Poll: Poll pls: In the presence of a dedicated cycle lane, should cyclists be allowed to use the roads?

[Amp34]

Just because the statement is obvious, doesn't make it trolling. It stands to reason that a vehicle travelling at 10mph shouldn't be on the same trajectory as a vehicle travelling at 60mph on a country road on a dark winter's evening.

It's utterly insane.

You know country roads weren't designed for motorised vehicles right? That's why so many are so narrow and require much lower speeds than 60 to navigate through.

It sounds like you're a dangerous driver not driving for the conditions.

Another case for automated vehicles.

 

[hornetstinger]

It costs about £100 a year maximum to keep a bicyle in top condition. I would need two bus passes so that's £1600 a year. Can buy a nice bike every single year.

Plus on a bus I'd be getting fatter.

 

[Shadowness]

And late!

 

[hornetstinger]

and sacked haha. I work with someone who takes the bus, she's always late. Also job starts before the earliest bus, so I'd be unsuitable for those jobs. She is waiting around for the bus, misses that one so wait for the next one, then gets home dead late.

So now I'm on the dole, instead of earning lots of money and paying tax.

Well done. Muppet. hahaha

 

[Amp34]

Good point about roundabouts, when I did use the pavement to get around a roundabout it took so much longer than using the road.

That roundabout reminds me of this road

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.9126...4!1sSn4iT2yXdyX-kS2SFQ2w-A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Not an awful one with that design but still poorly thought out. Why would a cyclist use the road instead of the quite nice cycle road/track? Because whoever designed it decided the cyclists should have to give way at every single junction...

Honestly there are much worse examples of this around but my guess is that it's largely designed like that because motorists would never realise they have to give way when turning in and they would end up causing accidents. Just as they do with pedestrians. Motorists look before turning!

 

[Diddums]

Because a painted white line doesn't protect cyclists. It's safer to ride further towards the middle of the road so that car drivers (who are probably on their mobiles) have a better chance of seeing you.

Build proper cycle infrastructure, like in the Netherlands, where there's a physical barrier between the cycle path (not lane, path) and then we'll talk about who can go where.

Ah, I see why we're not on the same page. I'm referring to specifically built cycle lanes, not a blue strip on a normal road. The ones on the roundabout I used for my example are completely separate from the road. For a car to hit a cyclist, he'd have to mount at least one kerb to accomplish it. I agree with your Netherlands part, I lived there for 8 years and cycled to work / school every day and it's completely different to here. Ideally that's what we all want but sadly it's not going to be the case any time soon.

 

[hornetstinger]

That roundabout reminds me of this road

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.9126...4!1sSn4iT2yXdyX-kS2SFQ2w-A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Not an awful one with that design but still poorly thought out. Why would a cyclist use the road instead of the quite nice cycle road/track? Because whoever designed it decided the cyclists should have to give way at every single junction...

Honestly there are much worse examples of this around but my guess is that it's largely designed like that because motorists would never realise they have to give way when turning in and they would end up causing accidents. Just as they do with pedestrians. Motorists look before turning!

So if I'm the cycle path I need to slow down & look left & right as would be immediate hazard. Then accelerate.

If I cycle on the road with the tress on my left I don't need to slow down or look to the right- but just be aware that a car could turn right and clip me. If I'm cycling with the houses on my left, I don't need to slow down, but I need to be aware of that corner and someone pulling out, and be aware of people turning right from the main road into the side road.

So either way, the cycle lane is stupid.

 

[Amp34]

Further to what people are saying - the cycle lanes in the UK are an absolute joke. And not a funny one at that. Stevie Wonder could have done a better job. We need cycle lanes like in Australia. They are fantastic, kept away from roads and regularly cleaned.

My home town has that, they are great. Except that people decide to use them as footpaths.

Honestly though there should be more of them. Unfortunately they take up so much space that even the newer areas of town now don't have them - preferring to resort to shared paths/cycle lanes with junctions every 100m

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.9045862,-0.2074903,107m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

[Sliver]

The best thing for cyclists to do is to put their bikes on cars. This will get them to their destination quicker and avoid tedious internet threads like this. Once at their destination they can then simply deposit their bike at their place of residence/work, and everyone is a winner.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

Cyclists should have their own underground passageways so that right-thinking people don't have to see them break the laws of the road and fashion.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Yeah my bad, morbid obesity is better for the budget....

What are you on about? Everyone who travels in a car is morbidly obese?

 

[Amp34]

So if I'm the cycle path I need to slow down & look left & right as would be immediate hazard. Then accelerate.

If I cycle on the road with the tress on my left I don't need to slow down or look to the right- but just be aware that a car could turn right and clip me. If I'm cycling with the houses on my left, I don't need to slow down, but I need to be aware of that corner and someone pulling out, and be aware of people turning right from the main road into the side road.

So either way, the cycle lane is stupid.

Pretty much. And that's a good example of that design. Bad ones have far more junctions and are much busier, meaning you're going to have to physically stop at each junction.

If motorists always checked for traffic continuing straight at junctions then it wouldn't be an issue, but so many people only ever check to see if something in physically on the road, not the pavement, or in this case the cycle lane.

 

[hornetstinger]

Cyclists should have their own underground passageways so that right-thinking people don't have to see them break the laws of the road and fashion.

Don't forget multiple lanes back and forth from every single road, town and city in the country. And lanes for different speeds.

Or keep a minimum speed of 20 mph if you can't reach those speeds then not allowed to use them.

 

[Vern1961]

When you drive your car, do you have buildings in the way, and have to drive on terrain that isn't suitable for your car so have to drop down in speed every 30 yards, for miles and miles, the road is covered with material that makes you lose traction and damages your tyres?

Not the same thing at all.

You obviously haven't seen the state of the roads in and around Swindon.

And regardless of how "safe" I might ride on the road, hi-vis (but not lycra), full lights etc. not much consolation when some lorry driver doesn't see me and crushes my head like a melon. I've seen it for real and I have no particular desire to check out that way or my missus have to identify me followed by a closed casket funeral.

 

[neil_g]

What are you on about? Everyone who travels in a car is morbidly obese?

Of all of the comments I've made debunking your crap statements that's the one you pick up on.?

It's almost like you have no valid counter point.

 

[hornetstinger]

You obviously haven't seen the state of the roads in and around Swindon.

And regardless of how "safe" I might ride on the road, hi-vis (but not lycra), full lights etc. not much consolation when some lorry driver doesn't see me and crushes my head like a melon. I've seen it for real and I have no particular desire to check out that way or my missus have to identify me followed by a closed casket funeral.

meh if it happens, it happens.

I'm sure motorbikers think the same, they like their motorbike and won't stop with the "what if" mentality.

 

[Amp34]

You obviously haven't seen the state of the roads in and around Swindon.

And regardless of how "safe" I might ride on the road, hi-vis (but not lycra), full lights etc. not much consolation when some lorry driver doesn't see me and crushes my head like a melon. I've seen it for real and I have no particular desire to check out that way or my missus have to identify me followed by a closed casket funeral.

I believe that is one of the reasons London (in particular) is imposing a law to remove old style lorries for newer cab styles that have a lot better visibility.

EDIT: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...face-london-ban-plans-improve-safety-cyclists

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Of all of the comments I've made debunking your crap statements that's the one you pick up on.?

It's almost like you have no valid counter point.

You have debunked nothing. I replied to your latest comment, isn't that how conversation works?

If you can't justify what you've said, then just criticize me for quoting and questioning it. Debunking at its finest.

 

[Shadowness]

^are you even old enough to drive?

 

[CREATIVE!11]

As someone who used to to cycle to work if there is a cycle path there they should be using it. I know I would.... but I cycle on the road due to the lack of such things.