Safe Speed Forums

Tabloid article (StUN) has caught my attention...

A cyclist was caught cycling merrily away on he hard shoulder on the M6 near Spaghetti Junction.

Apparently the chap from Castle Bromwich joined the motorway in the morning rush hour at Salford Circus and was stopped by police as he pedalled Northwards to Great Barr (J7).

Drivers apparently alerted the police who took him off the motorway and cautiooned him.

He was ... 17 years old.

Frightening to think this idiot could apply for a provisional licence, when he has reached 17 years of age and cannot recognise a big blue sign which says MOTORWAY and a list of prohibited vehicles at the mouth of a slip road!

Even more worrying to discover he was not even fined for this reckless and stupid action either. Especially when drivers are fined for getting caught in a yellow box, parking slightly over the line in a parking bay - (happens fairly often in the last bay of a certain local supermarket up here), in fact - for the slightest error these days!

Yet - this chap gets away with a caution. What happens if the nitwit does it again?

Then a lurk on C+ reveals that some of them appear to want to ride on motorways "because they are allowed to in the USA, Canada, and Australia."

Why? These are fast roads and the main complaint appears to be that we drive too fast and by doing so "create a danger" to a cyclist on 30 mph, 40 mph roads. So why want to cycle on a road that is really fast?

I have never been to Australia - but have driven in both the USA and Canada. Perhaps I have driven on these roads at a time whn cyclsists have chosen not to use them - but I've never seen them on my hols/visits over there - which admittedly are not frequent as we prefer Europe.

Perhaps basingwerk and Ross can confirm how frequently people choose to cycle on these roads and whether this is indeed as dangerous as it sounds to me. I would be interested in learning why these countries allow it,

Personally, (and in agreement with one bloke's point of view on there) - I do not see what advantage a cyclist could gain from using our motorways.

Perhaps our residents cyclists could advise me - as I reallycannot get my head around this.

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The motorways don't seem to have those big boards listing all the prohibited traffic anymore.

Anyway, it's totally idiotic thing to do. He obviously thought it was a short cut as he must have a short in his brain to even think about going along the motorway.

Personally it would scare the **** and everything else out of me to cycle down the hard shoulder of a mortorway, when you consider the amount of sideways suction caused by a line of HGV's going past.

Plus the hard shoulder isn't exactly safe anyway which is why they advocate sitting the other side of the crash barrier and not in your car if you break down.

What a total fool. I am a very keen cyclist, and would never consider going on a hard shoulder. Not only could you get hit or sucked under a truck, but there is loads of debris just waiting for my ineer tube, there is also the thought of sucking in all those fumes is terrible.

Another point, most motorways are quite flat, if you're not thundering up a big mountain, you aint no cyclist.

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'Detritus, get yer stoney arse over ere'

It's only in the past two years they've stopped pedestrians using the motorways in Spain.
They've also made it a requirement for cars to carry a Hi Vis vest for each passenger to wear one in case of breakdown situation and they should also get out of the car.

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I believe cyclists are allowed on freeways and Interstates in many US States.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Agree Neil - I do not really like motorways in the car - Stag for this fumes reason. Also that car hates jams - Triumph engines were always pretty naff in traffic. (One of us is lucky enough to have a Herald Vitessse - and that "totty temptress" as he call it - boils over in traffic jams.)

I'm with you - a true "muesli man" excels on climbs and the real country side. As i pedal up - I just think of the thril of the down hill SPEEEEEEEEEEEEED!"

Mind you - I never have managed to compare " excess thrill" notes with our Krissi on certain downhills! Will agree that the hill in question can take you by surprise - certainly did with her on that occasion!

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Absolutely, there have been numerous articles in cycling weekly about time trials being moved from dual carriageways. There are regular time trials along the Glyneath bypass, and I shudder when I see how fragile a cyclist looks compared to a 60mph truck passing just a few feet from them.

In France, the real cycling country has loads of cycle lanes, and the motorists are a lot more respectfull towards them. Last year I went up a few cheeky hills (Mont Ventoux, Alpe d’huez, Col de Glandon, Col de Madelon, Croix de Feaur to name but a few). The French motorists were great, often encouraging the sweaty snot crusted heap wheezing up their beautiful mountains. This was with a bunch of mates for charity, see us at www.wheelygoodcause.com

As for the descents, I hit 56mph going down Ventoux, my eyes were on storks all the way (fun though).
It is my opinion that we really shouldn’t be going on dual carriageways and motorways, it just makes sense doesn’t it?

P.S. you have awful taste in cars

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'Detritus, get yer stoney arse over ere'

Well there are also motorists who want unlimited speed limits on our motorways "because they have them in Germany".

And I wouldn't call this individual caught on the M6 a Cyclist any more than I'd call some Oxygen Thief in a stolen Corsa a Motorist.

During the Mr and Mrs Gatsobait slob round Oz tour I don't recall seeing any cyclists on the motorways there. They may be allowed, but I think that the Aussies aren't daft enough to actually want to.

A Stag is probably be a far better choice for Australian motorways than a bicylce. Ideal for impromptu road side barbies when the engine catches fire . [Badly done Aussie accent]"Chuck another prawn on the rocker box mate".[/accent]

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Cyclists are most definitely NOT allowed on Motorways / Tollways in Victoria. I have NEVER seen a cyclist on a Motorway other than once each year when a cycling group deliberately block one section of the Motorway by riding across all 3 lanes as a protest (not sure what about because I simply look at them as a bunch of morons).

I am not sure if they are allowed on the main interstate Motorways, such as the Hume Highway, but I cannot recall ever seeing any on that road either, and I cannot image anything more dangerous than being passed by a truck doing 60mph while riding a cycle on the hard shoulder.

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Ross

Yes I'm a hoon, but only on the track!!!!

It was in the SUN, which people read in order to be MIS-informed. I grew up quite near Merseyside, which is a no-sun-zone - I wish there were more of them!

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It’s just a story in the Sun on a slow news day. They know it will appeal to Mondeo man. What about standard 60 mph roads? Or on a busy 70 mph road? Without a hard shoulder? Should more roads should have dedicated bike tracks alongside?



It's dangerous in town.



Pot holes in a town or country lane are bad as well. You can get inner tubes on e-bay for 99p. A bit of cycling is not as bad as living near busy roads for your whole life, like some people have to. It's better now that lead is banned, but Associated Octel, near Chester, still produces lead additive for export to non-European countries!



You sound like you have calves like cannon balls.

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Cyclists are allowed on many British 70-limit dual carriageways such as parts of the A34, A19 and A38, which have grade-separated junctions but no hard shoulders. This doesn't seem very safe to me.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I've stopped about 6 cyclists on the hard shoulder so far.

One was locked up for stealing said bike from a service station.
One was sat on hard shoulder with a flat. He was eventually locked up Sec136 mental health act.
Two were american nationals (12 and 14 years old ) on holiday in the local area.
One was a brummie who was cycling round Britain on a one man charity cycle (he was very odd ) and had got lost. We sat behind him for the two miles to the next services.
One had just started working at the local services and found it easier to cycle home in the dark along the hard shoulder, rather than use the back road without lights . He got a ticket. .

Oh! another who had dropped a bike from his car while driving in tandem with another vehicle back from Center Parcs. The first driver didn't realise what had happened and was about 4 miles down the road before he was phoned by the second car driver who had stopped to collect the bike. The rear seat passenger from the second vehicle rode the bike on the hard shoulder towards the first car before we stopped them at the motorway junction. We made the first car come back to the junction rather than allow the cyclist to continue. He got a ticking off, but no ticket.

It's right that the law should prohibit cycling on our motorway network. I believe these roads are the safest in Europe because of the restrictions placed on vehicle types, especially slow moving vehicles. These roads are kept safe because most vehicles using them are driving at equable speeds, and have all passed a driving test.

I agree with Neil also that no self respecting cyclist should use such a road. It's far too flat! Get a big hill in front of you and put it behind you. Vicarage drive in Kendal may not be Alpe D'Huez, but it gets climbed every day!

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Fixed ideas are like cramp, for instance in the foot, yet the best remedy is to step on them.

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Nor me - how can slower road users (pedestrians, horses, bikes, electric commuter cars etc. ) on such roads be made safe from drivers of heavier, potentially faster vehicles? Should drivers be warned, or slowed down, or calmed or whatever or should a special cycle lane be created? Should less traffic (of one kind or another) be stopped from using certain routes?

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Arguably many of the roads in question should have been designated as motorways and alternative arrangements made for non motorway traffic. The A55 in your neck of the woods is another example.

Providing a separate cycle lane is hardly likely to be cost-effective as usage will be so low, and most cyclists are likely to choose a different, more scenic route.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

So you saying that Britains roads are dangerous and in poor condition. As far as a cyclist goes, you are probably right, I have to travel allong a couple of busy roads untill I can get in the sticks, and I HATE IT. As for the state of our country roads, I do keep an eye out for potholes and such, as my road bike is not overly fond of bumps, and costs a lot of money if I damage it. On the whole though, I do prefer the country roads near to me, as they tend to be much safer.
I agree that we should have more dedicated cycle lanes on main roads, but you only tend to see them in towns. I don't use those myself, due to dodo pedestrian syndrome (no fun ploughing into a person doing 25mph )
As for my calves, well what can I say. I live in the South Wales Valleys, only 8 Miles from the Brecon Beacons, when I cycle, I like to cycle upwards

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'Detritus, get yer stoney arse over ere'

Don't get me going about the A55 - millsee with come back! The 55 at Northop was a standard 2 lane highway with a footpath until 20 years ago. Then they dualled it, and made it into fake motorway on the cheap. Then they closed the gaps to stop local people crossing it, then they closed the local roads that connected to it. Now you can't get from FFlint to Halkyn (which had close conections with the town) on foot, bike , nor a horse nor anything else but a car, and you need a 5 mile detour, and you are compelled to use the new road. We've been incrementally screwed by the road planners hemming everybody in and making people buy cars, while running down busses and trains. On the other hand, it added 1000s to the house prices, as people from Lancashire move here (they think they've died and gone to heaven!)



Indeed, but now they have screwed us, the least they should do is sort it out with a cycle path and/or bridge over the road so that people can walk thier dogs on the moors and get to familiar villages. It's doesn't get more scenic than Halkyn - you can see Blackpool Tower 60 miles away from the top!

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Blasphemy! Wash your mouth out!

I went into debt for that Stag when I was 22! Halfway through med school! (She went one better than her eldest cousin and bought the fastest motorbike she could find when she was at Uni - banks still owned these vehicles long after we both graduated! )

I kept the Stag (first edition) as I pulled Wildy in it! I am not saying what happened when I took her for a romantic drive up St Abb's Head and it refused to start after we watched the sunset.....




We managed to keep each other warm anyway!


Car still gives us some nostalgic hot drives! (Emphasis on "hot" as the damned thing still throws an overheated strop!

The nice repsonsible family car is the Jag and the real fun cars - the his 'n' hers Moggies!

_________________
If you want to get to heaven - you have to raise a little hell!

Smilies are contagious
They are just like the flu
We use our smilies on YOU today
Now Good Causes are smiling too!

KEEP SMILING
It makes folk wonder just what you REALLY got up to last night!

Smily to penny.. penny to pound
safespeed prospers-smiles all round! !
But the real message? SMILE.. GO ON ! DO IT! and the world will smile with you!
Enjoy life! You only have the one bite at it.

Appeared on Sky News as well!

Besides - I quite like the StUN for a larf! We get most of our BiB bash stories to annoy I-G from such papers!



No - not that dangerous if you ensure you can be seen and "take control of the traffic around you!" I average about 1500 cycling miles in UK - more if you count my holidays on continent!

People tell me I look good in lycra!



It does tone muscles - one has to admit it!

_________________
If you want to get to heaven - you have to raise a little hell!

Smilies are contagious
They are just like the flu
We use our smilies on YOU today
Now Good Causes are smiling too!

KEEP SMILING
It makes folk wonder just what you REALLY got up to last night!

Smily to penny.. penny to pound
safespeed prospers-smiles all round! !
But the real message? SMILE.. GO ON ! DO IT! and the world will smile with you!
Enjoy life! You only have the one bite at it.