A question of etiquette/traffic law ...

[BentMikey]

It's quite possible to be lovely and pass Iris with her new hip without causing her any alarm and distress.

 

[Boris Bajic]

It's quite possible to be lovely and pass Iris with her new hip without causing her any alarm and distress.

It may very well be, but in suggesting that it is you appear to put forward a viewpoint not in complete agreement with mine.

I do not post on this forum to provoke dissent or disagreement. In fact, I do not accept that any sane person can disagree with any opinion of mine.

I've given this a lot of thought and decided that you are utterly, utterly wrong and I have always been (and will always be) right.

Iris (despite being a fictional character) is with me 100% in this matter. So is my pet cat.

Please take your dangerous, divisive and extremist views elsewhere!

 

[summerdays]

I thought of this thread this week. I was going through Henleaze and needed to stop at Boots. So I stopped on the left (same side as Boots) and crossed the zebra crossing to lock up my bike. Then crossed back, nipped into Boots, crossed back again (I do wish there was a stand on the other side), and finally went to cross back again with my bike (on foot).

As I approached the crossing, one car - if really polite could have stopped but I didn't have a problem with them continuing. However as I stepped onto the crossing a large van pulled off the pavement and waved thanks that I let him go (you know the type). That then set up the scene for several cars to have to suddenly brake as the large van had blocked the view of me on the crossing and so there were cars coming from both directions that hadn't realised I was on the crossing (ok only by 3 feet or so). So the cheeky van driver didn't realise the situation he set up.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

OP did you spend the 5 or so seconds you saved in a worthwhile & productive manner?

 

[BrazingSaddles]

I thought of this thread this week. I was going through Henleaze and needed to stop at Boots. So I stopped on the left (same side as Boots) and crossed the zebra crossing to lock up my bike. Then crossed back, nipped into Boots, crossed back again (I do wish there was a stand on the other side), and finally went to cross back again with my bike (on foot).

As I approached the crossing, one car - if really polite could have stopped but I didn't have a problem with them continuing. However as I stepped onto the crossing a large van pulled off the pavement and waved thanks that I let him go (you know the type). That then set up the scene for several cars to have to suddenly brake as the large van had blocked the view of me on the crossing and so there were cars coming from both directions that hadn't realised I was on the crossing (ok only by 3 feet or so). So the cheeky van driver didn't realise the situation he set up.

Hi there summerdays - I know this crossing you talk of and was in fact almost mown down just the other week by a woman who obviously thought her journey was far more important than my well-being (or life!). The split crossing further up (by bakery) isn't much better. But hey, that's Henleaze for you - silly people insisting on driving through a high street that is busy with car, bike & pedestrian traffic.

Back on topic - I wait and give pedestrians a big cheesy grin as they cross in shock that a cyclist has given way

 

[davefb]

seems one of the clearer bits.
"
194

Allow pedestrians plenty of time to cross and do not harass them by revving your engine or edging forward."
time TO CROSS. the pedestrian on a zebra MUST have left the crossing.. 'the crossing' is different if theres an island or if there isnt with something that crossing two carraigeways...
has no cop out for cyclists, so you should wait.. I really can't understand how anyone can misunderstand this ?

 

[Hawk]

seems one of the clearer bits.
"
194

Allow pedestrians plenty of time to cross and do not harass them by revving your engine or edging forward."
time TO CROSS. the pedestrian on a zebra MUST have left the crossing.. 'the crossing' is different if theres an island or if there isnt with something that crossing two carraigeways...
has no cop out for cyclists, so you should wait.. I really can't understand how anyone can misunderstand this ?

Because it's arguable that they have "plenty of time" to cross as you pass behind them at 5mph giving 2metres of clearance.

If it's a "slow approach" where you pass within a foot of a pedestrian, wobbling away and pressuring them to run across - no, just stop. It wont kill you.

If you're 20 metres away and spot someone crossing and slow down so you don't have to stop, whilst giving them tonnes of space, I'm sure the pedestrian wont crap his pants if you pass the opposite side of the road just before they step on to the kerb.

We are not in a legal battle on every commute so we should aim to be courteous and considerate first.

Where has common sense gone?

 

[summerdays]

Hi there summerdays - I know this crossing you talk of and was in fact almost mown down just the other week by a woman who obviously thought her journey was far more important than my well-being (or life!). The split crossing further up (by bakery) isn't much better. But hey, that's Henleaze for you - silly people insisting on driving through a high street that is busy with car, bike & pedestrian traffic.

Back on topic - I wait and give pedestrians a big cheesy grin as they cross in shock that a cyclist has given way

I don't normally have a problem with any of the zebra crossings in Henleaze (apart from the location of the bike stands being on one side of them) but I'm always surprised that they haven't got rid of the zebra crossings there as they have in other parts of the city. The one by the bakery has almost continual pedestrians crossing on it. I admit to being a militant pedestrian on zebra crossings in that I will step onto them (though I then stop to see if the car is stopping) but the non hesitant way of stepping out means they are more likely to think you are carrying on regardless and therefore stop.

 

[gavintc]

This is really fascinating. Everyone (including the pedestrians) would wonder what was wrong with you if you waited for them to reach the kerb here.

+1 - In Naples, crossing the road is also completely acceptable in the busiest of roads. You step off the pavement into the flow of traffic and as long as you keep a constant speed, traffic will flow around you. It is a bizarre experience the first time you do it. It works.

 

[cloggsy]

I bet the Highway Code says that drivers AND cyclists must wait until the crossing is clear before they proceed.

+1, however, we do keep being reminded that 'The Highway Code' is NOT law, just guidance. However, if you were to plough down a pedestrian on a crossing, I'm sure you would end up getting your collar felt by the boys in blue...

I'll leave all this traffic light stuff to you London chaps; there is only one set of lights I have to negotiate & that is on a one-way at a time bridge over a river crossing

 

[summerdays]

+1, however, we do keep being reminded that 'The Highway Code' is NOT law, just guidance.

As far as I am aware some bits are law and some bits are guidance, though the highway code is an interpretation of the actual transport regulations. (Is that correct?) Usually the bits that are law have a MUST in them.

I'll leave all this traffic light stuff to you London chaps; there is only one set of lights I have to negotiate & that is on a one-way at a time bridge over a river crossing

Wierd how much you come to accept our own version of daily life as reality and the opposite as not normal

 

[Norm]

(Is that correct?)

Yes.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

The road traffic acts are the overarching laws governing all roads and users.
When anyone is prosecuted they are done so under whatever section/s of the RTA AND, referenced to the relevant Approved Code of Practice - in this instance, The Highway Code which every driver is required to be conversant with.
Although not an Act or Regulation, Codes of Practice have quasi-legal status and part of the driving test.

Section 195 of the code states that drivers MUST give way to pedestrians already or starting to cross.

What neither specifies is whether you should drive over the crossing before the ped has finished crossing, however in court had there been an incident resulting a summons, the driver/cyclist would most likely be at fault.

So, not crystal, but a little clearer.

 

[WilliamNB]

To me it is crystal clear: if a pedestrian is still crossing, drivers and cyclists MUST give way. Going behind them is NOT giving way. When in doubt, stop.
The test I use is "How would I feel if somebody did this to my grandmother?"

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

I agree WilliamB, I was just pointing out from a legal perspective, however, the actions of "A reasonable man" would be used in court and a Reasonable Man would wait until the peds are fully across.