Cyclists obliged to use cycle lanes?

surreysaver

A cyclist is just as entitled to use the road as a car driver. People should realise that.

geri1965_2

thescouselander wrote: »

As I cyclist myself I prefer to stay on the cycle tracks as its safer and I don't feel the need to wear a helmet. Also I am away from the diesel fumes of passing busses and lorries which is a bonus. Luckily round here (Bristol) there are some really good cycle tracks that don't suffer from the problems you describe.

Which routes are you talking about?

I cycle in Bristol and I don't use cycle lanes - I consider them to be dangerous.

Cycle tracks without traffic are a completely different matter and of course I will use those.

thescouselander

geri1965 wrote: »

Which routes are you talking about?

I cycle in Bristol and I don't use cycle lanes - I consider them to be dangerous.

Cycle tracks without traffic are a completely different matter and of course I will use those.

Pretty much the whole of the avon cycle way that goes round the north of Bristol and up towards Yate and all the way down to Bath.

ZootHornRollo

Oh dear... it appears the militant cyclists have all come out.

Nobody anywhere in this thread has said that cyclists should not be on the roads.

My particular query has been answered - cyclists are under no obligation to use a cycle lane where they are provided.

The interesting part is that the loudest of the cyclists involved in this thread seem more intent in utilising their 'rights' than common sense. Explains a lot.

Good luck to you all.

p.s. i found a documented case from 2006 of a cyclist getting knocked off their bike whilst on a main carriageway, passing a slip road. Car came from behnd, hit the cyclist causing major and permemnat brain damage and needs 24hr care. There was a cyclelane available to the cyclist and they chose not to use it.

The judge rule they were jointly reaponsible as the motorist was quite rightly concentrating on other much more visible traffic. The cyclist received a greatly reduced damages award because of this.

Think about it. The onus is not all on the motorist.

sequence

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

p.s. i found a documented case from 2006 of a cyclist getting knocked off their bike whilst on a main carriageway, passing a slip road. Car came from behnd, hit the cyclist causing major and permemnat brain damage and needs 24hr care. There was a cyclelane available to the cyclist and they chose not to use it.

The judge rule they were jointly reaponsible as the motorist was quite rightly concentrating on other much more visible traffic. The cyclist received a greatly reduced damages award because of this.

Think about it. The onus is not all on the motorist.

Thats says more about flaws in our justice system than anything else - in other more civilized countries (i.e Netherlands, Germany, France etc) the motorist would have been quite rightly completely responsible for this tragedy.

Unfortunately drivers in this country believe wrongly that they have a right to drive at such poor standards.

sequence

sebdangerfield wrote: »

163 of the Highway Code is; "Overtake only when it's safe and legal to do so" and also touches on "give vulnerable road users at least as much room as you would a car" Where does it say a cyclinst can turn right from the left lane? It's not specifically unlawfull I agree, but it would under most circumstances constitute dangerous or careless cycing.

I agree it would be safer to segregate cyclists from cars but as has already been stated, cyclists have a common law right to use the roads, motorvehicles have to comply with several access restrictions to be allowed. If we were to segregate cycles because they're slow what about slow cars, steam locos, invalid carrages, horses, horse drawn carts etc? They all take up far more room and would legitimately cause a problem in overtaking.

From here
187

In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to

• cyclists and horse riders who may stay in the left-hand lane and signal right if they intend to continue round the roundabout. Allow them to do so

Though it's not a law I don't think.

custardy

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

Oh dear... it appears the militant cyclists have all come out.

Nobody anywhere in this thread has said that cyclists should not be on the roads.

My particular query has been answered - cyclists are under no obligation to use a cycle lane where they are provided.

The interesting part is that the loudest of the cyclists involved in this thread seem more intent in utilising their 'rights' than common sense. Explains a lot.

Good luck to you all.

p.s. i found a documented case from 2006 of a cyclist getting knocked off their bike whilst on a main carriageway, passing a slip road. Car came from behnd, hit the cyclist causing major and permemnat brain damage and needs 24hr care. There was a cyclelane available to the cyclist and they chose not to use it.

The judge rule they were jointly reaponsible as the motorist was quite rightly concentrating on other much more visible traffic. The cyclist received a greatly reduced damages award because of this.

Think about it. The onus is not all on the motorist.

cycle lane available,however look at the road the OP is talking about
straight over Glasgow road or detour down and up a hill via the cycle route?

thescouselander

sequence wrote: »

Thats says more about flaws in our justice system than anything else - in other more civilized countries (i.e Netherlands, Germany, France etc) the motorist would have been quite rightly completely responsible for this tragedy.

Unfortunately drivers in this country believe wrongly that they have a right to drive at such poor standards.

Yes but in Germany you'd be required to use the cycle path. Also its not quite as simple as you make out. It is assumed the driver picks up the bill unless he can prove the cyclist was at fault. It's not just a case of the driver always pays.

geri1965_2

thescouselander wrote: »

Pretty much the whole of the avon cycle way that goes round the north of Bristol and up towards Yate and all the way down to Bath.

Yeah, that's a pretty good route. It's totally different to riding on the cycle lanes in central Bristol though!

ZootHornRollo

custardy wrote: »

cycle lane available,however look at the road the OP is talking about
straight over Glasgow road or detour down and up a hill via the cycle route?

Better to be late in this life than early in the next!

Someone who commutes daily on a bike will have no problems with that hill. The cycle path on the south side of the carriageway doesn't even have all those roads to cross. I am a recreational cyclist - quite irregularly - at that and i can get up Glentress without too much huffing and puffing.