Cyclists and Zebra Crossings

Cornucopia

These motoring threads often seem to degenerate into a contest for who is most saftety-conscious/considerate vs. who knows the letter of the law to the highest degree of pedantry.

I suspect that part of the reason for that is that the scenarios presented are often very wide, and on occasion the language used to discuss them is vague.

Fortunately, this (the topic) is not a problem we have where I live now, but when I used to live in "that there" London, it was endemic.

My approach was this:-

- A cyclist cycling towards a crossing. The person is not a pedestrian, and does not have any form of priority on the crossing. If they habitually treat crossings as if they have right of way whilst cycling, then they are a nuisance. IF IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO, I would carry on driving, letting them stop and wait, as they should do.

- A cyclist waiting at a crossing. That person is likely to be using the road in a considerate manner, and with due deference to their own and other's safety. I would tend to treat them as if they were a pedestrian. If they subsequently ride across the crossing or use it to launch themselves into the traffic flow on the road, it doesn't bother me.

Norman_Castle

custardy wrote: »

This is what I had as a kid

I painfully crashed on one of those but managed to avoid the gear stick.

custardy

Cornucopia wrote: »

These motoring threads often seem to degenerate into a contest for who is most saftety-conscious/considerate vs. who knows the letter of the law to the highest degree of pedantry.

I suspect that part of the reason for that is that the scenarios presented are often very wide, and on occasion the language used to discuss them is vague.

Fortunately, this (the topic) is not a problem we have where I live now, but when I used to live in "that there" London, it was endemic.

My approach was this:-

- A cyclist cycling towards a crossing. The person is not a pedestrian, and does not have any form of priority on the crossing. If they habitually treat crossings as if they have right of way whilst cycling, then they are a nuisance. IF IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO, I would carry on driving, letting them stop and wait, as they should do.

- A cyclist waiting at a crossing. That person is likely to be using the road in a considerate manner, and with due deference to their own and other's safety. I would tend to treat them as if they were a pedestrian. If they subsequently ride across the crossing or use it to launch themselves into the traffic flow on the road, it doesn't bother me.

Londoncetershire has apparently started with 'tiger crossings'

http://lcc.org.uk/articles/first-tiger-crossing-comes-to-london-cyclists

Cornucopia

Are there any rules for them published anywhere?

It looks as though vehicular traffic on the main road is supposed to give way to cyclists, which is fine...

facade

On approach to the crossing there is a give way sign for riders on the cycle route. This protects the priority of pedestrians walking on the Richmond Road pavements.

So why is it placed at the entrance to the cycleway across the road then? Looks more like an instruction to cyclists to give way to cars to me. :undecided

Cornucopia

Actually, I'd originally thought that the Give Way sign was for some other side road vehicular traffic, but I now see that there is one on the other side for the cycle path.

So, even there, it's still give way for cyclists to other road users. (And if it's intended to apply for pedestrians and not cars, then it's confusing and dangerous).

Retrogamer

custardy wrote: »

This is what I had as a kid

I still have mines i picked up at the Barras' as a kid rusting away in the shed with dynamo lights fitted.
Same colour as well.

custardy

facade wrote: »

So why is it placed at the entrance to the cycleway across the road then? Looks more like an instruction to cyclists to give way to cars to me. :undecided

Its to give way to peds as you approach the kerb. At the road/crossing cyclists have 'the same' rights as a ped on the zebra.

facade

custardy wrote: »

Its to give way to peds as you approach the kerb. At the road/crossing cyclists have 'the same' rights as a ped on the zebra.

That's what the article says, but by convention (if not regulation) the Give Way sign is placed at the place where you give way, so it needs to be where the cycle path first crosses the pavement, not after it has crossed.

custardy

facade wrote: »

That's what the article says, but by convention (if not regulation) the Give Way sign is placed at the place where you give way, so it needs to be where the cycle path first crosses the pavement, not after it has crossed.

I suppose the thinking is to make it clear across the path.
Otherwise you give way at the start of the path,but on crossing have right of way with no sign?