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I frequently cycle the wrong way up 2 residential one way streets and I was wondering what the consequences could be. I don't like to do it however it would be an inconvenience to go all the way around and would put me on busier and faster roads. I did it today and a police car went the other way and they took no notice of it. So have you ever been stopped or heard of the police stopping someone for cycling the wrong way up a one way street? thanks
same as red lights, is £30 once a year or so worth the time saved? would guess you are less likely to be done for it, but you could be, yes.
Do not do it purely for convenience IMO - if its a safety issue yes but for convenience no.
There are moves under way to legally allow it, there are already a few designated streets, where its allowed.
Also one needs to worry about idiot car drivers trying to enforce their vision of the law and forcing you against the curb, then saying you shoudnt have been there when they hit you.
I'd be more ware of pedestrians - they'll be looking the other way when they cross. This is my beef with some of the cycle lanes in Glasgow city centre, they put cycle traffic running opposite to the cars and pedestrians have a tendency to step out in front of you.
TandemJeremy - MemberDo not do it purely for convenience IMO - if its a safety issue yes but for convenience no.
Not like red lights then. Oh no, not the sam thing at all.
You should only ride 2 abreast the wrong way up a one way street. Cars should yield because you are a road user too!
of the more dangerous things you can do as a cyclist as its not anticipated or expected by drivers or pedestrians, if however your on a fixed gear riding backwards.......one
I have never run a red light and have never had a problem with pedestrians on the one way parts of my journey. often on 2 way roads, people step in front of me because they don't even look and can't hear cyclists coming but that is a different matter entirely
I frequently cycle the wrong way up 2 residential one way streets and I was wondering what the consequences could be.
I live off a 1 way street and sometimes forget to look the wrong way when crossing. You'd want to be wary of peds doing this. Also, drivers entering the road and booting it or leaving parking spaces without looking against the flow.
There's a short section of my commute where I turn the wrong way into a 1-way street. It's either that or a half mile detour and it's only 1-way for about 20yds. I did it once and a police car actually stopped, the driver waved me across so I could make the illegal turn! 🙂
RichPenny - I accept your points and I will be wary of peds but I think drivers may also be looking where they are going!
Riding the wrong way up a one-way street is just another reason for motorists to dislike cyclists in my opinion.
I spent 17 years in a Turkish prison for exactly this offence. Not big or clever.
Dave, I'm afraid you are mistaken. A poor driver (and there are many) may well assume that the way ahead is clear when entering a 1 way road [b]if[/b] there's nothing vaguely resembling a car in the way. As a ped I've learnt this to my cost a few times, looking at an approaching car windscreen and wondering if the driver might turn his head before he runs you over is emphatically not a pleasant experience!
I guess what I'm saying is this; Anyone using that road will not be anticipating your actions, so you must anticipate theirs.
😀crikey - Member
I spent 17 years in a Turkish prison for exactly this offence. Not big or clever.
if i ride back from the gym avoiding the busy, narrow main road i choose to ride 50m on pavement to cut out a 1km loop on a one way system, which includes a narrow section that requires 200m or so of holding the centre to put off being squeezed into the kerb - i hate pavement riding and always feel guilty but am very considerate about it - i'd rather not ride against flow of traffic - convenience and a one way system that only benefits vehicles (mostly thru extra parking) - for pedestrians it means that driver don't observe both ways and on the two ped xings there have been accidents because of this
i don't think this is comparable with wanton and non stop pavement hopping red light jumping - a bit more pragmatic, like driving at 90 on an empty motorway
It's about time the law was changed IMO. Over this side of the Channel cyclists are allowed to ride the wrong way up most one way streets as long as there is a sign to say it is permissable.
Turkish ....
Prison...
No, actually I didn't, and I do it all the time. Can't see the problem me self.
Arrows Officer ? What arrows, I didn't even see the Indians.
There are a few cycle routes in Nottingham that run the wrong way up one way streets. They're a pain, other road users aren't expecting you from that direction.