Dual Carriageway Fun!

bossman13

Hi - need some help with my commute guys…

On way home from work, I have to do 3 miles of dual carriageway, the last 2 of which are normally stop start traffic on both lanes. It is not crawling pace and often when it does move it is 10-15mph in places. Problem is that this stop start often creates gaps in traffic which means you get the inevitable lane changers looking to gain that extra place or two

The only way I can realy filter is straight up th middle of the two lanes of cars, which is pretty dodgy at times as I feel constantly at threat from the lane changers not seeing me. Cant filter to left or right sides as there is often not enough room for me to get through. Last night I even had to resort to the pavement as I felt safer! :oops:

What would the usual best practice me in this situation? Changing routes is not really an option and taking my place in the queue would add about 30mins to my commute!!

Anyone else ever in this situation?

Thanks

DavidTQ

hmm tough call it really does vary from road to road so much, I cover a few dual carriageway sections, some of which I take primary in the lefthand lane for, some of which I undertake in the cycle lane when I feel its safe, some of which I over take down the outside... I did make siginificant alterations to my route to avoid one section on the run up to a dual carriageway which I wasnt comfortable on no matter what I did.

Could you give us a rough idea of where the road is some use of mapping software and satelite images might give some one an idea of what might help.

El Gordo

Riding up the centre of the queues sounds pretty dicey as a lot of drivers won't bother / think to check or even indicate before changing lanes. I see motorbikers doing this quite a bit and every time expect it to end in tears.

As long as you give way to any pedestrians then the pavement sounds like the best option. Well, the second best anyway. Changing your route to something a bit nicer would be the first choice.

iainment

El Gordo wrote:

As long as you give way to any pedestrians then the pavement sounds like the best option. Well, the second best anyway. Changing your route to something a bit nicer would be the first choice.

You're going to get a bit of flak coming your way from the cycling puritans over this.

:twisted:

el_presidente

Get some big bright headlights so cars can see you coming up the middle, they might think you are a motorbike.

Make sure you ride extremely defensively and assume every car is going to cut you up

When traffic is moving nip in to one lane or another and become part of the flow. Only filter when the traffic is stationary.

At the end of the day only you can make the decision if the risks justify the benefits.

dav1

I can understand the use of the pavement in some situations where use of the road is clearly dangerous. In these cases i agree the pedestrian should always have right of way as technically you shouldn't be there.

DavidTQ

Dav1 wrote:

I can understand the use of the pavement in some situations where use of the road is clearly dangerous. In these cases i agree the pedestrian should always have right of way as technically you shouldn't be there.

Given the choice between cycling in primary position for 30 minutes or riding illegally on the pavement Id take take the extra time queueing...

I dont believe there is ANY situation where riding on the pavements is excuseable, if the traffics that dangerous get off and push dont ride along the pavements. Before I rejigged my commute there was a section of one way road which went the other way to what I wanted and involved a section of pavement riding, the other options were about an extra 3/4 of a mile cycling to work with the one way system or hop of the bike and pushfor a bit. I ALWAYS chose the walk. Some cyclists chose to ride across the pavement and the wrong way down a one way system. Saw one almost go under a van doing that no fault of the van drivers...

Honestly I'd rather face a delay or walk a bit than break the law to save a bit of time.