Are the UK roads safe for cyclists?

[Bigtallfatbloke]

?

 

[Keith Oates]

I don't suppose any road is 100% safe but that is because we have to share it with other forms of transport which of course includes other bikes. So I guess its other traffic that makes them to some degree unsafe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DJ]

Oh please!.......please , don't get me going!

In a word the answer is NO!

 

[zimzum42]

Anyone who thinks the UK roads are unsafe for cyclists should get out a bit and check out some of the roads in other, further-flung parts of the world....

 

[LLB]

There are some monster potholes around this way

 

[andygates]

Fine. Stop being a bunch of wusses and claim your roadspace.

 

[Jaded]

Yes.

 

[HLaB]

90% of the time I'd say they're fine and its just the occaisional twerp who makes them unsafe there are a few layouts however, that I think are bad and I'd usually avoid them.

 

[ianrauk]

They're not too bad.. just have to be very assertive

 

[User482]

Safer than they are perceived to be, but not as safe as they could be.

 

[Mr Phoebus]

Private Frazer: We're doomed!

 

[wafflycat]

Fine. Stop being a bunch of wusses and claim your roadspace.

+1

If this middle-aged woman can cycle on the roads in a safe, assertive fashion, then pretty much anyone can.

 

[ChrisKH]

Personally I think it can vary from location to location. I have a great deal of sympathy with the assertion that the roads in South & South East Essex, for example, are worse than other areas of the country (as BTFB often refers) mainly because of the type of driver that resides there. Commuter belt country does not appear to generate safe and responsible drivers IMO. Commuters straight off the trains from London are a nightmare - after making a killing on the trading floor they just continue in the same frame of mind going home. If I didn't know better, I would say the closer you get to the Ford works of Dagenham and Dunton the worse driving tends to be. By contrast, riding in the City of London and other areas of Essex (North and East) I rarely get problems with other road users except cyclists and motorcyclists in the City; the latter of which will become more of a problem as bus lanes open up.

In reality it is the 5% of poor driving which gives other motorised road users a bad name regardless of location, but the 5% found in Essex are complete shoots. Bad and poor driving, often intentionally bad, and up for a fight as well if challenged.

 

[Landslide]

Absolutely safe? No. Relatively safe? Yes.

 

[JtB]

No, but when you get to a certain age, riding a bike on the roads is far safer than being a "couch potato" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couch_potato)