CycleCraft - a discussion...

modsandmockers

For many years, I have been saying to anyone who would listen (not many!) that road users mostly assess any perceived hazard in terms of the threat which they face themselves, rather than the threat which they pose to other road users. If I am correct, then it explains why car drivers etc routinely ‘edit out’ the presence of a cyclist in an otherwise clear path, and also why cyclists fail to understand why they sometimes appear to be invisible to bigger and stronger road users.

So I was particularly interested in this bit of John Franklin’s book ‘CycleCraft’, which is a kind of bible/koran for today’s cyclists -

“Motorists primarily give attention to that part of the road where there is risk to themselves: they are not nearly so good at noticing anything outside their path. This zone of maximum surveillance is often very narrow, especially at high speeds - it does not extend to much more than the moving traffic lane that the driver is following, plus the moving traffic lanes that are most likely to conflict with the driver’s own movement. For you to be safest as a cyclist, you must normally ride within this zone of maximum surveillance, not outside it.”

I strongly disagree with the final sentence - riding in that zone will undoubtedly increase a cyclist’s chance of being seen, but I am not convinced that it will improve the cyclist’s chances of being treated with any kind of respect.

CycleCraft has managed to establish itself as some kind of authority on cycling skills, but not all experienced cyclists agree with all of its recommended cycling techniques.

fred246

So when a bigger and stronger vehicle comes up behind a smaller and weaker one it crashes into it to show how big and strong it is.
modsandmockers you are cerebrally challenged. I don't think this forum is the best place for you.

Retrogamer

I've been cycling most of my life albeit with a small break for a few years.

I refresh myself with the highway code now and then and still remember everything from my cycling proficiency test many moons ago and often put that into practice.

I've not read or looked into CycleCraft before but all the advise posted on here from it seems good from what i can see as both a motorist and cyclist.

Respect aside, can you find anything from it that you disagree with in terms of safety and at the same time provide a better solution?

modsandmockers

fred246 wrote: »

So when a bigger and stronger vehicle comes up behind a smaller and weaker one it crashes into it to show how big and strong it is.
modsandmockers you are cerebrally challenged. I don't think this forum is the best place for you.

Fred - I think you have proved my point - cyclists fail to understand why they sometimes appear to be invisible to bigger and stronger road users

modsandmockers

Retrogamer wrote: »

Respect aside, can you find anything from it that you disagree with in terms of safety and at the same time provide a better solution?

The solution is simple - provide cyclists with their own infrastructure, and get them out of danger. The problem is - what shall we do in the meantime?

wealdroam

modsandmockers wrote: »

The solution is simple - provide cyclists with their own infrastructure, and get them out of danger. The problem is - what shall we do in the meantime?

What shall we do in the meantime?

How about following the guidance offered in CycleCraft?
Seems like a good idea to me.

I notice you responded to Retrogamer's question, but at the same time didn't answer it. Why is that?

fred246

We could fit a black box to all motorised vehicles to monitor speed and location. Penalty notices would be automatically issued. Any motorist killing or injuring should have compulsory custodial sentences. That would be a start.

frisbeej

So your theory is:


"With some drivers, if you ride where they'll see you they'll just murder you."


You don't think that the simpler solution would be to not give them driving licences?

Retrogamer

modsandmockers wrote: »

The solution is simple - provide cyclists with their own infrastructure, and get them out of danger. The problem is - what shall we do in the meantime?

It can't be that simple, otherwise it would have been done by now.

The roads are already in a poor state of repair (at least around my area) and councils have no money to fix them without thinking about the amount of money it would cost by re-designing the infrastructure.

Cycrow

Maybe schools need to take the same approach.

The smaller, weaker kids need to be segregated so they dont become victims of the bigger, stronger bullies

fred246

If the government has enough money to buy a new train set (HS2) then it should have enough money to sort the roads out.