In the news.

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

One of the most dangerous times to be on the road is with a low sun in your face.

It might not be a problem to you, but that half-asleep driver rapidly approaching your
backside, dazzled by the sun (often with a dirty windscreen), will change all that.

This is so sad ... this guy had so much to his name, and lost his life due to the above:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9093758/RAF-officer-killed-as-he-cycled-home.html

 

[fossyant]

That and wet roads added in too. No excuse - if you can't see properly, you slow down.

It's more a problem if you commute East in the mornings and West in the evenings !

Hence a good powerful rear light can help in these conditions.

 

[G-Zero]

Always sad when someone loses their life on the road.

I was commuting east one morning late last year and was blinded by the low sun, made worse by the glare off the wet road surface and really struggled to see what was ahead of me, even at my relatively slow cycling speed.

Not legal, but I cycled on the footpath for a short stretch, until the road direction changed.

 

[Holdsworth]

It was a pain yesterday cycling home from Sandbach through the back lanes. The sun was low in the west and directly in front of me for most of the trip so was finding actually seeing where I was going a tad tricky, the fact that wearing sunglasses made viewing worse and removing them meant I could see properly was odd.

I took it gently but was a bit worried about how visible I was from behind even with two bright flashing rear lights and a day-glo green jacket.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Not legal, but I cycled on the footpath for a short stretch, until the road direction changed.

The law does allow for us to cycle on the pavement, providing we do not cause danger to others:

On 1st August 1999, new legislation came into force to allow a fixed penalty notice to be served on anyone who is guilty of cycling on a footway. However the Home Office issued guidance on how the new legislation should be applied, indicating that they should only be used where a cyclist is riding in a manner that may endanger others. At the time Home Office Minister Paul Boateng issued a letter stating that:

"The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required."
Almost identical advice has since been issued by the Home Office with regards the use of fixed penalty notices by 'Community Support Officers' and wardens.
"CSOs and accredited persons will be accountable in the same way as police officers. They will be under the direction and control of the chief officer, supervised on a daily basis by the local community beat officer and will be subject to the same police complaints system. The Government have included provision in the Anti Social Behaviour Bill to enable CSOs and accredited persons to stop those cycling irresponsibly on the pavement in order to issue a fixed penalty notice.
I should stress that the issue is about inconsiderate cycling on the pavements. The new provisions are not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other road users when doing so. Chief officers recognise that the fixed penalty needs to be used with a considerable degree of discretion and it cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 16. (Letter to Mr H. Peel from John Crozier of The Home Office, reference T5080/4, 23 February 2004)

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[G-Zero]

The law does allow for us to cycle on the pavement, providing we do not cause danger to others:

On 1st August 1999, new legislation came into force to allow a fixed penalty notice to be served on anyone who is guilty of cycling on a footway. However the Home Office issued guidance on how the new legislation should be applied, indicating that they should only be used where a cyclist is riding in a manner that may endanger others. At the time Home Office Minister Paul Boateng issued a letter stating that:​

​

"The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required."​

Almost identical advice has since been issued by the Home Office with regards the use of fixed penalty notices by 'Community Support Officers' and wardens.​

"CSOs and accredited persons will be accountable in the same way as police officers. They will be under the direction and control of the chief officer, supervised on a daily basis by the local community beat officer and will be subject to the same police complaints system. The Government have included provision in the Anti Social Behaviour Bill to enable CSOs and accredited persons to stop those cycling irresponsibly on the pavement in order to issue a fixed penalty notice.​

I should stress that the issue is about inconsiderate cycling on the pavements. The new provisions are not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other road users when doing so. Chief officers recognise that the fixed penalty needs to be used with a considerable degree of discretion and it cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 16. (Letter to Mr H. Peel from John Crozier of The Home Office, reference T5080/4, 23 February 2004)​

​

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That's a new one on me - Thanks for that

 

[Norm]

The law does allow for us to cycle on the pavement, providing we do not cause danger to others:

Hmm... it is maybe a pedantic point, but the law doesn't allow for us to cycle on the pavement. Guidance, which is down to individual opinion, is that the law should be waived under certain circumstances, but the law is that we shouldn't ride on the pavement.

There is a pretty good cycle path alongside the A40 there, which runs uninterrupted for at least 2km to Hillingdon Circus, possible even all the way to Swakeleys, but it's entirely the individuals choice whether to use it and I doubt that anyone who was using their commute as triathlon training would consider the restrictions of using a cycle path.