ASLs

[sasquath]

The law is the law. We can't selectively decide who gets to break it. If a motorbicyclist did that to me id reach across and switch off their ignition.

Careful, punch to the face with carbon armoured biker glove hurts as hell

That's a good point. When I did both my CBT and further training for the A motorcycle test, there was no mention of ASLs at all

Your instructor wasn't good, or you didn't pay attention. I was warned several times to not be tempted to enter ASLs during my A license training. CBT is a joke really.

 

[Drago]

Not as much as being ground pinned with their own motorbike hurts.

 

[jpj84]

Another greater Mancunian here - yep, they are ignored by 95% of drivers, and the taxi drivers will normally then roll further through, past the box. I suspect the 5% are drivers who are also cyclists (or maybe non-locals). OTOH, this means we don't really have the issue of motorbikes in the box.

I genuinely thought this was the case nationwide, so I'm pleasantly surprised they are observed elsewhere.

 

[a.twiddler]

You're not in a good position to be engaging in fisticuffs while sitting on a motorbike. If someone grabs your hand you can't do much with the other one, and one good shove and you'll be over. Plus, you need both your hands and feet to operate the controls while the car driver could, while still gripping your hand, engage gear with the other and drive forward, dragging you over. It's unlikely as they would worry about getting their paintwork scratched, but if they're in an older car it's something to be aware of. At best you'd end up with a Mexican stand off.

On the other hand, if you get off your bike even the wimpiest biker must look like the Terminator when standing glaring through the driver's window. It's one thing disrespecting more vulnerable road users when you think you can get away from them but if you're confronted with an irate armoured individual when you're stuck in traffic it's quite a different thing. I've been told I look quite scary (What! Mild mannered me?) but I suppose I don't think about it much as I'm a bit old school, out on my old school Honda pretty much every day. I always think that they can't hit you if you're not there, and try to keep out of such situations in the first place, and the same when out cycling.

 

[T4tomo]

I used to commute thru London , agree with whoever said ASL's are mainly observed by ignored by a few.

I've had a moped driver pull into the box along side me on my right but indicating left (i was roughly central as big junction).

I told him in no uncertain terms, I was going straight across and he was waiting for me and not cutting across me! it worked.

When cars had stopped in the ASL box i would sometimes carefully position myself in front of them just in front whilst eyeballing them, particularly if turning right etc. Hopefully they get the message.

 

[sasquath]

Totally agree. Getting into a fight on the road is just stupid(any fight for that matter)

My comment about a punching was a joke. And I'm pretty sure Dragon's comment about cutting motorbike ignition also was a joke.

My approach to idiots on the road is stay as far away as possible.

 

[Dogtrousers]

You're not in a good position to be engaging in fisticuffs while sitting on a motorbike.

I have specialist knowledge of this as I was an avid reader of 2000AD in the 1980s. Judge Dredd never had a problem with this.

Mind you, he did have a tendency to pass a death sentence and simply shoot the perp with his Lawgiver while sitting astride his Lawmaster.

"ASL infraction. Verdict - Guilty. Sentence - DEATH" BOOOM! AIIEE! AAARGH!

 

[Drago]

You're not in a good position to be engaging in fisticuffs while sitting on a motorbike. If someone grabs your hand you can't do much with the other one, and one good shove and you'll be over. Plus, you need both your hands and feet to operate the controls while the car driver could, while still gripping your hand, engage gear with the other and drive forward, dragging you over. It's unlikely as they would worry about getting their paintwork scratched, but if they're in an older car it's something to be aware of. At best you'd end up with a Mexican stand off.

On the other hand, if you get off your bike even the wimpiest biker must look like the Terminator when standing glaring through the driver's window. It's one thing disrespecting more vulnerable road users when you think you can get away from them but if you're confronted with an irate armoured individual when you're stuck in traffic it's quite a different thing. I've been told I look quite scary (What! Mild mannered me?) but I suppose I don't think about it much as I'm a bit old school, out on my old school Honda pretty much every day. I always think that they can't hit you if you're not there, and try to keep out of such situations in the first place, and the same when out cycling.

The phrase you are looking for is "positional disadvantage."

Conversely, a cyclist has at hand an excellent weapon, shield and restraint device, at least for those trained to use it as such.

 

[figbat]

That's a good point. When I did both my CBT and further training for the A motorcycle test, there was no mention of ASLs at all

Presumably the Highway Code was mentioned a bit (see Rule 178)? And there must have been a theory test somewhere along the way, requiring revision of the HC?

 

[sasquath]

Presumably the Highway Code was mentioned a bit (see Rule 178)? And there must have been a theory test somewhere along the way, requiring revision of the HC?

CBT don't mention HC at all.
I did my theory test by doing 10 training tests in an app, ASL's didn't come up once.
My instructor warned against going into ASL wile filtering during training ride, and then on the day of practical test he reminded that it's favourite place to fail...

 

[simongt]

20 years, talk about doing an ASL would be met with "how dare you" by the planning, councils and the general pubic

This is not unlike the situation back in the 1930s when the Govt. of the time wanted to introduce separate cycle lanes with the spate of new roads that were being built up & down the country. The CTC really kicked off at the idea of separating cycles and cars so it never happened.
Given today's cycle path / lane situation, ironic isn't it - ?

 

[mjr]

20 years, talk about doing an ASL would be met with "how dare you" by the planning, councils and the general pubic. Now it is nearly everywhere. I think it makes so much difference for cyclists in big cities and heavy traffic.

How do they help? They seem utterly pointless, always with motorists of some size in, with no traffic police or (more likely) red light cameras to enforce them.

Give me a cycleway bypassing the lights every time. Lights are because motorists never give way unless required to.

 

[mjr]

It depends on the legal naturemof the road markings as to whether its a councilmor dibvle enforcement issue. In nearby Northampton theyre carncil markings, enforceable by them...but they never do.

How do you work that out? It is an Road Traffic Act section 36 offence and so always the police's job to enforce. The council can do nothing on it except maybe fund a red light jumping camera. I think that is why councils seem keen on putting them in: it costs them almost nothing except paint or thermoplastic (unless they actually add a cycle green that appears on its own, which is another lamp head and more wires and controller stuff) and their ineffectiveness is somebody else's fault.

Possibly the police object when they are proposed and say they won't police them, but that would just be Poshshire Police in their usual bike-hating habits.

 

[mjr]

When you look at the layout of our local ASLs there is usually a skinny cycle lane that runs for a few yards up the left side of the road into the ASL which means that to use them, you have no choice to except to run the gauntlet of the door zone on that side.

No, there is a choice. The regulations were changed (in 2016 I think) so currently cyclists may enter the ASL from any point. You should overtake on the right as normal if the cycle lane is dangerously skinny.

 

[matticus]

A 'biker passed me and shot through the cycle bypass of some traffic calming last night.