Rules of the road
964cup
Posts: 1,362
All this from just one London commute:
A. If you are the kind of planet-killing, child-poisoning, obese dinosaur who still insists on driving into work in central London in 2017, recognise that you are part of the problem and cycling is part of the solution. You will be travelling, at best, at an average of 6-8mph. An unfit middle-aged blob can jog faster than that. So:
1. If another road hog is manoeuvering in front of you - turning right, for instance - just wait for them. Your journey will not be shortened by an abrupt veer around them to the left.
2. If you intend to turn left at a junction, position yourself in the left-hand lane. If you do not intend to turn left at a junction, do not position yourself in the left-hand-turn-only lane.
3. That box between the first and second white lines at traffic lights? That's not for your car.
4. That lane down the left-hand side of the road demarcated by a solid white line and with a bicycle painted in it? That's not for your car either.
5. If you choose to park at a junction, on a double yellow line, consider signalling before you pull out. Or consider killing yourself.
6. Do not feel obliged to overtake every cyclist you see if there happens to be a 20m gap in the nose-to-tail traffic; especially if there is a traffic island ahead. You will find that they carry on straight past you again when you reach the back of the next stationary queue.
7. There are helpful road markings indicating lanes on the road. If there is just the one line down the middle, this means there is just the one lane in each direction. Do not attempt to create a second lane; you will feel foolish.
B. If you are, for some unknown reason and despite the Mayor's promises, still driving a massive artic through London in rush hour, we accept that you will be unable to keep track of what is to the left of you. In return for not waiting in your blind spot at lights, we ask only that you drive in a f***ing straight line. Weaving towards the kerb every 30 seconds is unhelpful. If you don't know your lorry/bus/other cyclist-killing machine well enough to be certain that it will fit in its lane, we suggest you seek alternative employment.
C. If you are too idle to pedal, and so insist that your two-wheeled conveyance is powered by internal combustion, some hints:
1. That box (see point A3 above)? That's not for you, either.
2. Considering that box, don't get in the queue of filtering cyclists, then realise you're not allowed in the box and block access for everyone else.
3. If you're going to hoot cyclists then overtake them in a 20 zone when they're doing 22, be sure of your ability to filter through traffic. Otherwise, when you fetch up behind a lorry and lose your bottle, they're going to sail back past you and carry on, laughing or swearing depending on their Zen.
And just to show we're feeling even-handed:
Cyclists:
1. Red lights are for everyone. Yes, we know it's boring and you've heard it before, but every pedestrian who kacks their daks when you miss them by millimetres is another potential member of the anti-cycling lobby.
2. Take your NightVision jacket off. A) it's 8am.
it's 25 degrees.
3. We realise that your bicycle is not equipped with mirrors - unless it's also equipped with an electric rear hub, five lights and two cameras, none of which appeared to help. Consider, when manoeuvering, that there may be others around you. Some of them may even be able to pedal faster than you. You will find that rotating your head in your intended direction of travel before changing course enables you to check that the way is clear. If you also considered removing your headphones, or turning down the volume of your banging choons, you might also find that you can hear the warning bell they are considerately sounding.
Pedestrians:
1. At pelican crossings there are some helpful signals. The path between the dotted lines? That's the actual crossing. Don't swear at cyclists if you choose to walk across the ASL instead. The little red and green men? They're a clue to when it's safe to cross. If you looked up from your phone, you'd be able to see them.
2. We are not responsible for the new Archway cycle lane system. We agree that it was clearly designed by someone whose only experience of a bicycle (or indeed a pedestrian) was through the description given in the pub, after several pints, by someone whose cousin thought they might have seen one once, although on reflection it might in fact have been a wildebeest. However, this is what we have been given by our mighty overlords, so it behooves you at least to notice that the strangely ashphalted footway on which you are strolling has pictures of bicycles painted on it and consider moving to the pavement - helpfully distinguished by being, you know, paved - instead. You may also deliberate looking up from your phone, turning down the volume on your headphones, extinguishing your cigarette and using sunglasses that are not actually opaque. Cyclists are indeed known to smell, on occasion, but leaving this as the only sense you have available to detect them may not represent an optimal survival strategy.
A. If you are the kind of planet-killing, child-poisoning, obese dinosaur who still insists on driving into work in central London in 2017, recognise that you are part of the problem and cycling is part of the solution. You will be travelling, at best, at an average of 6-8mph. An unfit middle-aged blob can jog faster than that. So:
1. If another road hog is manoeuvering in front of you - turning right, for instance - just wait for them. Your journey will not be shortened by an abrupt veer around them to the left.
2. If you intend to turn left at a junction, position yourself in the left-hand lane. If you do not intend to turn left at a junction, do not position yourself in the left-hand-turn-only lane.
3. That box between the first and second white lines at traffic lights? That's not for your car.
4. That lane down the left-hand side of the road demarcated by a solid white line and with a bicycle painted in it? That's not for your car either.
5. If you choose to park at a junction, on a double yellow line, consider signalling before you pull out. Or consider killing yourself.
6. Do not feel obliged to overtake every cyclist you see if there happens to be a 20m gap in the nose-to-tail traffic; especially if there is a traffic island ahead. You will find that they carry on straight past you again when you reach the back of the next stationary queue.
7. There are helpful road markings indicating lanes on the road. If there is just the one line down the middle, this means there is just the one lane in each direction. Do not attempt to create a second lane; you will feel foolish.
B. If you are, for some unknown reason and despite the Mayor's promises, still driving a massive artic through London in rush hour, we accept that you will be unable to keep track of what is to the left of you. In return for not waiting in your blind spot at lights, we ask only that you drive in a f***ing straight line. Weaving towards the kerb every 30 seconds is unhelpful. If you don't know your lorry/bus/other cyclist-killing machine well enough to be certain that it will fit in its lane, we suggest you seek alternative employment.
C. If you are too idle to pedal, and so insist that your two-wheeled conveyance is powered by internal combustion, some hints:
1. That box (see point A3 above)? That's not for you, either.
2. Considering that box, don't get in the queue of filtering cyclists, then realise you're not allowed in the box and block access for everyone else.
3. If you're going to hoot cyclists then overtake them in a 20 zone when they're doing 22, be sure of your ability to filter through traffic. Otherwise, when you fetch up behind a lorry and lose your bottle, they're going to sail back past you and carry on, laughing or swearing depending on their Zen.
And just to show we're feeling even-handed:
Cyclists:
1. Red lights are for everyone. Yes, we know it's boring and you've heard it before, but every pedestrian who kacks their daks when you miss them by millimetres is another potential member of the anti-cycling lobby.
2. Take your NightVision jacket off. A) it's 8am.
it's 25 degrees.3. We realise that your bicycle is not equipped with mirrors - unless it's also equipped with an electric rear hub, five lights and two cameras, none of which appeared to help. Consider, when manoeuvering, that there may be others around you. Some of them may even be able to pedal faster than you. You will find that rotating your head in your intended direction of travel before changing course enables you to check that the way is clear. If you also considered removing your headphones, or turning down the volume of your banging choons, you might also find that you can hear the warning bell they are considerately sounding.
Pedestrians:
1. At pelican crossings there are some helpful signals. The path between the dotted lines? That's the actual crossing. Don't swear at cyclists if you choose to walk across the ASL instead. The little red and green men? They're a clue to when it's safe to cross. If you looked up from your phone, you'd be able to see them.
2. We are not responsible for the new Archway cycle lane system. We agree that it was clearly designed by someone whose only experience of a bicycle (or indeed a pedestrian) was through the description given in the pub, after several pints, by someone whose cousin thought they might have seen one once, although on reflection it might in fact have been a wildebeest. However, this is what we have been given by our mighty overlords, so it behooves you at least to notice that the strangely ashphalted footway on which you are strolling has pictures of bicycles painted on it and consider moving to the pavement - helpfully distinguished by being, you know, paved - instead. You may also deliberate looking up from your phone, turning down the volume on your headphones, extinguishing your cigarette and using sunglasses that are not actually opaque. Cyclists are indeed known to smell, on occasion, but leaving this as the only sense you have available to detect them may not represent an optimal survival strategy.
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(enjoyed the rant)
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Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
Presently I am using Knog Oi's. They are not loud enough. I think I need an airhorn or some kind of siren. Or possibly just a cowcatcher.
On the other hand, their habit of wandering into my path without even a cursory attempt to look around them is helping me practice my skids (and making me/my knees very grateful that I've also stuck with having both brakes). I'm going to have to move away from an even-toothed ratio, though, or my rear tyre won't last the month.
Easty commuter
Tripster AT
Actually, it wouldn't surprise me if the Boogaloo was serving at 08:00. I saw that Shane MacGowan in there once, and he didn't look like he'd be leaving any time soon (unless feet first).
It would be pretty pointless for the road riding, at least a turbo siren needed there.
I think as long as you say a polite "thank you" once someone gets out of the way rather than snarling or swearing at them, you're fine.
I'd rather accept that some fools will just walk out in front of me than have a really loud horn or siren type thing, they are too obnoxious for me.
Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
hadn't heard that one, but checked the definition
It works better on alloy bars than carbon, incidentally. Which is disappointing.
ps. Was that enough swearing?
pps. I would have got a PR on Archway hill on the way home if the aforementioned witless city planner hadn't made the bike lanes too narrow to overtake. On my steel fixie, too, so I was trying hard until I came upon the mobile chicane. Not her fault, obvs, but capped the day off nicely.
You forgot 'self-righteous'
Try reading it again. It was not labelling motorists as child killers, nor stating that nobody needs motorised transport for their job.
"planet-killing, child-poisoning, obese dinosaur who still insists on driving into work in central London in 2017"
i.e. someone who works in central London, but chooses to drive into work despite there being alternatives. Not someone who is making deliveries of bulky items, nor someone who needs to carry tools to work at multiple sites etc etc.
such a waste of their time and money to sit in a box at 5pm for an hour a day, and does no good for the air or anyone elses journeys.
I'd venture a bus driver will need a motorised vehicle for their job, Id imagine a pedal powered bus would be somewhat tiresome.
Easty commuter
Tripster AT
Philthy, as others have said, read the post. He's actually correct about all of it and as I said a lot could be added to it. But you are also correct he needs to get over it and I'm sure he does get over it every day, otherwise he wouldn't ride in London. But that doesn't excuse any of the behaviour mentioned, people need to be more aware of their surroundings and not be so selfish. Besides if you can't have a good old moan about these things on a cycling forum where can you.
Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
Fair enough, but not everyone is a fan of cycling or has the ability. Someone may drive a short distance to work, but who's to say they aren't an essential user attending other locations during the day. Having to change clothing several times or attend meetings sweating is hardly practical. Some may have to drop or collect kids enroute or have medical conditions that prevent them riding a bike. Euro 5e and 6 vehicles are emissions compliant. Older diesels AND petrol not so.
I go into central London once a week or so, in my diesel van , natch!
I have no other choice, I have to carry thirty or forty fire extinguishers and various other paraphernalia connected with my work, there absolutely no way on earth that this can be transported any other way, as for people who say that I should get a non diesel van.......really?? You reckon? Explain why I should get rid of a ten month old vehicle, surely that is more environmentally unfriendly especially considering that my previous van lasted twelve years and over 200,000 miles.
And as I'm always pointing out, the people who want diesel vehicles banned from city centres will soon notice when Pret â manger et al quickly run out of stock!!
However, points A2 and A6... My biggest problem is cars overtaking me whilst I'm out cycling then immediately turn left, often Im cycling past the back of their car as they turn into the junction. It amazes me people are so lazy they cant wait 2 seconds (for it to be safe) when on a 15 to 20 minute car journey. They dont get to the destination significantly quicker, they're only as quick as the car in front or red traffic lights.
http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z122 ... =slideshow
Depends whether you are looking at the global environment or the local environment.
Scrapping your existing vehicle would use more energy and resources than letting you keep using it, so it would be more "environmentally friendly" to keep the existing one - on a global scale. But if you are forced to buy a new vehicle that does not pump out poisonous particles like your existing one, then that would be more "environmentally friendly" on a local scale.
Internal combustion (while it's still necessary) for large goods vehicles only, and only at specified hours. Big challenges remain in construction (overnight spoil removal isn't really an option, nor is delivery of materials) - but the more bikes and pedestrians we have relative to vehicle traffic, the easier it will be to enforce safety rules in design and operation of the remaining vehicles.
Private cars should be aggressively discouraged in cities; in London there's already more than adequate public transport (it can always use improvement and investment) but we need to see the end of the diesel bus. Ideally we'd have more, more frequent, smaller electric or hydrogen-fuelled PSVs, combined with an Uber-style dial-a-ride service for the disabled. Other cities need serious investment in public transport infrastructure; we also need much stronger financial incentives for people to walk or cycle. The remaining problem here is leisure visitors - Oxford-style park'n'ride schemes really aren't ideal for visiting families with luggage and small children, but perhaps that's habit as much as practicality.
I will say that, having originally driven everywhere until five years ago, I now cycle to any meeting within 20 miles of my start point and take the train for longer journeys. So far, no client has batted an eyelid at my turning up by bike (some of them even accept me arriving in lycra) and I've found the train markedly less stressful than driving for longer trips. I'm fortunate that the additional cost (at least the additional *apparent* cost) of train travel isn't a preventative for me - this is something we absolutely have to fix. How can it possibly be cheaper to drive (or fly!) to Manchester or Edinburgh from London than it is to take the train?
Yes, this will cost money. There will be pain. But we have to remember the human cost of doing nothing. Until we price in the environmental and health damage from continued over-dependence on private powered vehicles, we are fooling ourselves that what we do is sustainable. And no, electric cars are not the answer. The road and parking infrastructure, additional generating capacity, environmental damage from mining, production and shipment required to make a serious dent in the current population of IC vehicles is immense - enough, I suggest, to pay for decent social housing, better public transport and efficient delivery systems if we can wean ourselves off needing to travel in splendid isolation all the time.