cyclists to be allowed to take the shortest route!

[detective-boy]

Not sure about how safe it'll turn out to be without at least some minimal road marking, but it seems to make sense in some (maybe many) locations but not in all (such as the 2/3 lane main road one way system someone mentioned earlier). I think the coverage needs to make it clear it is only where signed and not some general exemption or we'll have a cannabis confusion situation before you know it ...

Probably scope for other variations on the theme as well - such as clycles treating a red light as a Give Way line if turning left, for instance.

And, as someone pointed out in the paper the other day, raising the motorway / non-urban dual carriageway speed limit to 90mph, which is perfectly safe (and certainly a damn sight safer the this proposal!).

 

[Crispy]

One question: What happens if a cyclist using a one way street in the direction of traffic flow, meets a cyclist going against flow?

If they're in the correct position - ie. in-lane with traffic, they will pass the 'wrong- way cyclist with plenty of room. If they are being stupid and overtaking when it is not safe to do so, then they're going to get hit.

 

[soulman]

The problem with one way streets in my experience is that despite good signs explaining that cyclists will be coming the opposite way, and even with a dedicated cycle lane, cyclists will be meeting other roads users head on because some cunt(s) will be parked in the cycle lane.

 

[gentlegreen]

The worrying thing about one way streets is the way motorists consistently exit them as if they had no clue about road position.

I only misuse the one one way street and I tend to stick to the side with the parked cars. If it's quiet, I'll meet them head on and then make an exaggerated gesture of nipping in ...

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

Once the first speeding motorist has his legs ripped off by cyclists the message will get through.

see i know this is part in jest but it is this sentiment which prevents decent joined up road traffic managment thinking. for gods sake everyone is at some point a road user regardless of the method of propulsion why the hell should it be that one group car bike pedestrain has to make things unbalanced by overly pushing their agenda.

It's not motorists fault that bikes weren't considered in the road building it's goverment policy any more than it's cyclists fault that have to ride in often appauling conditions. What's needed is a combined group who looks out for every section of road users and then comes at the problems again.

 

[gentlegreen]

Things will get better once it's no longer acceptable for young men to drive their cars at speed everywhere. Including down my street.

Personally I find it amazing that people half my age actually want to get into cars to drive half as far as I cycle. Surely there's social value in being physically fit ?

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

Things will get better once it's no longer acceptable for young men to drive their cars at speed everywhere. Including down my street.

has it ever been acceptable of anyone of any sex of any age to do this on the public highway?

why be sexist, ageist and prejudiced about transportation mode.

there's no need for the crass genealisation or the hyperbole really is there...

it will never be acceptable to race on the public road and nor should it except in certain circumstances where the roads have been specifically closed for the purpose of racing (world rally stages, even between stages the rally cars on the public highway are susceptable to the same law as every one else and can get pulled for speeding bad driving etc etc).

so this is a nonsense to say only when it's unacceptable it's already unacceptable. period. no need for further division down in to sub groups.

Personally I find it amazing that people half my age actually want to get into cars to drive half as far as I cycle. Surely there's social value in being physically fit ?

again with the age bashing you have no idea what their circumstances are or why they are getting in the car in the first place. all you seem to have are assumptions and prejudice... wtf seriously...

 

[gentlegreen]

Let's say this has been my experience over the past 30 years.

I have been dangerously overtaken 3 times in a built up area while driving my Peugeot 405 - one of the larger cars on the road - by young men. Once a whole carload who subsequently went the wrong side of the central reservation.

Also the accident and crime stats back it up.
Young men commit most car crime....

As to why they're driving ... well statistically only a very small proportion of them are disabled.

Just recently I've been encountering a great many young male cyclists behaving badly.

 

[fjydj]

Absolutely the fucking stupidest idea for ages.

Wonder how many cyclist will be killed before they realise it's lunacy?

err most cyclist don't have a death wish they just want to be able to take the safest route without unnecessary stops and impediments and often already do this. If its dangerous its easy enough to pull in between parked cars and don't forget this is aimed at side streets which have been made one way to stop motorists making short cuts and to keep them on main routes. Quiet side streets are much safer for cycling on even with oncoming one way traffic which is why its done, no one is suggesting that cyclist be allowed to cycle down motorways on the wrong side FFS and only last year the stats proved the most dangerous place to be when cycling is inside of a left turning lorry at traffic lights, not going against traffic signs like this or treating red lights as give ways.