OK. And here's the smiley that you edited out, just to help you have a nice day:prestavalve wrote: ↑5 Nov 2021, 11:22amWell, you just did a pretty poor job of ignoring it - but I'll stop harping on about anything after today.
i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
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- Joined: 5 Nov 2021, 7:46am
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
I grew up on a bike in London, cycling round the Hyde Park Corner roundabout was terrifying before they put the traffic lights in, these days on the whole I find it easier, there are concessions to cyclists at busy junctions and dual use bike lanes where the pavement is wide enough help. I think for an objective idea of how cycling risk has changed over the years then one would need to see figures on cycling accidents per mile ridden.
What I do find quite tragic is that cyclists are still being killed by finding themselves in the blind spot on the inside of a large turning vehicle, riders have been killed by that one ever since I started riding on the road at 8 years old.
What I do find quite tragic is that cyclists are still being killed by finding themselves in the blind spot on the inside of a large turning vehicle, riders have been killed by that one ever since I started riding on the road at 8 years old.
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
I started riding on the roads (local ones at least) from a similar age. I was riding on busy, multi-lane roundabouts from the age of about 12 (more than a few years ago sadly) with no dedicated cycle lanes/paths. I think one of the issues is that although modern cycling infrastructure has made it on the whole safer it does all too often give riders and drivers a skewed perspective on road safety. Cyclists are no longer forced to ride assertively, tending to passively interface with the traffic. This generally becomes a problem when riders and traffic combine at pinch points and junctions because drivers no longer see cyclists as an integral component of the traffic.CinnabarMoth wrote: ↑19 Nov 2021, 12:26pm I grew up on a bike in London, cycling round the Hyde Park Corner roundabout was terrifying before they put the traffic lights in, these days on the whole I find it easier, there are concessions to cyclists at busy junctions and dual use bike lanes where the pavement is wide enough help. I think for an objective idea of how cycling risk has changed over the years then one would need to see figures on cycling accidents per mile ridden.
What I do find quite tragic is that cyclists are still being killed by finding themselves in the blind spot on the inside of a large turning vehicle, riders have been killed by that one ever since I started riding on the road at 8 years old.
Education is needed on both sides, but I'm not sure how we are going to achieve this.
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
I live there. Hundreds of miles of back roads with very little traffic. Great cycling county.
If you want truly bad try Marseille in the rush hour.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
Marseille at any time...
To be fair to Lincolnshire, it's not too bad. Just my commute can be a bit 'sporty' at times.
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
Which roads? The worst I've found for riding in Lincs is the A1.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
Lincoln High street at rush hour, and the A15 any time of the day/night. I've ridden on the A1 once; never again.
The High street isn't particularly fast, but there is a lot of clutter and parked cars. It's very difficult not to end up getting squeezed into the door zone, and the amount of people pulling blind U-turns in the no U-turn zone is unreal. You really have to be on your A-game to navigate that road safely and it can be exhausting at times.
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
Instead of using the High St. couldn't you use the parallel cycle path that runs alongside the Witham?ChrisP100 wrote: ↑21 Nov 2021, 6:13pm
Lincoln High street at rush hour, and the A15 any time of the day/night. I've ridden on the A1 once; never again.
The High street isn't particularly fast, but there is a lot of clutter and parked cars. It's very difficult not to end up getting squeezed into the door zone, and the amount of people pulling blind U-turns in the no U-turn zone is unreal. You really have to be on your A-game to navigate that road safely and it can be exhausting at times.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
Never really considered it to be honest; High street is bit more direct. I might give it a try and see how it compares. Either way I ultimately come out at the Brayford Pool before heading up either Spring Hill or Michaelgate to Castle Square.pete75 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2021, 8:06amInstead of using the High St. couldn't you use the parallel cycle path that runs alongside the Witham?ChrisP100 wrote: ↑21 Nov 2021, 6:13pm
Lincoln High street at rush hour, and the A15 any time of the day/night. I've ridden on the A1 once; never again.
The High street isn't particularly fast, but there is a lot of clutter and parked cars. It's very difficult not to end up getting squeezed into the door zone, and the amount of people pulling blind U-turns in the no U-turn zone is unreal. You really have to be on your A-game to navigate that road safely and it can be exhausting at times.
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Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
The A 17 is not much fun.
It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
Yep but never boring!
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
That Dual- section between the Holdingham roundabout and Kirkby-la-Thorpe is lethal.
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- Posts: 7861
- Joined: 7 Mar 2009, 3:31pm
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
Worse than further east where it is single through Heckington?
The islands on that stretch are a testing touch.
I take the lane, of course, but that needs a steady nerve. On one occasion a lorry driver resented this tactic and swerved in towards me after the constriction.
I have had many close passes hereabouts, it is difficult for a lorry driver to find a passing length with no oncoming vehicles.
It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
There aren't many decent passing places on the A17 at the best of times to be fair. That section is probably not worse than through Heckington, but there is certainly a high chance of a close, fast pass on the dual section.Mike Sales wrote: ↑23 Nov 2021, 2:35pmWorse than further east where it is single through Heckington?
The islands on that stretch are a testing touch.
I take the lane, of course, but that needs a steady nerve. On one occasion a lorry driver resented this tactic and swerved in towards me after the constriction.
I have had many close passes hereabouts, it is difficult for a lorry driver to find a passing length with no oncoming vehicles.
Re: i'm no longer comfortable on the roads
The road through Heckington is quiet and pleasant to cycle on because the place bypassed.Mike Sales wrote: ↑23 Nov 2021, 2:35pmWorse than further east where it is single through Heckington?
The islands on that stretch are a testing touch.
I take the lane, of course, but that needs a steady nerve. On one occasion a lorry driver resented this tactic and swerved in towards me after the constriction.
I have had many close passes hereabouts, it is difficult for a lorry driver to find a passing length with no oncoming vehicles.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker