John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
Appeared in my local Paper's letters page this week;
Considering responding thusly;
sir,
As a regular commuter by bicycle (27 mile round trip, most days, most weathers) I read AJ Kaye's letter proposing to fine cyclists who don't use cycle lanes (published in the Crewe Guardian this week) with great interest.
AJ Kaye may not be aware of it, but cyclists have the right to use any road (other than motorways and some dual carriageways carrying an explicit prohibition on cycling) regardless of the cycling facilities (lanes or paths provided). The current revision of the highway code states that the decision whether to use these facilities or not is dependant upon the cyclist's experience and skill - not the level of investment by the council. This is supported in law, most recently in the case of Daniel Cadden. Given that, I'm unsure whether the proposal could be implemented.
I also don't see why AJ Kaye finds the presence of cyclists on the road "infuriating". Assuming that he/she writes from the point of view of a motorist, AJ Kaye is surely aware that all that is required is to drive according to rules 204-225 of the highway code, and overtake according to rule 163 once it is safe to do so, incurring a possible delay of a few minutes at most to their journey. (My own experience as a motorist is that the delay generally amounts to a few seconds, and in some cases tens of seconds - I also find that I only end up arriving at the next lights or traffic queue slightly earlier in any case).
Given that, I'd say that a cyclist injured by a someone unable to wait long enough to pass safely, or driving without due care for other road users has every right to "moan if they got injured by a car or some other transport". On the last point the law and highway code agree too, as everyone using the road has a duty to do so with care and consideration for other road users, regardless of their chosen means of transport.
If it's the money spent on underused cycle facilities that angers AJ Kaye, I look forward to proposals to fine people not using local libraries and sports centres (for example) provided by the council, an innovative approach to getting value for money from our council tax payments.
My own experience of cycle lanes and paths is that they vary widely in quality and utility - I use one on Crewe Road frequently, but I don't use it in heavy frost or icy weather because under these conditions some of the surfacing on it is very dangerous. I make use of several in Manchester, but I don't use the potholed nightmare at the start of Parrs Wood Road, the sections in Burnage that contain more parked cars than moving bicycles, or those through Rusholme that are too narrow to cycle in safely.
I also prefer not to use the sort of on again/off again paths that take the cyclist onto shared use pavement, and then back into traffic, as these are generally less safe than remaining on the road. (Not unreasonably, most drivers are not expecting to look for traffic rejoining the road from the pavement).
I certainly don't take such decisions lightly, or in a "big headed" or "inconsiderate" manner, and I doubt that other regular cyclists do either. Regardless, at present they are legally our decisions to make.
Yrs Faithfully, John the Monkey
Considering responding thusly;
sir,
As a regular commuter by bicycle (27 mile round trip, most days, most weathers) I read AJ Kaye's letter proposing to fine cyclists who don't use cycle lanes (published in the Crewe Guardian this week) with great interest.
AJ Kaye may not be aware of it, but cyclists have the right to use any road (other than motorways and some dual carriageways carrying an explicit prohibition on cycling) regardless of the cycling facilities (lanes or paths provided). The current revision of the highway code states that the decision whether to use these facilities or not is dependant upon the cyclist's experience and skill - not the level of investment by the council. This is supported in law, most recently in the case of Daniel Cadden. Given that, I'm unsure whether the proposal could be implemented.
I also don't see why AJ Kaye finds the presence of cyclists on the road "infuriating". Assuming that he/she writes from the point of view of a motorist, AJ Kaye is surely aware that all that is required is to drive according to rules 204-225 of the highway code, and overtake according to rule 163 once it is safe to do so, incurring a possible delay of a few minutes at most to their journey. (My own experience as a motorist is that the delay generally amounts to a few seconds, and in some cases tens of seconds - I also find that I only end up arriving at the next lights or traffic queue slightly earlier in any case).
Given that, I'd say that a cyclist injured by a someone unable to wait long enough to pass safely, or driving without due care for other road users has every right to "moan if they got injured by a car or some other transport". On the last point the law and highway code agree too, as everyone using the road has a duty to do so with care and consideration for other road users, regardless of their chosen means of transport.
If it's the money spent on underused cycle facilities that angers AJ Kaye, I look forward to proposals to fine people not using local libraries and sports centres (for example) provided by the council, an innovative approach to getting value for money from our council tax payments.
My own experience of cycle lanes and paths is that they vary widely in quality and utility - I use one on Crewe Road frequently, but I don't use it in heavy frost or icy weather because under these conditions some of the surfacing on it is very dangerous. I make use of several in Manchester, but I don't use the potholed nightmare at the start of Parrs Wood Road, the sections in Burnage that contain more parked cars than moving bicycles, or those through Rusholme that are too narrow to cycle in safely.
I also prefer not to use the sort of on again/off again paths that take the cyclist onto shared use pavement, and then back into traffic, as these are generally less safe than remaining on the road. (Not unreasonably, most drivers are not expecting to look for traffic rejoining the road from the pavement).
I certainly don't take such decisions lightly, or in a "big headed" or "inconsiderate" manner, and I doubt that other regular cyclists do either. Regardless, at present they are legally our decisions to make.
Yrs Faithfully, John the Monkey
