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Any programme that invites commentary from Archibald Graham is beneath contempt. Graham clearly hasn't actually ridden a bicycle in at least two decades.
Can you give some examples Matt. Interested to know.
@dyna-ti - I missed a wink off the end of my statement.
It's ridiculous the whipping up of the issues - MSN news is leading with 'war between motorists and cyclists'.
Even my wife commented that the new rules are nothing new, just common sense any driver would do, e.g. letting a pedestrian cross at a junction before you went round it.
Riding primary has always been permitted.
My 26 miles today still showed drivers do not care. I was primary in the inside lane keeping up with the car in front - car by the side 9outside lane) decided he was having my space... even a loud Oi didn't stop him barging in, as he needed to turn left. Must have shat himself when I turned left too. Add in a close pass and a really stupid aborted overtake.
I think i should reevaluate my earlier comment from hilarious to downright depressing.
Though most of the DM comments are a bunch of made of lies, along with much of the DM report, i is a sign of how few are aware of the rules of the road before the changes, though in the changes it uses the language (on 2 abreast) to say 'reminds' that is a legal technique, and that the DM and its over opinionated readership are completely unaware of any of the rules in the first place.
Quite astounded though a cop would be unaware of the rules,as they've a huge list of infractions they use to evaluate infraction- and its penalty in fine and/or penalty points for everything a driver might do.
I think its a sense of entitlement that makes many think they can act as they lease and to their own benefit and interpretation of what you should or shouldn't do when driving along in relation to other road users.
Maybe we should encourage articulated lorries to up the ante and start to cut up car drivers as car drivers cut up other cars, bikes and riders.
I also think its probably now more than ever more prudent to have some sort of dashcam on the bike both fore and aft.
Client I met on site last week started spouting this bollocks until both myself and the other guy we were meeting told him we were cyclists and put him right on a few counts.
Client I met on site last week started spouting this bollocks until both myself and the other guy we were meeting told him we were cyclists and put him right on a few counts
I love those conversations. People trying to make small talk by telling you how much they hate cyclists…
This "middle of the road" line is everywhere... Radio4 were using it in their news headlines. That DM example even shows a rider central in their lane (they could be coming up to a junction, or there's a pedestrian looking like they might step into the road, who knows) NOT the "middle of the road". There's a whole other lane there for overtaking if need be. Yes, it might be too busy to overtake at just that moment... but... the rider is in the correct lane... NOT the "middle of the road" as if about to turn right.
I was thinking about this on my ride today. At least the outraged DM reader can’t claim ignorance. They might not like the clarified rules but at least they are aware of them. The worst drivers out there are the ones who don’t give you a second thought and you may as well be invisible.
Well, today I spent about 20 mins on the road between trails and committed the ultimate no no of hopping onto the pavement instead of waiting at the red light and received a beep from the guy at the lights, but why get so knarked by it, there wasn't any pedestrians present for me to endanger and I was removing myself from situation when the lights go green so they don't have to worry about me being there, then about 10 mins later I mounted the pavement to overtake a mature couple riding two abreast, I shortly returned to the double yellows only to hear my second and third beep of the day, but those were aimed at the couple a good 30m behind me.
My question is, is it a roadie thing to feel comfortable in the middle of the lane or are mountainbikers doing it to, genuine question as I'd be far too anxious to do it myself.
I only ride in the middle of the lane when I need to, ie blind corners, traffic islands, etc where I don’t want someone trying to squeeze past. I think most passes that people describe as ‘punishment’ passes are actually just oblivious passes.
DM readers can’t claim ignorance.
Ironically.
My question is, is it a roadie thing to feel comfortable in the middle of the lane or are mountainbikers doing it to, genuine question as I’d be far too anxious to do it myself.
Not quite sure if/how I qualify to answer. Is a ‘roadie’ someone who is a sportive rider on a racing bicycle? Or just someone who cycles for work, transport and/or utility/cargo? Someone touring via all roads? Someone on an MTB transitioning to trails? Someone riding a bike to school? An older person riding to the shops via road on Raleigh Twenty (or a Tern GSD?).
I’ve been all of these things (OK not so much the first) for 44 years now. I used a bike (and occasional PT) exclusively until buying a bike-replacement (car!) at 36yrs old, yet never felt entirely ‘comfortable’ on British roads. Less so in the last decade or so. There have always been close-calls and a couple of collisions (both from drivers, both from behind me).
I do feel less vulnerable in primary on occasions where the alternative (nearer the kerb/verge) would risk me being unseen, ie possibly smeared by vehicle from the rear on a ‘fast’ left-hand bend in a tree tunnel, or else placing self in the door-zone. So it’s more a case of taking the primary being safer/less suicidal in certain circumstances. ‘Comfortable’ is not really the word I’d use for taking the lane (unless a quiet minor lane or city street) as is simply the (best-judgement allowing) ‘safest’ option (vs further left) yet this doesn’t at all necessarily mean ‘safe’, just ideally less dangerous than the alternative.
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19897769.3-men-arrested-close-york-minster-armed-police-move/
Let's see if the DailyHeil pick up on this story and twist it to suit their agenda.
Ha - check out drum n bass on a bike on youtube. now that's cyclists taking over the road!
Is a ‘roadie’ someone who is a sportive rider on a racing bicycle?
Yes. As in that popular saying. "Look at that sad old roadie"
Let’s see if the DailyHeil pick up on this story and twist it to suit their agenda.
Who had the firearm?
Been pointed at this rather amateurish but actually pretty thorough review of the Highway Code changes on YouTube - might be useful to point argumentative bellends towards it