ON NOW - LBC should cyclists be on A roads at night

[Schneil]

A shout from Manchester here. I can't receive LBC, but are they missing something?
Shane Sutton was knocked down on the A6 (Stockport Road) in Levenshulme, South Manchester. So a busy congested urban road, NOT an unlit 60mph road.
It's on my commute route and it can be pretty horrible to cycle down, narrow lanes and door zones. I tend to just use it in the mornings when the hill is with me.
In the evenings, I take a different route to avoid numpties squeezing past me.

 

[summerdays]

At night I'd rather be on the straight lit A road, than on an unlit winding country roads that are close enough to the big city to become routes for commuters to avoid the main hold ups on the A road.

And we did look at a house on the A-road (was too busy for me) but if I lived there how would I get home?

 

[palinurus]

I would have a pretty hard time getting home without going on an A road.

Yesterday I did cycle on a section of the A22 (just to the east of Godstone) and I certainly won't be doing that again in a hurry.
The thing is, A roads are all different, some I would not ride on and others have fantastic cycle facilities along the way

Me too. I needed to ride over to Hatfield today (work) and it's either taking a long route through the lanes and a super-lumpy Sustrans path or a quick thirteen miles, A-roads all the way. If it's dark I prefer the A1057 to a potholey path. Because of a lack of direct alternatives I also used a section of the A405 with two motorway junctions in it, although at 5 pm when I was returning the traffic was heavy enough that for most of that part of the journey I was going faster.

 

[clarion]

My commute is the A217, the A24 & the A3, basically.

LBC is for the braindead. James Whale? Nick bloody Ferrari? Steve 'Gobshite' Allen? Who would even want to listen to them?

 

[Sore Thumb]

My commute is the A217, the A24 & the A3, basically.

LBC is for the braindead. James Whale? Nick bloody Ferrari? Steve 'Gobs***e' Allen? Who would even want to listen to them?

The problem is, a lot of people do. They get cycle haters on the show and when I think great they have a cyclist on, even though they are a cyclist they also seem to be a partial cyclist hater too.
The cyclists just seem to moan about what other cyclists do rather than focus on the positive.

 

[Sore Thumb]

My commute is the A217, the A24 & the A3, basically.

LBC is for the braindead. James Whale? Nick bloody Ferrari? Steve 'Gobs***e' Allen? Who would even want to listen to them?

The problem is, a lot of people do. They get cycle haters on the show and when I think great they have a cyclist on, even though they are a cyclist they also seem to be a partial cyclist hater too.
The cyclists just seem to moan about what other cyclists do rather than focus on the positive.

 

[TheLondonCyclist]

I cycled to brighton today and did many many miles on 60mph single lane A roads. My speed barely went about 18mph and was mostly at 14mph. I was fine.

Like I said previously. It really depends on the A road.

Next time, let me know when your going Brighton, as every cyclist I've asked says it's too far for them grrr

 

[Buddfox]

It sort of goes without saying that this is right up there with the world's most brainless ideas. The Strand and Victoria Embankment are both A roads (the A4 and the A3211 respectively). So how does this work? Apply only to A roads with a 60mph speed limit? Also completely pointless given the different levels of activities on said roads - and with no regard to a cyclist's ability. People who suggest these ideas should have body parts removed. And by even typing this post it shows I am taking them far too seriously.

 

[subaqua]

i use the A200 the A100 and several others. both of these have 30mph limits why shoukld i be stopped from using them. LBC is a waste of airspace

 

[trampyjoe]

There's a lovely cycle lane along the side of the A14 through Northamptonshire - wouldn't use it though ... and I definitely wouldn't take the lane so I just avoid it.

However, the A21 past my old dears place (Farnborough common) I would, and have, happily cycle along.

 

[Saluki]

We don't have to go on an A road when we commute, we do ride on a B road. The B1108 Norwich to Watton Road and the car drivers just fly down there. It has a few twists in it and there is often an accident on the double bends but it doesn't seem to slow anyone down. I tend to nip down the Bawburgh Road, after dark, and ride parallel to the B road on the back roads. Just as twisty but somehow safer and then I only have 1 mile to do, up to ours on that B road.

Our nearest A road is the A47 and we do occasionally see a cyclist going along it but as its a dual carriageway, I'd never try it myself.

I do think that we can cycle when ever we want to though, night or day. I know of a lot of people who simply don't drive a car and who cycle to work night or day, rain or shine. They have a right to use the road as much as anyone. After all, they pay their council tax.

 

[mcshroom]

If you A595 between Calderbridge and Gosforth round here (about 4 miles) then the detour would take you over 40 miles including Cold Fell pass, dropping down the steep twisty road to Loweswater Valley, Whinlatter Pass, the struggle, Wynrose Pass, Harknott Pass and Bower Bank.

Despite being twisty and a hill the A road is preferable and safer than that silly detour.

 

[Lancj1]

The cyclists just seem to moan about what other cyclists do rather than focus on the positive.

Thats evidenced by posts on these forums though...

 

[GrasB]

I've seen cyclists on the A11, A14 & A505 in the pitch black before & in all honesty as long as they've got a decent rear light (>0.5w LED light) on solid clearly visible from behind it's not a problem. Personally I use a lot of major A roads at night because you have to ride down short sections of them to cross them or be looking at >5 mile detours to get to a point which allows me to cross without traveling up to 1.5 miles down the A road.

 

[TheLondonCyclist]

Guys! It all comes down to personal preference and the one's with less fear of cycling; especially on roads such as A roads.