Push bikes on road do they go in middle of road or not thanks

[cornish wood burner]

If he's deliberately making it awkward for a vehicle to pass, then that's a bit naughty and shouldn't be doing that, and deserves a telling off. I ride about 1 metre from the near side in general which I find is enough to present myself and make other road users aware of my presence, rather than hogging the entire lane and annoying drivers. Unfortunately, some cyclists are poor, as are some car drivers. As far as cycle paths go - if there was one on my route than I'd use it, and I'd be a fool not too. But all too often, they're full up with pedestrians, and don't go on for very far around here. In fact, one of our cycle paths nearby is only 5 yards long, as the local council had to install a certain length of cycle path and this section is what made it meet that requirement!!

 

Glad to hear you would use a cycle path Bob, and I totally understand if pedestrians are taking up all the cycle path, but when two cyclists are riding side by side uphill, holding up traffic on a straight 1/2 mile with an empty cycle path on their left, it is difficult to have any sympathy for them. Seen a lorry wait for a while then presumably patience exhausted passed them getting gestures and abuse as he did so. I suspect he might be tempted to push them off next time. Lycra and coloured jackets etc do not seem to go with manners.

[Bob The Dog]

I suppose cycling can be a sociable event, and some like to cycle two abreast so they can chat etc. some consideration is needed however, and they should be doing what they can to help the motorists make progress where safe. Although the Highway Code says they 'can' ride two abreast, that book is mainly for guidance, and so shouldn't prompt cyclists to do just that whenever they feel like it. The trouble with cycle lanes, as previously posted, is that they're stop / start all the time (or at least they are in Herefordshire), and it's probably more dangerous trying to re-enter the road when you've reached the end of it!

[cornish wood burner]

The cycle lane I am referring to is almost 3 miles long. Busy road as well.

[gand]

I suppose cycling can be a sociable event, and some like to cycle two abreast so they can chat etc. some consideration is needed however, and they should be doing what they can to help the motorists make progress where safe. Although the Highway Code says they 'can' ride two abreast, that book is mainly for guidance, and so shouldn't prompt cyclists to do just that whenever they feel like it. The trouble with cycle lanes, as previously posted, is that they're stop / start all the time (or at least they are in Herefordshire), and it's probably more dangerous trying to re-enter the road when you've reached the end of it!

 

 

Two abreast would be great! They ride 4 abreast round here, usually on roads with lots of blind corners

[mendiplogs]

If he's deliberately making it awkward for a vehicle to pass, then that's a bit naughty and shouldn't be doing that, and deserves a telling off. I ride about 1 metre from the near side in general which I find is enough to present myself and make other road users aware of my presence, rather than hogging the entire lane and annoying drivers. Unfortunately, some cyclists are poor, as are some car drivers. As far as cycle paths go - if there was one on my route than I'd use it, and I'd be a fool not too. But all too often, they're full up with pedestrians, and don't go on for very far around here. In fact, one of our cycle paths nearby is only 5 yards long, as the local council had to install a certain length of cycle path and this section is what made it meet that requirement!!

 

Hi mate that's what he was doing holding back the traffic thanks all John

[FatherJack]

IMHO when it comes to manners and thoughtfulness for other road users, cyclists are no different from car/van/truck drivers: some have their brains engaged and others don't.

If cyclists didn't slow you down, would there be a big issue? Similar for old dears, caravans, horse riders etc.?

I agree that there is no reason for a cyclist not to use a sensible cycle lane. Though some think that's not macho.

As a keen cyclist, I cannot understand why other cyclists use some roads which are totally unsuitable (IMHO again) because of the disruption caused to other (faster) road users and the risks to the cyclist, But that's just me being in the latter half of my life and becoming more risk adverse each day!

As for road position, sometimes you have to keep to the middle of the lane, because if you keep to the left then the 'held-up' driver will try to overtake you resulting in squeezing you off the road.

I suppose it's all down to slow and fast road users having to use the same piece of tarmac. 21st century: is cycling, like horse riding, so outdated that it should be banned and just kept for nostalgic events??

[Mike Dempsey]

Up here in Fife the Council have been very pro-cycling for years and have built hundreds of miles of cycle tracks. Its really good and they have published loads of maps and leaflets as they are not only targetting locals but the tourists as well. I go out quite often with my youngest daughter who is 13, and we chuck the bikes in the van and then go and explore another part of the county.

On the other side of that though the local bike racing club cycle around the town in a group of about 40 or so and take up half the road. They seem to spend an awful lot of time in the industrial estate where I have my workshop, riding around in a big loop circuit which I have to cross and they seem pretty oblivious to any other road users as they dont stop at junctions. When you add in the normal half dozen learner drivers who circumnavigate the estate and reversing lorry drivers doing deliveries and pickups, it would seem to be the ideal recipe for multiple deaths. Its just a matter of time!

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

As tight to the kerb as possible!

[PeakOakFrames]

Hi BOB but this chap just holding back the traffic Bob thanks Jon

 

There's no law against that.

 

Highway code states otherwise.

 

169

Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.

 

I cycle but I don't hold up traffic unless I am preparing to turn right in which case I move far enough to the right to let traffic through on the left if the road is wide enough. As has been said there are bad cyclists just like there are bad drivers. Some people are just tw@ts, he should have moved over to allow a safe overtake Mendiplogs.

[ballibeg]

I'll always pull into a passing place or lay by to allow traffic to pass but I won't just stop roadside.

 

Bikes will always be slower and if I was required to always stop and allow traffic to pass I'd never get anywhere!

 

The code is a code and I'm not sure there is an offence for not following the code.