Cyclists only break the law cos the rules are crap

[Geri]

I caught something on the telly earlier in the week. It was about a cyclist who had been hit by a lorry. A major part of the police investigation was determining if the cyclist had been in a cycle lane when hit. Is there any kind of legal requirement that motor vehicles don't travel in a cycle lane?

I saw this as well - Crash Scene Investigators. I think you are mistaken though, what they were trying to establish was if the cylist was caught by a glancing blow from the lorry as it went past or if he was hit directly from behind.

I don't think there was any mention of a cycle lane.

 

[detective-boy]

Is there any kind of legal requirement that motor vehicles don't travel in a cycle lane?

There are two types of cycle lane - mandatory and advisory.

Mandatory cycle lanes are marked with SOLID white lines, signs, etc. It IS an offence to drive / park in them during hours of operation (very similar principle to bus lanes).

Advisory cycle lanes are marked with BROKEN white lines (or no white lines at all, just periodic cycle markings painted on the road) and possibly signs as well. It is not a SPECFIC offence to drive in them though it may be evidence of driving without due care and attention / reasonable consideration. It is only an offence to park in them if there are ordinary no parking markings (yellow lines) and signs as on any other bit of road.

In a fatal / near fatal collision investigation, respective positions on the road, directions of travel, etc. are all of great importance absolutely regardless of whether any specific offences may or may not have been committed.

 

[soulman]

I saw this as well - Crash Scene Investigators. I think you are mistaken though, what they were trying to establish was if the cylist was caught by a glancing blow from the lorry as it went past or if he was hit directly from behind.

I don't think there was any mention of a cycle lane.

I'm pretty sure there was because I remember wondering what the importance of it was. They were trying to determine if the cyclist had veered out of the lane in to the lorry or as you said if the lorry had hit him from behind.

 

[Geri]

I don't think it was a cycle lane, just a white line that marked the edge of the road. I did not hear any mention of a cycle lane in the whole of the programme.

 

[soulman]

You sure it was the same programme?

 

[Geri]

You sure it was the same programme?

I'm not sure it's the same programme because I don't know what programme you watched. This one had the fatality of a 20 year old soldier and the cyclist lost both his kidneys, the two accidents were about 1/2 mile apart on the A38 near Plymouth.

 

[soulman]

Same programme. Strange you didn't hear any mention of a cycle lane tho. Are you hard of hearing?

 

[Geri]

No. Are you prone to aural hallucinations?

I couldn't help wondering how much compensation that cyclist was likely to get. I really hope he put a claim in.

 

[soulman]

No. Are you prone to aural hallucinations?

I couldn't help wondering how much compensation that cyclist was likely to get. I really hope he put a claim in.

I hope he did as well. I thought it was good of him to ask that the lorry driver wasn't imprisoned. Not sure I would be so forgiving given the injuries he had.

 

[Geri]

I'm always extra generous if I have a claim from a cyclist (or pedestrian for that matter).

 

[Mrs Miggins]

...it's easier to notice the bad cyclists/drivers than the good ones, and thus bad impressions form...

I always say this to people but I thought I'd put it to the test the other evening on my cycle home from work and I have to say, at least 80% of the cyclists on my route jumped red lights so now I have to concede that the majority do it

(in my totally scientific study of 1x 30 min period on 1 route of course )

 

[gentlegreen]

I always say this to people but I thought I'd put it to the test the other evening on my cycle home from work and I have to say, at least 80% of the cyclists on my route jumped red lights so now I have to concede that the majority do it

I'm still trying to pluck up the courage to video some lights near me.
Every rush hour, cars constantly plough through them - men, women, all ages .... I can't help myself mouthing "RED !!!" at them

 

[detective-boy]

Every rush hour, cars constantly plough through them...

Ah but it doesn't really matter as long as they weren't exceeding the speed limit at the time ... "(Only) Speed Kills" as any fule kno ...

(Actually going through a red light is far more likely to be the actual, direct cause of an accident than speed is, but it'd be a shame to spoil they're party, they're all so happy in the cosy little world they've created ... )

 

[rover07]

I tried stopping at red lights this week... and nearly got knocked off by some twat in a 4x4 who insisted on swerving past me on the inside when i was in the middle of a lane trying to turn right. In future im going to cycle for my own safety and not according to the law.

 

[Agent Sparrow]

I always say this to people but I thought I'd put it to the test the other evening on my cycle home from work and I have to say, at least 80% of the cyclists on my route jumped red lights so now I have to concede that the majority do it

(in my totally scientific study of 1x 30 min period on 1 route of course )

Well, the majority for that particular route and that time of day/year. On my route, most cyclists wait at the lights. I reckon that in some cases, when a certain proportion of the cyclists on a route jump red lights, it encourages others to do so, so you get particular routes which are really bad. I also wonder whether time of year makes a difference...

 

[D]

You know what gets me?

The track stand circling thing while waiting at an intersection. As a cyclist, it's often hard for me to predict what's happening when another cyclist, too eager and showy to put a foot on the ground and wait, decides to circle, weave amidst oncoming traffic in the middle of an intersection.

 

[detective-boy]

As a cyclist, it's often hard for me to predict what's happening when another cyclist ...

Oh dear! Cyclist criticisng, er, cyclist. Does not compute! Does not compute! Does not compute! ...

Urban is likely to implode at any moment!

 

[Boycey]

there is no effective means of obtaining redress (they have no legal obligation to stop, provide their details and there are no registration marks, etc. to allow any meaningful enquiry to be made to identify them).

was not aware of this. the rules really are crap.

 

[Jazzz]

was not aware of this. the rules really are crap.

I don't agree there. Whatever the dangers posed by cyclists to other road users there may be they utterly pale in significance to motorised vehicles.

To make the roads safer one must encourage people out of cars and onto bikes. Were one to introduce a registration scheme for bikes, or compulsory insurance, or whatever, that would work in the opposite direction.

 

[Boycey]

i am absolutely against any kind of registration scheme for bicycles (i was a courier for 4 years and have worked in bicycle shops for 10 so believe me i'm on the cyclists side) but even if there is no legal obligation to stop after an accident there is a moral one, that it is not against the law shocks me.

 

[detective-boy]

... but even if there is no legal obligation to stop after an accident there is a moral one

Yeah, in my experience that works really well, all of the time ... not!

 

[Geri]

What I really hate is when I'm waiting at the lights and another cyclist comes up and stops in front of me. I was there first, you ignorant twat! Men are particulary bad for doing that, or they pull up right alongside and move their wheel across mine so I can't get away first.

 

[Jazzz]

i am absolutely against any kind of registration scheme for bicycles (i was a courier for 4 years and have worked in bicycle shops for 10 so believe me i'm on the cyclists side) but even if there is no legal obligation to stop after an accident there is a moral one, that it is not against the law shocks me.

Well, of course I agree anyone should stop after an accident, but we don't have legal obligations for people to do the same for accidents of various sorts off roads. And maybe there's just hardly any problem with hit-and-run cyclists.

 

[Boycey]

Yeah, in my experience that works really well, all of the time ... not!

isn't that what "the law" is for? enforcing what we ought to do anyway? [/shameless idealist]