Cycle Lanes: Right of Way

[DaleTheWhale]

Lol no real come back argument then.

That was the point.
Silly statement gets a silly response.

There is no argument about who is right or wrong here, some car drivers are idiots and some cyclists are idiots.

 

[pitkin]

I think something that's not been highlighted here is the fact that some cyclists are just kids. This means they've possibly had no formal road training and probably never read the highway code. The amount of times on my way to work, a child on their way to school has just decided to hop off the pavement and onto the road in front of me without looking is frightening.
a few of them seem to think it's cool to cycle no handed too. Should be instant detention and letter home to parents in my view.

 

[grudas]

I like how the first driver not only cuts up grudas but also almost runs over a pedestrian crossing the road seconds later.

That was the only video I ever sent to police, that was the closest call I've had in so many years of cycling! I was doing around 27mph at the time he over took me from the wrong lane and cut right across my path. Next thing I see is the pedestrian running for his life. Crazy!

Police did nothing btw, not even respond.

 

[pitkin]

That was the only video I ever sent to police, that was the closest call I've had in so many years of cycling! I was doing around 27mph at the time he over took me from the wrong lane and cut right across my path. Next thing I see is the pedestrian running for his life. Crazy!

Police did nothing btw, not even respond.

It's amazing how often things like that happen though, it's like the 3 second wait to turn in behind you is just too long.

 

[uber soldat]

That was the point.
True statement gets a silly response.

Let me fix that for you.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

I'm guessing he's referring to to side road junctions, where the cycle lane on the main road comes to a stop, so you basically have to stop, then start again, whereas if you were in the main traffic flow, you'd just carry on straight as normal.

Edit, like this

Yeah, there is no way I'd use cycle lane for a commute. A leisure ride, possibly, but not if I was commuting somewhere.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I think something that's not been highlighted here is the fact that some cyclists are just kids. .

This also highlights regional differences in cycling behaviour which I see a lot in these threads eg Minstdave saying in Rutland FLWs are out all the time in packs.
I can honestly say in over 4 years of cycle commuting I have NEVER come across a child/school kid on a bike. I can only vouch for my actual route so other Stokies may see differences.

 

[Indigo]

If you're going to stand in the middle of a designated cycle lane then you should probably be looking out for cyclists or better still not standing in it and waiting until both the lane and the road are clear.

And cyclists don't just appear out of nowhere for the most part either, they generally come from the same direction as traffic, you know, along the cycle path?

 

[SexyGreyFox]

And cyclists don't just appear out of nowhere for the most part either, they generally come from the same direction as traffic, you know, along the cycle path?

If it's a cycle path (same height as the pavement) cyclists can go either way, if it's a cycle lane (on the road) they go the same way as the traffic.

 

[Indigo]

If it's a cycle path (same height as the pavement) cyclists can go either way, if it's a cycle lane (on the road) they go the same way as the traffic.

Good point, was thinking of the ones on the road more than anything else. I think half the problem is with all parties just lacking spacial awareness and not being aware of those around them either and being absorbed in there own little bubble. I'm a cyclist but try my best not to annoy other road/path users and basic manners/courtesy is all that's generally needed.

 

[Infidelus]

And now think of one of those every 50m for a km or so.

I'm sure they are fine if you're riding along at 5mph, but if you're actually cycling to work at 10-20mph then you start to see why they care a nightmare and riding on the road makes more sense.

They really need to get rid of cycle paths (or acknowledge they are for kids) and stick to creating cycle lanes.

In that instance, I'd agree that the cycle path is pointless. The one I'm thinking of when I reply though has probably three junctions over about two miles or so, and two of these junctions are entries to an industrial estate that gets very minimal traffic, so I don't understand why some cyclists ride on the road here. To be fair though, the cyclists that are usually hogging the road are the lycra brigade.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Good point, was thinking of the ones on the road more than anything else. I think half the problem is with all parties just lacking spacial awareness and not being aware of those around them either and being absorbed in there own little bubble. I'm a cyclist but try my best not to annoy other road/path users and basic manners/courtesy is all that's generally needed.

Same here, I always give way to pedestrians.

 

[Minstadave]

Yeah, there is no way I'd use cycle lane for a commute. A leisure ride, possibly, but not if I was commuting somewhere.

So you won't use a purpose built cycle path because it'll slow you down, instead you'll slow down hundreds of motorists - great.

Do you choose to ignore red lights as well because they inconvenience you?

 

[Bear]

In that instance, I'd agree that the cycle path is pointless. The one I'm thinking of when I reply though has probably three junctions over about two miles or so, and two of these junctions are entries to an industrial estate that gets very minimal traffic, so I don't understand why some cyclists ride on the road here. To be fair though, the cyclists that are usually hogging the road are the lycra brigade.

Serious cyclists are generally riding to improve performance and cycle paths don't really help in anyway. When you see some groups of cyclists riding two abreast, they maybe what is called a chain gang / paceline. I can't speak for them as I'm not there, but that is why they sometimes ride the way they do.

I personally don't ever ride on a cycle path as they are just a pain round here, just the council paying lip service to it so they can say we have x miles of cycle paths, but then I only ride my bike at the weekend and go out at 6am. I prefer to go out when there are hardly any cars about as it is a far more pleasant experience and far safer.

I've ridden motorbikes in the past and am a driver, a cyclist and a pedestrian so I have seen it from all sides, and can say I have seen idiots using all forms of transport but by far the worst are car drivers, purely because of the sheer numbers of them.

 

[Gixer]

So you won't use a purpose built cycle path because it'll slow you down, instead you'll slow down hundreds of motorists - great.

Do you choose to ignore red lights as well because they inconvenience you?

Cycle paths aren't built to remove all cyclists from roads. They are there for cyclists to use if they so wish. Many cyclists who do not trust car drivers (wonder why Minstadave?!) will use these paths. Regular cyclists who are confident on the road may choose the road over a cycle path for whatever reason. That reason does not matter one iota the fact is the roads are for all to use not just someone in a motorised vehicle. Many cannot deal with this fact and hatred and detest-ment builds in drivers who feel cyclists stop them from getting A to B as fast as they possibly could have. This can sometimes result in road rage incidents or even an RTA. It's all a tad pathetic really.

I use motorised and pedal powered vehicles on the UK's roads and I respect all regardless of the vehicle I am in or on. I've even had horns hooted at me whilst I am waiting to pass a cyclist in my car. I'm not going to overtake in an unsafe manner so they can sit behind me and wait, selfish idiots. Leave 5 mins earlier, it's really not that difficult and it'll greatly reduce your stress levels whilst driving knowing you have some spare time to play around with.

An incident occurred last week for me whilst commuting home from work on my bike that I found highly amusing. I was following another colleague home and we both push along pretty quickly on our bikes. We were on the road, holding between 20mph - 22mph. At the end of Weston Shore there is a rather tight turn and off of that a car park area. As we peeled in to go around this turn a Range Rover something or other pulled out from this, I could see it coming as we entered the corner so anchors went on and like you do was going 'WOAH' as I watched the colleague in front almost smack into the side of said vehicle. We did not make any rude gestures to the driver though he gave us the look of 'What the hell are you doing there', nice! As we then got things back together and went to cycle on some scrote (I say this as he is what I would describe as being of chav status though late teens) who was on the pavement started shouting that us cyclists should slow down and shouldn't be going so fast?!

Honestly sometimes I find it hard to believe that people can be so unintelligent or ignorant of the rules of the road. This lad either hated cyclists or was just a completely brainless idiot. First time I've been shouted at by a pedestrian for an incident that had nothing to do with them. I guess he didn't like it when I was going 'WOOOOAH'

 

[Tefal]

if you'd have been in the cycle lane there'd have been tons of room.

 

[Gixer]

If the van hadn't have cut across there'd have been tons of room too, your point is?

I can see what Grudas was doing. He'd looked ahead, noticed the slower cyclist and with the closure speed he had it made more sense to stay out of the cycle lane to overtake before pulling into it, that is safer than moving into it, looking back / lifesaver, moving back out etc. I expect you do the same thing on the motorway in your car as in if you notice that in a few moments time you'll overtake another vehicle you do not pull into the lane to the left.

 

[Scougar]

A young colleague over here told me that he thinks that cyclists should be banned from the road because 'they are a danger'.

My thoughts are, ACTUALLY FRICKIN' TRAIN YOUR DRIVERS.

if you'd have been in the cycle lane there'd have been tons of room.

No. The van driver was clearly speeding, and overtook a cyclist who was overtaking another cyclist, who was significantly slower. The cyclist did absolutely nothing wrong.

 

[Tefal]

If the van hadn't have cut across there'd have been tons of room too, your point is?

I can see what Grudas was doing. He'd looked ahead, noticed the slower cyclist and with the closure speed he had it made more sense to stay out of the cycle lane to overtake before pulling into it, that is safer than moving into it, looking back / lifesaver, moving back out etc. I expect you do the same thing on the motorway in your car as in if you notice that in a few moments time you'll overtake another vehicle you do not pull into the lane to the left.

looking right might have helped him too.

also a bar end mirror would make him much safer when hes taking long rearward checks

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I've always held Minstadave in high regards on this forum but in this thread I am shocked at his attitude.