Cycle paths

[shoot and be safe]

I have been showing a new driver in work today one of the routes. During the day we passed many cyclists, most of them on the pavement/bike track.

 

On a busy road (made narrower by a recently constructed cycle path) there was a chap cycling along the middle of the carriage way (between the white line and cycle path).

 

As much as I appreciate what Sir Bradley Wiggins did for the bicycle manufacture industry. My question is:

Where would you stand in court if you were involved in a road traffic collision with a cyclist on the main carriage when there was a cycle path running along side?

 

My view would be it is their fault as there is a designated path for them, separating them from the traffic. However as they are not insured, it will be the motorist who gets the claim against them.

 

I am not against cyclists as long as they stick to the highway code. Once again the minority spoiling the reputation of the majority.

 

What are your thoughts?

[kdubya]

I have been showing a new driver in work today one of the routes. During the day we passed many cyclists, most of them on the pavement/bike track.

 

On a busy road (made narrower by a recently constructed cycle path) there was a chap cycling along the middle of the carriage way (between the white line and cycle path).

 

As much as I appreciate what Sir Bradley Wiggins did for the bicycle manufacture industry. My question is:

Where would you stand in court if you were involved in a road traffic collision with a cyclist on the main carriage when there was a cycle path running along side?

 

My view would be it is their fault as there is a designated path for them, separating them from the traffic. However as they are not insured, it will be the motorist who gets the claim against them.

 

I am not against cyclists as long as they stick to the highway code. Once again the minority spoiling the reputation of the majority.

 

What are your thoughts?

if you hit a cyclist from behind it does not matter where he is in the road,he has a right to be on it regardless if there is a path or not, simple fact is you hit HIM, half the time the cycle paths are not usable either from their unmaintained condition or cars parked on them, and yes if he is to far out he is inconsiderate, but that does not warrant being hit by an impatient driver.

 

KW

Edited April 15, 2014 by kdubya

[casts_by_fly]

if you hit a cyclist from behind it does not matter were he is in the road,he has a right to be on it regardless if there is a path or not, simple fact is you hit HIM, half the time the cycle paths are not usable either from their unmaintained condition or cars parked on them, and yes if he is to far out he is inconsiderate, but that does not warrant being hit by an impatient driver.

 

KW

This. Even if there is a bike path, there is no requirement to use it. If the cyclist causes the accident then it is their fault. If you cause it it is your fault.

 

Rick

[welsh1]

I have been showing a new driver in work today one of the routes. During the day we passed many cyclists, most of them on the pavement/bike track.

 

On a busy road (made narrower by a recently constructed cycle path) there was a chap cycling along the middle of the carriage way (between the white line and cycle path).

 

As much as I appreciate what Sir Bradley Wiggins did for the bicycle manufacture industry. My question is:

Where would you stand in court if you were involved in a road traffic collision with a cyclist on the main carriage when there was a cycle path running along side?

 

My view would be it is their fault as there is a designated path for them, separating them from the traffic. However as they are not insured, it will be the motorist who gets the claim against them.

 

I am not against cyclists as long as they stick to the highway code. Once again the minority spoiling the reputation of the majority.

 

What are your thoughts?

You answered your own question,if you hit them while they are obeying the highway code,it would not matter if there was a 3 lane motorway for cyclists running alongside, it would be you in the do do.

[shoot and be safe]

Yes I agree if you hit him/her from behind then you are at fault.

 

During the course of today's driving, there were many bikes out and about. Most of them were showing good road sense, but there were a few who were mainly on the road then hopping onto the cycle path when there was a queue for traffic lights and swerving back onto the road in front of vehicles accelerating from the lights, causing them to break sharply.

 

There were a couple of cringe worthy moments when I thought how did that car avoid them. Hence the OP

[chady]

Trust me there's been a few times I thought how has that cyclist survived riding like they do!

 

There first to moan and kick off but there happy to ride through red lights and use pavements when it suits them.

 

But to be fair saw a arrival about London and if can't quite remember the figure but there has been thousands fined.

 

So might stop some of them riding like idiots

 

But saying that it's not all if them.

 

And know matter who or what they are you can't hit them as it will be your fault.

 

The only way it would not be if there was nothing you could have done to prevent the accident.

[FalconFN]

I often wonder about horses on roads as there are loads of them around my neck of the woods and they only ever seem to be ridden on the road. If I owned a horse I'd go off-road, maybe run round a field or wood, pull a few wheelies, that sort of thing, I wouldn't amble up and down tarmac twice a day with a horse that spooks if you pass faster than 4 mph. Neither have insurance but at least your going somewhere on a bike and at a reasonable speed.

[goodo123]

The highway code says that cyclists, or any vehicular transport (road legal) is to ride/drive in the middle of their lane. If a cyclist wants to they can legally ignore all cycle paths and ride bang in front of you at 5mph. Im not agreeing this is how it should be. Granted the cycle paths can be sketchy but considering the little use they actually get I can see why councils don't treat it as priority. However if it's perfectly fine then I think they should be fined for not using it. They should also make helmets compulsory, have fines equal to that of a motorist for running red lights etc. And should have some form of insurance. What really is annoying is riding next to each other. I'm sure if it was a motorcycle or trike or really small car then you would get punished severely.

[Paul223]

Ha ...... Passed a cyclist early this morning, a hundred yards or so later I pulled up at a red light, the cyclist passed me on the inside and continued through the red light!

[wyatt]

Ha ...... Passed a cyclist early this morning, a hundred yards or so later I pulled up at a red light, the cyclist passed me on the inside and continued through the red light!

 

I have no problem with them doing this as long as they get run over each time (I am of course, joking before the fun police come along)! They're risking their lives and make themselves look like *****.

[Dougy]

Just give them some horn, wind down you're passenger windows and prepare for a verbal encounter whilst passing rather close, then on your way.

But its a definite no no to ram them from behind unless of course you formally introduced yourself.

[Mentalmac]

The big issue is cycle paths aren't always suitable for racing bikes. I.e I put 120 psi in my tyres and do best part of 25mph on a flat. Cycle paths are often bumpy and lumpy and stupid people wander into them or on wrong side etc... so I just use road. If I'm on my MTB or with the kids we'll use the cycle path as we are doing more like 8-10mph max.

[danny12w]

The big issue is cycle paths aren't always suitable for racing bikes. I.e I put 120 psi in my tyres and do best part of 25mph on a flat. Cycle paths are often bumpy and lumpy and stupid people wander into them or on wrong side etc... so I just use road. If I'm on my MTB or with the kids we'll use the cycle path as we are doing more like 8-10mph max.

 

Couldn't agree with you more, i always cycle away from the paths because of drain covers, bumps etc etc. Not suitable for my road bike, in fact down right dangerous.

[Penelope]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBFFrsvgu1Y

[JustJon]

I passed at race at the weekend where a pack of cyclists (40ish?) where riding 4 wide and swerving to go past each other.

 

Safe?

 

I also passed a single rider on a main road who stuck 2 fingers up at a truck for overtaking at what I thought was a safe distance - guess the cyclist didn't agree!

[Mentalmac]

 

Couldn't agree with you more, i always cycle away from the paths because of drain covers, bumps etc etc. Not suitable for my road bike, in fact down right dangerous.

And the other issue you get is at 25mph you would literally mince someone if they stepped infront of you. Especially with my triathlon bike with tri-bars - human kebab.

 

Also, a lot of overtakes are fine from cars, but wish they would judge my speed better - if I am doing 25 mph or infact over 30mph down a hill, then don't try to overtake me like I'm doing 2mph.

[BRNDL]

I cycle a fair bit...and never use the cycle paths due to their condition and upkeep. All the debris from traffic are deposited along the cycle ways and cause cyclists major safety issues.

 

Being both a cyclist and a driver, I hate cyclists hogging the majority of the road!

[Mentalmac]

I cycle a fair bit...and never use the cycle paths due to their condition and upkeep. All the debris from traffic are deposited along the cycle ways and cause cyclists major safety issues.

 

Being both a cyclist and a driver, I hate cyclists hogging the majority of the road!

Likewise.

I cycle with a mate sometimes for training (doing 50 odd miles on own is fairly boring) - and in quiet periods and on quiet lanes we'll sometimes go side by side but as soon as you hear a car etc... it's straight to single file. I can't stand cyclists in a row going along road when I'm in car. Besides, it's nice to draft someone for a while sometimes!

[Dougy]

Its so annoying when you get a group of around a dozen going allong a country lane all in a pack bunched together and will not ! move into single file for love nor money.

[kdubya]

for some unknown reason I always believed that cars were fitted with a braking and accelerating device that was relatively easy to use, and not the great hardship it seems to be here.

 

 

KW

[kev56]

Its so annoying when you get a group of around a dozen going allong a country lane all in a pack bunched together and will not ! move into single file for love nor money.

Bang on

[Bleeh]

I bet money he was going to turn right, and did so in a fashion that meant he didn't have to dive in front of various overtaking cars before attempting it.

 

You had approximately 2 seconds of your life wasted, and now you've made me waste 20 seconds of mine writing out this post.

Ohhhhh the circle of liffeeee.

[TIDES EDGE]

What about insurance for bikes? if they cause the acident who pays!

[Mentalmac]

I bet money he was going to turn right, and did so in a fashion that meant he didn't have to dive in front of various overtaking cars before attempting it.

 

You had approximately 2 seconds of your life wasted, and now you've made me waste 20 seconds of mine writing out this post.

 

Ohhhhh the circle of liffeeee.

Ah but even if you took 1 minute to think and then write all your post, then if you base an average age of 80 as life expectancy, and over the 80 years you have 42,048,000 minutes - the proportion of time wasted is so minute it's not worth worrying about.

[kdubya]

What about insurance for bikes? if they cause the acident who pays!

I would love to see the statistics of who caused the accident, cyclist or driver, and would bet it was 99.9% the driver to blame.

 

KW