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

[Glow worm]

I can't receive LBC, but are they missing something?

Thankfully I can't receive it here much either, but occasionally a foul wind brings it up the A11 for some reason. Imagine being trapped in a room full of half witted cockney pub bores. That's pretty much LBC in a nutshell- so you're missing nowt!

 

[gambatte]

Mine includes over 8 miles of A631. Obviously at this time of year it's too dark to not have lights on. Thats for both legs of the commute. IMO Looking at the alternative non A road route, I'd not be bothered about the few extra miles, but the roads and the way they're driven definitely make it a more hazardous option.

 

[ComedyPilot]

I am clearly lit up, with multiple bright lights both front and rear, along with strategically placed reflective kit, so why the holy fark should I ride 10 miles on back roads to get home, instead of the A road 2 miles?

Is it me just being arsey, or are cyclists once again being made to accept responsibility for bad drivers?

 

[mcshroom]

It seems to be standard practice to reward drivers for crap driving standards. Look where they put shared use pavements and pedestrian barriers.

 

[gavintc]

Give me nitrous boosters for my bike, so I can answer yes to this... otherwise, it's just insane. Even in the day, 60mph limit? That is a full-on, hardcore sprint on a £700 racer after coming down an enormous hill for anyone, but if you're going slower than 40 on a 60mph road you are asking for trouble.

Keep taking the pills for your nervous disposition. Contrary to what you read, you are actually pretty safe on the roads of UK. I and many other cyclists, cycle A roads every day.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Just been on the radio!!!!!!!!

 

[oldfatfool]

if you're going slower than 40 on a 60mph road you are asking for trouble.

At least that's not a problem for a man of your fitness, even on a 30kg MTB

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Years ago I used to commute from School in Hull to my parents' boat near Brandesburton one or two evenings a week. The quickest way was up Wawne Road / Meaux Road - at night it was pretty scary. No magicshines, no CREEs in those days - Ever Ready Night Riders were as good as it got.

I did come a cropper once on that road when I failed to see a pothole one winter evening - no big deal I was young enough to bounce then.

But in winter I was always thankful to get to the main Hull Road between Tickton and Leven with it's streetlights and busy traffic lighting everything up. Though to be fair that main road seems to be something of a blackspot for cycle collisions now..

On the darkest months though I did the extra 3 or 4 miles longer A road route through Beverley - longer but it didn't half FEEL safer

 

[DCLane]

My commute's on A-roads. In fact, I'd not be able to get into work or back without using them - no matter which way I go.

 

[cloggsy]

My commute's on A-roads. In fact, I'd not be able to get into work or back without using them - no matter which way I go.

+1 I'm in the same boat!

 

[ianrauk]

+1 I'm in the same boat!

+2
The A21 for the majority of my commute.

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

If people like that had their way we'd have crossing laws like in the US, and pedestrians banned from roads without pavements. We'd also have even worse rates of obesity.

 

[bjellys]

I feel just as safe on A roads on the way home in the dark, as I do when cycling in the light. Then again, I have very bright lights, 3 front, 4 rear fitted to my wide trike. One fact is that since the clocks went back, cars are hanging back more before overtaking.

You need to try the A339 Basingstoke to Newbury road in the dark ,you would need to be suicidal it is narrow has loads of bends and and full of lorries going from M4 to M3 .I don't like driving let alone cycling on that road day or night.
In a ideal world Bikes would not share the same road as lorries or cars.

 

[subaqua]

Years ago I used to commute from School in Hull to my parents' boat near Brandesburton one or two evenings a week. The quickest way was up Wawne Road / Meaux Road - at night it was pretty scary. No magicshines, no CREEs in those days - Ever Ready Night Riders were as good as it got.

I did come a cropper once on that road when I failed to see a pothole one winter evening - no big deal I was young enough to bounce then.

But in winter I was always thankful to get to the main Hull Road between Tickton and Leven with it's streetlights and busy traffic lighting everything up. Though to be fair that main road seems to be something of a blackspot for cycle collisions now..

On the darkest months though I did the extra 3 or 4 miles longer A road route through Beverley - longer but it didn't half FEEL safer

I found my nightriders when i was sorting out my dads house a few weeks ago. I had the red body front light as it had a brighter xenon lamp. that chewed batteries quicker than the quickest thing from quicktown. They recommended everready goldcell batteries ( blue cell silvercell and goldcell were the range back then) i used to use them in the winter when i was doing 30 milers after school on a roads , including the A541 between caergwrle and Mold- fast dual carriageway with a nasty single lane section through pontblyddyn.

 

[subaqua]

You need to try the A339 Basingstoke to Newbury road in the dark ,you would need to be suicidal it is narrow has loads of bends and and full of lorries going from M4 to M3 .I don't like driving let alone cycling on that road day or night.
In a ideal world Bikes would not share the same road as lorries or cars.

NO in an ideal world we would all be able to use the same roadspace safely as there would be proper punishment for not doing so. segregated cycle infrastructure is not the way forward.