New Highway Code Rules

Yes fully agree there.

Why dont theb cyclists use the pathways made  for them instead of riding on the roads,particularly in the narrow country roads like here. We have what we call "The golden Road" after the vast sum spent  on it but you neverb see a cyclist using it.

I think you would need to let us know more detail before we could comment, Fish. Are there cyclists around? Who commissioned your Golden Road? I suggest contacting the folk involved for their reasoning. Hope this helps.

I suspect “narrow country roads” don’t provide an alternative, but I agree there are quite a few cyclists who, for whatever reason, ignore perfectly good cycle routes in favour of busy roads. There’s a 7 mile trail near me which forms part of National Cycling Route 3. Some cyclists habitually take the parallel road instead, sometimes 3 abreast via an uphill section of a busy B road with no pavement and lots of bends with a long trail of vehicles in their wake. I guess you can build as many cycle ways as you like, but idiots persist whatever.  

The Pembrokeshire Golden Road looks to be more suited to walkers than cyclists? I really don’t like sharing walking trails with cyclists.

I think you mean some cyclists rather than all of them? I certainly don't use roads if I can avoid them but I believe from cycle literature that there is no legal ruling that cyclists must use cycle paths even when next to a road.

As said by SB you do then have to share a path with walkers but as my average speed is so low that I'm happy with this, however the road cyclist who are in training and/or to beat or improve their times will want to use roads. 

Those road user who act irresponsibly be they dangerous drivers, dangerous cyclists or dangerous pedestrians are all equally reprehensible and reckless. However, these new laws are more about protecting those who are prepared to act responsibly towards other road and path users. Those that act otherwise deserve the sanctions that become them. It may be a little controversial but these sanctions may need increasing in severity in order to make our roads safer.

The actions described above do little for the cyclists cause and there are insufficient traffic officers to deal with such blatant disregard for other road users. Personally, the further I can get from a ton and a half of flying metal when on my bike the better.

Of course you are right CY but truth is that in order to get from A to B on most occasions you will inevitably halve to share space with that flying metal. The alternative is just don’t and leave travelling to that ferrous mass!

Some dedicated cycle paths have to be used to be believed. Overgrown weeds and hedging, broken glass, the Autumn nightmare when thrashing of hawthorn leaves thorns in their thousands, flooding, cars parked across them, wheelie bins left across them, street furniture in the middle of them! I am going to photograph some of ours and send them onto Chris Boardman and shame our local council into putting a bit more effort in. I hate being on the roads with cars, buses and trucks, but sometimes it’s actually the only option☹️ Same for horse riders as well. They need more protection. I personally know of half a dozen riders killed on our local roads.

Yes, also with any altercation with another vehicle the sad fact is a cyclist is bound to come off worse, however these new laws do give us some extra protection and if they make one or more drivers more aware and give a wider berth then all to the god.

As to your first point there are quite a few youtube videos showing where a rider's cam footage alone has led to penalty points being given. 

Some cyclists appear to have front, rear, and helmet cams, far too much trouble to get them all charged and mounted for me, just easier to avoid where possible all roads.