but this is something that everyone needs to take note of. I'm a keen cyclist and since I started my new job in July I'm now able to commute on my bike. This has several benefits (not just to me) 1. It reduces the number of cars on the road at the busiest time of day. 2. Reduces CO2 emissions therefore reducing the impact of climate change 3. Keeps me fit and healthy and reduces the burden on the Health Service. As with most cyclists I get really peed off with close passes, so please watch this video taken from the One Show on the BBC a couple of weeks back. Last night I had a really close pass from a Police Patrol Car FFS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EqGXKkiuDI
As several on here know I live partly in Germany (just outside Hamburg). Over there you ride your bike on the pavement, often in marked out cycle lanes but also simply sharing the pavement with pedestrians. It's a kind of unwritten rule that the cyclists stay on the outside of the pavement, nearest the road, and the pedestrians stick to the inside. You can cycle on the road if you want, for example on country roads where there's no pavement. Most big cities have a network of cycle paths to separate cyclists from traffic. Over here the opposite is true - cyclists are forced to share a busy road with heavy traffic, and to the best of my knowledge it's illegal to cycle on a pavement. My brother borrowed a bike for a month to try out a new way of commuting. He gave it back as in his opinion it was only a matter of time before he got injured. I know that some UK cities (Cambridge, for example) have a cycle path network, but Barnsley doesn't (probably because it's so hilly). As a kid I went everywhere on my bike. but wouldn't do it now. It's simply too dangerous.
Only because 1. the general public are ignorant of the laws 2. many don't give a t*ss about cyclists 3. some cyclists are idiots and flout the laws giving motorists the excuse to do the same 4. cycle lanes in the uk are often a joke and often attempt force cyclists into ridiculous contortions and make it more dangerous (for example they suddenly end and "throw" the cyclist back into the traffic often at the most dangerous places like the approaches to junctions etc) 5. many motorists think that they are allowed to drive on the edge of a cycle lane even if there is a cyclist in it (they must still allow 1.5m clearance) 6. many motorists think it's ok to park in cycle lanes 7. many motorists think that cycle lanes are compulsory, they're not they're optional as is the wearing of helmets, hi-viz etc I could go on. One thing that really bugs me is when a motorist insists on passing me only to end up sat in a queue 30 yards up the road which they can plainly see before they overtake. Pointless. Oh and passing me while I am clearly indicating to turn right, they wouldn't do it to another car or a motorbike - don't do it to me. You're right about cycling on the pavement; illegal unless explicitly designated as a shared path.
What ever the reasons for the danger, it's dangerous. My brother said more or less the same as you, but that would be no consolation if he were laid in a hospital bed with his leg stuck up in the air at a funny angle.
Quite true, everyone has to weigh up the risks and act accordingly. Personally, I get so much pleasure from my cycling that I consider the risks worth it. So far I've only come a cropper twice, once when entirely due to my own fault I hit a traffic calming measure, went over the handlebars and hit a steel post breaking my shoulder blade (ouch). The other when a car came out of a side road and hit me on my left thigh pushing me sideways. Luckily it was a wide road and I was well away from any oncoming traffic. I suffered no injury (I sort of walked off the bike as it went down). The rear wheel was buckled beyond repair though.
So we both: Support the Reds Live in South Derbyshire Get a kick out of cycling Are you my long lost twin? No seriously though, I totally agree about the passing etc. there are some idiot car drivers out there that don't give us enough room and plenty of cyclists that give us a bad name. I don't cycle to work regularly as I work in Stoke, so I envy you the ability to cycle there - wish I could. I have done it a couple of times though. My riding is restricted to weekends at the min and evenings in the summer and normally an annual long ride with mates such as the coast to coast - or Newcastle to Edinburgh etc. Happy cycling. Ade
Hi Ade Always loved cycling, I remember many a ride to Donny on a sunday as a lad, I was also into railways, so we used to ride to the Works (Doncaster Plant) and the running sheds. Me and my mate went to all the old railway sheds in the area, Mexbrough, Wath, Royston, Tinsley etc and some big junctions like Wragby (near Rawmarsh). Happy cycling mate and COYR! Brian
Re: Hi Ade I've no problem with any of that. Could I also ask you to be considerate of others, so if you see a queue of say 5 or more cars crawling along behind you but unable to overtake safely... any chance you could dismount let us pass and let us get on with our lives and then you resume yours
Can you explain why i should give a toss about cyclists when i spend the walk between work and the train station trying not to get flattened by lycra clad morons bombing down the footpaths at speed because they need to save time or the best one... the roads are dangerous at rush hour... jumping red lights. And thats just in sheffield. Sort the elitist snobbism that the push iron warriors have. especially the ****muter types and people myself included wont get the big tarring brush out.
Re: Cycling mate of mine had a rant this week. And didn't join us for the Sunday ride Shocking and appalling but unfortunately all too common. You really would think that people who drive "professionally" would be the safest and best drivers on the road, my experience and obviously Andy's mate's experience says otherwise. Taxi drivers for example are among the very worst. Lets get this clear. Cyclists have every right to be on the road and of course were there before cars were. There is no road tax, hasn't been for nearly 50 years. I do pay vehicle excise duty because I have a car. I should be allowed at least 5 to 6 feet of clearance, I have every right to cycle in the centre of a lane when conditions make it the safest option for me and don't overtake me when I'm indicating to turn right, approaching a blind corner or a blind summit. I cycle to work, this reduces traffic by one car. I don't hold traffic up significantly, but most cars end up holding me up at junctions and each other of course. If you are driving, the "enemy" to your speedy progress is not cyclists but other effing cars!!!!! Parked ones as well as moving ones. Got me wound up now.
Re: Hi Ade I do this all the time. But not when there's stationary traffic a couple of hundred yards ahead..... I don't actually dismount, but pull in to the kerb and wave the traffic past.
Rule number 66 of the highway code.... You should not -never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends -not ride close behind another vehicle Just 2 rules I see broken nearly every time I see cyclists on the road. The top one especially on Sundays Not necessarily you like but rules are clearly ignored
But just for you Part of rule 67. You should take extra care near road humps, narrowings and other traffic calming features Lol
I take it that's a reference to my "accident". It hurt like hell at the time but I often have a chuckle at myself when I think about it. Incidentally, a passing motorist kindly stopped and took me home after locking my bike up - they're not all bad.....
It was yes. I was only actually looking to find a rule of cyclists riding side by side etc because it does grind my gears somewhat. But then started reading the other rules. And that just stuck out after reading your accident. Twas in jest and I couldn't resist posting it. Same token not all cyclists are bad either. Just both road users and cyclists are all tarred with the same brush (no pun intended) and the minority knacker up the rest
I sometimes go out for rides with a bunch of Camra members (friday nights, few beers. mostly aged 40 to 70) and I've never seen any of them riding more than 2 abreast. Mostly though, I ride on my own. Not sure about the other one though. There are some ignorant cyclists just as there are bad drivers. In fact they are in another group entirely, they are bad road users, a group which also includes some pedestrians. The unfortunate thing is that by far the most dangerous ones are driving cars.
