I’d agree with this completely in terms of improvements in cycling infrastructure / culture such as Holland being something to try to work towards, but I can’t see that the A63 would be a likely cycle route for many cycling commuters unless there was a separate footpath type route alongside it, and then not likely even then. Routes into Hull from closer areas could be much better though I’m happy with cyclists on the A63 though. They understand the risks, and drivers just need to be sensible on those days. I’d also be happy with a Lane closure for big races though
Cyclists currently have their own lanes, and as long as they have the right paperwork, pass the tests and pay the appropriate fees, cars are allowed to use them too.
It's the cars that are there conditionally, cyclists are there as of right. Part of the problem is car drivers not appreciating that.
It's just inherently dangerous even if you drive sensibly. Coming up behind a cyclist at A63 speeds will take most people by surprise how quickly the distance closes, because it's just unnatural and you don't experience it normally. If there's no room to move right, you have to slow right down to cycling speed with very little time to do it gradually, and on a road like that, expecting everyone else behind you to know you're going to do that and act accordingly is very optimistic.
One solution is to have more cyclists on the roads, so that drivers become more capable. It's one of the negatives of designated cycle lanes.
Cyclists on motorways to improve driver awareness is a great idea, sheep grazing on central reservations is another, as is allowing pogo stick races...
I wouldn’t call driving at speed without being aware enough of what’s in front of you ‘driving sensibly’ You’ve done well to be still with us this long though. Hope your luck keeps holding out
It's not always possible to be aware of a cyclist 3 or 4 cars in front of you. But that's what you'd need to be ready for if if the road is too busy for everyone to just overtake. Everyone needs to brake hard at that point. In theory everyone behind me should be far enough back to give themselves time to stop in that event, but sadly very few drivers do leave that amount of space.
So you would have left enough space between you and the car in front of you to stop if they have to brake hard then. If drivers don’t leave that much space they’re **** drivers, don’t blame cyclists for driver incompetence
Absolutely, I'm not here to make it a drivers vs cyclists thing and take the side of the drivers. The main reason I have no interest in cycling on the road is the drivers that are on there! But taking a road like that which has the same hazards as any other 70mph road in the country and throwing cyclists into the mix for the sake of a leisure activity is ridiculously hazardous. Theoretically I should be able to do keepy-uppies on the inside lane and all the drivers should be able to avoid me, but I wouldn't fancy testing it.
I’m not sure whether you have a legal right to do keepy-uppies on it, I don’t think you do, but cyclists certainly do have a right to be on it All I’m saying is that drivers should know that there may be cyclists on it, and if they can’t drive in a way that takes that into account they’re poor, if not illegal, drivers, and they are the ones that should be banned from it
Don't see why not With more lanes it should be safer than a dual carriageway A road...that's assuming car drivers knew they might be there and drove accordingly Do you think car drivers who are unable to see cyclists ahead of them on an A road in enough time to safely pass them should be able to use A roads?
I think people should have enough common sense to not ride bikes on roads that aren’t suitable for bikes and that’s mainly motorways (and roads that are motorways in all but name). I think time trials on the A63 are fine as long as they close a lane for them, but not closing a lane for them is utterly ****ing ridiculous and will result in a death at some point.
Do you think people should have enough common sense to not drive cars on dual carriageway A roads if they aren’t capable of seeing cyclists in enough time to safely pass them?
We’re talking about the A63, not some country lane. It’s the only main road into a major port city, it’s full of lorries travelling at high speeds and they could quite easily not see a cyclist at all. It’s a ****ing stupid place to cycle. FACT.
It’s a ****ing stupid place to drive too fast to see cyclists when you know they might be there. And I don’t just mean time trials If they couldn’t see cyclists at all they shouldn’t be on the road
