To think that cyclists shouldn’t be allowed on dual carriageways

[Cappuccino5]

Considering they’re not allowed on motorways!

There’s one dual carriageway in particular near us where cyclists on it are not only dicing with death re: their only lives, they’re also putting motorists at risk too. It’s a notoriously dangerous road - 60mph with very sharp bends, hill sections and narrow lanes. It’s like a race track. There have been many serious crashes and fatalities over the years (sadly including one involving a family member) - I genuinely can’t understand how a cyclist thinks it’s safe or appropriate to drive on a road like this, especially considering there’s a pavement (always empty, no pedestrians) that they could easily ride on. There simply isn’t enough room for cars to safely pass them!

Is it that scary? Is it causing accidents?

The most tolerance and consideration needs to be on the side that causes most harm

It's scary that this many people have passed their driving test without knowing pretty basic road knowledge, yes.

It quite possibly is causing accidents if people don't know the speed limit because they don't know what type of road they're on.

That isn't quite true.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6p2nxj0g9po

Most dual carriageways very clearly have signs showing the speed limit, though.

@Redpeach of course it's scary that people don't know what kind of road they're driving on!

@Orangeandgold
There are rules for cyclists.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/annex-1-you-and-your-bicycle

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/motorways-253-to-273

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/other-road-users.html

I cannot see around corners - that’s the point

What I can do is look ahead of me. If I cannot see the length of my braking distance I slow down.
What I can do is see ahead in my line of sight, which can be further or shorter depending on the direction of a corner as I use a right hand drive car, which means that I am positioned with a slightly different angle depending on the corner.

Hard bends are common on country and town roads, but don’t typically exist on main roads such a dual carriageways, they are designed to have a gentler curve explicitly for driver visibility - which is to aid the driver in looking ahead for other traffic and hazards

Only if it is less than 70.

You’d think so eh? Some motorists use the second lane for driving rather than for just overtaking.

So if there isn’t a speed limit it’s 70. Jeez, this isn’t hard!

Most people are perfectly capable of driving well without a forensic knowledge of the Highway Code. I only found out what an urban clearway was a few weeks ago and I’ve forgotten already (not something you find in urban environments IIRC, which is probably why I don’t know what it is).

Alarmingly, I once come across a cyclist on the A1, somewhere north of Grantham. It’s not motorway there but is still a 70mph section.

To make cycling safer and get more people doing it, good for their health and the environment., slowly squeeze drivers so cars are used less.

Now that we have (still not) established what a single carriageway and dual carriageways are …..

single = no barrier between the opposite sides of traffic, there could be one lane, two lanes, three lanes etc
dual carriageway = barrier between opposite sides, typically two lanes per side but could be one lane or more

But, not only can motorways differ from three lanes per seperated carriageway ….. th
A motorway is defined in that motorway regulations apply. Not by the number of lanes or central barrier. There are motorways with one lane or more
The A38(M) is a single carriageway, seven lane motorway
The middle lane can switch directions as required for traffic flow

It doesn't mean it is a single carriageway because there is a specified limit below the national speed limit - I have been on plenty of 2 lane dual carriageways that have limits specified below the national speed limit.

As Maddeming says. There are 2 lane dual carriageways in central Milton Keynes that are 30mph.

Yeah. My 25 mile commute to work would be great on a bike. If I didn’t live in the U.K. where it’s pouring and fucking freezing.

Here is a single lane dual carriageway nearly 2 miles long (note the sign - dual carriageway / ffordd ddeuol), 70mph speed limit, and it has a warning sign for horses in 330yds (the Fedw Equestrian Centre). I wouldn't go anything like 70mph on it in a car.

You do realise that if others who are able to cycle to work, choose to do so, there will be less traffic on the road - don’t you?

Don’t be so narrow minded, it’s not all about you.

You need to drive at an appropriate speed to the road, such that you can stop short of any hazard. If you can't see far enough to react and brake then you need to slow down.

Most of us know this.

Is there is a pavement already, could you campaign for it to be converted into a multi-user path? This would remove the need for cyclists to use the road.

I didnt say it was a single carriageway. I simply said the OP said it was 60 mph and therefore a single lane dual carriage way, they often are

We have a 50 round here that unfortunately I keep forgetting is 50.

Well there's no reason a bicycle shouldn't be used on a road like this, it looks like one round the corner from me with a 30mph speed limit.

The only thing that bothers me here is how shite our roads are for cyclists. I was in another European country recently and was blown away by how amazing their cycle paths were. Literally everywhere. They had a road, a pavement and a cycle path, all of which were separated by a bit of grass so none came into contact with each other. My son is 6 and cycles to school. I walk whilst he goes beside me on the pavement. I dread the day he has to stop because he's too old to be on the pavement but too young to be on a very busy road.