Not condoning the actions of the driver, but the comment about cycle lanes in the story from Tim Lennon, from the Richmond Cycling Campaign:
"...on a road like this, which should probably only be used for cycling and for local access anyway, local councils could do much more to make their boroughs safer and more inviting."
Apart from providing the empty and unused cycle lane what exactly else do you think should be done with council tax payers cash then one wonders?
If its the one I saw last week, then the cyclist is a knob too. he should have let the bloke get out of his car, then ridden off, he'd look a right tit then, ranting in the road on his own. Or, punched him on the nose immediately. Anyway, the vast majority of cycle lanes are quite useless for anyone who is commuting/getting anywhere. It is because Councils employ people who havent got a clue, and think a painted line on a pavement can be the cycle lane, The downsides - keep stopping at each junction, the surface is usually far worse that the adjoining road, pedestrians regularly walk into the cycle lane, cars park on the lane, it goes up and down with each kerb drop/access etc.
If they spent their money on something that is better,and useable, then people would use them, but as it is, they are worse than using the road, so you wont see many people using them.
Anything else (or don't spend the money in the first place providing 'facilities that no-one wants/will use) "magic paint" on a pavement does NOT make that area safe/suitable for cycling
As should a lot of drivers. Lot ? all There are nutters in every form of transport they are not all bad but we only ever notice the minority who are knob ends
Train cyclists that blind people cannot see or hear them coming and to get a bell and use the bloody thing, instead of shouting obscenities at us. Brian
AIUI it is a "guide" as to how much space to give a cyclist (if one is there) - if no cyclist present just feel free to use that bit of the road. If its a solid line then cars shouldn't be using that part of the road.
If it means don't enter at all then this road becomes just about impassable to two way traffic
They are advisory - other vehicles can use that are of road, potentially park on them etc. (as opposed to the ones with solid lines which are only for cycle use)
I guess the idea is that it is supposed to encourage drivers to stay out of that bit of road.
Last night the lights turned green and I moved forward only to have to slam on the brakes as a lycra wonder shot through his red lights at
28mph. I turned left and followed him, that's why I know his speed.
Around here there are two cycle lanes, well separated from their derestricted road and that took the council several weeks to prepare and tarmac. One of them involved the removal of the lay-by which I often used en-route to the tip to check the security of goods in the trailer. The cyclists still use the road.
Worst of all is the Mersey Tunnel on a sunny weekend. They replaced the lighting then saved money by removing every other fluorescent tube. A few weeks back on a Saturday morning, having entered the tunnel from bright sun, I suddenly encountered a gaggle of cyclists unlit in the gloom a few feet ahead. I swung right into the outside lane only to find another gaggle straddling both lanes. I had to yank the wheel and cross to the oncoming outside lane. I should have reported them and raised the alarm, but failed in my duty. I'm still amazed that I have never been able to find any guidance or regulations about lighting levels in road tunnels.
I can't agree with you there. There are some absolute knob ends but most are generally good but every now and then they misjudge things. Note this is cyclists in general, not commuters through London some of the *&^% that goes on there terrifies me. Never yet met a driver who has never misjudged anything and been grateful for an empty road/attentive other road users etc.
And have an upset driver in charge of two tons of metal behind you. No thanks.
Quite often if someone is driving like a knob behind me then I will pull over and let him past better to have a knob end in front of you than having to pass you.
In terms of road users who do stupid things, cyclists take some beating. Even although those stupid things may result in their death or injury rather than others.
But then bleat on when one of their number is seriously injured that it is always the fault of the vehicle driver - even when facts show it is clearly not.
It is impossible in an old city like London to provide cycle routes totally isolated from other traffic - they will always have to cross etc at some point. And the majority of cyclists hate stopping or giving way. Very noticeable on pedestrian crossings where an vast number will ignore pedestrians having priority.
Driving round London, it's rare not to see a near miss involving a cyclist several times a day. And in the vast majority of the cases caused by the cyclist ignoring the highway code.
For all types of traffic to co-exist on our roads, there have to be rules followed by all. Not just the ones that suit an individual at any point in time.
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