Cycling UK Forum

We've just returned from a couple of days visiting friends in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. The scenery round there is lovely so we decided to do a bit of a cycle. Overall the cycle was great, gently rolling hills and some great views but it was spoilt the the number of drivers who failed to give adequate space when overtaking.

There are always idiots who try to squeeze past you no matter where you cycle but yesterday there seemed to be proportionally larger number of them on the A361. What I found most irritating was when the road ahead was clear but the drivers were too stupid, lazy or self important to move further over into the opposite lane to give you a safe distance.

Whilst we had the misfortune to be on the A361 we met the most self important man in Oxfordshire. Sue and I were riding in single file because the road was busy about a metre from the edge as recommended. There was traffic coming towards us and as it cleared the driver of a Mercedes estate Y42NUD gave a long blast on his horn, wound his passenger window down and as he came alongside shouted "why don't you "expletive" move over!" If I'd been a bit more switched on I would have replied "why don't you read your Highway Code and find out" but he was gone before I thought of it. He was held up for all of about 20 seconds and even if I'd been cycling in the gutter there wouldn't have been enough room for him to safely pass.

A good trip spoiled by a few idiots!

I propose the mandatory carrying of paintball guns by cyclists...

A .45 Colt M1911A1 would be better.

PW wrote:A .45 Colt M1911A1 would be better.

Slightly harder to justify.

I'd like to see all cars with paintballed rear ends stopped and given mandatory cycle training

graymee wrote: the driver of a Mercedes

Ha-ha - there's the clue...

Something spinning and made of metal with sharp spikes, mounted on the end of an arm fixed to the rear pannier

Graymee, did you report Mercedes man to the Police? He did not give enough clearance and his shouting at you was so distracting that your nearly lost control of your bike and gone under his wheels. This was of course witnessed by an independent witness, another cyclist who just happened to be behind you
Dont forget to log it with Stop Smidsy.

i drive to work on that road and overtake several cyclists every day. there is no excuse for that sort of behavior by drivers. i would not personally cycle along there as i regard it as too dangerous.

most of the way the road is national speed limit and its not a dual carriage way so the limit is 60mph and reduced to 50 or less in places. however there are lots of bad drivers around that treat it like a motorway. i drive the speed limit, but you get impatient drivers tailgating and dangerously overtaking into oncoming traffic all the time. i am surprised i haven't seen accidents. the reason is there are no traffic lights for miles and no speed cameras and no police. there is noone for miles around, so drivers think they can get away with more.

maybe if they painted some cycles on the road or painted a green stripe lane this would take away some of the bad drivers self rightousness

I did go on the SMIDSY website yesterday when I returned home but didn't complete the form. The form didn't really lend itself to this kind of incident but I might re visit it. I'm not sure the police would do anything although I got his registration number and if it happens again they might.

I wouldn't have cycled that route if I'd had the choice but didn't really know where I was going until I got to Burford and bought a map.

I lived in Chipping Norton for 11 years, and I know the scenery is very pleasnat, although in those days I was running, and did not take up cycling until later. As for other road users, my attitude is that you have a perfect right to use the road, and although I wouldn't place myself in danger, if someone is not prepared to treat my presence on public roads with respect, then that is their problem.

I had a recurring problem with a van driver who kept passing me too close on my daily commute. I eventually reported him to the MD of his company (van was fully sign written) and since then he has given me plenty of space.

So continue to stand your ground. It's your road as much as anyone else's.

Lycra Man

That is a horrible experience, I'm sorry it happened. I would say that Oxford is generally excellent for cyclists. There are so many of us cycling to work during the week and out at weekends that cars are generally used to us.

Maybe it was an out of towner?

Plans for the "in-handlebar paint stripper gun" are still at the early stages.

Chipping Norton's most famous resident, of course, is a Mr J Clarkson.

Jenny - there's a big difference between Oxford and Oxfordshire. Cycling provision out here in the sticks is almost non-existent and travel planning has historically been very heavily centred around motoring. In our town, Charlbury (a few miles from Chippy), a one-way system put in 30 years ago is very cycle-hostile and as a result hardly anyone cycles. Consequently attitudes from drivers are verging on neanderthal, and roads like the A361 are pretty notorious.

There are some signs of light on the horizon - the county council's new Local Transport Plan is showing real signs of encouraging rural cycling for the first time.

Richard (inter alia Sustrans Liaison Ranger for North/West Oxfordshire)

Richard Fairhurst wrote:Chipping Norton's most famous resident, of course, is a Mr J Clarkson.

In our town, Charlbury (a few miles from Chippy), a one-way system put in 30 years ago is very cycle-hostile and as a result hardly anyone cycles. Consequently attitudes from drivers are verging on neanderthal, and roads like the A361 are pretty notorious.

I would not describe the Chalbury one way system round Nine Acres as being cycle hostile - a bit long winded maybe -but it is only a couple of minutes to Enstone Road - Chalbury before the one way system was pretty unfriendly for both cyclists and cars - still not that good for either but that is the nature of the place - if you need to avoid it coming from the station then just turn right at the top of Dyers Hill along Church Lane and walk your bike through the Churchyard - very pretty - or risk it for a biscuit as my Mother would do before the war and scoot through on one pedal

I would put the lack of cyclists in Chalbury more down to the hilly nature (not exactly mountainous - but noticeable) of the place and the fact it is a bit in the middle of nowhere - not something that puts me off - but is likely to deter Joe average

I am not from Oxfordshire but frequently cycle there - I agree the A361 is not good - but it is a main road and is easily negotiable in daylight hours - there are plenty of brilliant very quiet alternatives - which for the most part I am in too much of a hurry to get to Mothers for roast dinner to take - Its like everwhere there are a few idiot drivers about (I am not sure how my mother is going to take being described as neanderthal!) about every where - just ignore them - personally I find Oxfordshire to be a great place to cycle

Oh, the one-way system is fine for tourers who are just passing through - it takes you on a picturesque diversion through some pretty streets! But it's not too great for those of us who live here.

If you're (say) going from the station to the Co-op, you can, as you say, go up Church Lane, dismount through the churchyard, back on the bike for Church Street, dismount again for Brown's Lane, back on the bike for Enstone Road. Or you can stay on your bike and go via Nine Acres Lane, going up a steepish hill... only to come down it again for Enstone Road.

In both cases, you've got a load of extra effort because of a one-way system designed to make the town easier for cars. So people end up driving across town to the station, or to the Co-op, or to church. It amazes me how few people here in Charlbury use bikes for local journeys.

Personally I usually cycle through the churchyard, but then I'm the organist and plenty capable of holding my own with the churchwardens... especially as my wife was until recently one of them.

(More seriously, our local cycling group is starting to negotiate cycle access through the churchyard and a contraflow up Brown's Lane.)