New Highway Code Rules

[init6]

The example you use, I agree i may use the Dual carriageway, but would have to accept there are other risks. But, how about a Single carriageway A road, mile long stretch which is used by lorries, vans, cars, is fairly poorly lit and has a double width pavement split for pedestrians and cyclists. Pavement set back 20 foot away from the A road. Very rarely any pedestrians or dog walkers as not near housing. Which would you use?

Every situation is different, but the default should be to use the facilities that have been provided to improve safety.

You've kind of answered the question yourself. Why would you use a seemingly more dangerous route if there is a safer route next to you? Probably because the 'safer' route isn't as safe as it seems. As someone who used to use cycle routes almost exclusively to get to work, there are a lot of cycle paths I would actively avoid because of their poor design or maintenance. No-one is going to choose a more dangerous route if they don't have to.

 

[SpareHeadOne]

I'm also confused by the rule that drivers have to stop to let a pedestrian cross the road at a junction. How is this going work in the real world, say in a busy town where a driver could have an endless stream of pedestrians wanting to cross the road. Are you supposed to stop if some one is waiting to cross at a junction with traffic lights and pedestrian crossings when the crossing is on red and the lights for cars are on green?

Yeah, this one is going to cause a lot of trouble - not least because pedestrians are not going to be reading the HWC so we'll end up in stand-off situations where you're trying to give way to someone who doesn't know they have priority.

Then again, does anyone know which rule is being reported on?

Rules 8, 170 and 206 only say that pedestrians have priority once they've started crossing. Is this a case of our dumber-than-mince press firmly grasping the wrong end of another stick?

 

[G4WFT]

As both a motorist and cyclist I can see, and sympathise, with both sides of the argument. Plus there are good and bad examples of car drivers and cyclists. As a cyclist, I always keep as far left as is safe to do so. As a motorist, I give cyclists as much room as I safely can. But I've seen bad examples on both sides. I've been behind cyclists who doggedly stick to the middle of the road or continue to ride two or three abreast regardless of the queue of cars building up behind them. Equally, I've seen motorists who ignore my outstretched right arm when I'm indicating that I'm turning right on my bike and simply overtake anyway, or pull out of a junction right in front of me as if I don't exist. Generally, motorists tell me that, as a cyclist, I have less right on the road than them because I don't pay any road tax. My answer is that, at the moment, I'm not required to pay road tax - I would happily pay to cycle if it became law.
I think we should be encouraging cycling as much as possible, from both health and sustainability viewpoints. Sadly, there are plenty of motorists who think they should be the only ones on the road.

 

[Adopado]

Yeah, this one is going to cause a lot of trouble

I might agree if the behaviour of drivers and cyclists were to significantly change ... but I'm guessing nothing much will happen to established practices. For example the Highway Code has never allowed drivers drivers to use flashing of lights to invite someone to drive out in front of them ... but it still happens every day. People don't drive around with the detail of the HWC in their heads so these changes would need to come with a very prominent re-education programme if any change is to take place.

 

[Adopado]

Generally, motorists tell me that, as a cyclist, I have less right on the road than them because I don't pay any road tax.

That's a harder line to take nowadays ... we have two cars and we don't pay "road tax" on either of them! Not that VED pays for roads anyway ...

 

[Irata]

The changes are such that they enable easier prosecution from video evidence.

This therefore encourages more cameras and somewhat pushes the detective work onto the general public.

That kinda supports the view that there are no problems (within the principles being set) with sentry mode and dash/helmet cams etc.

It's an interesting direction of travel, you need to give the police everything on a plate for them to simply do the administration.

 

[guru1]

So then, how are you getting on with them so far?

I was stuck in a single lane roadworks last weekend... for about a mile behind a single cyclist in the middle of the road blocking the lane completely.

I'm ok about it all, just happily sat behind watching it all unfold, as an extremely frustrated 4x4 drives through the roadworks cones on the wrong side... then through the roadworks area at speed (to overtake the cyclist), and then drives back through the cones into the lane again.

I think there's going to be trouble...

Did you hit save on the dashcam? I would upload the clip to the appropriate portal/police website!

 

[Xdama]

- simple courtesy like you might if driving a tractor

Glad you said might in that sentence because the tractors around my way couldn’t give a rat’s arse if they have a 2 mile tailback behind them. They’re not pulling over for anyone

 

[Xdama]

I think most of us would agree that making the roads safer for everyone is desirable, but some of the changes don't make sense. I particularly disagree that cyclists don't have to use cycle lanes even if they are present. Millions of pounds have been spent on cycle lanes, they have often been placed in areas that have been highlighted as hazardous for cyclists to use the road, yet cyclists can choose not to use them and put themselves and other drivers are higher risk. My commute includes areas where mile long extra wide pavements were created several years ago, split into pedestrian and cycle lanes. Cyclists prefer to use the road causing danger to themselves & other road users, and of course causing congestion. Surely it would have been much more sensible for the highway code changes to include rules that make cyclists use cycle lanes when they are present, if they don't use them what is the point in them being there?

I'm also confused by the rule that drivers have to stop to let a pedestrian cross the road at a junction. How is this going work in the real world, say in a busy town where a driver could have an endless stream of pedestrians wanting to cross the road. Are you supposed to stop if some one is waiting to cross at a junction with traffic lights and pedestrian crossings when the crossing is on red and the lights for cars are on green?

Agree completely with the cycle lane compulsory use if they’re there. I live in Wakefield but travel to the other side of Bradford quite frequently. When the government gave bonus cash for cycle lanes to local councils Bradford shut a complete car lane down in a 3 lane section and changed it to a cycle lane with bollards to prevent traffic entering. In the months since it has been completed I have yet to see a single cyclist using it. A complete waste of money that could have been spent on any of a number of more important things like NHS, free school meals, homelessness in fact anything at all.

 

[Peter 224]

More well intentioned legislation that in the real world, achieves nothing.

Salisbury has many lengths of so called cycle lane that are nothing more than pavement with a line painted on it, leaving insufficient room for pedestrians with a kiddy buggy or a tri-cyclist. So 90% of cyclists use the road and behave sensibly.

Horses are another issue... I'll leave that one for now...

Then there are tractors.. you can get a tractor licence from age 16... the tractor drivers are some of the least polite road users in our neck of the woods, they make "white van man' seem polite.
Many modern tractors can drive at 60kph (40mh) and with a weight of 25 tonnes. Drive that at 16!!!
Yes, I know there are limits on the size of tractor a 16 year old can drive, but it seems they are never enforced.

 

[RedMod3]

Today, I drove down our road that is plenty wide enough for two cars to easily pass each other. However, there were two cyclists in front of me in the middle of the lanes going north.

One in the middle of the lane (going in my direction), and the other was in the middle of the lane (of the opposite direction), only both were cycling together going north. They got a long blast of the horn for arrogance.

 

[Columbo]

When are they going to consider compulsory insurance for bikes? Or making them stop at red lights? Or not become a pedestrian to swerve a red light? Or have lights? Or have lights that don’t flash so they are only actually on 50% of the time? Or wear a helmet? The list goes on. When cyclists use the road like the rest of us, I’ll consider these latest restrictions on drivers

Wow you win the bingo in one!

 

[M1tch]

That is just what I needed to fall asleep. Thank you

 

[roadcred]

Wow you win the bingo in one!

It is clear that many of the contributors dont drive regularly into London in the rush hour. I am happy to have educated and considerate cyclists and motor cyclists on the roads But they really need to stop riding in huge packs, ignoring signs or lights of any kind, abusing crossings and pavements and swerving from one side of a car to the other in order to slip through a minor gap. Also in London where a vast proportion of the roads are 20mph limited you are overtaken by cyclists both sides all the time as they avoid speed cameras and bus lane cameras. Insurance is a must!

 

[Smileysam]

But if I did any of those bad things in a car - I’d get a fine. Never seen that happen to a cyclist. I’ll leave it there…

Grow up

 

[Fursty Ferret]

Agree completely with the cycle lane compulsory use if they’re there. I live in Wakefield but travel to the other side of Bradford quite frequently.

Sure. But only if drivers get fined for using minor roads if a motorway or A-road is available, even if this doubles or triples the journey time. They must also stop and give way at every junction, and no investment will be made to repair damage or grit them in cold weather. Motorways will also have surprise lamp posts and telephone cabinets in the middle of the lane.

 

[Xdama]

Sure. But only if drivers get fined for using minor roads if a motorway or A-road is available, even if this doubles or triples the journey time. They must also stop and give way at every junction, and no investment will be made to repair damage or grit them in cold weather. Motorways will also have surprise lamp posts and telephone cabinets in the middle of the lane.

The lane is completely free of any street furniture, cycles have priority at junctions and the investment was millions in taxpayer funding to build them for no bugger to use. Oh and they get gritted at the same time as the roads do due to the spray n pray gritting machines going down the lane next to them. They could always employ someone on a bike with a trailer to pedal along them spreading grit though

 

[Adopado]

The lane is completely free of any street furniture, cycles have priority at junctions and the investment was millions in taxpayer funding to build them for no bugger to use. Oh and they get gritted at the same time as the roads do due to the spray n pray gritting machines going down the lane next to them. They could always employ someone on a bike with a trailer to pedal along them spreading grit though

Video: Gritter bike for cycle lanes

A new remedy for the age-old ailment of the oversized council gritter

road.cc

 

[Xdama]

Video: Gritter bike for cycle lanes

A new remedy for the age-old ailment of the oversized council gritter

road.cc

Jesus, I’d even pay money to see someone dressed in hiviz pedalling 50kg of road salt up the hills out of Bradford

There again I’d pay money to see someone actually using the cycle road (lets call it what it is as its what used to be an entire car lane on each side of the road). Oh wait, I have paid for years in fuel duty and road tax, pretty sure it’ll only be another 12mth or so before EV’s start getting nailed too

 

[Fursty Ferret]

The lane is completely free of any street furniture, cycles have priority at junctions

If it's the lane you're talking about, cyclists absolutely do not have priority at junctions. Instead the main road has priority and they hit Toucan crossings, which use radar to wait until the main road is empty or a two-minute time-out elapses, when they finally change.

Why would you use anything where traffic alongside you gets priority at junctions while you wait?