Page 12 | 9hrs is all it took!

ivykaty44 · 29/01/2022 15:46

You do have to wonder about the people drawing up some of our new laws, but then I suspect lots of them have official drivers to ferry them about, it's not like they actually have to navigate the real world much...

there was a consultation - everyone had a chance to put forward their ideas, and many thousands did just that - om sure they don't all have chauffeurs bar me

Cbtb · 29/01/2022 15:46

*multiple cars

GoldenOmber · 29/01/2022 15:46

I'm wondering why they didn't specify "middle of the lane", not "middle of the road"

They did specify the exact thing you are complaining that they did not specify. Look, here it is:

“1) Ride in the centre of your lane, to make yourself as clearly visible as possible, in the following situations”

ifIwerenotanandroid · 29/01/2022 15:47

@Cbtb

If I were not

New guidance says cyclists are not allowed on pavements

Some cycle lanes are death traps and actively encourage filtering by being to the side of the cars in a queue to a junction. The abuse i get if I stay middle of lane in a queue up to a junction (rather than filtering to the front) and so slow down the cars behind is quite impressive

That's odd; when I first saw articles about this, last year, I thought it allowed cyclists on pavements.

Can you explain why cycle lanes are death traps? I've heard it said they're not cleared of leaves etc. - any other reasons? And why is the government building such white elephants everywhere? Should they stop it, or should they improve the design of cycle lanes to make them safe & usable - & if so, what changes are necessary?

cptartapp · 29/01/2022 15:50

juergen so with the new rules there'll be even more frustrated motorists held up and then putting their foot down and bombing off all over towns and cities simultaneously. Wrongly of course, but that's what'll happen. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

SartresSoul · 29/01/2022 15:51

Yeah, cyclists really rile most drivers. Until cycle lanes exist on every road and cyclists have to remain in those lanes, this will never change. Personally can’t stand it when 2 ride side by side, it’s so selfish and inconsiderate.

Nottogetapenny · 29/01/2022 15:53

Tax to pay for more cycle lanes, not clogging up roads, by cycling in the middle, holding up traffic!

AuntyBumBum · 29/01/2022 15:54

@Finallylostit

The new highway code to cause anger!

I went for my morning cycle - no issues did nothing different than I normally do.

Home, shower, jump in car to get food shopping. I live down a country road - wide enough for 2 cars to pass with care, wide enough for a car to over take a cyclist sticking to the left of the lane, with the required space at certain points. Locals all know the places to do it safely.

Today 1 cyclist riding down the middle of the lane - now unsafe for car to pull over to other lane and pass - brilliant

Was he considerate of other road users and pulled over- no.

As on the other side were 8 riders riding two abreast high fiving each other and doing the finger to the motorists. Shouting its the law twats!
Were they considerate of other road users no.

Some of the new laws i think are sensible -
but the ride in the middle of the road, even if there is a cycle lane because you don't feel like it - is asinine

2 abreast packs of mamils hunting on weekends as they venture out of London - when they are generally rude enough as it is - gives those cyclists who are arseholes a legal right to now be an arsehole.

Be considerate and pull over to let cars and vans pass -
that is as likely as Downing Street not having another party in a lockdown!

Amazing, it's Mumsnet pariah bingo!

cyclists
entitled cyclists
men
middle-aged men
Londoners
Londoners swarming over the countryside

All I need for a full house is "road tax" and "pedestrians glued to their phones" ...

ivykaty44 · 29/01/2022 15:54

Drivers antagonistic parking

ivykaty44 · 29/01/2022 15:56

SartresSoul Yet it’s advised for safety to ride two abreast and it states it in HC

ifIwerenotanandroid · 29/01/2022 15:57

@EmbarrassingHadrosaurus

Cyclists can apparently go anywhere they like: pavements, cycle lanes, the rest of the road

can apparently is doing a lot of incorrect lifting there.

Where a cycle lane exists, every cyclist should be in it.

Even the unbelievably narrow cycle lanes that are scarcely wider than the gutters and full of broken road surfaces?

If cycle lanes are bad, you could take it up with the local council. Or the DfT, to get better specifications for cycle lanes nationwide. That does look stupidly narrow. OTOH I know of one which was so stupidly wide that it had to be changed. There needs to be consistency & good design (& proper upkeep).

As for broken road surfaces, you should see some of the roads round here for everyone, including car drivers. When I go into a neighbouring county I luxuriate in their smooooooth roads. Why can't ours be like that?

CovidForChristmas · 29/01/2022 15:57

This group allegedly refused to move over to let the car behind pass for 8 miles. They did have time to ‘look back and laugh’ though.

Where I live in London, the constant traffic lights, crossings, volume of traffic and roundabouts already mean a short journey takes forever. Add in having to wait for pedestrians to cross at a junction, whether they realise you are waiting or not, plus being unable to overtake cyclists equals nightmare journey every time I have to use my car.

ivykaty44 · 29/01/2022 15:58

I went out for a cycle ride this morning and I couldn’t ride on the cycle Lane

Then a driver will actually ask why I’m on the road and not on the cycle Lane

Well if drivers didn’t park in the way maybe I could…

AuntyBumBum · 29/01/2022 15:59

Can you explain why cycle lanes are death traps? I've heard it said they're not cleared of leaves etc. - any other reasons? And why is the government building such white elephants everywhere? Should they stop it, or should they improve the design of cycle lanes to make them safe & usable - & if so, what changes are necessary?

It depends very much on the conditions and the setup, but for example cycle lanes on a main road which are the left part of the carriageway are very vulnerable to vehicles turning left without checking their mirrors. It's easy to get knocked off as a cyclist if you don't have your wits about you (and even if you do). Better to cycle in the middle of the carriageway. With many urban areas now limited to 20mph it's very easy for cyclists to travel like this at the same speed as other traffic.

lightisnotwhite · 29/01/2022 16:00

It’s not “saving 2 minutes” that’s the issue. It’s stress of overtaking bikes especially on country roads that vary so much along their length.

On my journey to work for example there is a very twisty hill where no overtaking can happen. Followed by a short straight followed by a tight bend and more single lane road. So if you don’t get to overtake before or after the hill you are stuck behind them with a whole load of cars also doing 15mph and cursing you.
This road has 12 miles of these alternating conditions yet it’s the main road from my town to the next town so really busy.
I know the people cycling to work. I see them everyday, summer and winter. But in a nice day the roads are full of people cycling to see if they can beat the best time or get up the hill. It’s not fair as if my car was driven too slowly for road conditions I could be done for inconsiderate and careless driving.

FailureToLurk · 29/01/2022 16:00

@SartresSoul

Yeah, cyclists really rile most drivers. Until cycle lanes exist on every road and cyclists have to remain in those lanes, this will never change. Personally can’t stand it when 2 ride side by side, it’s so selfish and inconsiderate.

Cyclists have been legally allowed to ride 2 abreast for donkeys years, it's for their safety.

They aren't being selfish or inconsiderate, they are riding safely and withing the law.

ivykaty44 · 29/01/2022 16:01

If cycle lanes are bad, you could take it up with the local council. Or the DfT, to get better specifications for cycle lanes nationwide.

I’ll just ride in the road as I’m legally allowed to and have been able since before the car was invented

GoldenOmber · 29/01/2022 16:02

Can you explain why cycle lanes are death traps? I've heard it said they're not cleared of leaves etc. - any other reasons?

Decent, safe, effective cycle lanes should be segregated (so with an actual barrier between the bikes and the traffic, not just a bit of paint on the road); wide enough to be safe; manage junctions properly, so drivers turning across the cycle lane don't sideswipe you and drivers coming out of the side road can see you/you've got space to get out of the way if they don't; be properly continuous, not stopping/starting in the middle of nowhere so you have to enter and leave in flowing traffic; and be separate from pedestrians, not just a blue sign on a pavement.

Unsafe cycle lanes are worse than no cycle lanes at all, really. All the danger, none of the benefits, and then drivers grump that cyclists are on the road rather than in the "lovely new cycle lane the council made which is totally empty"... probably for good reason!

WindyState · 29/01/2022 16:03

@lightisnotwhite

It’s not “saving 2 minutes” that’s the issue. It’s stress of overtaking bikes especially on country roads that vary so much along their length.

On my journey to work for example there is a very twisty hill where no overtaking can happen. Followed by a short straight followed by a tight bend and more single lane road. So if you don’t get to overtake before or after the hill you are stuck behind them with a whole load of cars also doing 15mph and cursing you.
This road has 12 miles of these alternating conditions yet it’s the main road from my town to the next town so really busy.
I know the people cycling to work. I see them everyday, summer and winter. But in a nice day the roads are full of people cycling to see if they can beat the best time or get up the hill. It’s not fair as if my car was driven too slowly for road conditions I could be done for inconsiderate and careless driving.

If you find driving around cyclists so stressful maybe you need to find another route.

Or just give yourself a bit more time.

Or maybe get a lesson or two.

"Not fair". Deedums. You having an engine doesn't give you any more rights than anyone else.

NoJaffaCakesAreKeptInThisVan · 29/01/2022 16:06

I used to cycle loads but OMG do I hate those arrogant arseholes.

As a Londoner I wouldn’t say their behaviour is in any way linked to being from London though. We’re can actually be quite a friendly bunch 😃

ThirdElephant · 29/01/2022 16:12

Ahh, just breathe, OP. Deep, cleansing breaths.

TBH, even under the old law in order to leave the prescribed distance you would have had to enter the other lane so much to overtake that you'd have had to wait for it to be clear regardless. It's not safe to have a car and a cyclist in the same lane.

ThirdElephant · 29/01/2022 16:12

@ThirdElephant

Ahh, just breathe, OP. Deep, cleansing breaths.

TBH, even under the old law in order to leave the prescribed distance you would have had to enter the other lane so much to overtake that you'd have had to wait for it to be clear regardless. It's not safe to have a car and a cyclist in the same lane.

To clarify, I mean it's not safe to have a car and a cyclist in the same lane alongside each other.

ivykaty44 · 29/01/2022 16:18

Petrol price will be going up to over £1.50 a litre if oil reaches $100 a barrel

So you'll find more and more people can't afford to travel by car and will consider switching to bike either pedal or electric.

Historically as fuel prices rise, more bikes are sold

Dobbysgotthesocks · 29/01/2022 16:31

The cyclists round here were insufferable already. The new 'rules' are ridiculous in not adding to the responsibilities that cyclist should have.
I really think it should be a legal requirement for all road users to make themselves as visible as possible. I see so many cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians who are almost invisible until your way too close to them no matter what speed your traveling. I think all road users should be required by law to wear hi vis and reflective clothing, and have lights.
Yes vehicle drivers must make sure they are driving safely and paying attention but cyclists (and other road users) need to start a diving responsibility and taking responsibility for their own and others safety too!

HikingforScenery · 29/01/2022 16:33

Can we still overtake cyclists if we can do I’m so via the other lane safely? I don’t quite get the new rule.