corners etc...
Or campaign for more and better cycle lanes? If the roads were wide enough, or had a dedicated cycle lane, then there's no need to stop-start.
That would be my preferred option, best of both worlds. I enjoy cycling but not on a shared highway. Strictly off road for me.
Unfortunately widening all highways to create fully segregated cycle paths would be horrendously expensive and even then you would still have the problem of militants refusing to use them!
So are major trunk roads.
The hard shoulder isn't a spare lane, it's for emergency vehicles to use in the case of an emergency and for vehicles to use when they break down to ensure the continued flow of traffic.
The idea of having cyclists (hell why not just pedestrians too?) on the hard shoulder seems utterly moronic. Should we also set an age limit or just let kids ride down there too.
I drive parallel to a cycle path every morning, there's never anyone on it yet it's in pristine condition, no rocks, no holes, no dog dirt and no pedestrians - I know this as I sometimes use it at weekends. Yet the cyclists are on the road. So what evidence is there that they'd actually stick to the hard shoulder and not want to nudge out? If they even went near the first lane they'd get pulled into traffic by the speed of passing lorries.
We know lorries love cyclists.
The idea of having cyclists (hell why not just pedestrians too?) on the hard shoulder seems utterly moronic. Should we also set an age limit or just let kids ride down there too.
I drive parallel to a cycle path every morning, there's never anyone on it yet it's in pristine condition, no rocks, no holes, no dog dirt and no pedestrians - I know this as I sometimes use it at weekends. Yet the cyclists are on the road. So what evidence is there that they'd actually stick to the hard shoulder and not want to nudge out? If they even went near the first lane they'd get pulled into traffic by the speed of passing lorries.
We know lorries love cyclists.
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Soldato
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I can see dim cyclists being 12 abreast doing 2 mph with cars flying through them at 70mph, I cant wait for the fun to begin.
If that was the case they'd be called motorways. Here's a hint. The clue is in the name. But what do you care, this thread is just tongue in cheek, right?
O_O
I have this exact situation too and it annoys me to no end. When I cycle to work I use the path in question and frequently pass cyclists on the road who are slowed by traffic, ironically which is sometimes cause by another cyclist further up the road. I just don't understand it.
Where I live we're quite well provided with in terms of cycle routes and yet still folks'll ride on the roads - which are quite narrow. Boggles me.
Did you see the first floor/ground floor thread yesterday? I swear I've been sus'd for less.
rise of the velocipede
When I lived in the middle east, it was a common sight to see migrant indian workers getting a kroggy on a dilapidated push bike. One guy sitting on the handle bars, on guy standing on the pedals, going for all he was worth, one guy sitting on the seat and finally another chap standing on the rear axle.
Invariably each man would be carrying a bucket, spade or pickaxe etc.
But what used to draw the most mouth agape disbelieving stares from us expats was the fact that these brave travelers were journeying along a dual carriageway, the wrong way in the fast lane where the speed limit was 70 mph, in a country where only the most basic acquaintance with the highway code was given passing notice, where the only hard and fast law of the road was that you had to give way to the sheiks camel herd when it was crossing.
Unsurprisingly mortality for such workers was quite high on the roads.
I think anyone who suggests that cyclists being allowed on motorways is a good idea, or even a concept that promotes debate should be made to recreate the incredulous journey of those fatalist cycle riders of the middle east, every day on our nations busiest motorways, until the inevitable occurs.
When I lived in the middle east, it was a common sight to see migrant indian workers getting a kroggy on a dilapidated push bike. One guy sitting on the handle bars, on guy standing on the pedals, going for all he was worth, one guy sitting on the seat and finally another chap standing on the rear axle.
Invariably each man would be carrying a bucket, spade or pickaxe etc.
But what used to draw the most mouth agape disbelieving stares from us expats was the fact that these brave travelers were journeying along a dual carriageway, the wrong way in the fast lane where the speed limit was 70 mph, in a country where only the most basic acquaintance with the highway code was given passing notice, where the only hard and fast law of the road was that you had to give way to the sheiks camel herd when it was crossing.
Unsurprisingly mortality for such workers was quite high on the roads.
I think anyone who suggests that cyclists being allowed on motorways is a good idea, or even a concept that promotes debate should be made to recreate the incredulous journey of those fatalist cycle riders of the middle east, every day on our nations busiest motorways, until the inevitable occurs.
100% this. It's far too dangerous.
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