Today A11 Norfolk- Time Trial (Not good)

[Drago]

Most, though not all, riders have a flashing rear light set on stun so I honestly don't know how anyone could fail to notice it!

The OP noticed them, yet seems strangely annoyed.

They're conspicuous to a careful and competent road user, theyre behaving in a lawful manner, what's the big deal?

Sure, some HUA pilot could take one out, but they could do that anywhere. Even kids playing in secure school playgrounds aren't safe from them, as several such recent incidents have shown, but I don't see the OP shaking his head and tutting whenever the play time bell rings.

Im afraid that the opening post is, with the greatest respect, nothing more than Daily Mail level histrionics. Stop blaming victims, or potential victims, for the behaviour of the careless or the criminal.

 

[PeteXXX]

Mine was a general post re observation, particularly from a driver at the top end Hierarchy of Road Users rather than OP specific but I get what you mean.

 

[JonBuoy]

This was a 10 mile TT on the A11 yesterday but it was in Cambridgeshire: https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/events/41786-lea-valley-cc-10

 

[annedonnelly]

I drive a truck along the A11 fairly often early on a Sunday morning and expect to see a TT going on, though I haven't for a while.
Most, though not all, riders have a flashing rear light set on stun so I honestly don't know how anyone could fail to notice it!

A policewoman was killed on a dual carriageway in Northumberland recently when a car driver ploughed into the back of her police car. The policewoman was setting up a road closure after an accident and the police car must have had its blue lights flashing. If someone could fail to notice that - in the dark - they can fail to notice anything.

 

[PaulSB]

I drive a truck along the A11 fairly often early on a Sunday morning and expect to see a TT going on, though I haven't for a while.
Most, though not all, riders have a flashing rear light set on stun so I honestly don't know how anyone could fail to notice it!

As a truck has a maximum powered speed of 56 mph (90kph) and a TT bike is, guessing here, 30 mph (?) I have time to see, react & indicate to pass. A car driver will probably see the truck & me indicating but will not see why I'm wanting to pull out as any sight of the cyclist is blocked by the truck & trailer.

I did have it once where I moved over a lane, to overtake, and was undertaken by a car driver whereas if I hadn't been on my toes the rider would have likely been killed.
The rider must have been riding high on the saddle after that!! 💩

The rear light is a CTT requirement, and has been for several years. The organiser should have a strict no light, no ride policy. I think, but I'm not sure, a front light is now a requirement. My own lights are visible from at least 350 - 400 yards, I fail to see how any driver could not see me. That doesn't though prevent them from hitting one. I know from painful experience and a shoot tractor driver!

 

[HLaB]

This was a 10 mile TT on the A11 yesterday but it was in Cambridgeshire: https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/events/41786-lea-valley-cc-10

Ahh the E2/10 in Cabridgeshire not Norfolk as per the thread title. Most folk get a good time on it, so it used to be oversubscribed even with 120-160 places but you'll get in now more easily but its still popular. Most folk set a PB on it, except me when I done it last.

 

[HLaB]

The rear light is a CTT requirement, and has been for several years. The organiser should have a strict no light, no ride policy. I think, but I'm not sure, a front light is now a requirement. My own lights are visible from at least 350 - 400 yards, I fail to see how any driver could not see me. That doesn't though prevent them from hitting one. I know from painful experience and a shoot tractor driver!

Front lights are a requirement now. For the last 3 or 4 years they've been mandatory. Sorry about your crash and I hope everything is sorted now!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

were surprised to see time trialists riding along the dual carriageway

It is not a motorway and you should not be surprised to see people cycling on it. Please drive as though on a road where you should expect more vulnerable road users to be. As that is what it is.

 

[honeybadger]

As my avatar suggests I’ve been racing competitively doing TT’s for a number of years, on both DC and single carriage ways and always felt safer on DC roads. The line of sight is generally much greater, giving approaching motorists plenty of time to spot a rider up ahead and move over into the second lane. Single carriage roads mean they have to move over into the opposite side of the road, sometimes making a rash overtake with oncoming cars coming the other way, thus giving you a close pass. My team also organizes open events on a DC that I help to marshal and big, day glow placards saying cycle event are put up at every minor road coming onto the DC (as per the CTT rulings) All marshals wear hi-viz tabards at the turn around roundabout and major junctions. Basically everything that can be done to make motorists aware that a cycle event is on is put in place.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Haven't read details of how it happened, but a cyclist was killed in Dorset recently, riding an electric unicycle on a dual carriageway. The mind boggles.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg53p7g5n4go

 

[simongt]

When I used to live in Suffolk in the mid 70s, it was common to see times trials on the dual carriageway heading towards Colchester / Chelmsford.
But of course, the traffic wasn't as heavy then.