Biggest Threats to Cyclists?

custardy

Altarf wrote: »

The only legal way for a cyclist to enter an ASL is from the left not the right.

No mention of the cars sitting in there?
So theres a give way section on the left of the ASL
So how does the cyclist get there?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Over the last year I have seen loads more people using push bikes in our area.. Thinking because they could ride a bike when they were a kid,, they would know how to ride one now.....WRONG!!!


You hog most of the road, and when riding in a group you flipping ride 3 - 4 abreast... you cant ride in a straight line...


I personally think before being allowed to ride on a road, you should do a road driving/riding test like every other road user, and have a pushbike license to show you are competent to ride...


So don't go blaming everything on car/van/lorry drivers....

custardy

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Over the last year I have seen loads more people using push bikes in our area.. Thinking because they could ride a bike when they were a kid,, they would know how to ride one now.....WRONG!!!


You hog most of the road, and when riding in a group you flipping ride 3 - 4 abreast... you cant ride in a straight line...


I personally think before being allowed to ride on a road, you should do a road driving/riding test like every other road user, and have a pushbike license to show you are competent to ride...


So don't go blaming everything on car/van/lorry drivers....

Who is you?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

ALL push bike riders, who cant ride a bike, and think they own the flipping road...


Yes I know there are good push bike riders out there... but I honestly think there should be some sort of road test/ license for push bike users on the road..

custardy

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

ALL push bike riders, who cant ride a bike, and think they own the flipping road...


Yes I know there are good push bike riders out there... but I honestly think there should be some sort of road test/ license for push bike users on the road..

You mean like the licensed driver eating cereal?
Are the 'good ones',the ones that dont get in your way?

Altarf

custardy wrote: »

No mention of the cars sitting in there?
So theres a give way section on the left of the ASL
So how does the cyclist get there?

To address your points in order -

There is no problem with a car sat in an ASL provided that they were there when the lights changed (contrary to the belief of many cyclists). The only issue is a car entering an ASL when the lights are red, as they will have passed a stop line on a red light.

Um yes! Haven't you noticed? There is an an entry on the left for cyclists to legally enter the ASL, usually a cycle lane marked with a solid white line to indicate a cycle lane that cars may not enter, and thus the cyclist can enter the ASL without breaking the law as they are not crossing a stop line on red light, and the first stop line they come to is at the front of the ASL.

By entering from the left, obviously where it is safe to do so and not foot pushing down the side of buses. If the cyclist goes down the right hand side, then they cannot legally get into the ASL.

Altarf

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

I personally think before being allowed to ride on a road, you should do a road driving/riding test like every other road user, and have a pushbike license to show you are competent to ride...

Hilarious. Given that despite the many tests that motorbike riders have to take, they all seem to be suicidal maniacs, who seem to try to break every law going (and then blame car drivers).

custardy

Altarf wrote: »

To address your points in order -

There is no problem with a car sat in an ASL provided that they were there when the lights changed (contrary to the belief of many cyclists). The only issue is a car entering an ASL when the lights are red, as they will have passed a stop line on a red light.

Um yes! Haven't you noticed? There is an an entry on the left for cyclists to legally enter the ASL, usually a cycle lane marked with a solid white line to indicate a cycle lane that cars may not enter, and thus the cyclist can enter the ASL without breaking the law as they are not crossing a stop line on red light, and the first stop line they come to is at the front of the ASL.

By entering from the left, obviously where it is safe to do so and not foot pushing down the side of buses. If the cyclist goes down the right hand side, then they cannot legally get into the ASL.

So why is the OP on the right of the cars?

Altarf

custardy wrote: »

So why is the OP on the right of the cars?

Isn't it obvious.

Because they are cycling dangerously and jumping the red lights, because they don't want to wait in the traffic like they should.

hugheskevi

So you are "forced" to overtake the queue of stationary traffic that extends all the way to the traffic lights, when you can see that there will be nowhere to pull back in before you get to the keep left sign.

Why are you assuming I can see that there will be nowhere to pull back in before getting to the keep left sign?

My commute is through London, and in rush hour the traffic will be stationary or slow moving for long periods. When you start filtering you will not be able to see the traffic conditions at this particular set of traffic lights - indeed, the light may well be on green and the conditions yet to form.

This is the view you have when you start filtering - the set of lights in question is at the top of the hill, not in view in the map view. There is a narrow bus lane to the left with several bus stops so cyclists often cannot proceed there as there will usually be a bus stopped.

Question - How is someone "forcing" you to do this? A gun to your head, holding your children to ransom, blackmail?

By cars and particularly motorbikes blocking the ASZ resulting in a set of options to which there is only one sensible decision. Although worth noting that it is still dangerous for motorbikes to start alongside traffic, so I've no issue with them breaching the ASZ, although it is a shame most do so in such a way that it prevents anyone else following behind them from entering the zone.

Once the ASZ and entrance to ASZ is fully blocked, any cyclist filtering is facing the choice of either waiting alongside cars and trying to push their way into the line whilst starting off on a hill (so the slowest and wobbliest start possible) or proceeding past the solid white line.

Unless you are arguing that cyclists should only filter on the right over very short distances, which wouldn't be very practical in London, then this is the inevitable choice that the cyclist will sometimes be faced with.

Although ultimately it is worth remembering that issues such as this are caused by the lack of infrastructure for cyclists in the first place, and if there was a dedicated cycle lane through this busy area there wouldn't be any issue.