Vehicles obstructing cycle boxes

[Riverman]

Hi,

As a cyclist this is one of my pet hates because it happens all the time. I've lost count of the number of times I've filtered to the front only to find cars and lorries stationary not just within but a couple of feet in front of the cycling box.

I've gone from having a rant at these drivers to calmly asking them to give us cyclists space in future. I understand technically car and lorry drivers can be subject to a large fine if they do this but in practice no one seems to care. I'm not in favour of the police giving out fines to motorists for this minor offence so wondered what your thoughts were of carrying flyers to to give to these drivers? I'd certainly be up for carrying a few as it can be difficult to get across what you want to say in the heat of the moment and at traffic lights.

 

[Arch]

I think leaflets will just cause litter as they chuck them back out of the window at you...

Why are you not in favour of people getting fined? What other offences would you be happy for them to get away with?

A colleague was saying a while back that he'd read something (in the Guardian I think) that said if you have a particular gripe about policing (or lack of it) then you should make the effort to go to your local ward council meetings, and raise it. The police are stretched, and are more likely to target an offence if they know that people care about it.

Also, in the very slight defence of some drivers, it's possible to enter an ASL box legally, and get stuck there when the lights change, if there's a tailback - they are not the same as a yellow box. So it's only fair to have a word if you've actually seen the driver enter the box after the light has gone amber (assuming they can stop in time safely).

Personally, it annoys me, but not much. If there's a car blocking the box, I'm happy to fit in alongside or behind it. I'll probably tut, but it doesn't annoy me enough to risk getting a gobfull of abuse for saying anything. If I'm in the box, and a car pulls up and creeps into it, I'll probably give the driver a hard stare, as much to ensure they've seen me as anything else.

 

[slowmotion]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of drivers don't really know what the rules are for ASZs. I know they should, but it doesn't really bother me that much. In the scheme of things, there are lot worse pieces of driving to get upset about. I am not being critical of those who do get upset about it BTW.

 

[summerdays]

I wouldn't want to speak to them ... the nearest I get to doing anything is putting myself in front of them... or smiling inanely at them... whilst looking at the ASL box and then their "bike".

 

[661-Pete]

so wondered what your thoughts were of carrying flyers to to give to these drivers?

No.

I'd endorse what Arch said. If the law is an ass with regard to these ASL boxes, and a comprehensive ass at that, it is still the Law - until someone with commonsense changes it! You often cannot tell whether in fact the driver has done anything wrong in being there in the first place.

What's more, it may be illegal for a cyclist to enter the ASL box against red or amber. Only if there is a feeder lane and the first stop line doesn't extend into it, is it legal. Some ASLs I have seen don't meet this criteria - which makes them non-functional as far as the Law goes...

 

[Aperitif]

Just put an automatic camera or two on the traffic lights to note number plates/ tax disc etc - then send a penalty notice through the post. Intrusion into ASLs would stop - in the same way as 'pop-in' parking has been governed.

 

[ufkacbln]

A colleague was saying a while back that he'd read something (in the Guardian I think) that said if you have a particular gripe about policing (or lack of it) then you should make the effort to go to your local ward council meetings, and raise it. The police are stretched, and are more likely to target an offence if they know that people care about it.

I second this - we went to an "Agenda 21" meeting about the town, and ist was full of all the normal stuff until a couple of us posted illegal parking - and started an avalanche.

It became one of the biggest single complaints and things improved in the resultant clampdown (although normality was restored within weeks)

 

[XmisterIS]

Along similar lines to the last post, myself and a some other bikers (motorbikers) recently had the last laugh on some ignoramus pillock who had parked their 4x4 monstrosity right in the middle of the motorbike parking area of a central Southampton car park, thereby occupying 90% of the available space.

The motorbike parking area is marked out in bright yellow hatchings and with huge, yellow letters saying "m/c parking only", complete with a large sign that reads, "Motorbike parking only" - so the idiot probably parked there on purpose (possible bike-hater who objects to motorbikes parking for free?)


Motorbike parking is only free if you are parking in the designated area and so instead of complaining to the council (which wouldn't have achieved more than him/her getting a parking ticket), myself and a whole load of other bikers had parked our bikes, several deep, completely round his/her car.

I then took a photo of the scene, including the numberplate, and phoned up the local council to tell them where the car was parked.

So hopefully they got a ticket as well as being boxed in. Justice was served!

 

[porteous]

Remember the TV ads when box juntions first came in? Perhaps something along those lies would help. I don't think most motorists have a clue about a lot of modern road signs and markings

 

[swee'pea99]

Along similar lines to the last post, myself and a some other bikers (motorbikers) recently had the last laugh on some ignoramus pillock who had parked their 4x4 monstrosity right in the middle of the motorbike parking area of a central Southampton car park, thereby occupying 90% of the available space.

The motorbike parking area is marked out in bright yellow hatchings and with huge, yellow letters saying "m/c parking only", complete with a large sign that reads, "Motorbike parking only" -  so the idiot probably parked there on purpose (possible bike-hater who objects to motorbikes parking for free?)


Motorbike parking is only free if you are parking in the designated area and so instead of complaining to the council (which wouldn't have achieved more than him/her getting a parking ticket), myself and a whole load of other bikers had parked our bikes, several deep, completely round his/her car.

I then took a photo of the scene, including the numberplate, and phoned up the local council to tell them where the car was parked.

So hopefully they got a ticket as well as being boxed in.  Justice was served!

Have to confess this brought to mind a joke my dad once told me about the bloke in the transport cafe who's quietly eating his fry-up when a crowd of Hell's Angels arrive. One picks up a chip, sticks it in the yoke and eats it. Another bites off the end of his sausage. A third takes a slurp out of his cup of tea. The bloke says nothing, calmly gets up and leaves. HA goes over to the counter: 'He's not much of a man, is he?' Bloke says: 'Not much of a driver either - he's just reversed his artic over a dozen Harley-Davidsons.'

 

[martint235]

I just tend to pull in front of them if they are in or in front of the ASL. Conversely if a driver has stopped before the ASL, there are many occasions where I'll just stay behind them. I think they just bring out my natural bloody-minded-ness.

I'm not a great fan of ASLs and struggle to see the point of a lot of them. Ok, they look like they might be great if you're turning right, but seriously unless the light had only just changed to red, would you traverse one left to right in front of traffic...

 

[BSRU]

I live in a town where I have only seen one ASL, an illegal one at that, so local drivers probably have no idea what and ASL is, unless they have taken their test after they were introduced.

Also unless you actually see someone illegally stop in an ASL you cannot assume they did, circumstances may have resulted in them being in the ASL as the lights changed.

 

[biggs682]

i am always tempted to give them a godd kick as i struggle by , but as of today have never done so

 

[marinyork]

I'd endorse what Arch said. If the law is an ass with regard to these ASL boxes, and a comprehensive ass at that, it is still the Law - until someone with commonsense changes it! You often cannot tell whether in fact the driver has done anything wrong in being there in the first place.

What's more, it may be illegal for a cyclist to enter the ASL box against red or amber. Only if there is a feeder lane and the first stop line doesn't extend into it, is it legal. Some ASLs I have seen don't meet this criteria - which makes them non-functional as far as the Law goes...

Not really. Things run on a hierarchy. There are many things against the law or that we'd really rather people didn't that we have to try and influence in some way whether by fines or other things. It's a bit of an immature view banging on about things in such a literalist mode.

There was a mini campaign about ASLs here. In the end the people came round to the view that it was a bit of a waste of time. Unfortunately in many cities ASLs are still pretty rare. Round here the policy is to put them in when a junction comes up for a redesign but on average this is every 20-30 years. They don't necessarily get put in on the heavy cyclist commuter routes, moreover one even got taken out on a major junction redesign in 2010. It's a pretty trick issue what to do about it really.

 

[Bird Brain]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of drivers don't really know what the rules are for ASZs. I know they should, but it doesn't really bother me that much. In the scheme of things, there are lot worse pieces of driving to get upset about. I am not being critical of those who do get upset about it BTW.

I agree with this.