Safe Speed Forums

Nice one Pete .What the likes of modern day , born again cyclists forget to appreciate is that most of us older motorists spent a lot of time on cycles . So we appreciate things like lack of grip -making sure you didn't come off on gravely surfaces - especially in short trousers . And it made us better able to anticipate surfaces where problems might occur - I ,at one time had a racing bike ,and on snow covered pavements used to work out skid tactics . At first I ended up in the snow-but gradually ,I could counter a skid and stay upright .Apply the same principles to a car - I did in the winter of 78- It was me and family (+ rescued motorist ) against nature - my training won .
Problem is that in the ( sorry ,YE OLDE) days of cycling and motoring , we all got along famously . It's only been recently that cyclists have decided that ( possibly ) their best friend ,is now their worst enemy -Instead of condemning the yob cycling element which brings the sort into disrepute and danger .

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

I always understood that the main reason for keeping speeds down on fresh chippings was so that the freshly laid chips are not torn away from the still soft binding.

Freshly chipped roads *need* traffic to bed down the fresh chips. but if people drive too fast they are instead torn loose leaving two strips of shiny, chip-free and grip-free tar (I am sure we have all seen this)

It is not strictly a "safety" issue (In terms of accident risk at the time) It is more of a longer term issue regarding how effective the finished road surface will be and how long it will be before it requires resurfacing.

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"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

Does this mean that "top dressing" is an inappropriate process to use on lightly used country lanes as the stones never get bedded down? If so, they ought to tell the council round here.

Apart from the vehicle tyre track "ruts" does the surface ever adhere properly?

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

Eh? I've been cycling since I was five (and driving since I was 17)?! Born again!?

Knowing that freshly gritted surfaces should be treated with extreme caution doesn't change the physics involved!

Although watching the way many car drivers (and indeed some cyclists) treat gritted surfaces you would think so.

I was cycling on this very type of surface last night and as in the car to see how 'much' grip you have you can test it by gently applying more 'peddle power' to see how much give the tyre loses. Even though you get the side of the road with mounds of grit it seemed OK but I still took it 'with care', and when a car passed I bent the head down just in case of any stones being thrown up.

These chaps Permanite Asphalt know all about asphalt. I am sure the website details it - not had time to look.
I think there is an element of enough grit laid to try and ensure enough remains in the bitmac, that is the top 'wearing' layer, but many cheap repair contractors are used and might lead to a cheaper system being used.

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

I wonder if the Order (by the Council) has all been carried out fully under all the correct parts of the right Act ?
I would report it to the Council as a distraction and illegal. The Council is legally bound to ensure that all signs are absolutely correct.

Good Luck Alice .... however not doubt with Graball helping you are highly likely to do well if his writings in here are anything to go by !
Rescue Remedy is great for nerves (take about 30 mins before you need it - or throughout the morning / pm as appropriate!)
Because IMHO many women are more easily brought into the emotional arguments than most men as they sound plausible, and perhaps they are more trust more?
Many women seem to be less interested and less mechanically minded than men, believing falsely that it is beyond them, when nothing of the kind is true for most.
Some women generally seem to be either be 'into' driving, and like some men too, 'A to B' drivers, and show little interest beyond basic driving capabilities. With little to really encourage them to learn or understand more they fall back into minimal involvement.
We are all different and all sit independently on the many varied scales of driving/riding interest, skills, knowledge, ability, attitude, function capability, and also with learning interest & ability, and general practical ability.
t

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

The owner of the Safe Speed campaign actually cycles !?!
Next you'll be saying you own several bikes!

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Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

Another reason why the advisory speed limit should be adhered to.

I know safespeedv2 cycles.

Early on on this board though it was very hard to convince some members I drove as well as riding a cycle (primarily because I have no issue with speed cameras I suspect but partly because some couldn't believe a cyclist would drive a car or a car driver would ever be seen on a cycle).

A village near my town had its A-road resurfaced with tar+chippings a month or so ago. The village in question has a 40-30-40 limit over the length of a mile or so. I was driving on the new surface around an hour or so after it had been laid, and didn't dare to drive any faster than 15-20mph because of the amount of chippings getting thrown up (indeed, when I got back I saw that the tar on the tyres was still molten). Despite that, I got overtaken at speed by a horsey woman in a huge Chelsea tractor which only succeeded in peppering the front of my car and windscreen with nice tar-covered chippings.

Woah! Be careful asserting that not all drivers are perfect or considerate on this board!

Ok, that's enough: back that up.

You are implying that on this board, the perceived wisdom is that "all drivers are perfect or considerate". If this is as widespread as you say then you will be able to provide me with five posts saying effectively that "all drivers are perfect or considerate".

I emphasise the all.

I did, directly below the text in my post.

Sorry, I must missed the word that JTB highlighted: all. Can you quote it, as JTB requested?

Think about your logic: why would we be calling for trafpol if we thought "all drivers are perfect or considerate"?

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Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

No you didn't; read my post again. And answer it!

I have been accused on radio - a little while ago now that I must think that all drivers / riders are good, just because we call for the cameras to be removed ! I always reply when given the chance that I think nothing of the sort I am never naive. We call for many more Police Patrols as Steve has already pointed out to you. I continue to state that we think speed limits are a good guide and helpful to motorists to choose a safe speed.
That there will always be the reckless drivers that must be stopped and receive appropriate 'action' to try to make them a better more responsible motorist.
That by understanding all that goes on in the real world helps us to ensure and accept better more developed ways to deal with problems of all kinds. If life were simple then a simple and single solution might work, but we can clearly see that it has not 'worked' that is - with cameras, it was never going to work in the way they expected. It fell very short and instead of binning a bad and flawed concept they have dragged it along, kicking and screaming all along that it is good for the Nation. Thankfully we have been here with a level headed counter argument and showing them their faults using their own data.


And Yes I do have a small stable of bicycles although some are rather old now.

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

As I ride my bike for exercise mainly, I figure its 16 year old crappiness is some benefit.

Oh, and weepej: I'm still waiting for all those examples of posts saying "all drivers are perfect or considerate".