Cyclists, lack of lights and daily congestion
WHILE a survey conducted for The Post showed that more than a quarter of those polled say cyclists should be allowed to cycle on pavements, their views are irrelevant.
Rule 64 of The Highway Code clearly states (with red ink used to emphasise the capitals): 'You must not cycle on a pavement.'
The guide explains that this is a legal requirement and those who disobey it are committing a criminal offence.
Tim Stanley
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Bristol
A BRIEF observation on the hackneyed subject of cyclists. I am a motorist, cyclist and pedestrian and do not subscribe to the view that all cyclists are lycra-clad morons. Don't tar all of us with the same brush.
However I do take exception to driving behind two cyclists, slowly riding two abreast along a narrow road across The Downs on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
It was impossible to overtake, owing to the volume of traffic coming the other way, but the cyclists showed no consideration at all to other road users and were totally oblivious to the long queue building up behind them. So oblivious that the rider on the outside was able to continue his mobile phone conversation without interruption.
Obviously of the same ilk as the cyclists who choose to ride without lights in the dark. Why do these people always wear black?
W John
Muller Road, Eastville
I HAVE noticed now the darker mornings have arrived how many people using the roads in the early morning don't put their lights on.I travelled down through Redfield the other morning at around 7 am it was still fairly dark and i passed three cyclist in dark clothing with no lights on either back or front.
But it wasn't just cyclists the number of cars coming towards me with no lights on was just the same it doesn't cost anything for a car driver to put their lights on and cycle lights don't cost the earth. So with winter coming come on light up so other people can see you.
Nick Gould
Oldland Common
HAVING glanced through the Speakers' Corner article from Jon Rogers on why he would be a good Mayor, I couldn't help smiling at the promise to deliver....'Road improvements to help traffic flow on main routes'.
His ruling party over several years has actually created the very problem of jammed roads which he now wants to fix, this done by all the obstructions and changes to road layouts. Obstructions like 'stickie out' pavements, narrowing of roads, placing bollards and traffic lights where they're not needed – not to mention numerous cycle lanes which in the main are not even used!
In the last few months, my husband and I have visited Cardiff, Southampton and Manchester.
One common feature in and around each of those town centres is that the traffic actually flows. We commented on it between ourselves on each occasion. Guess what the main reason was? Wide roads free of obstructions. With traffic flowing, there's less pollution, the motorists were happy, the cyclists all looked perfectly happy and pedestrians happy with where they had to cross the roads safely.
If this and previous administrations hadn't been so hell bent on trying to squeeze cars out of the centre of Bristol, there wouldn't be half the problem there is now.
Also, I feel sure there wouldn't be the same antagonism between car driver and cyclist as there is today. Having said that, one thing that seems universal – irresponsible cyclists riding like idiots on pavements with no regard for anyone else.
Traffic flowing in Bristol – what a lovely dream.
Aunt Edith
Nailsea
Comments
by gentlegreen
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 10:21AM
“Anyone doubting what it's like as a cyclist to be passed closely, they could do worse than go to YouTube and search for "close pass" - if you search for "close pass and chat", you will hear driver after driver trying to justify what amounts to threatening the cyclist with a deadly weapon.
Curiously, with dashboard video cameras so inexpensive (I paid £15 for mine), I struggle to find any footage taken by drivers of cars showing what problems are being caused to them by cyclists.”
by gentlegreen
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 10:20AM
“Anyone doubting what it's like as a cyclist to be passed closely, they could do worse than go to YouTube and search for "close pass" - if you search for "close pass and chat", you will hear driver after driver trying to justify what amounts to threatening the cyclist with a deadly weapon.
Curiously, with dashboard video cameras so inexpensive (I paid £15 for mine), I struggle to find any footage taken by drivers of cars showing what problems are being caused to them by cyclists.”
by gentlegreen
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 10:02AM
“@ABurns seconded. If it was too dangerous to move over the white lines to overtake, then overtaking was probably not a safe option.
It's all very well to speak as a careful driver who would pass at a speed proportional to the gap between them and the cyclist, but surely it is disingenuous for a regular car driver to claim never to see other drivers flout this basic principle.
If they genuinely are that naive, they should consider getting their eyesight tested and probably some re-training.
Once bitten, forever shy in my book, but as a polite cyclist, I probably would have eventually found a safe point to allow a safe overtake - though probably end up regretting it as the following drivers take increasingly greater risks with my safety.
As for the mobile phone use - well, cycling is taking off so you will see the occasional cyclist doing it - but far fewer than those driving cars.”
by ABurns
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 9:34AM
“Hi W John
I never cycle two abreast but it is worth noting that when overtaking a bicycle you should give it the same passing width as a car. If the traffic coming the other way made it impossible to overtake then surely it made no difference to your journey unless it was a particularly wide road on The Downs? Regarding mobile phone usage, as idiotic on a bicycle as in a car.”