Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Another cyclist loses their life. | |
Posted by: | Al Webber | |
Date/Time: | 25/06/15 12:37:00 |
With some joined up thinking, the money raised from fines and auctioning off confiscated stuff that doesn't get reclaimed should be able to cover the costs of keeping officers out there. I was thinking about the whole issue. A big part of the problem is that cyclists are not one homogeneous mass that can be lumped together. The "lycra brigade" is very different from the "pootle to the shops" type of cyclist. Both are valid but they have very different needs. If you are commuting into London from zone 2 or 3, then you are doing enough miles that you will probably need to shower when you get to work and you will want to change out of cycling gear. You also want a proper pair of padded cycling shorts otherwise you get a sore rear - hence the lycra. If you do 8 or 10 miles every day you will get fit and you will travel at a decent speed, and can safely get in the traffic flow. The stereotyped middle aged lady who pootles to shops at 6 to 8 mph is going to struggle to mix with traffic, and this seems to be what the authorities are trying to encourage. If you build segregated cycle lanes you will then potentially have the problem that the lycra brigade cyclists will be doing 3 times the speed of some of these slower cyclists. The speed differential is massive. It is a complete contrast to cars. Generally cars will all be travelling at a similar speed. Some of the cycle routes around big roundabouts are incredibly slow and cumbersome. The regular, fit "lycra brigade" cyclist who commutes 10 miles every day will probably stick to the main carriageway - and for them it is safe. They will also not want to get stuck behind someone doing 8mph in a cycle lane that is not wide enough to overtake them. There is also the issue of shared use cycle lanes on pavements. They are ok for the slower type of cyclists but if you are doing 20mph plus they are not safe for the cyclist or the pedestrians. I generally avoid them One solution might be to allow some level of cycling on pavements for slower cylists but under strict condition that you give way to pedestrians at all times. The problem with that is that people would start abusing it - although those type of people probably already cycle on the pavement at high speed. One thing is certain - there aren't any simple solutions. |