Moving Target Forum

I agree with every word of that. Cycle lanes are a joke - like most headline grabbing policies trumpeted by politicians, they're tokenist and they're championed by vote-seeking imbeciles who have no idea what they're talking about.
Just before Christmas, I was riding west down the A4. A van driver had the gall to have a pop at me at a set of lights; "I nearly hit you from behind! I didn't see you. There's a cycle lane over there. You should be using it."
The "cycle-lane" is a white line painted on the pavement.
Mindbuggering. I was going at pretty close to top speed - in excess of 20mph in any case - but had slowed a fair way before the light, as it still had 45secs of red on it. It was dark, but I had a flashing cat-eye light on the rear of the bike and a cheapo flashing light on my bag.
The big question is obviously, "Does the driver pay so little attention to what's in front of him on the 90% of trunk roads that don't have cycle lanes?"
Just for research, I timed myself on the journey the next time I did it. I absolutely caned it, but stopped at all the red lights. 27 minutes.
I the tried the same journey using the cycle lane. I jest thee not - 58 minutes. More than double. At some points the "cycle-lane" on the pavement is the only pavement, apart from grassed areas. It's shared with mothers pushing buggies and pensioners on zimmer frames - and it's not wide enough to pass them. At every junction, cyclists obviously have to stop and give way to left-turning traffic.
Who the hell would use a "facility" that "assists" them by doubling their journey time?
The new "cycling facilities" are there to encourage those who can't ride a bike safely in traffic to jump on a bike, in the ridiculous and vain hope that they'll be able to cycle around town without ever encountering any traffic. That is grossly irresponsible.
It terrifies me that I often slow down and signal "right", in order to move to the centre of a road and overtake, and find some lycra-clad twit simply steaming down my inside - in the "cycle-lane" - as though there were a brick wall seperating him from the traffic on his outside.
The designation of the space on the inside as being solely for cyclists does narrow the available road space for other vehicles - especially motorcyclists (and cyclists such as me and Bill) who will not gun down the inner of a stationary column of traffic.
Cycle lanes are a menace.

Bloody leftie.

Oh, something like the following para was in the article as I wrote it, but not in the published version

John Franklin of 'Cyclecraft' fame has a section entitled "Cycle path safety: A summary of research" with the following comment 'This list is intended to be without bias, but little evidence has been found to suggest that cyclists are safer on paths than on roads.'

What's with that 20-yard stretch of cycle lane at the start of Bishopsgate, just before Spitalfields? Who put that there? I want names.

I like AK-47s fine, they are cheap, some are good quality, shoots nicely, and are easy use to clean, but for the men against the wall (or any other urban combat) I will take an MP-5 with a folding stock. It shoots 9mm (standard issue to police forces world wide), shoots faster than an AK, its smaller with the stock folded in (better for tight places), but long enough to brace and get a good shot witht eh stock out, semi-auto, 3 round burst, and full auto modes.

I have only shot an MP-5 once, but have a bit more experince with the AK as my uncle has one.

shoot ARM the messengers

Rama Rama

MP5 yes
AK47 no

'True but not helpful'

Ha!

I read your comments online a while ago, and had been waiting for a chance to use in the most appropriate context.

there is nothing in the law about cyclists taking primary position, ie the middle of the lane, when nescessary. for me, when riding through longsight or on hyde Road or anywhere dangerous I always take primary position. You would be amazed at how much care drivers take around you when you are in the middle of the road rather than grovelling in the gutter. A minority of people will beep or give you jip, but the vast majority understand what you are doing and why. Obviously you have to be going a fair speed, 20mph+ so as not to unduely piss people off. Try it.

@johnsatisfaction
"when riding through longsight or on hyde Road or anywhere dangerous"

Yeah man, I remember nailing through Longsight up Mount rd towards hyde rd about 3 in the morning, primary position saved my life when i got ambushed by 20+ little scroats hurling bricks and bottles... It was like beiruit out there, dunno how I got past em. Then I had to outrun 5-6 on bikes...

Arrrah, those were the days...

I think most couriers do ride in 'primary', most of the time.

I don't want to be a total bore but http://www.ecf.com/files/2/12/16/070503_Cycle_Tracks_Copenhagen.pdf

'The construction of cycle lanes has resulted in an increase in accidents of 5% and
15% more injuries. These increases are not statistically significant. The decline in
road safety can be seen both at junctions and on sections. The increases occurred
especially amongst cyclists and moped riders where increases in injuries is
tendential amounting to 49%.

In line with cycle track statistics, there was a larger increase in injuries among
women with the construction of cycle lanes, 22%, whereas the figure for men was
only 7%. There was a fall in injuries among children under 20 and an increase among those aged 20 – 34.'

'Shortened or advanced cycle tracks [aka ASLs]
At signalised junctions, it has been found
from entry lanes with a shortened cycle track (see figure 1 right) fell by 30%,
whereas the number of injuries increased by 19%. A significant improvement in
drivers’ safety occurred when a shortened cycle track was constructed, whereas
cyclists’ and especially pedestrians’ safety deteriorated.'

'Road safety of cycle tracks

The construction of cycle tracks has resulted in a slight drop in the total number of
accidents and injuries on the road sections between junctions of 10% and 4%
respectively. At junctions on the other hand, the number of accidents and injuries
has risen significantly, by 18%. A decline in road safety at junctions has
undoubtedly taken place after the construction of cycle tracks. If the figures for the
road sections are combined with those for the junctions, an increase of 9-10% in
accidents and injuries has taken place. '

Where's my t-shirts?

That's better...thanks!