To be surprised this is legal?

[jennymanara]

Today I was driving along a dual carriageway where other cars were going at 60-70mph at least, and came across a cyclist on the road cycling slowly along on the left hand lane. The cyclist was not going fast. This seemed incredibly dangerous for the cyclist as they were going so much slower than any other vehicle on the road.

So AIBU for being surprised this is legal? This road in reality was no different from a motorway except that there was no hard shoulder, and cyclists are rightly banned from motorways as it is recognised as too dangerous for cyclists to be on.

I live in Germany and cycle daily to work & gym
Many people do here, so motorists expect it

Almost every road I use with speed limit above 30 has cycle lanes, so I feel quite safe with cars & lorries going by at high speed.

I would never cycle on UK roads, because the infrastructure is basically not there
(I did 40 years ago, but there were fewer vehicles and I was less aware of fataliies)

I only ever overtake when I can do so safely, ie giving them the same room as I would a car
This is no guarantee of safety. My friend was safely overtaking a cyclist, signalled and left loads of room, was just pulling level with him when he decided to turn right without signalling or looking over his shoulder - he swerved straight in front of her car and was killed. Imo the only safe way to overtake a cyclist is to slow to a speed where you won’t kill them if they swerve in front of you.

Except to slow down to 10mph in these type of roads is dangerous.

as the majority of cyclist deaths occur during daylight badly dressed night time cyclists are not really that relevant

NoCats that is quite a scary scenario - and I can’t believe that anyone would argue the cyclists are reasonable in that situation. It isn’t safe or fair to block the exit. It’s likely to cause an accident.

Whoever may be at fault, I couldn’t stand for someone I loved to be cycling on the A1. It’s madness.

Except to slow down to 10mph in these type of roads is dangerous
It’s less dangerous to slow to 10mph (and possibly cause a car accident) than it is to overtake at speed and kill the cyclist, have your mental health ruined by a lengthy court case and death threats from the cyclist’s family, then be found innocent and be harassed and physically attacked by the cyclist’s family until you move away for your childrens’ safety.

peachsummer I am not going to risk a car going into the back of me because I slowed down to 10 mph on what is basically a motorway. I just have to trust that the stupid cyclist will not suddenly swerve right onto traffic.

You don't just get shot for no reason ffs

but whilst 49% of crashes can be linked to illegal behaviour of drivers, you’re concerned about whether the illegal behaviour is the cause of the crashes

Well yes, pretty obviously. Because if you want to stop something, rather than just getting riled up, you need to know what causes it.

I once lived in a tiny village. Nearest town 5 miles away. Main road, single carriageway, narrow, national speed limit, no streetlights etc. My son used to cycle to town, aged 12. I used to tell him to cycle on the path for safety. If anyone walking (very rare) he was to stop, dismount and walk past.

Copper brought him home one night after spotting him on the path. Told him to get on the road, son refused, so copper took the bike, brought both home. I went ballistic, told the copper that unless he could ensure that cars driving past at 60+ mph wouldn't hit him, he'd continue on the path. Never had any more issues.

My DH used to have to cycle on a single carriageway national speed limit A road. I was thrilled when he finally passed his test as I was terrified every day

You are also allowed to drive a horse and cart along a dual carriageway, not to mention all manner of slow-moving agricultural vehicles.

If you as a driver come up on a slow moving vehicle so fast that you can't slow down or brake in the required amount of time, then you were driving too fast for the road conditions, be that lighting, bends in the road, other traffic etc.

Did you mean "there you go" And did you mean "too" as in also?

ferrier 70mph on what is to all purposes a motorway, is absolutely fine.

All cyclists should use roads with cycle lanes only. And NOT be on roads without a cycle lane. Retards.

What utter rubbish.
And 'retards'? You expect anyone to take you seriously using that language?

@jennymanara

ferrier 70mph on what is to all purposes a motorway, is absolutely fine.

Your speed should always reflect the road conditions, not the speed limit which is a permitted maximum, not a licence to drive at the speed no matter what.

It's you who's causing the danger though, not them. It's up to you to drive slowly enough not to hit them. Or choose not to drive if you don't think your skills are good enough.

I guess you'd like to see all cars off the road and just cyclists then?
Get real! There are poor drivers and poor cyclists. If EVERYONE was a bit more careful, then we could reduce accidents and deatjs.

Until then, I won't be cycling on a dual carriageway or anywhere else where drivers are going this fast. Aftwrall, if I get it wrong, I get to be dead fast. A driver doesn't.

It can be done …

Recall: during the 2002 Games in Manchester when two Kenya cyclists travelled 17 miles down the M61 before being pulled over by police near Bolton.

Glasgow 2014: Sri Lanka cyclists stopped by police on M74

Nobody on the A1 is going to drive at 30mph. It is to all intents and purposes a motorway. Which is why cyclists should be banned from riding on it.

ferrier 70mph on the A1 is matching the road conditions.

Cyclists should go on the cycle track - that should be mandatory - and a road like that should have a cycle track.

At least on a dual carriageway you have some chance of avoiding them when they wobble all over the road and ride 2 across.