Did I commit an offence? [motorway on-ramp]

[Hawk]

Your view from road is of a different nearby onramp, if you follow my first streetview you can see the ramp I ended up on (no streetview of actual ramp) but we didn't pass the official "M8" blue sign, only a directional sign. I'd be surprised if this was an offence.

The 50mph limit is generally ignored but visibility's not bad, I reckon we were OK. But yes , I'm likely being naive.

Can see why that area's notorious for accidents!

 

[simon.r]

Drivers do not expect to see bikes (or any other slow moving vehicles) on motorway slip roads / on ramps. Yes, of course they should always be on the look out for hazards, but realistically many drivers seem to have difficulty joining a motorway at the best of times!

My understanding is that the slip road should be used to accelerate to a speed which enables a driver to merge with the traffic on the motorway, so typically 50 - 70mph. It's dangerous, IMO, when an incompetent driver doesn't accelerate quickly enough and attempts to join the motorway at a lower speed than the traffic using the inside lane - worst case (and it's frightening when it does happen) is that a driver has to stop at the end of a slip road and then join the m/way from a standing start.

I can well understand that a 'furious officer' stopped you - he was probably concerned that you were going to die!!

 

[campbellab]

Standing start? Use the hard shoulder if needs be imo. Not sure on legality etc but prefer this to coming to a dead stop especially with cars on slip behind you!

 

[beastie]

[QUOTE 2038687, member: 9609"]on-ramp ? never come across that term for a road before. I am guessing from the context you used it, it must be the short section of road that leads to or from a motorway?[/quote]
Yes they are called off-ramps, on-ramps. Tis an Americanisation. Generally used in conjuction with Freeway.

 

[Grizzly]

Your view from road is of a different nearby onramp, if you follow my first streetview you can see the ramp I ended up on (no streetview of actual ramp) but we didn't pass the official "M8" blue sign, only a directional sign. I'd be surprised if this was an offence.

The 50mph limit is generally ignored but visibility's not bad, I reckon we were OK. But yes , I'm likely being naive.

Can see why that area's notorious for accidents!

Ah! so you went up and down the same ramp!! Sorry my mistake!! You right, I don't think there is an M8 sign or hard-shoulder on that section. You must have been in the right hand lane to get onto that on ramp, you lot must be mental Although the ramp is signposted with a motorway directional sign (as seen here) so I think the Police could have gone for a prosecution. I used to work on the ambulance service motorbike and we were at junction 15 every other day for an accident, as you say no-one does 50 along there.

Stay safe young man, I hate seeing the "another cyclist down" on this site.

 

[Rasmus]

Ah, the lovely Townhead interchange, a complete mess of a junction. I live quite near this, so I get to experience the lovely motorist behaviour on my daily commute.

I'm still somewhat surprised you managed this particular bit of erroneous navigation. The Y-junction in question is relatively clearly signposted. While I think you did something quite silly, I doubt is was actually illegal.

 

[fudgepanda]

I think here that the key is that sign. At one time every entry slip road used to have a sign that said the number of the motorway and a list of vehicles that were prohibited from using the motorway such as: Motorcycles of less than 50cc, horses and horse drawn vehicles, tractors and bicycles. Where you get motorways such as the M56 which starts as a continuation of a dual carriageway, although the road is three lanes wide before and after the start of motorway regulations, the speed limit doesn't increase to 70 until the blue M56 sign (complete with the motorway symbol) is passed. But, that dual carriageway has, or at least had, a sign prohibiting bicyles and instead a cycle path is provided.

 

[ufkacbln]

There are some nasty joins in that Streetview image!

Perhaps they were concerned you would fall through the gap

 

[HLaB]

What a bizarre route!

Strava surfing

 

[Big boy]

the mind boggles....

 

[sidevalve]

You got off lightly. Remember the officer probably thought you were intending to ride on the m/way and as such wanted you out of there as fast as possible. Anyone who's worked on a motorway or in any of the emergency services will know the results of m/way collisions. It's usually messy bloody and terminal. The hard shoulders are for emergency use ONLY, not to extend the length of the on slip road. To cycle any distance on a hard shoulder, however short, is bordring on suicidal. Vehicles pull onto the hard shoulder because they have an emergency situation on their hands not just for a lark and a fully loaded artic with two blown tyres is a hell of a thing to have heading straight for you. Further, the emergency service vehicles will use the hard shoulder if the traffic is standing and there is serious accident. The officer involved probably didn't fancy the idea of scraping your soggy remains off the tarmac.

 

[Alun]

Standing start? Use the hard shoulder if needs be imo. Not sure on legality etc but prefer this to coming to a dead stop especially with cars on slip behind you!

You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs. (Rule 264). You will be committing an offence if you do.