Yeah, I've got to say, until a bit of time has passed, I wouldn't be wanting to try to turn right on a roundabout in the left hand lane whilst signalling I'm doing so expecting cars going straight ahead to be "courteous" and wait for me to enter/exit "their" lane. I've got to say though, pedestrians do the craziest things, luckily a lot of my riding is in the countryside, but when cycling in urban areas, I cycle slower as I was going down a local hill at the speed limit of 30mph and some lady walked out in front of me, I didn't have time to brake to come to a stop but swerved to duck behind her, she saw me at the last second and jumped back, if she'd kept going I'd have more leeway but had to swerve back out again at her jumping back towards the kerb. I had lights on and a high-vis biking jacket, this would probably if it had turned into an accident had the fault layed at my door, but there's no accounting for what people do when they're not concentrating whilst crossing roads... Going at speed isn't always the advantage you might think, give yourself more time to get places, my mate knocked over a child whilst cycling to work in London, no serious damage done, but couldn't cope with the guilt and hasn't commuted on a bike since.

Yes, that is the new advice, but as ever our law is confusing. Under existing law if a driver is exiting a side road into a major road when a pedestrian has already started to cross the major road, the driver must give way by law. Of course few drivers have ever done so.

 

And I can see a problem here in some parts of London and possibly elsewhere, where prostitutes ply their trade standing on the edge of the pavement at corners but with no intention of crossing. I can see them thinking they have a client when a driver following the rules stops for them to cross. Could be embarrassing.

.

I was interested by a report in a national newspaper of library louts deliberately using the Centre of the lane thereby restricting traffic flow..

But,

The accompanying photo showed a normal cyclist, no licra in sight.

I was interested by a report in a national newspaper of library louts deliberately using the Centre of the lane thereby restricting traffic flow..

But,

The accompanying photo showed a normal cyclist, no licra in sight.

Library louts bringing people to book...

I was interested by a report in a national newspaper of library louts deliberately using the Centre of the lane thereby restricting traffic flow..

But,

The accompanying photo showed a normal cyclist, no licra in sight.

 

Their journalists knowledge of cycling is such that I doubt they even knew what lycra is.

 

And they often seem unaware that cyclists should nearly always be in the centre of traffic lanes since the lanes have always been too narrow for a motor vehicle to pass a bicycle when both are within a lane, without it being driven dangerously.

 

Just as when passing another motor vehicle, the next lane is the one for their overtaking, whatever side of the road that's on.

.

The responsibility on all vehicle operators is to stop in time to avoid a collision. Alliston made no attempt to slow or stop and fully deserved his punishment.

 

Spot on. Rule 126, first line:

Stopping distances. Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear.

 

Horns (and bells and shouting) are for letting other road users know you're there, not 'Get out of the way' or 'I'm very short-tempered and more important than you'.

 

move or be destroyed

 

The bits where you're (is it you?) cycling on the pavement past the terraced properties surely risks collision with someone unexpectedly and hastily exiting one, especially when coming round a bend?

 

Plus somebody could very easily have stepped out from the far side of the bus shelter. The side window was opaque.

 

Not something I'd try.

 

Incidentally, is that Gloucester? Looks a bit like it from what I recall - three day work course in 1999.

Edited January 30, 20224 yr by passionate off roader

Library louts bringing people to book...

 

Oh yes, library louts - that wretched bunch of Virgil antis.

The bits where you're (is it you?) cycling on the pavement past the terraced properties surely risks collision with someone unexpectedly and hastily exiting one, especially when coming round a bend?

 

Plus somebody could very easily have stepped out from the far side of the bus shelter. The side window was opaque.

 

Not something I'd try.

 

Incidentally, is that Gloucester? Looks a bit like it from what I recall - three day work course in 1999.

 

The pavement doesn’t appear to be a cycle lane, illegal incident No. 1. Turning right down the turn left lane against the flow of oncoming traffic, illegal incident No. 2. Need I go on…

i always have a energy drink b4 i set out

 

Is a very bright flashing blue light on the front of the bike illegal, for a non-cop?

Edited January 30, 20224 yr by I893469365902345609348566

Would cops instinctively be drawn to a flashing blue light on a bike? I know flashing red lights are illegal at the front of a bike, but there's no mention of blue in The Highway Code, I think.

Been out for a cycle this morning and saw no car give way to waiting peds or cycles wanting to cross, I made vehicles sharply stop by simply crossing in front of them.

The new rules is that they must stop for those waiting wishing to cross, the aim is to slow traffic and make drivers more aware of their surroundings.

I shake my head at them or give them the bird now.

 

They don't like it when you ride a metre out either, but hey tough.

I did have one morton undertake me at a roundabout on the inside lane because I took prime at the junction to turn right.

I might buy some blue coloured theatre lighting gel sheet and try a bright blue front flashing light, to see how long a line of emergency vehicles I can attract in my wake.

Been out for a cycle this morning and saw no car give way to waiting peds or cycles wanting to cross, I made vehicles sharply stop by simply crossing in front of them.

The new rules is that they must stop for those waiting wishing to cross, the aim is to slow traffic and make drivers more aware of their surroundings.

I shake my head at them or give them the bird now.

 

They don't like it when you ride a metre out either, but hey tough.

I did have one morton undertake me at a roundabout on the inside lane because I took prime at the junction to turn right.

 

I'm going to keep my new so called "1800LM" light on in scary flashing mode during the day. Maybe bright flashing blue will make them stop and think? Probably not.

The Law /rules for the road have changed to help us and other vulnerable users, one has to take control and command our new rights to the road.

Of course I gauge the vehicle distance and speed, also now I make sure I actually stop the traffic at light controlled crossings.

If I irritate the drivers I come across I make no apologies because of their ignorance.

There are plod cycles with blue lights on, I don't know about the two's so one could try a solid blue light as well as White. It might make drivers think a bit or slow then down, also add one of those hi viz tabard's which equines use with the word POLITE notice on the back and it will work a treat. When I first saw one I mistook it for saying police as it has the chequer squares up both sides as well just like plod wear.

Only thing plod can do is say the Blue light shouldn't be used, I have seen boy racers with Blue led's in the grill and there are quite a lot of cars with the Blue tinged halogen headlamps that make you wonder.

There are plod cycles with blue lights on, I don't know about the two's so one could try a flashing blue light. It might make drivers think a bit or slow then down, also add one of those hi viz tabard's which equines use with the word POLITE notice on the back and it will work a treat.

Only thing plod can do is say the Blue light shouldn't be used, I have seen boy racers with Blue led's in the grill and there are quite a lot of cars with the Blue tinged halogen headlamps that make you wonder.

 

 

I've got to try it! Glue or ziptie, if it falls off, it's a cheap enough mod attempt.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152856120881?var=

The pavement doesn’t appear to be a cycle lane, illegal incident No. 1. Turning right down the turn left lane against the flow of oncoming traffic, illegal incident No. 2. Need I go on…

 

No. 3. Broke a red light.

 

Also, cycling at speed through a pedestrianised shopping area close to a fair No of people with their backs to him, so unsighted. Any one of them could have made an unexpected move into his path. Although granted, the motor was loud enough.

There are plod cycles with blue lights on, I don't know about the two's so one could try a solid blue light as well as White. It might make drivers think a bit or slow then down, also add one of those hi viz tabard's which equines use with the word POLITE notice on the back and it will work a treat. When I first saw one I mistook it for saying police as it has the chequer squares up both sides as well just like plod wear.

Only thing plod can do is say the Blue light shouldn't be used, I have seen boy racers with Blue led's in the grill and there are quite a lot of cars with the Blue tinged halogen headlamps that make you wonder.

 

 

This is a better blue. Heat-resistant sheet, because that 20W so-called "1800LM" light gets hot. If not blue enough, I could double layer. The light is bright enough to shine through. Maybe blue light will make dyslexic drivers read the road better?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162838942459?var=

Edited January 30, 20224 yr by I893469365902345609348566

Most light bezels unscrew so one should be able to place a Blue disc with in the bezel so it retains it.

Would cops instinctively be drawn to a flashing blue light on a bike? I know flashing red lights are illegal at the front of a bike, but there's no mention of blue in The Highway Code, I think.

The reading list to work that out is quite long!

 

Is a very bright flashing blue light on the front of the bike illegal, for a non-cop?

 

Excepting orange/yellow in certain circumstances, coloured lights are illegal for all but the emergency services.

.

Been out today for a short ride.

 

I already slow down when passing pedestrians on shared cycle/footpaths (I hate those anyway, bloody token things). And especially with horses as there have been some reports of really ignorant cyclists locally.

 

Certainly no drivers I encountered were acting on the new priorities when I was crossing junctions. I just waited so I didn't get hit by an SUV tank!

 

The only way it WOULD work is for changes to road surfaces IE ramps/grids etc to force cars to slow as well. As they do in the Netherlands on those occasions when cyclists do interact with drivers crossing roads etc.

 

My own town is putting 35 Million into repairing and upgrading roads to 'ease congestion due to more cars' *YES REALLY!*

 

"As part of these budget proposals we’ll be improving roads, roundabouts and junctions to reduce or avoid congestion that will be caused by more vehicles using our roads as the borough grows, as well as further improving safety on our roads and footpaths."

 

As far as I know more cars doesn't ease congestion!

A mere 3 mill for the poorly maintained footpaths and cycle routes, most of which are bloody awful or don't have signs enabling people to navigate!

Been out today for a short ride.

 

I already slow down when passing pedestrians on shared cycle/footpaths (I hate those anyway, bloody token things). And especially with horses as there have been some reports of really ignorant cyclists locally.

 

Certainly no drivers I encountered were acting on the new priorities when I was crossing junctions. I just waited so I didn't get hit by an SUV tank!

 

The only way it WOULD work is for changes to road surfaces IE ramps/grids etc to force cars to slow as well. As they do in the Netherlands on those occasions when cyclists do interact with drivers crossing roads etc.

 

My own town is putting 35 Million into repairing and upgrading roads to 'ease congestion due to more cars' *YES REALLY!*

 

"As part of these budget proposals we’ll be improving roads, roundabouts and junctions to reduce or avoid congestion that will be caused by more vehicles using our roads as the borough grows, as well as further improving safety on our roads and footpaths."

 

As far as I know more cars doesn't ease congestion!

A mere 3 mill for the poorly maintained footpaths and cycle routes, most of which are bloody awful or don't have signs enabling people to navigate!

 

I don't know what part of London you used to live in, but I still live here in the London Borough of Croydon and I think I'm very lucky in the south of my borough compared to all the negative things I've been reading about drivers since the change.

 

Round here I and many other drivers have long been giving way to pedestrians wanting to cross at junctions and I also experience it the other way when I walk through the estate and some drivers stop for me when I'm about to cross a side road.

 

And it's not just very local. Long ago If I stopped for a pedestrian anywhere other than a pedestrian crossing I could expect an angry horn blast from a driver behind, but that's no longer the case. On a regular five mile run south beyond London's boundary there's a long stretch at one point where the traffic is continuous in both directions.

 

From time to time I spot a pedestrian or more waiting to cross where the sole road island is so I give them a double flash to prepare them and slow down and stop. On every occasion to date another driver in the line of traffic coming from the opposite direction has seen my move and also stopped. And I'm not the only driver to initiate that, I've seen others do it in occasion.

 

The only reason I can think of why it is so different here is that quite a while ago my whole borough changed to a 20 mph limit on all roads except the through routes. With the traffic much slower, stopping is easier, doesn't slow drivers very much and there's longer to slow and prepare to stop when pedestrians are seen ahead.

 

So maybe that is the key, slowing everything down to allow more time for courtesy and planning ahead.

.

Would cops instinctively be drawn to a flashing blue light on a bike? I know flashing red lights are illegal at the front of a bike, but there's no mention of blue in The Highway Code, I think.

 

Lots of relevant info & links here:

http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/blue-light-use/

 

The blue light regulations applying to emergency vehicles used to be just for motor vehicles. In 2005 the rules were changed to cover all vehicles, including cycles. This reflects the increased use of cycles to respond to emergency calls using blue lights and sirens particularly in the ambulance service.

 

Would cops be drawn to a flashing blue light? Yes, impersonating a police officer doesn't go down well.