Psycle Lane

[wafflycat]

I haven't got a clue what a KSI is.

Killed or Seriously Injured

 

[hackbike 666]

Oh Thanks!

 

[pwh91]

+1 with BM. Leave at least a car door's width. Including the width of those bloodly wide coupe doors....

 

[Tharg2007]

Have one like that in Hulme heading towards Stretford. Slightly uphill and the lane veers into the road just as the main carriageway goes narrower. Car parking spaces on your left, traffic on your right... lane up the middle just where doors open.

I always move right over to the right of the lane (or even just outside it) and keep a close eye on any cars parked up there.

Only ever had one issue with some dumb bint who just overtook me and pulled across into the parking spaces without indicating or checking... well, important phone call to continue...

ah yes, i know it well, its a green lane too as it is on the other side that puts you in the door zone also. The road surface has to be some of the worst there is on that stretch.

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

Yes, it'll really toughen up a cyclist to get doored and killed. It's the biggest cause of KSIs in London. And don't count on looking in cars to be sure a door isn't going to be opened. Just don't ride in the door zone at all.

Bloody stupid cycle lane. Negligent in fact.

I could not agree more.

I thought I had it sussed "looking" at the cars to make sure I could see anybody opening the door.

In reality however you just watch as they open the door into you anyway

You would have to be going at walking pace surely to see somebody open a door in a zone like that and stop in time to not get hit by it - even if you do see it and swerve wouldn't there likely be traffic coming up behind you on the road just ready to run you over!!

Stupid bloody cycle lane - and as for it putting you in the same zone you would be in if there wasn't a lane - I don't agree.

If there's no lane you can ride out more from the parked cars and just get the usual abuse that someone like Mags gets for not riding far enough to the left - if there is a lane painted in there for your use you will get the abuse of get in the cycle lane (or pay road tax!) won't you?!

 

[beanzontoast]

I wonder if anyone's monitoring the stats for accidents on that stretch of road? Would be interesting to see just how safe that arrangement of the cycle lane is in practice. Is that really the best solution they could come up with?

If I was riding it, I'd be very wary.

 

[Origamist]

It is recommended that cycle lanes to the offside of a line of parallel parking bays should have a buffer zone between the bays and the cycle lane of between 0.5 and 1 metre. However, these recommendations (which are insufficient) seem to be consistently ignored.

As for the door-zone, I'm generally to lazy to cycle in it. I really can't be bothered to constantly check rear widows, side mirrors, or look for traces of exhaust fumes etc in order to second guess if a door might clobber me.

 

[BentMikey]

I would want more than 1m between my left side and any car doors. At least 5 foot, IMO, more if I see a coupe.

 

[zimzum42]

I would want more than 1m between my left side and any car doors. At least 5 foot, IMO, more if I see a coupe.

I get what you're saying, but are you only talking in reference to the cycle lane?
Many roads are simply not wide enough to allow this all the time if you're talking generally...

Is this only an issue because there is a cycle lane? If there was no cycle lane, I reckon this is a pretty standard bit of road, no issues at all...

OK, a question: Assuming we HAVE to have a cycle lane along this road, where would it be better placed?
(And there's no option to remove the parking!)

 

[BentMikey]

Yup, my only issue is with the current cycle lane. It makes people think we're supposed to cycle near the parked cars. I'm not going to do that regardless of the lane or not, and I know you wouldn't either, but I'm sure it will get some cyclists cycling there, and it'll probably cause some motorists to become irritated with those of us who ride out wide.

My choice would be to remove the cycle lane, plus get heavier on cycle training. I don't think the road is wide enough to have a separate cycle lane.

 

[beanzontoast]

Yup, my only issue is with the current cycle lane. It makes people think we're supposed to cycle near the parked cars. I'm not going to do that regardless of the lane or not, and I know you wouldn't either, but I'm sure it will get some cyclists cycling there, and it'll probably cause some motorists to become irritated with those of us who ride out wide.

My choice would be to remove the cycle lane, plus get heavier on cycle training. I don't think the road is wide enough to have a separate cycle lane.

That's how I see it. Which surely can't be the impression they are wanting to give. The danger is so obvious.

 

[Cab]

Good one... puts cyclists straight into the door zone of parked cars. Plus a little further on, there is a left filter lane for an upcoming left turn. Guess where the cars are directed... and cyclists going straight on, at that point, have to watch out for cars filtering left... Trumpington Road, Cambridge.

I know it well. Dreadful and all too common. The line I'd ideally take would be to put my front wheel about eight inches wide of the outer part of the cycle route, but of course as theres a cycle lane there if you're just drifting next to it then cars will try to squeeze past. Means that the best line on that bit of Trumptington road is even further out than that.

 

[Cab]

OK, a question: Assuming we HAVE to have a cycle lane along this road, where would it be better placed?
(And there's no option to remove the parking!)

I question that assumption. The road doesn't need a cycle lane, putting such a lane in a dangerous location causes a minority of motorists to act aggressively towards cyclists who (rightly) choose not to use the lane.

 

[Cab]

Yup, my only issue is with the current cycle lane. It makes people think we're supposed to cycle near the parked cars. I'm not going to do that regardless of the lane or not, and I know you wouldn't either, but I'm sure it will get some cyclists cycling there, and it'll probably cause some motorists to become irritated with those of us who ride out wide.

(my bold)

I ride that road regularly, and can confirm that your suspicion is correct.

 

[zimzum42]

I question that assumption. The road doesn't need a cycle lane, putting such a lane in a dangerous location causes a minority of motorists to act aggressively towards cyclists who (rightly) choose not to use the lane.

you get me wrong about 'assumption'. I don't think there should be a lane, but if there has to be one, I wanted to know where it should be placed...