[Tom_77]

Highways England is in charge

Highways England is in charge of motorways and A roads?

Think the relevant guidance is LTN 1/20 Cycle infrastructure design – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/951074/cycle-infrastructure-design-ltn-1-20.pdf

8.3 Access Controls

Access controls can reduce the usability of a route by all cyclists, and may exclude some disabled people and others riding nonstandard cycles.

There should therefore be a general presumption against the use of access controls unless there is a persistent and significant problem of antisocial moped
or motorcycle access that cannot be controlled through periodic policing.

 

Access controls that require the cyclist to dismount or cannot accommodate the cycle design vehicle are not inclusive and should not be used.
 

 

[Tom_77]

Graduated driving licences

Graduated driving licences would be a good start, but that idea has been scrapped:

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/learning-to-drive/graduated-driving-licences/

Something like the Driver Skills Scheme (but not just for old people) could be a cost effective way of assessing driving skill:

https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadsafety/drivertraining/driverskills

Perhaps everyone should be made to have one when they renew their driving licence (i.e. every 10 years).

I’d like to see mandatory eye tests every 10 years (at the absolute minimum) too.

[Tom_77]

Probably “cautioned” means

Probably “cautioned” means interviewed under caution. Article says he was convicted of dangerous driving.

Not clear if the 2nd ban was for a single speeding offence, or for multiple offences.

[Tom_77]

You can watch BBC News on

You can watch BBC News on iPlayer:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007mpkn/episodes/player

Looks like episodes expire after 24 hours, so you’ll need to be quick.

[Tom_77]

If you want something new,

If you want something new, Decathlon do the Riverside 120 for £230. It’s not great, but should be OK for a short commute.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/hybrid-bike-riverside-120/_/R-p-300806?mc=8405304&c=GREY

2nd hand is probably the way to go, have a read of this article if that’s what you decide to do – https://road.cc/content/feature/your-complete-guide-buying-second-hand-bike-278689

[Tom_77]

I used to have a CatEye BM-45

I used to have a CatEye BM-45, but I found it too small to get a good view. Switched to a Zefal Dooback 2, I can see a lot more with that. On the downside it is, as the kids say, fugly.

[Tom_77]

I get the train to work

I get the train to work (currently going in at most once a week), with the recent fare increases it’s £17 for what would be 35 miles each way in the car. Fuel (diesel @ £1.65/l) is probably about £9.50, maybe another couple of quid for wear and tear, call it £12*.

So driving is still a lot cheaper, takes a similar amount of time (around an hour door to door). Diesel needs to be about £2.50/l before it’s cheaper to get the train. Also, the evening trains are only one per hour at the moment. I’ve got some flexibility in the hours I work, but if it was a strict 9-5 I’d be waiting 45 minutes for the train home.

 

* obviously there are other costs involved with a car – depreciation, insurance, etc. But I pay those whether I drive to work or not.

[Tom_77]

By way of contrast, I see no

By way of contrast, I see no problem with bikes and pedestrians sharing this space.

[Tom_77]

Segregated space is better –

Segregated space is better – cars, bikes and pedestrians all physically seperated.

There are plenty of roads locally that I won’t cycle on – there’s too much traffic and/or that traffic travels too quickly.

I think bikes and pedestrians can share space, if that space is wide enough for the volume of traffic. All too often you end up with a narrow pavement with a blue circle slapped on it.

[Tom_77]

Jimmy Ray Will wrote:

Taking the details of this case out of the equation for a second. 

Someone has been seriously injured (do the injuries warrant a serious injury title, I don’t know?), by the actions of a motorist driving without due care and attention. Is there seriously no defined charge for that? 

I’d be inclined to reach out to you local MP to make sure they are aware of this. Love to get their opinion. 

The definition for serious injury as in Causing serious injury by dangerous driving is the same as for GBH. It would be up to a jury to decide if a particular injury was serious, but typically you’d be looking at “life-changing injuries” or “significant or sustained medical treatment (for instance, intensive care or a blood transfusion)”. For injuries that don’t meet the threshold the driver could be charged with assault.

There’s no specific offence of Causing serious injury by careless driving and to Assault someone your actions have to be deliberate or reckless (i.e. dangerous).

I really can’t understand why the driver has been given a course instead of being charged with Driving Without Due Care and Attention (at the very least).

 

[Tom_77]

I paid £120 (£170 with a £50

I paid £120 (£170 with a £50 discount) for 2 bikes worth £1800 each. That’s for the lowest level of cover.

You might be better off buying £450 worth of locks, ground anchors, alarms, etc.

[Tom_77]

I insured mine with https:/

I insured mine with https://www.yellowjersey.co.uk/

Got a discount for being a Cycling UK member.

[Tom_77]

Something with reclining

Something with reclining leather seats that goes really fast and gets really shitty gas mileage!

[Tom_77]

I’ve seen a lot of aggressive

I’ve seen a lot of aggressive comments on social media, although mostly it’s giving way to pedestrians that has the drivers riled up.

Pedestrians – Please look out for yourself because I cannot look left and right at the same time – I don’t have eyes in the back of my head !

 

Thiis should never have been changed it is always better for pedestrians to wait until it safe to cross and then do so. Drivers need to concentrate on their driving not have to be looking for pedestrians who might step out in front of them at a junction

 

There’s no way I’m stopping dead like that just before turning. It’s a ridiculous, dangerous rule and it’s only a matter of time before someone dies or gets seriously injured.

Out on the streets, things seem slightly better. I think 1.5m for overtaking a cyclist is much clearer than the old rule.

[Tom_77]

Local council by-election

Local council by-election last week, one of the biggest issues* was the increase in the cost of parking permits to £50 per year (£100 for a 2nd car). Even the Green Party candidate is against it.

The local train station charges over a grand for an annual car park ticket, £50 is a bargain.

 

* hard working families, stealth tax, et-fucking-c

[Author]

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