cycle lanes??

sithebike

If you are riding along a stretch of road that also has a cycle lane do you legally have to use it?
The reason I ask is whilst out today I recieved some verbal abuse from a car passenger because I was riding on the road and not using the cycle lane.
I decided not to use the cycle lane as it has been very wet, the lane has loads of drain covers etc etc and is also on the pavement, so every 30 seconds you have to stop and check it is safe to cross the road.
I am just wondering if I am in the wrong.

redddraggon

No, you are not in the wrong.

Road bikes are for the roads after all.

johnnyhotdog

No. you do not have to use it.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069837

i hardly ever use them as i find most to be poorly thought out, glass strewn deathtraps.

here's a good website - have a look at the "facility of the month section":

http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/

sithebike

Thats what I thought, thank-you.. I am glad I voiced my opinion to the idiots in the car

meagain

There is as said no legal compulsion at issue, BUT I strongly suspect that in extremis were a cyclist involved in an RTA that would have been avoided had they used an easily available dedicated cycling facility it would count as contributiry negligence in any case for civil damages.

sloxam

ok, so today i left the house and went down twice before i got off our estate(gritters don't come round here). when i got on the main roads, the road was fine (not icy) away from the edge. the closer you got to the kerb, ie. into the cycle lane, there was sheet ice due to the downpours yesterday and the freezing last night. common sense tells you to avoid the "cyclists territory", so where would a cyclist stand if they were in an rta on a day like today?

meagain

Perhaps just less contributory negligence reduction?

gandalfcp

meagain wrote:

Perhaps just less contributory negligence reduction?

With all due respect , you are talking out of your arse.

Cyclists do not have to apologise for using the roads that they pay for through taxation or use cyling farcilities, even in adverse weather conditions.

meagain

Glad to hear it. Didn't imply that I thought should be penalised for not using cycling lanes, just what I would argue if an insurer.

meagain

Although having just skimmed this

http://www.cyclistsdefencefund.org.uk/d ... lbrook.pdf

it SEEMS that non-use of a cycle lane COULD be interpreted in exactly the same (often wrongly) way as non-helmet wearing and thus become a de facto argument in a contributory negligence reduction.

As I said, I hope I'm wrong.

Cunobelin

Ride at a sensible speed for the situation and ensure you can stop in time. As a general rule, if you want to cycle quickly, say in excess of 18 mph/30 kph, then you should be riding on the road.

Local Transport Notes on Walking and Cycling - Annex Code of Conduct Notice for Cyclists - DfT

The chances of any "contributory negligence or the like is nil - you are following the DfT guidelines!

This is a reply that the "Use the Cycle Lane" pundits absolutely hate. Simply shows that they are ignorant of current legislation, the Highway code and proper use of these facilities.