9hrs is all it took!

[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!

@prettyLittlefool

In my view it's time for cyclists to be banned from public roads. They have cycle ways. They contribute nothing and simply endanger other people who actually need to get somewhere. Might not be a popular view but I suspect these new rules will teach them a hard lesson sooner or later.

So how do you suggest cyclists get around where there aren't cycle paths? Or where paths suddenly stop? Or when delivery or cars are parked in them? Or when people are walking in them?

Jesus, the stuff I've seen written on this thread is beyond ridiculous.

Can see both sides as i’m a cyclist, a biker and a car driver.

I’m afraid that hugging the left encourages drivers to squeeze past in lane, not giving cyclists the 3 feet they supposed to have.

As a car driver and its infuriating when i’m trying to get somewhere and the cyclist takes the road, not just the lane.

Would have been better to put in strict liability and place the emphasis of responsibility the biggest vehicle. Dutch style. If an accident occurs the car driver needs to prove they didn’t cause it, rather than the cyclist having to prove they did everything they could to be safe and then the car driver didn’t.

tis a mess tbh

@Finallylostit

Windy - no one has an issue with people using the roads if they are entitiled to - it is the be considerate of others part that now seems to sit with everyone but cyclists.

I haven't driven much over the past couple of years... I need Covid exercise! However as a driver I welcome the new rules/guidance.

a) Stops adult cyclists riding on the pavement and ringing their bell to ask walkers to move aside - presumably because they're terrified of sharing space with car/lorry drivers.

b) It stops me feeling rushed when impatient drivers behind me aren't considerate of my considering cyclists /pedestrians in front of me.

c) May help reduce incidents of almost being squished in my car by HGVs overtaking within inches of me

I think the cyclists giving us the two finger on roads will settle down and diminish over time. There will always be AHs on our road and pavements but we drivers really need to understand that we don't have an intrinsic right to drive at 30, 50 or 70 mph just because road signs say so. When we see two cyclists driving side by side ahead of us, perhaps we just think 'slow car' ahead.

The roads are now officially for all wheeled travellers and I kind of welcome it!

Go tell it to the marines and motorists who have to pay out every year...a tax under another name is till a tax.

Road tax was a tax that paid for roads. The VED you pay now does not pay for roads. Road upkeep comes out of the general tax pot, which everyone who pays income tax, council tax, VAT etc pays for.

VED is an extra tax to account for the extra pollution you pump out - if you don’t want to pay it, switch to a vehicle that won’t have to 🤷‍♀️

To be fair cyclists have always done wtf they wanted without a care for anyone else in the roads, vehicles or pedestrians, this new stuff just brings their shitty attitude more. (Not all cyclists) majority though.

These new rules aren’t going to keep them safe, just makes sure that who ever is driving more responsible and easier to prosecute.

If they really wanted cyclists to be safe the powers that be would make a law for them to wear a helmet and protective gear.

@prettyLittlefool

In my view it's time for cyclists to be banned from public roads. They have cycle ways. They contribute nothing and simply endanger other people who actually need to get somewhere. Might not be a popular view but I suspect these new rules will teach them a hard lesson sooner or later.

Looks like a village is missing an idiot somewhere.

this new stuff just brings their shitty attitude more. (Not all cyclists) majority though

But what new rules? What do you think is new?

@heartonthetyne.

The cyclist is merely a guest on the road. He may have the legal right but morally, he is a guest. The road wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the car.

@Bard6817

I know where all those idiots are! Riding dangerously along the roads. looking and behaving like freeloading pricks.

[quote TameDucksAtChatsworth]@heartonthetyne.

The cyclist is merely a guest on the road. He may have the legal right but morally, he is a guest. The road wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the car.[/quote]
I don't think your comments on here give you any right to talk about morals. But you'll be pleased to know the you've made me feel a little bit more scared to ride my bike on the road.
It won't stop me though as that's how I get to work. But thanks anyway you awful excuse for a citizen.

[quote TameDucksAtChatsworth]@heartonthetyne.

The cyclist is merely a guest on the road. He may have the legal right but morally, he is a guest. The road wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the car.[/quote]
Have you not heard of horses?

You will just have to learn to be a patient driver OP
If everyone was less self centred then all issues would be over

[quote TameDucksAtChatsworth]@heartonthetyne.

The cyclist is merely a guest on the road. He may have the legal right but morally, he is a guest. The road wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the car.[/quote]
You do realise roads were invented for pedestrians and horses and carts?

Cars are the guests. Roads are thousands of years old.

Nah, the country had no roads before cars were invented. Nobody went anywhere until the 20th century.

[quote TameDucksAtChatsworth]@heartonthetyne.

The cyclist is merely a guest on the road. He may have the legal right but morally, he is a guest. The road wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the car.[/quote]
I think there were roads before cars were invented …
Carriages
Etc

All these people worrying that if they stop to let a pedestrian cross a side road that they'll be rear ended, how were they turning right before? It's already normal practise to stop and wait before turning in this scenario.

Horses have bridleways don't they and, anyway, I've never seen a crowd of horse slowing down traffic for three or four miles.

Ah yes! If could only return to those roads. How long did it take a coach to get from London to Devon?

Night all. Watch out for cyclists!

@TameDucksAtChatsworth

Horses have bridleways don't they and, anyway, I've never seen a crowd of horse slowing down traffic for three or four miles.

You’re embarrassing yourself.

The Romans built roads to connect towns and cities. Poor people walked, wealthier people had horses, carriages etc.

Cars came a long, long time later.

I’m sure there’s an episode of Horrible Histories that you might be able to follow?

We are cyclist and car drivers, and cycle and drive to be responsible for all other road users, which I think the rules should be. We ride 2 abreast but as soon as cars come up behind we split into single file, in fact if possible and if needed we pull over to let cars pass us safely. This is not difficult for us to do. As a responsible road user you do not want to wind other road users up.

I do think cyclists should be more accountable now, it should be illegal not to wear an helmet, they should follow the road rules and indicate using their hands which many do not and have road worthy lights etc.

It’s not just cyclists, the rules for pedestrians have changed

At a junction, pedestrians can just cross the road with no regard to car drivers. The car driver will have to stop, surely the danger is if you are the first car, you may well see the pedestrian, but the car behind you may not and go into the back of you, as not expecting you to potentially stop in the middle of the road with no warning. How on earth is this safer.

Also, the old rules have been followed for many years, we know thanks to the Green Cross code Man that to cross the road we should stop, look and listen. Now, who knows what goes.

I’m note sure of the answer, but are the people that came up with these rules the same people that came up with the smart motorways?

Stupid behaviour is stupid behaviour, on 2 wheels or 4!

But only one of them leaves hundreds of dead and injured every year

But oh no my journey took 5 minutes longer than it was meant to

Honestly cannot understand why people get so, so worked up at the very idea they’ll have to share the road with other people. “But if I have to wait to safely overtake it might slow my journey down by ELEVEN WHOLE SECONDS!, rant rant fume fume fantasise about running people over.”

If you don’t want to share the road you can either stay off it or get your own private road. If neither of those work for you, you’ll just have to manage with the rest of us.

I also love how we talk about cyclists like they're all one but should remember that drivers as a class needed the recent clarification to laws on phone use to stop them playing games and taking photos whilst in control of a motor vehicle

I've always been considerate when I've come across cyclists - my Son cycles to work every day and I hope car drivers respect his right to use the highways.
I feel that the whole rollout of the new guidlelines has been abysmal - almost like pitting cyclists against car drivers from the off.
I feel more anxious than ever now for DS.

When are we going to be told of the changes. I’ve seen nothing. DD just passed her test, she’s been told nothing.