The Highway Code doesn't specify a particular distance from the curb. But the UK government (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Cycling/DG_10026401) says:
Curb huggers/Gutter Bunnies
- Thread starter Digital_Cowboy
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OP
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Digital_Cowboy
New Member
- Location
- Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fl, USA
We have plenty of them too, its not ideal but most of them have been replaced to have slots perpendicular to the kerb. Some drivers here can be similar in expecting you to be in themLike wise some cyclists wrongly believe they are safer out of the way in them
That's how they're suppose to be installing or re-installing drains over here as well. Sadly, there are still plenty of drains that are of the tire/tyre trapping variety.
We have a road not too far from where I live that is really an "alley on steroids" that has two storm drains that has slots that runs in the same direction as the road. I have contacted the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coordinator several times about getting this corrected and nothing has been done about them.
These two storm drains are worse because they are in the travel lane, not on the side of the road. With one of them being located in a section of road that is in heavy shade making them difficult to see.
I can't help but think that there has to be some non-confrontational, non-judgmental way to correct those who think that it is safer to ride in the gutter pan or to hug the curb/kerb.
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Digital_Cowboy
New Member
- Location
- Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fl, USA
Are they just drains in the road, or have I missed something?
If you look at the picture you'll see that the surface of the road is made up of two colors/type of paving. The lighter colored area is the gutter pan and it has a storm drain in it (which a lot of them have, some of the curbs/kerbs have storm drains cut into them). And sadly as I mentioned in my OP that a lot of motorists expect us to ride in the gutter pan. Even when they contain wheel trapping storm drains.
Gotcha'.
I genuinely feel sorry for American cyclists. It's not even like the government cares about being more environmentally friendly. Lobbying for cycling facilities must be extremely difficult.
OP
OP
Digital_Cowboy
New Member
- Location
- Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fl, USA
Are they just drains in the road, or have I missed something?
Actually, that particular drain is in the gutter pan. It was just a picture that I found online to demonstrate what I was referring to as a gutter pan. As well as how some of the gutter pans have storm drains in them.
OP
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Digital_Cowboy
New Member
- Location
- Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fl, USA
Exactly, it's surprising how many people don't realize that we cyclists need a "safety buffer" on both sides of us. Here where I live we have and advocacy group called the Florida Bicycle Association and they as with your Cycling proficiency class recommend leaving 3' between ourselves and the right side of the road so that if something comes at us from the right that we have room to maneuver around to avoid being hit by it.
Most day's I can count I don't know how many "gutter bunnies" when I'm out riding. The irony with them is that they then wonder why they end up getting flat after flat.
I will never ride in the door zone unless forced to do so by a motorist. When I am out riding if I encounter a bike lane that is in the door zone of on street parking, and there are any cars parked in the on street parking I avoid it like the plague. If there was a stretch of bike zone that the on street parking is free of cars I'll ride in it until just before the first parked car. If need be because of cars in the travel lane I'll slow my speed until I can leave the bike lane and pass all of the parked cars.
Back at the beginning of the month I had to laugh as some guy who had parked his pickup truck and was waiting to cross the street. Being as all of the parking spots were filled I was not riding in the bike lane, but rather out in the travel lane. I stopped to allow him to cross, and we ended up getting into a discussion about bike lanes. In his opinion because I was concerned for my safety I was an "effen a-hole " for not using the bike lane. He was of the opinion that because they (the city) spent the money on bike lanes that we should use them. Even apparently if they're unsafe for us to use.
I even tried to get him to open his car door so that he could see how far out into the bike lane it extended, but he didn't want to.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
The UK term is gutter nutter, close enough.
Alembicbassman
Confused.com
The iron drain grates (what they're called over here) often get stolen for sale to scrap metal dealers. It's happened at least twice round where I live in the last few years. Then you're just left with a big hole full of nasty things waiting to swallow you and your bike.
Headgardener
Armchair Cyclist
The stories in our local paper of dissapearing drain covers and manhole covers seem to coincide with stories of travellers being moved on from illegal camp sites.
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Altho' not always. Recently a couple of Bradford Council workers were done for selling drain covers to a local scrapyard. If only they'd not done it in a Bradford Council lorry - snigger
OP
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Digital_Cowboy
New Member
- Location
- Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fl, USA
Gutter nutter, I like that. As both terms accurately describe their actions.
OP
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Digital_Cowboy
New Member
- Location
- Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fl, USA
Yeah, over on this side of the pond we've had "scrap" metal "disappear" with varying degrees of frequencies. Usually aluminum and copper. Things like guardrails, copper tubing from A/C units, and believe it or not, railroad tracks.
I have to wonder now, if it isn't related to homeless people being moved or relocated. Although for better or worse the homeless aren't usually given the "bums rush," instead there are laws passed to limit where they can do and what they can do.
Such as recently there have been laws passed preventing them from panhandling on the street.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
The problem with the yellow lines ... is that there seems to be a human tendency to follow lines ... as if it is hypnotic ... I can sometimes feel myself being drawn to lines... One cycle path I go along has been dug up leaving an infill of smooth tarmac though it isn't in a straight line ... and I can if I'm not thinking follow it (doesn't help that it is beautifully smooth in comparison to the path either side of it).
joebingo
Über Member
- Location
- London, England
You should overtake them really closely, it's how other drivers educate cyclists!