Cyclists on roads?

Question

I'm 17 and a learner driver. My dads just taken me out in his car for a driving lesson, and while we were out, we were going down a 40mph road, and there was a cyclist riding his bike. His tire hit the curbe with forced him to fall off his bike (because he was going so fat) right in front of me. I had to swurve so I didn't hit him and almost crashed into the car besides me in the other lane. I dont think people should ride their bikes on roads unless they're in a cycle lane. I know it's legal and they have every right to, but do any drivers here get nervous when drive past a cyclist? I was never keen on them to begin with and i'm certainatly not now.

Answer 1

You have a really good point.

Cyclists were on the road before cars were, and have become 'secondary' because cars are faster. Mixing cyclists with cars is a very dangerous idea.

A lot of pedestrians (wrongly) see cyclists as a nuisance on the pavement, and want them to stick to the road. Many cyclists are killed in road accidents, but very few pedestrians are ever injured by a cyclist.

Part of the problem is that many cyclists are proud of how fast they can go, and consider themselves 'traffic'. If speed was the point of cycling, then the bicycle would have become obsolete. Cycles are better because they cause less congestion, are more manoeuvrable, and can mix safely with pedestrians. Of course, the cyclist needs to be considerate to pedestrians and other cyclists to do so; many aren't. A proper speed for cycling does not make you sweat; you should be able to commute in your working clothes.

Unfortunately, facilities are not routinely provided for proper cycling. Many people need to commute so far that cycling isn't practical, or would need to be done fast. This is because workplaces are usually 'zoned' together in one part of a city, and homes are clustered somewhere else.

'Cycle lanes' are randomly painted onto roads to qualify for funding targets, so they don't connect places where cyclists want to be. They are inconvenient and often dangerous to use. Cycle parking is usually an afterthought, and of poor quality. Usually, it's less weatherproof, and less secure, than the car-parking nearby.

Cyclists have to put up with all of this, as well as the danger from inconsiderate drivers of cars and lorries. They often develop an aggressive style of riding, to help them cope with the difficulties.

On behalf of cyclists, I'm sorry you had to experience the problem so suddenly. Thank you for handling it well, and avoiding any injuries.

You should also bear in mind that you can be put in just as much danger, by something falling off a car just in front of you. By remaining aware of the possible hazards all the time while you are driving, you can maximise your chances of coping well each time something unexpectedly goes wrong.

Answer 2

Firstly, I think you had a good lesson in hazard awareness, a vital driving skill.

Cyclists are allowed to wobble, this is even written into UK law, so you must give them adequate room, ask your driving instructor, but consider giving them more room than you would passing a car.

Cyclists have every right to be upon the road, you, as the driver of over a ton of killing machine, are responsible to see that you don't injure other road users, including pedestrians.

With regard to cycle lanes, my experience is that many are not fit for the purpose, some are simply white lines painted on the road or pavement (that's side walk for our US readers), often with road furniture at inappropriate places. Often the surface is in a poor state of repair, or has the special treatment that makes riding a bike uncomfortable.

The only roads that cyclists cannot use are motorways or ones marked as no cycles.

When I was at school, we were taught to ride in a defensive manner, away from the kerb for our own protection.

I wish they would reintroduce cycle training at school.

All road users have a duty to take care.

You need to be aware of all possible hazards when driving.

I believe that people who have ridden 2 wheeled, either cycles or motorcycles make much better drivers. You should try it.

What you don't say is why the cyclist hit the kerb, was he being forced off the road by a car driver?

If there was a car in the lane next to you, you probably didn't have enough room to pass the cyclist safely, even if he hadn't fallen off and should have slowed down to drive behind him anyway.

I suggest that you get some proper driving lessons from a qualified instructor.

Get a copy of Roadcraft and the Highway code and read them both.

Don't drive again until you have read both of these and understood their contents.

You are driving a lethal weapon and are responsible for your actions.

Answer 3

As a learner driver, well done for avoiding an accident. You've possibly had one of your most important lessons there.

Cyclists are just as entitled to ride their bikes on the highway as drivers of cars. Just because a cyclist fell off his bike in front of yourself doesn't mean that all cyclists should be banned. I suspect, if you looked at highway statistics you'll find that a far higher percentage of learner drivers cause accidents than cyclists. Maybe, if cyclists are banned then learner drivers should be banned also?

This is not necessarily my opinion, drivers have to learn somewhere, however they also have to learn sympathy and consideration to other road users.

As for cycle lanes, if more cycle lanes are available then cyclists will be happy to use them. However, they have to be properly built. Those lanes that are effective wide gutters alongside busy roads are useless, if not dangerous. They are often seen as roadside parking for local residents and all this does is suddenly force cyclists into the path of traffic, these should be avoided.

Answer 4

Well done for avoiding an accident. Disregarding the fact that this was a cyclist that fell in front of you, make sure that you leave room for yourself to manoeuver if something happens like this again.

Pedestrians, kids, dogs, puchchairs, reversing lorries, drivers opening car doors etc etc etc, all of these will at some time do stupid things in front of you while you're on the road and you need to give yourself enough time and space to avoid them.

If you can get hold of a copy, "Roadcraft" is an excellent guide.

Answer 5

Every road user has an equal entitlement to use the road.Just as an experienced driver needs to be aware of learner drivers, for example. If it's not possible to overtake someone safely the only real solution is to stay behind him until it is.
It seems that attitudes to driving are changing, when I first started to drive there was a feeling of camaraderie between road users. Now it seems that its all about getting ahead and blocking other people off and getting them off the road.Sad really.

Answer 6

They should definitely have more lanes for cyclists but they shouldn't be banned from the road. There'd be even more of them on the pavements than there are now, and that's MORE dangerous. If cyclist stuck to the highway code as they should and observed traffic lights, one way streets and the like, people might be a bit more forgiving of them.

Answer 7

That's a typical 'driver' attitude, but not one that is very productive. As you said, they have a right to be there just like you. Slow down for a moment, pass with caution and thank them for not contributing to climate change. As both a driver and cyclist, I am always very cautious and careful around cyclists. If there is no cycle lane, then you think they shouldn't be there, but the reality is they will be there. Share the road. Cyclists pay taxes too and have just as much of a right to be there. The cyclist would probably say that cars shouldn't be on the road, but that is also not productive and not a reality. We must share.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

why the bad attitude towards cyclists?

I have several categories of vehicle on my licence and also ride a pushbike, all the time I see people give cyclists a hard time on the roads and there is really no need for it, they are people too and deserve to be allowed to reach their destination without the threat of danger from bad drivers like yourself who are unable or unwilling to anticipate the unexpected give us cyclists a break for crying out loud

Answer 10

I nearly hit a man on a bicycle with my truck last night... It was after dark, and the bicycle rider was wearing dark clothing, with no lights or reflectors on his bicycle, and riding on the wrong side of the roadway (facing oncoming traffic.) If I hadn't seen him just in the nick of time, and swerved out of the way, I would have run him over. He was extremely lucky!!!

Bicycle riders need to understand that THEY must take responsibility for their own safety while sharing the roads with cars and trucks. Follow the rules and make sure they can be seen by other vehicles while riding in reduced visibility situations.