Cycling Officers

fatgb

What is the point of having a Cycling Officer when cycling becomes more dangerous and less attractive through the direct actions of the local council?

AndyManc

Axe and Grind comes to mind :roll:

sc999cs

Details?

dondare

Write to the council explaining that cycling facilities designed by people who don't cycle are worse than useless and that directing cyclists to share the pavements with pedestrians increases resentment against cyclists from both pedestrians and motorists. Copy the letter to your MP.

biondino

I was cycling westbound on Uxbridge Road yesterday and there was a wide cycle lane on the pavement alongside the road, so I used it for a bit. The surface was okay, and both it and the pavement were fairly empty, which was good; but every time there was a side road, petrol station, etc. etc I had to stop, look, cross and start again. It's just not what you want, especially on this kind of road where, as long as you're not unlucky with traffic lights, you could feasibly do 4 or 5 miles at 20mph without even stopping.

AndyManc

biondino wrote:

I was cycling westbound on Uxbridge Road yesterday and there was a wide cycle lane on the pavement alongside the road, so I used it for a bit. The surface was okay, and both it and the pavement were fairly empty, which was good; but every time there was a side road, petrol station, etc. etc I had to stop, look, cross and start again. It's just not what you want, especially on this kind of road where, as long as you're not unlucky with traffic lights, you could feasibly do 4 or 5 miles at 20mph without even stopping.

It depends , I'm sure families with kids would like the idea, also if the road was solid with traffic it would be useful.

Ideally , (many other factors permitting ) they should have engineered the cycle lane into being a raised lane ... but part of the road infrastructure.

chuckcork

I don't believe there is any legal requirement to use the cycle lanes provided, though you'll probably get less abuse from motorists.

If its a pain like that then don't use it.

After all, if you are injured while crossing one of these poorly though out and located crossing points, side roads, service stations etc, the council and insurance companies will claim it wasn't anything to do with them, so why bother?

These paths are mostly there for those that need their hands held anyway.

biondino

Yes, sorry, I really meant for cyclists like us, not families, slow or unconfident cyclists, I understand it's better for them. But I tried it and it really didn't work for a speedier rider, that's all.

farrell

If you do 20mph+ it's safer to be on the road anyway.

downfader

fatgb wrote:

What is the point of having a Cycling Officer when cycling becomes more dangerous and less attractive through the direct actions of the local council?

I agree with what Dondare says and have done the same myself in the past. The more we write and nag the better it should get. I have had good responses from my MP and the council on these issues and have found out about work in planning stages

The funny thing is about cycling officers was what i saw when coming home from work last year. Lots of the usual suspects being silly in their car, all of a sudden they see the officer and take a REALLY wide berth and drive within the limit.

I wrote to the police to tell them this was not my experience and gave a few suggestions. Again, got some good replies back, even if they couldnt act on some of my suggestions.