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!

@mids2019 You do understand don't you that as of today the law has changed so that pedestrians and cyclists and horse riders have priority over cars and lorries?
So you comments are utterly wrong.

In theory, and law, as a pedestrian you can now step into the road and all traffic has to stop and give way to you.

So do belt up with your comments about what cyclists should do. You are wrong.

[quote Fedupsotired]@ineedsun very true it's never 2 mins is it. It's the arrogance that annoys me.

@Zandathepanda yup and very true about how they are in cafes too!![/quote]
@Fedupsotired Completely agree fucking dickhead car drivers clogging up the roads, killing our children with their polluting exhausts, causing accidents .... and then packing into my favorite cafe... Twats!

@SapphireSeptember

As a pedestrian who has to walk to and from work in the dark, I'd love to see cyclists charged for riding on the pavements. No bell, no lights, dark clothing. I can't see them or hear them. There's also the numpties who go down the one way streets the wrong way, then swerve onto the path. Dark clothing when it's dark just seems daft to me anyway, I've nearly walked into other pedestrians recently, as I can't see them either!

Yeah that's a separate issue but just as valid. I do know elderly people who are afraid to leave their houses due to bikes on the pavement. The priority is screwed.

I can't say I'm bothered by them being able to cycle in the center of the road, it would be the same as being stuck behind a slow moving vehicle like a tractor or horse. It happens, part of life.

Cyclists have always been able to cycle two abreast so no change there.

The only one I have a slight concern is about is they can cycle alongside you and say you want to turn left in to a junction and they want to continue ahead they have priority, and I'm worried that if you don't catch them in your blind spot before you turn left, you'll cut them up and then an accident will happen as they crash in to your passengers side 😬 vans this would be worse for than cars due to the increase in the blind spot.

@Momicrone

Some cyclists are commuters, also cycling home from a 12 hour shift. But I'm guessing the beef you have is what you consider leisure cyclists? So is your journey back from home more important than some ones 'leisure time'?

actually round here, the dickheads are the commuter cyclists.

Do people want to be able to pass the bike WHILST something is coming the other way?

Yes of course they do. That's the whole point of their annoyance. NOTHING like a mere bike must hold them up.

im dreading it

what happens going uphill we just have to sit behind them for however long?

im not syaing i dont give them a wide berth i do but if theyre all riding 2 abreast now its going to take a long time to get anywhere

@FailureToLurk

I can't say I'm bothered by them being able to cycle in the center of the road, it would be the same as being stuck behind a slow moving vehicle like a tractor or horse. It happens, part of life.

Cyclists have always been able to cycle two abreast so no change there.

The only one I have a slight concern is about is they can cycle alongside you and say you want to turn left in to a junction and they want to continue ahead they have priority, and I'm worried that if you don't catch them in your blind spot before you turn left, you'll cut them up and then an accident will happen as they crash in to your passengers side 😬 vans this would be worse for than cars due to the increase in the blind spot.

And this...

@theotherfossilsister

Significantly more women than men are killed cycling because women are more likely to be people pleasers and apologetic for taking up space, so cycle in the side which allows dangerous overtaking and lack of visibility. This law makes women safer as it specifies riding in the middle which more men already do.

I agree. There are certain scenarios (junctions, roundabouts, blind corners) where cycling in the gutter is extremely dangerous for the cyclist.

Of course cyclists should be considerate, but when I am cycling I encounter far more dangerous drivers than I encounter dangerous cyclists when I'm driving.

@JinglingHellsBells

The issue is cyclists do not pull over even when it is safe to do so. I often follow cyclists where there is ample opportunity for pulling in and the opportunity is not taken.

Causing traffic jams is inconsiderate and being late to work is not trivial if it leads to an employer taking action. I think drivers understand that congestion is inevitable through accidents etc but get frustrated when hold ups are caused when that could be avoided by a little consideration.

YANBU @Finallylostitnds We often get lycra clad twunts from the big towns and cities, hogging the country lanes in their multiple dozens, and making life very difficult for us rural folk.

This new rule is just going to make going to our little market town at the weekends in Spring and Summer a fucking nightmare!

I'm happy if it stop them riding on the pavements all the time.

@mids2019

Cyclists are meant to leave the road to allow motorists to pass. This simply does not happen.

The roads are a work place for some (HGV drivers) and obviously a means to get to work. Drivers may arrive at work late due to the behaviour of cyclists and it causes unecessary stress.

I can understand a cycle being a healthy sustainable way to get to a workplace but cycling as a hobby is questionable. Cyclists if involved in an accident are like to be seriously injured (there is no such thing as as an minor 'prang' with a cycle ) and drivers are extremely concious if the likely ramifications of a collision and justifiably anxious.

Plenty of cyclists are people commuting to work.

Plenty of drivers are driving for leisure.

So your point is...?

I have cover for my bike itself on my home insurance, which covered it when it was stolen from ouside the Library last year - and my premium has actually gone down..... (less than £100/year)

But I also have separate cycle/cyclist insurance, including third party cover for several million I think.... It costs less than £50 per year.

I also carry spare Lidl silicone lights with me and if I get chance, stop some of the local kids who wear black and have no lights and offer them a front and light wth spare batteries. Does not always work, and get abuse/ignored, but I have had too many close calls for my liking....

Personally, I wear white and am lit up like Dynamo from The Running Man.

being late to work is not trivial if it leads to an employer taking action.

But if the cyclist is on their way to work too, then same thing applies to them? Going to slow them down a fair bit if they have to pull off the road and stop every time there’s a car behind them.

Road is shared, everyone needs to bear in mind that other people need to use it too.

What’s supposed to happen on roads like the one near me. Big long suburban residential road with houses all the way along, one Lane in either direction. Cars are parked outside the houses all the way along the road, so each lane is already narrowed by parked cars. Because of the narrowing of both lanes, Drivers already have to give way to cars coming in the other direction sometimes to wait to get past the bigger parked cars safely, or slow down and move through carefully when cars are coming from the other direction.

Are you telling me that cyclists can now ride 2 abreast down roads like that, taking up the whole lane, right to the edge, effectively not leaving enough room for cars to overtake them safely because you’d then be forced onto the other side of the road where that Lane is already narrowed by parked cars so not enough room for a full car width passing? IYSWIM!

So drivers have to sit behind 2 cyclists all the way along the road who might just be dawdling along chatting?

@whynotwhatknot

im dreading it

what happens going uphill we just have to sit behind them for however long?

im not syaing i dont give them a wide berth i do but if theyre all riding 2 abreast now its going to take a long time to get anywhere

Before these changes, you had to wait to safely pass the cyclist, leaving as much room as you would if you were passing a car (i.e. crossing to the other side of the carriageway entirely)

Now, you will have to wait to safely pass the cyclist, leaving as much room as you would if you were passing a car (i.e. crossing to the other side of the carriageway entirely).

The only difference is that now the cyclist is more likely to be positioned in a way that forces you to comply with the Highway Code. Which you should have been doing anyway.

People are objecting because they don't normally pass cyclists safely. Every time I cycle, no matter how short the journey, I am usually passed unsafely by several cars. Those drivers are now pissed off.

I'm a bit worried about letting pedestrians cross at junctions. I was always told not to stop for pedestrians apart from traffic lights and zebra crossings in case another vehicle can't see the pedestrian. I'll feel horrible if I'm waiting for someone to cross and they get hit by someone coming the other way not looking properly. I know it won't be my fault but I'll still feel guilty.

@FailureToLurk

I can't say I'm bothered by them being able to cycle in the center of the road, it would be the same as being stuck behind a slow moving vehicle like a tractor or horse. It happens, part of life.

Cyclists have always been able to cycle two abreast so no change there.

The only one I have a slight concern is about is they can cycle alongside you and say you want to turn left in to a junction and they want to continue ahead they have priority, and I'm worried that if you don't catch them in your blind spot before you turn left, you'll cut them up and then an accident will happen as they crash in to your passengers side 😬 vans this would be worse for than cars due to the increase in the blind spot.

I must be a bit slow...... OK, it is a risk that they may be on the inisde of you (not best practice to be fair) - but you crossing their forward path to turn left is - and always has been - stupid and dangerous, nothing to do with the new rules.

@CurlyhairedAssassin

What’s supposed to happen on roads like the one near me. Big long suburban residential road with houses all the way along, one Lane in either direction. Cars are parked outside the houses all the way along the road, so each lane is already narrowed by parked cars. Because of the narrowing of both lanes, Drivers already have to give way to cars coming in the other direction sometimes to wait to get past the bigger parked cars safely, or slow down and move through carefully when cars are coming from the other direction.

Are you telling me that cyclists can now ride 2 abreast down roads like that, taking up the whole lane, right to the edge, effectively not leaving enough room for cars to overtake them safely because you’d then be forced onto the other side of the road where that Lane is already narrowed by parked cars so not enough room for a full car width passing? IYSWIM!

So drivers have to sit behind 2 cyclists all the way along the road who might just be dawdling along chatting?

Yes, you do. If it's not safe to overtake whilst leaving cyclists enough roo to be away from parked cars on the left and from overtaking/passing cars on the right you sodding wait.

This was always the case before the recent updates to the HC, by the way.

@CurlyhairedAssassin

What’s supposed to happen on roads like the one near me. Big long suburban residential road with houses all the way along, one Lane in either direction. Cars are parked outside the houses all the way along the road, so each lane is already narrowed by parked cars. Because of the narrowing of both lanes, Drivers already have to give way to cars coming in the other direction sometimes to wait to get past the bigger parked cars safely, or slow down and move through carefully when cars are coming from the other direction.

Are you telling me that cyclists can now ride 2 abreast down roads like that, taking up the whole lane, right to the edge, effectively not leaving enough room for cars to overtake them safely because you’d then be forced onto the other side of the road where that Lane is already narrowed by parked cars so not enough room for a full car width passing? IYSWIM!

So drivers have to sit behind 2 cyclists all the way along the road who might just be dawdling along chatting?

If drivers already have to give way to the other cars, why can't they give way to cyclists? That's what's passing safely involves.

Cars are no more worthy of space on the road than bikes are.

But if you’re safely overtaking a car, Octomore, it doesn’t take long as cars go much faster than cycles. This is going to just slow done traffic so much that drivers are going to take more risks in order to get past the slower moving cyclist. Slow moving vehicles like tractors usually stop and pull over when they know they have a line of traffic building up behind them so they’re not too bad. I really can’t see cyclists doing that.

@FailureToLurk

Are you saying that you will usually cross the path of a cyclist and then turn left right in front of them?

You're a fucking dangerous driver if so.

@CurlyhairedAssassin

But if you’re safely overtaking a car, Octomore, it doesn’t take long as cars go much faster than cycles. This is going to just slow done traffic so much that drivers are going to take more risks in order to get past the slower moving cyclist. Slow moving vehicles like tractors usually stop and pull over when they know they have a line of traffic building up behind them so they’re not too bad. I really can’t see cyclists doing that.

I'm a cyclist. I do that, when safe to do so.

I will repeat - I see far more dangerous drivers when I'm out on my bike than dangerous cyclists when I'm driving my car.

Can we also have a law banning cyclists from waving cars on to overtake them? Some idiot car drivers might actuallu listen to them, ignoring the fact the cyclist cant see any further ahead and doesnt always do it somewhere sensible. They've done it to me on hills and blind corners. Sorry me driving slowly behind you isnt fun for you, but it's not up to you to tell me to risk my life and my two children's life. Just pull the fuck over.