New Highway Code Rules
64 replies
JohnM20 replied on 25/01/2022 16:35
Posted on 25/01/2022 16:35
I don't disagree with the changes in general but there are some concerns. For example, we live on a small road off the main route to the local school. If I went out at school time I could be waiting forever as the school kids amble along. If I let one group cross, by the time they had reached the other side of the road there would be another gaggle starting to cross. Surely there has to be a degree of give and take? But then again we are talking school kids many of whom have no road sense whatsoever and have always just walked across a road oblivious to traffic.
I've not read the revised code yet but what happens if I'm at a wide T junction with a pedestrian wanting to cross from my right. Do I have to wait? I guess so but as per what I said above, by the time they had crossed the road another person may be starting to cross. How long to do sit there with a string of traffic up my back?
I'm also assuming that if the junction has traffic lights with pedestrian lights then the pedestrian has to wait for his / her green light.
I had an instance today where I got to a junction and there was a lady standing on the pavement but almost as far from the pavement edge as she could get. I assumed, wrongly as it turned out, that she was perhaps waiting for someone. Wrong! As soon as I had turned the corner she marched across the road behind me. If pedestrians want to cross they should make their intentions clear. Standing back suggest to me that they are happy for me to proceed.
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mickysf replied on 27/01/2022 14:03
Posted on 27/01/2022 14:03
With regard to pedestrian crossings it is car etiquette in some European countries for the driver to briefly indicate left while slowing up in order to let the pedestrians know that they have been noted and the driver is giving way. Even witnessed this on roads with no pedestrian crossing. Good give and take I suppose.
Lew Jack replied on 28/01/2022 16:01
Posted on 28/01/2022 16:01
My local area is blessed with ‘partial’ cycle/pedestrian lanes. I am a leisure cyclist and certainly not a slim, enthusiastic cyclist out to complete a 70 mile ride. I try to use these aforementioned cycle lanes for some much needed exercise but frequently find myself having to sound my bell to overtake a parent or two pushing their strollers, a couple of elderly pedestrians out for a well deserved walk or perhaps a handful of teenagers merrily joking with each other as they walk. I live with all of these but on too many occasions I receive abuse for daring to ride my bike on a pavement…. despite the fact there are numerous surface markings or sign posts indicating it is a dual use lane. On sun-soaked days when pedestrians are plentiful, I have gone onto the road only to receive similar abuse from disgruntled motorists. We just can’t win!!!
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Twos more then one replied on 29/01/2022 10:54
Takethedogalong replied on 29/01/2022 17:18
Posted on 25/01/2022 16:04 by CornersteadyYes, 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.
Posted on 29/01/2022 17:18
OH has just kitted himself out with front and rear cameras Corners. Money well spent, and gives me a bit more piece of mind. The quality of the footage is very good, far better than I expected. He’s been badly knocked off his bike twice, serious enough to have to be checked out at hospital. Not GoPro, something to last longer, a good two- three hour ride. A company in Australia does a nice looking helmet with built in front and rear cameras, but we had no reply about sizing. Mind it was the first lockdown, so we ought really to have followed it up. The behaviour of a small minority of our local drivers is a huge concern at the moment, what few Police we seem to have are targeting known race track roads. We were overtaken in Jeep by someone who decided to drive on wrong side of road in a 30 zone last week. All on Jeep’s camera☹️
Cornersteady replied on 29/01/2022 17:37
Posted on 29/01/2022 17:18 by TakethedogalongOH has just kitted himself out with front and rear cameras Corners. Money well spent, and gives me a bit more piece of mind. The quality of the footage is very good, far better than I expected. He’s been badly knocked off his bike twice, serious enough to have to be checked out at hospital. Not GoPro, something to last longer, a good two- three hour ride. A company in Australia does a nice looking helmet with built in front and rear cameras, but we had no reply about sizing. Mind it was the first lockdown, so we ought really to have followed it up. The behaviour of a small minority of our local drivers is a huge concern at the moment, what few Police we seem to have are targeting known race track roads. We were overtaken in Jeep by someone who decided to drive on wrong side of road in a 30 zone last week. All on Jeep’s camera☹️
Posted on 29/01/2022 17:37
Yes and sorry to hear that, I can't watch these youtube videos that show cam footage with collisions on, makes me not want to go back out!
Actually I'm just looking at lights that have rear 'radar' that connect to my Garmin cycle computer and warns of traffic behind, I always have lights on even in broad daylight especially the low usage flashing kind.
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neveramsure replied on 29/01/2022 17:56
Posted on 29/01/2022 17:56
I have mixed feelings with some of the changes. On the news today it showed an example of a cyclist wanting to go straight on at a x roads when the car to his left was indicating right!! Why was the cyclist not behind the car or on the nearside?
It will be interesting when on my local dog walks to see if motorists give way when I need to cross over T junctions on country lanes.
Vulcan replied on 29/01/2022 18:21
Posted on 29/01/2022 17:56 by neveramsureI have mixed feelings with some of the changes. On the news today it showed an example of a cyclist wanting to go straight on at a x roads when the car to his left was indicating right!! Why was the cyclist not behind the car or on the nearside?
It will be interesting when on my local dog walks to see if motorists give way when I need to cross over T junctions on country lanes.
Posted on 29/01/2022 18:21
You are right to be concerned, the decision to allow cyclists right of way to overertake or undertake a vehicle indicating and waiting to turn at a junction is bordering on insane. It will cause chaos in city centres with traffic backing up whilst cars and buses have to wait for all the cyclists to pass before making the turn. Imagine indicating to turn right in a vehicle not only do you have to keep your eyes on your mirror for cyclists overtaking while you are indicating when a gap in the traffic appears you then have to look for cyclists with their new rights ignoring any form of common sense undertaking and overtaking on the approach to a junction on the other side a then of course there is the likelyhood that you might have to stop halfway accross for a pedestrian crossing the road you are entering.
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Wherenext replied on 29/01/2022 20:50
Posted on 29/01/2022 20:50
Ttda and CS, I was returning home the other day in the car and noticed a cyclist coming the other way carrying what looked like his fishing rod on his back which had an overhang of about 2 feet above his head. On closer inspection, as I waited for him to pass, it turned out to be a camera. I've seen helmet and bike mounted ones but never anything like this. A bit distracting if I'm honest but then that was probably a good thing as he was more noticeable.
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allanandjean replied on 29/01/2022 22:04
Posted on 29/01/2022 10:54 by Twos more then oneFrom what i have read, most is just common sense and courtesy
It is clear on how to pass, on both speeds and distance, and the hierarchy of responsibility is well over due
Posted on 29/01/2022 22:04
Like others I am a “leisure cyclist” but due to the nature of our local roads, unlit, muddy, blind bends and with a 60MPH limit, I prefer to cycle off road.
Despite this I always wear hi-viz and have lights front and rear.
Yesterday at app 1730, on an unlit 60 limit road, I came across what appeared to be three cyclists, none of whom had any hi-viz and only two had lights, with the outermost having neither.
I could see it was clear so moved across to the opposite side and passed-to find another cyclist, again with no hi-viz or rear light, app 10-15 yds ahead.
So, as far as common sense and courtesy go this bunch seemed have neither.
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mickysf
Motorhomer