Cycling question

[Finial]

In some countries they try to increase cycling and reduce car use. They gain in improved health, reduced congestion and pleasanter town centres. Here, we consistently prioritise motor vehicles and we all pay the price. We have some of the fattest children in Europe and some of the unhealthiest adults. Lots of people would like to cycle, but don't feel safe if they do. They don't have the choice, and very few cycle now.

The only way to enable them to ride is to provide cycle tracks where they are needed. Nothing else works. This is what other countries have done, and it could be done here if there was the will. Residential streets should be closed to through motor traffic and limited to 20 mph. Without rat running, they are normally safe enough. Roads for through traffic must have cycle tracks and pavements where there is room. Where there isn't, the roads must be made one way to motors. Roads that can't be made safe should be closed to through motor traffic. All this is done elsewhere and works very well.

When eventually it is done here, everyone will look back and wonder why it took so long.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Be careful your halo doesn't strangle you.

 

[RogerS]

Be careful your halo doesn't strangle you.

:lol:

 

[Alex H]

They don't have the choice, and very few cycle now.

8% of the population of the UK (4.6 million people) cycle more than 3 times a week

http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/ctc-cycling-statistics#How many people cycle and how often?

All this is done elsewhere and works very well.

Where exactly does this happen?

If everyone in the UK was Danish or Finnish or Dutch, then the problem wouldn't exist :-"

 

[Ransoman]

Could one potential solution for the Traffic light fatalities be to have a seperate green light for cycles and they are "green lighted" 2 seconds before cars are? This would give them the chance to get ahead into safety and prevent cars tying to race them from the lights to get ahead. It would also help prevent the left turning fatalities as the cyclist would hopefully be out of the way by the time the car/van/lorry starts moving/turning.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

They've already got one - they're all colour blind.

 

[RogerS]

Could one potential solution for the Traffic light fatalities be to have a seperate green light for cycles and they are "green lighted" 2 seconds before cars are? This would give them the chance to get ahead into safety and prevent cars tying to race them from the lights to get ahead. It would also help prevent the left turning fatalities as the cyclist would hopefully be out of the way by the time the car/van/lorry starts moving/turning.

Even easier and cheaper solution. Cyclists don't cycle up on the inside of an HGV at traffic lights.

 

[Finial]

Could one potential solution for the Traffic light fatalities be to have a seperate green light for cycles and they are "green lighted" 2 seconds before cars are? This would give them the chance to get ahead into safety and prevent cars tying to race them from the lights to get ahead. It would also help prevent the left turning fatalities as the cyclist would hopefully be out of the way by the time the car/van/lorry starts moving/turning.

Even easier and cheaper solution. Cyclists don't cycle up on the inside of an HGV at traffic lights.

Roger, your idea would work in the case of people who might filter on the inside. What do you suggest for when drivers overtake or stop alongside the bikes already waiting at the junction?

 

[Finial]

They don't have the choice, and very few cycle now.

8% of the population of the UK (4.6 million people) cycle more than 3 times a week

http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/ctc-cycling-statistics#How many people cycle and how often?


Yes, very few. Where I live there is nothing but queues of cars, often stationary. Some hardy commuters on bikes in the rush hour, but hardly anyone on the road outside that. When was the last time you saw a child cycling on the road? Or a pensioner? A few cycle on the pavement. Some enjoy leisure cycling off road. In some places there may even be usable cycle tracks. Where people have a choice, a high percentage of journeys are made on bikes.

 

[RogerS]

Could one potential solution for the Traffic light fatalities be to have a seperate green light for cycles and they are "green lighted" 2 seconds before cars are? This would give them the chance to get ahead into safety and prevent cars tying to race them from the lights to get ahead. It would also help prevent the left turning fatalities as the cyclist would hopefully be out of the way by the time the car/van/lorry starts moving/turning.

Even easier and cheaper solution. Cyclists don't cycle up on the inside of an HGV at traffic lights.

Roger, your idea would work in the case of people who might filter on the inside. What do you suggest for when drivers overtake or stop alongside the bikes already waiting at the junction?

In both cases the drivers would see the cyclist already there.

 

[mseries]

In both cases the drivers would see the cyclist already there.

You'd expect so but many collisions are caused when drivers don't see cyclists when they should. Sorry Mate I Didn't See You is all too common.

"A study which used eye tracking technology to monitor driver behaviour found that the drivers involved in the experiment failed to notice 22% of cyclists on the road, despite them being in clear view. - See more at: http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/437 ... 8goz3.dpuf"

 

[Finial]

In both cases the drivers would see the cyclist already there.

Yes, you would think so. That's what usually happens. If all drivers were reliably careful and considerate there would be no problem. Unfortunately some forget, are distracted, or don't understand that they need to let the bikes get clear. Often they seem not to look. And HGVs are notorious for having big blind spots. The sort of incidents I described earlier are very common. Educating drivers and training bike riders has been tried, and has failed to improve cycling safety. If you cycle fully in accordance with the law, wear hi vis and carry as many lights as can fit on the bike, you still have a significant chance of being run down.

Seriously, motor traffic has driven most people who would like to cycle, and pedestrians (where there is no pavement), off the road. Is that acceptable?

 

[Jacob]

Could one potential solution for the Traffic light fatalities be to have a seperate green light for cycles and they are "green lighted" 2 seconds before cars are? This would give them the chance to get ahead into safety and prevent cars tying to race them from the lights to get ahead. It would also help prevent the left turning fatalities as the cyclist would hopefully be out of the way by the time the car/van/lorry starts moving/turning.

Even easier and cheaper solution. Cyclists don't cycle up on the inside of an HGV at traffic lights.

Roger, your idea would work in the case of people who might filter on the inside. What do you suggest for when drivers overtake or stop alongside the bikes already waiting at the junction?

Cyclists at a junction should stick to centre of the lane so they can't be overtaken. That's what I do. If someone gets irritated and does try to sneak past when there isn't really room then you know he is probably a nutter and you keep well clear.

 

[n0legs]

If a motorist did this there would be a case of due care and attention to answer. Your insurance company wouldn't be impressed either.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/1 ... a_scratch/

Car drivers of the world enjoy

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Finial - Perfectly. The economy of the Country depends on lorries, buses and cars. It does not depend on cycles.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

If a motorist did this there would be a case of due care and attention to answer. Your insurance company wouldn't be impressed either.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/1 ... a_scratch/

Car drivers of the world enjoy

Smidsy! =D>

 

[Finial]

Finial - Perfectly. The economy of the Country depends on lorries, buses and cars. It does not depend on cycles.

Not entirely true, ill health costs a lot and businesses tend to do better when their employees are fitter and their customers cycle. But there is certainly a need for motor traffic. Other countries seem to have solved the problem without going bust. So is it your view that nothing can or should be done here?

 

[n0legs]

Smidsy! =D>

Think once
Think twice
Think.............

Yea bike boy just think a bit :lol:

 

[Finial]

Man bites dog.....

 

[n0legs]

Dog writes best seller.....