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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2013 20:42:02 GMT
So my normal commute into work is way to short, circa 4miles each way which I feel is not worth the effort except when I'm dog tired. So I'm trying to find alternative, longer routes. I've found one so far, which is 12 miles each way and hopefully find a longer route.
It has a full cycle path all the way, except I can't stand them. Full of crap, pedestrians on it but more of an annoyance is that it's busy urban area so every 30 seconds I have to stop and give way to cars entering into my path or at least check I won't be hit. It is actually quite tiring, not physically but mentally looking out for bits on the path that might throw me off or constantly stopping.
Question: Is it OK to cycle on the dual carriage way (40-50mph) alongside the cycle path? Would you do it? Even if you piss off drivers? Besides being visible, what else is a MUST?
Poll: Simple. Use the carriage way or stick to the cycle path?
Most of us, on our weekend rides, will go onto country A roads that have cars travelling at this speed but the difference here is, its during rush hour and there are HGVs along the route. Quite a few actually as the whole area is industrial. I'm comfortable with riding the road but good to hear others thoughts.
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Post by zoltansocrates on Aug 14, 2013 21:08:33 GMT
of course it is, you have a right to cycle on every road bar a motorway, private i dont know about but in scotland there is no trespass law so if there is tarmac use it. obviously you need to be confident of being able to take a lane and thats not bravado, it can be intimidating when some drivers do what they do but 99 times out of 100 drivers screw the nut on dual carriageways because they have the extra room
imo you are more likely to encounter an accident on a cycle path kids, crap, dog walkers, peds, idiot cyclists - i feel safer on the road
of course london is a different kettle of fish, crammed, angry, dirty and frankly full of drivers who may not even qualify for a license in their own country - used to when i was young and lived there, wouldnt nowadays given most of the youtube footage you see
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2013 21:20:38 GMT
of course it is, you have a right to cycle on every road bar a motorway, private i dont know about but in scotland there is no trespass law so if there is tarmac use it. obviously you need to be confident of being able to take a lane and thats not bravado, it can be intimidating when some drivers do what they do but 99 times out of 100 drivers screw the nut on dual carriageways because they have the extra room imo you are more likely to encounter an accident on a cycle path kids, crap, dog walkers, peds, idiot cyclists - i feel safer on the road of course london is a different kettle of fish, crammed, angry, dirty and frankly full of drivers who may not even qualify for a license in their own country - used to when i was young and lived there, wouldnt nowadays given most of the youtube footage you see The speed of cars doesn't phase me but the HGVs make me think twice. Angry drivers as well I can deal with, have done so many times before but you know how it is, he/she feels like you've wronged them and do a stupid manouver few hundred meters down the road. It's just that if I'm going to be doing this 5 days a week, I'd prefer to have a bother free ride into work! Your actually spot on about the cycle path. Nearly hit a kid this morning as he jumped out from a side exit. Stock brakes still doing the job (for now).
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Post by fatmanona5a on Aug 14, 2013 23:01:10 GMT
As a cyclist you CAN cycle anywhere that is legal, but question is more SHOULD you cycle anywhere that is legal? As a lorry driver I probably have a different perspective on things. 1, Everyone on the road thinks they are in the right. 2, If there is a cycle path and you choose not to use it, if you are then involved in a RTA, are you then partly responsible ? If you end up in hospital (or worse?), will knowing you had the right to do xyz, make you feel any better? Back to the topic:- I do ride on dual carriageways, if there is no other option. I stay as far away from lorries as I can. Drivers can make mistakes, as cyclist you don't know if that lorry driver has just started work, or is kn*ck*r*d and on "autopilot" and just about to finish a long shift!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2013 6:28:28 GMT
As a cyclist you CAN cycle anywhere that is legal, but question is more SHOULD you cycle anywhere that is legal? As a lorry driver I probably have a different perspective on things. 1, Everyone on the road thinks they are in the right. 2, If there is a cycle path and you choose not to use it, if you are then involved in a RTA, are you then partly responsible ? If you end up in hospital (or worse?), will knowing you had the right to do xyz, make you feel any better? Back to the topic:- I do ride on dual carriageways, if there is no other option. I stay as far away from lorries as I can. Drivers can make mistakes, as cyclist you don't know if that lorry driver has just started work, or is kn*ck*r*d and on "autopilot" and just about to finish a long shift! It's exactly what I'm trying to ask myself. Even though it is legal, should I? I have no issue with cycle paths that are continuous and relatively free of rubbish but it's the fact this particular path is not continuous and I'm having to stop every 30 secs. I know from previous experience drivers do go a bit apesh*t when they can see you not using the cycle path. Good to hear from HGV perspective. Bit worrying about the "autopilot" :/
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Post by fatmanona5a on Aug 15, 2013 6:53:31 GMT
If someone has been at work for 12 or 13 hours, and only had 9 hours away from work before that shift, are they more likely to make a mistake or misjudgement than someone who is well rested and fresh? If you drive a vehicle, have you ever made a journey and then later you cannot remember anything about it? Were you on autopilot?? Remember, if anyone makes a mistake, the cyclist normally comes off second best!
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Post by fatmanona5a on Aug 15, 2013 7:09:58 GMT
Whoops
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Post by ukdaws on Aug 15, 2013 7:25:58 GMT
Stay as far away from lorries as you can buddy, If they are not fully concentrating or tired we have all seen them drifting across lane lines also their blind spots. I would avoid if poss and my vote reflects this
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Post by fatmanona5a on Aug 15, 2013 9:14:57 GMT
If you break down on a motorway, you stop out of the traffic on the hard shoulder. The recommended procedure is to get out of the vehicle while you are waiting for assistance. On a dual carriageway the lorries travel at nearly the same speed as a motorway, and people want cycle in the same lane as them..... A motorway hard shoulder is dangerous, and cycling amongst the lorries on a dual carriageway is safe?
Just because you can, does not mean you should!
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Post by Whitestar1 on Aug 15, 2013 9:31:18 GMT
fatmanona5a makes a serious case for not riding on a dual carriageway. I would rather stick to any back roads possible for my commute or Sunday rides. Yet I think I have every right to ride on a dual carriageway as the next car driver or lorry driver. You just need to be sensible, if you can avoid it then dont ride on it. That's what I do and I have ridden on dual carriageway but very rare and it's only when I couldn't avoid it which turns out you can always find another route - the more scenic, hilly, very long type!
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Post by acd1055 on Aug 15, 2013 9:35:15 GMT
Ride where you want as long as it's legal. I often find that smaller country roads are pretty dangerous as locals "know" the small snaking roads and go too fast and it gives you little time to see them or for them to see you.. just wear clothes you can be seen in a good helmet
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Post by Whitestar1 on Aug 15, 2013 9:41:19 GMT
Ride where you want as long as it's legal. I often find that smaller country roads are pretty dangerous as locals "know" the small snaking roads and go too fast and it gives you little time to see them or for them to see you.. use wear clothes you can be seen in a good helmet I hate to sound like a yes man, but you are right and while I was typing the earlier post it did occur to me that dual carriageway / small country lanes is a toss up as to which could be more dangerous. Once again I say left common sense by the rule of the day.
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Post by fatmanona5a on Aug 15, 2013 10:40:06 GMT
Everything we do has some type of risk associated with it. Risk cannot eliminated, hopefully managed?
Only YOU know what level of risk is acceptable to you!
Helmet Yes/No Dark clothing/Light &/or Reflective clothing When & Where I'm going to ride Jump traffic lights Squeeze up the near side of lorries
We have lots of choices to make, and everybody's choice will be right for them.
Just don't put yourself into the position that you are relying on someone else to keep you safe. THERE ARE A LOT OF IDIOTS OUT THERE!!!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2013 10:42:49 GMT
fatmanona5a makes a serious case for not riding on a dual carriageway. I would rather stick to any back roads possible for my commute or Sunday rides. Yet I think I have every right to ride on a dual carriageway as the next car driver or lorry driver. You just need to be sensible, if you can avoid it then dont ride on it. That's what I do and I have ridden on dual carriageway but very rare and it's only when I couldn't avoid it which turns out you can always find another route - the more scenic, hilly, very long type!That would be ideal but I have to commute through built-up to an industrialised area so no scenic hills unfortunately. I stuck to the cycle path again this morning but ventured out for a short distance onto the carriage way. I was OK with it but I realised some parts of the road, especially under bridges are very narrow. I'm going to continue to look for other routes in, that are even further but hopefully more pleasant. It's very dull when all you have to look at is lorries and tarmac ( fatmanona5a may disagree with that lol).
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Post by fatmanona5a on Aug 15, 2013 10:47:30 GMT
I work in a lorry, it's my job, not my hobby!! There are much nicer things to look at!
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