Cyclists and road traffic signals...

Norman_Castle

jay213 wrote: »

I think they should set up small cycle lanes on the pavements / not on the roads. Maybe even let you ride on normal pavements (maybe exclude the Road Bike guys)

How many times have you heard about a somebody being killed by a cyclists riding on the pavement?

How many cyclists have been killed on the roads?

I've been at some red lights and cars can't wait to drive past you when the light changes, coming very close. Sometimes these red lights are quite safe to ride past, when there are no junctions or people crossing but the rule is to stop. The you got to compete with the car driver, bus, motorbike drivers who don't want to be stuck behind you as the light changes as you're slower then them.

Cycling on the pavement isn't legal but is accepted if done without endangering or annoying pedestrians.
Guidelines for issuing fixed penalties are included here. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2014/jan/20/police-cycling-pavements

For pedestrians, cyclists traveling at speed or too close have the same effect as motorists traveling too fast or too close to cyclists.

Pavement cyclists also annoys some motorists which is confusing as they don't need to slow down or overtake them. Bigotry?.

Iceweasel

facade wrote: »

It does take a lot of nerve to ride at 6mph up a hill 4 feet from the gutter though.

I used to cycle from Edinburgh to my work in South Queensferry almost every day (only torrential rain or high winds could stop me) along the dual-carriageway.

The 10 miles took me 35 minutes so a good bit more than 6mph

Yes, it takes some nerve the first time to use the centre of the lane that you are entitled to.

After a few weeks it feels normal though.

Occasionally I would get someone giving a beep of the horn as if to suggest I move into the crud at the side of the road, but I would give them a big thumbs-up and carry on. Never had any bother in seven years.

Any other gesture would be antagonistic and counter productive.

Riding close to the edge would mean that passing traffic, especially big trucks would pass very close at around 50mph so I would be sucked in towards the centre and the next vehicle was even closer to me.

boliston

jay213 wrote: »

...

Quick question when cycling in the road are you allowed to take up the middle of a lane? as I've got a few hills I tend to stick to the side as I'm aware that I would be holding up traffic. But from what I hear that puts me more at risk doesn't it? car divers etc are not a patience bunch as far as I've experienced.

I tend to ride fairly far out, especially if a car is coming the other way as there is a risk of someone overtaking close without slowing down first. This mainly applies to roads that are too narrow to safely overtake if something is coming the other way.

Once the vehicle behind has slowed down to a safer speed then I will move in a bit to let them past, but still leave a yard or so of "wobble room" between me and the kerb just in case they were to get too close when passing.

Another danger is left turns where you can get "left hooked" by left turning traffic who will overtake a bike just before turning left, nearly squashing the cyclist in the process, so never be too close to the edge when approaching a junction.

Nebulous2

jay213 wrote: »

Quick question when cycling in the road are you allowed to take up the middle of a lane? as I've got a few hills I tend to stick to the side as I'm aware that I would be holding up traffic. But from what I hear that puts me more at risk doesn't it? car divers etc are not a patience bunch as far as I've experienced.

There are two main positions when cycling on the road and they roughly equate to where the wheels of a car would be.

The usual position is secondary, which is about 3-4 feet from the kerb and correlates with the nearside wheel of a car.

Where you need to stop people overtaking and 'take the lane' you move out to a position which is probably just inside the offside wheel of a car. This is called primary position.

An example of that would be at a pinch point in the road, where there is a pedestrian island in the middle of the road. Cars shouldn't overtake you there anyway, but will if they think there is room, which is why moving out is safer.

This is not an exact science and you learn with experience what works - much like driving a car in fact!

nobbysn*ts

facade wrote: »

Yes.

The BMF recommend a position well clear of the kerb.
Car drivers don't like it as they cannot squeeze past and are forced to overtake properly, or not at all.

But if they were going to squeeze past you 6" off your handlebars whilst you are going in and out of drains in the gutter they were not making a safe overtake anyway.

It does take a lot of nerve to ride at 6mph up a hill 4 feet from the gutter though.

I had a Fiat 126. My crowning glory was a cyclist riding well too far over, who didn't realise I was behind him, he thought it was just another motorist in a normal sized car he was blocking. The look on his face when I (safely) undertook him was priceless.

Norman_Castle

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

I had a Fiat 126. My crowning glory was a cyclist riding well too far over, who didn't realise I was behind him, he thought it was just another motorist in a normal sized car he was blocking. The look on his face when I (safely) undertook him was priceless.

I doubt he felt very safe. Undertaking a cyclist in a small car is your "crowning glory".

nobbysn*ts

Norman_Castle wrote: »

I doubt he felt very safe. Undertaking a cyclist in a small car is your "crowning glory".

Oh yes, without a doubt.

Stoke

Driving through a red light is legal on a pushbike.

Fact...

oh wait, am I on a cycling forum?

RichardD1970

Stoke wrote: »

Driving through a red light is legal on a pushbike.

Fact...

oh wait, am I on a cycling forum?

Has anyone said it isn't?

Norman_Castle

Stoke wrote: »

Driving through a red light is legal on a pushbike.

Fact...

oh wait, am I on a cycling forum?

Endless moaning about cyclists or fast, slow, wrong lane drivers. Petty bickering, Top Gear wannabe jokes and everyone thinking they're an expert. Nope. Its the motoring forum.