Comments on: Beak wants bike ban on many A-roads

By: Ian Brett Cooper

Ian Brett Cooper — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 01:01:00 +0000

We should not ‘prevent’ use of the road at all – ever, even if there is
an ‘equivalent cycle path in terms of distance and time. These are,
after all, not the only criteria for safe and useful cycling. The road
has to be wide enough and clear of debris – something that is rarely (if
ever) the case. Bicycles are designed to operate on wide roads –
optimal lane width for a bicycle is much more than the four feet that
many bike lanes afford. Bikes are not built to operate in such a narrow
lane. Our road system was designed for bicycle traffic, and the road
width that developed was a function of that.

The use of narrow bike paths should always be a choice, not a requirement. Is it anyone else’s business where we choose to ride? Hopefully not.

The Dutch have a
rather patronizing and restrictive view of cyclists’ rights. In the UK,
hopefully we still believe in the importance of free and unlimited
access to public roads. It’s part of what sets the UK apart from nations
that regard individual rights with less respect.

I realize it’s
en vogue these days to support more and more restrictions on freedom,
but hopefully most cyclists still believe that an individual, and not
the government, should decide how and where he should travel. The UK is,
after all, not a Stalinist country where travel is strictly controlled.

The
right to use roads applies especially when so many studies show that
cycle paths and bike lanes have a higher accident rate than the road. It
would be a sad day indeed if Britain’s roads were off-limits to
cyclists and they were required to use more hazardous facilities
instead.

By: 3rdWorldCyclinginGB

3rdWorldCyclinginGB — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 16:39:00 +0000

Has the judge no experence of the terrible consequences of RTCs between motor vehicles and motor vehicles? There are loads and loads of them every year and they are devastating. As a matter of logic and realism, the government should ban everything from all roads.

By: Ian Brett Cooper

Ian Brett Cooper — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:29:00 +0000

When people are mugged, does the judge think the answer is to make it illegal for people to carry wallets?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:44:00 +0000

Part of the statements are true.. too narrow or too fast. May be we should also ban people from walking on paths or crossing the road.

By: Janet Mozelewski

Janet Mozelewski — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:14:00 +0000

There seems to be a clique of worthies in Staffordshire who are voicing this opinion…Uttoxeter, Burton etc.
I live in the area and by far the most dangerous roads to cycle (and for that matter drive) are the smaller A roads in more rural stretches. Lots of twists and turns and deeply hedged and banked at the side offering little visibility and no-where to go.
Of course this is merely an extension of what we see in society in general. A move from legislature which is applied to the perpetrator….and towards legislature placing the onus on the victim. After all when you report a crime these days the policeman attending is liable to be much more annoyed with you for adding another statistic to the unsolved pile and causing him paperwork. One way or another you will be deemed partially to blame.
Same here. Its easier and more ‘final’ to ban cyclists than it is to educate and police poor driving. Just as its easier to get old ladies to lock themselves in their homes under self-imposed curfew than it is to lock up and curfew the yobs who terrorise them.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:36:00 +0000

Isn’t there a Dutch rule – you can only prevent use of a road by cyclists if you provide an alternative that is, within a small percentage, equivalent in terms of both distance and (as importantly) time. The time requirement being the critical one if you want to provide cycle paths that are practical and sensible

By: bazdunk

bazdunk — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:08:00 +0000

Never mind speeds of 60 mph, if a car hits you at 30 mph from the rear it still going to do you damage, we will just ride on the pavements shall we?

By: Guy Swarbrick

Guy Swarbrick — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 10:27:00 +0000

And, in some cases, both statements are true. The answer, however, isn’t to ban bikes from badly designed roads…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:25:00 +0000

This is the situation or viewpoint of too many people in the UK. They say we have roads which are too narrow to allow cycling and we have roads which are too wide and fast to allow cycling.

By: carltonreid

carltonreid — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:22:00 +0000

I don’t disagree.