Should I cycle here?

[AndyPeace]

Looks an awful lot like the road I had my big crash on. Drivers were generally reasonable about passing, but at night, a driver coming the other way who is too inconsiderate to switch from full beam will still drown out any lights you have on your bike for drivers coming from behind.

I wouldn't ride that kind of road after dark again unless I had no other option.

It is a great bit of tarmac here too, but not my first choice of route. I think I gain around 20 seconds going that way, as opposed to Taylors Lane which runs near parallel to it. It only takes one person to misjudge the situation (and in the past, when riding less assertively , I've witnessed cars 'play chicken with each other' just to get past, the overtaking vehicle missing by a hair). I've taken that way this past week as it is a gritted road and on other occasions to get around flooding.

It's an interesting point about visibility and full beam lights. That has not been a problem for me there, as there's a steady flow of traffic both ways but obviously could happen. I am often dazzled on the A38, which leads to my home. Though this is a wider road and it's only happened when a car hasn't been behind me. Even more so this happens on rides I've been on down country lanes. It does feels like cars are more likely to dip their lights if you also do the same and I have ,this winter, taken to moving my light to a dipped/full beam position, but even then I'm sure some road users would still carry on with their full beam.

All in all I'd much rather be riding quiet country lanes than defending myself from a sometimes clueless stream of traffic. One day I'm going to move house, change job and limit close friends to locations I can only reach by well surfaced, traffic free country lanes, preferably spanning a radius of around 100miles.

 

[bianchi1]

Lived around Worcester for years and never cycle on this road. Problem is its the main way to the M5 from the 2 bridges over the river Severn. Lots and lots of traffic. Plenty of other options around St. Peter's or around Kempsey common. Depends where you are going I guess.

 

[AndyPeace]

Lived around Worcester for years and never cycle on this road. Problem is its the main way to the M5 from the 2 bridges over the river Severn. Lots and lots of traffic. Plenty of other options around St. Peter's or around Kempsey common. Depends where you are going I guess.

I don't often go that way but went that way during the snowfall as there was no gritted alternative, and other times when Taylors lane has been flooded...and possibly the odd time to see if I could get to work faster. fortunately my love of country lanes keeps me on the back lanes again now the weather's better. I'm commuting from Kempsey to Warndon Villages. I have a route that is entirely country lanes, which I love... its 16miles... around an hour... and I have a much better regular short route through Norton then on to the cycle path at St Peter's that takes me around 25mins, which is only 5 mins longer than sticking to the main roads...so no difference really!
I've commuted for years but it's only really been the last three months I've got into cycling (if that makes sense?) Although it wasn't that far back that I made this post , I've moved on since and no longer need to make my commute in record times...not that I ever could

 

[Nigeyy]

Holy shomoly! It would take a seriously impaired driver to miss you (or a driver texting, but let's not go there). Looks like you have some seriously nice bikes there too -very nice setup.

... I find that it really helps to have 2 widely spaced rear lights (preferably on 'strobe' setting) and on all my bikes/2 wheel recumbents, and trikes, I always fit a bar, preferably wider than the machine I'm riding.......this really makes you appear wider (and weirder) thus making other road users more aware of you.

 

[jonny jeez]

I find that it really helps to have 2 widely spaced rear lights (preferably on 'strobe' setting) .

I agree. I've just picked up a set of Tracx Lumens to accentuate the ends of the bars. They dont help with "finding my way" but they do produce a different shape of lights that seems to stand out. Perhaps this also helps to identify the "edges" of the bike.

Either way, it doesn't look like there are many other options on your route other than to suffer this section. aAll the other roads take you miles out of your way.

 

[cloggsy]

Yes, why not?

Take a strong secondary position (i.e. at least 1 metre from the side of the road) and take the primary through pinch-points etc. and you should be fine! Just make sure you can be seen!

 

[AndyPeace]

Yes, why not?
Take a strong secondary position (i.e. at least 1 metre from the side of the road) and take the primary through pinch-points etc. and you should be fine! Just make sure you can be seen!

Lived around Worcester for years and never cycle on this road. Problem is its the main way to the M5 from the 2 bridges over the river Severn. Lots and lots of traffic.

There are no pinch points on this stretch, it was designed some years back as a fast route for cars traveling to/from worcester via the M5. It was deemed unnecessary to accommodate cyclists on it, so they kept the road width quite narrow.

there is nothing wrong with taking another route, your state of mind and safety must come first.

There is a cycle path that runs parallel to this road, all be it hard to get to from my direction. There is also a country lane running near parallel too... Taylors Lane

I've witnessed cars 'play chicken with each other' just to get past, the overtaking vehicle missing by a hair. I've taken that way this past week as it is a gritted road and on other occasions to get around flooding.

Mostly this! even if I'm holding the lane and traveling 25phm on this mile long road, cars will still take risks and ride head on at speed, any collision they have is likely going to effect me! So regardless of my rights, I'll only ride this way as a last resort at off peak times!

 

[bianchi1]

I'm all for asserting my rights as a cyclist, but there are a few roads that I feel it is unsafe to use, and to be honest feel guilty about holding up motorists when there is a viable, more enjoyable alternative. Therefore I choose not to use them and would advise others to do the same.

However, I strongly feel that these roads should never have legislation banning bikes or for that matter making cycle paths , where available, obligatory. It's all down to personal choice and knowledge of the local area I guess.

On a related point the local clubs great 25 mile tt course used to turn at the roundabout at the bottom of the mentioned road but traffic volume got so great that it was ditched a few years back. Sad times!

 

[cloggsy]

I regularly ride along this road; it looks pretty similar to the OP's road. I ride approx 1m out from the while line (signifying the 'edge of the road'). Yes I get some close passes, but on the whole drivers are pretty good!

Yes, there are morons who think that the verge on the other side of the solid white edge markers is a cycle path

 

[AndyPeace]

I regularly ride along this road; it looks pretty similar to the OP's road. I ride approx 1m out from the while line (signifying the 'edge of the road'). Yes I get some close passes, but on the whole drivers are pretty good!

Yes, there are morons who think that the verge on the other side of the solid white edge markers is a cycle path

Visually that road looks the same style... but isn't that just one way traffic, perhaps I misread the satellite image? so cars have plenty of space to overtake you? The road I posted ,Broomhall Way is a two way road, any traffic overtaking me is head on with other cars. Regardless of my road position , on this stretch they still take ridiculous risks , with oncoming cars regularly sounding their horns in fear. Even if they pass me with safe distance , it's of no value to my well being if it results in cars colliding a few meters from me.

 

[cloggsy]

Visually that road looks the same style... but isn't that just one way traffic

Nope; the A6055 is a newly constructed road which runs parallel to the newly completed Dishforth to Leeming A1(M) extension. It's a national speed limit, wide, single carriageway road in both directions & although it is wide, you still get close passes from idiot drivers who don't even attempt to go over the centre-lane markings - even when there's nothing coming the other way!

 

[AndyPeace]

Close passes like that nark me, but I also worry as the more I've experienced it the more casual I become.That can't be a good thing. I'm glad I'm back on my country lane alternative at the moment.