Bashed a car today

[Sysagent]

Very true, but (poorly designed and thought out) cycle lanes often increase the risk of being affected by poor driving.

Amen to that brother...

 

[ketka82uk]

I hate cycle lanes/paths with a vengeance so try to use them as little as possible!

What is funny is that until I started commuting by bike myself I couldn't understand the cyclists who didn't use them and it did used to get me worked up as a driver. I would never pass on any sign of this annoyance to the cyclist in question but it did bother me. Then I moved from the gentle joys of mountain biking to the comparitive carnage of communting on a road bike in central London and suddenly all became clear. Riding a road bike along most of the cycle paths in London is probably one of the most unpleasant experiences you can have on a bicycle. The kerbs, the potholes, the pedestrians, the smashed glass... need I go on?

I understand the drivers that yell at me to 'get on the cycle path, you t**t!' so I just ignore them. I wish there were some way of getting them to understand me, however!

 

[HLaB]

Cycle lanes just need concrete(or some other eco friendly, hard, car stopping solid thing) bollards instead of the white lines.

I don't think I'd like anything that kept me in though

 

[magnatom]

Cycle lanes just need concrete(or some other eco friendly, hard, car stopping solid thing) bollards instead of the white lines.

I disagree. What we really need is the removal of all on road cycle lanes. Cycle paths have their uses, but on road lanes almost always cause more problems than they solve.

Psychologically they are bad for two reasons:

1) Drivers see a lane and see a cyclist in it. Therefore, they see the cyclist in their 'compartment' and think, 'oh good' they are safe in there, I can ignore them and carry on their merry way...'. Thus drivers (IME) pass closer than they would if no lane existed.

2) Cyclists who are scared of the roads, i.e. no experience, little road skill knowledge etc see that there are cycle lanes and think, 'good. I'll be fine if I keep within them.' Thus, they go out on the road, stick blindly to the lanes without thinking about their own safety, about he safety of the lane etc.

Why not stop painting the road, and focus the resources on education. Training for new cyclists, compulsory cycle training for drivers (as part of the test when medically fit enough) and education campaigns for drivers.

If changes need to be made to the roads, then take markings away (i.e. lanes, lights, pavement/road seperation etc. Put the onus back on the road users. Force people to do something they have forgotten to do....THINK!

Just my 50p worth!

 

[SimonC]

Combined bus and cycle lanes are OK - loads of space.

I had some t**t on a motorbike ride up next to me the other day, pointing a cycle path next to the road, covered in glass, telling me to "F***ing use it", even though it was slow traffic, holding nobody up. We then both stopped in a queue of traffic and had a right slanging match!

 

[magnatom]

Combined bus and cycle lanes are OK - loads of space.

Yes, these are an exception. They are a full lane and not a section of a lane as is normally the case.

 

[trsleigh]

I disagree. What we really need is the removal of all on road cycle lanes. Cycle paths have their uses, but on road lanes almost always cause more problems than they solve.

+1

Put the money saved into issuing Cyclecraft with every bike sold.

 

[fruitbat]

I disagree. What we really need is the removal of all on road cycle lanes. Cycle paths have their uses, but on road lanes almost always cause more problems than they solve.

Most perhaps, but not all; contra-flow cycle lanes should definitely be kept.

 

[ketka82uk]

+1

Put the money saved into issuing Cyclecraft with every bike sold.

Amen. It's made a HUGE difference to my skills on the road!

 

[eddiemee]

If changes need to be made to the roads, then take markings away (i.e. lanes, lights, pavement/road seperation etc. Put the onus back on the road users. Force people to do something they have forgotten to do....THINK!

Just my 50p worth!

Interesting proposal, there's some sense in it. I'm always amazed to pass a junction when the traffic lights aren't working. All (well most) drivers seem to check their mirrors and look left and right before going through the junction, the traffic seems to filter well with courtesy making a rare appearance on the roads. Now if every driver could maintain the same level of attention and courtesy all the time...

 

[summerdays]

The highway code should be updated to explain to motorists why cyclists could be in the middle of the lane. (OK most only read it once - but it would be nice to have it enshrined in the highway code so that you could tell them to go read it, rather than in Cyclecraft which a motorist isn't going to read at all.)

 

[semislickstick]

I disagree. What we really need is the removal of all on road cycle lanes. Cycle paths have their uses, but on road lanes almost always cause more problems than they solve.

Psychologically they are bad for two reasons:

1) Drivers see a lane and see a cyclist in it. Therefore, they see the cyclist in their 'compartment' and think, 'oh good' they are safe in there, I can ignore them and carry on their merry way...'. Thus drivers (IME) pass closer than they would if no lane existed.

2) Cyclists who are scared of the roads, i.e. no experience, little road skill knowledge etc see that there are cycle lanes and think, 'good. I'll be fine if I keep within them.' Thus, they go out on the road, stick blindly to the lanes without thinking about their own safety, about he safety of the lane etc.

Why not stop painting the road, and focus the resources on education. Training for new cyclists, compulsory cycle training for drivers (as part of the test when medically fit enough) and education campaigns for drivers.

If changes need to be made to the roads, then take markings away (i.e. lanes, lights, pavement/road seperation etc. Put the onus back on the road users. Force people to do something they have forgotten to do....THINK!

Just my 50p worth!

In the same way that Hi-viz clothing is encouraging motorist not to really 'LOOK' when on the road as well?
I get more room on the road cycle lane, but then we only have one and its painted red and wide enough for a car to park within the solid white line, so they do, obviously. But when there aren't car's in it it's pretty good, they tend not to enter it to squeeze past.
Standard sized lanes, enforced traffic laws and eduction would make them work.
On road lanes work better for me with side roads rather than on path lanes that I have to keep stopping and giving way, I really don't understand why that don't make motorists stop and give way to cyclists as they are going to have to give way to traffic on the main road they want to join anyway. Don't they do that in Holland?

 

[Crankarm]

There I was, cycling along (in a cycle lane ) with two lanes of traffic on my right. Approaching TLs, two lines of stationary traffic. I happen to know that there is an ASL at the TLs, so I start to filter (with care, looking out for left indicators etc). Suddenly, as I was passing a car, it started to pull left into the cycle lane. I yelled, and still it came on, until the wing and mirror were mm from me. I yelled even louder and veered sharply to the left (I ALWAYS leave a bit of room on my left!!!). The car stopped, and a woman gazed at me in a blank sort of way, mumbled something and then CARRIED ON. So I whacked the roof of her car really hard. She stopped. I cycled round to the front offside window, and asked (in a rather un-gentlemanly sort of way "What the f*ck do you think you are doing??" She said that she hadn't heard me. "Heard me!" I yelled - "You didn't see me -- because you weren't looking, you stupid cow!"

The lights changed, and several nearby cars gave me a very wide berth .

I caught up with the Stupid Cow a mile or so later on - she was wearing headphones, with music so loud I could hear it 10 yards away. She was oblivious to anything and anyone.

There's a lot to be said for getting rid of cycle lanes on the road. They are ignored and abused by motorists, and they encourage cyclists (like me!) into dangerous situations.

Simples......carry a small pair of scissors.............give her the snip. Then she will be able to hear something other than the noise coming from her headphones .

 

[byegad]

Wearing earphones? So loud you can hear them 10m away?

Answer! Key the door and ride on.

 

[Glow worm]

I had a right doughnut on my way home this evening. As always- a Volvo. First, the dozy bint pulls left out of garage forecourt into traffic jam withot looking and blocks cycle path withher ugly yellow tank. Then at red light where I was waiting, the useless tart roars off and suddenly screams off left (into Cambridge's Newmarket Road P&R site) - no indicators (this is a Volvo after all, and as we all know, Volvo drivers- or peanuts as they are more commonly known- are officially exempt from using indicators)- and complely carves me up. One enormous whack of fist on boot later & I think the dizzy spillage finally realises I'm there. Glad my D lock was out of reach though- It would have done a lot more damage. There- thanks guys- I feel a whole lot better now!
Regadrs,
Giles.