How Dangerous/Dodgy Is Road Biking?
Discussion
Mrs Nobby likes to keep fit.
Good job too!!!
Now, she's been doing a bit of road biking over the last 18 months.
Mostly on weekends, when there are lots of cyclists out on the road.
This morning, she decided to go for a ride. Left the house at about 6 AM.
So the roads are fairly quiet, but she had to use a NSL main road to get home.
She got whacked by some fella in a Transit; his NS door mirror hitting her hip. That sounds like a mighty close shave to me.
No injuries, apart from a bruise. He stopped and made the right noises, but no explanation of why he hit her.
Is this a normal event? I think she would be far better off, cycling in a small group of 2 or 3 riders. More visible.
Appreciate constructive thoughts and advice.
Good job too!!!
Now, she's been doing a bit of road biking over the last 18 months.
Mostly on weekends, when there are lots of cyclists out on the road.
This morning, she decided to go for a ride. Left the house at about 6 AM.
So the roads are fairly quiet, but she had to use a NSL main road to get home.
She got whacked by some fella in a Transit; his NS door mirror hitting her hip. That sounds like a mighty close shave to me.
No injuries, apart from a bruise. He stopped and made the right noises, but no explanation of why he hit her.
Is this a normal event? I think she would be far better off, cycling in a small group of 2 or 3 riders. More visible.
Appreciate constructive thoughts and advice.
At the risk of sounding blasé about it, I think it is one of those things - in the same way incidents happen in cars because one car is negligent/careless.
I have been cycling for 3-4 years now, and never had a run in with another road user *touches wood*. I appreciate this is partly luck, but also partly a function of being daubed in bright colours and having lights on etc.
Its a case of doing all you can to be seen and looking after yourself
I have been cycling for 3-4 years now, and never had a run in with another road user *touches wood*. I appreciate this is partly luck, but also partly a function of being daubed in bright colours and having lights on etc.
Its a case of doing all you can to be seen and looking after yourself
Well that sounds pretty bloody horrible for your Mrs. And I suspect she should report it to the Police! more for the fact she;s made a record so if idiot boy does it again, they can show repeat offending. (Probably do nothing but better to spend the time)
AS for danger. "Generally" the rush hour morning is worst, but my advice would be to try and choose roads where they are
a) wide enough for cars to pass you without having to think about it. People are lazy by and large so a lot (not all) don't want to have to slow down or move across and these are the inbreds that reckon you are costing them hours of their valuable time and are likely to do something stupid rather than wait 5 seconds.
and
b) Not going significantly faster than yourself.
Clearly this is not equal rights for cyclists, but as ever better to be safe and enjoying it.
AS for danger. "Generally" the rush hour morning is worst, but my advice would be to try and choose roads where they are
a) wide enough for cars to pass you without having to think about it. People are lazy by and large so a lot (not all) don't want to have to slow down or move across and these are the inbreds that reckon you are costing them hours of their valuable time and are likely to do something stupid rather than wait 5 seconds.
and
b) Not going significantly faster than yourself.
Clearly this is not equal rights for cyclists, but as ever better to be safe and enjoying it.
I'd suggest you ask a mod to move this to the Pedal Powered section. You'll get a more complete response!
Personally, I think whilst there will always be pillocks on the road - both on bikes and in other vehicles - you can do a lot to avoid being affected by their idiocy if you're observant and prepared to anticipate the actions of others.
Personally, I think whilst there will always be pillocks on the road - both on bikes and in other vehicles - you can do a lot to avoid being affected by their idiocy if you're observant and prepared to anticipate the actions of others.
Roads are paid for to get people from A to B in cars and vans and lorries to make £. If you want to go cycling on them among all those NCAP rated cars or 7.5 tonne lorries then you have to take the rough with the smooth I'm afraid.
The whole infrastructure of our roads is not created for, or paid for, so people can do their hobby on two wheels.
The whole infrastructure of our roads is not created for, or paid for, so people can do their hobby on two wheels.
Edited by Gandahar on Saturday 5th July 16:57
Gandahar said:
Roads are paid for to get people from A to B in cars and vans and lorries to make £ if you want to go cycling on them among all those NCAP rated cars or 7.5 tonne lorries then you have to take the rough with the smooth I'm afraid.
It didn't take long for someone to come along with the trolling b
ks, did it!Gandahar said:
Roads are paid for to get people from A to B in cars and vans and lorries to make £. If you want to go cycling on them among all those NCAP rated cars or 7.5 tonne lorries then you have to take the rough with the smooth I'm afraid.
The whole infrastructure of our roads is not created for, or paid for, so people can do their hobby on two wheels.
That really makes you look like a complete tThe whole infrastructure of our roads is not created for, or paid for, so people can do their hobby on two wheels.
Edited by Gandahar on Saturday 5th July 16:57
t. Gandahar said:
Roads are paid for to get people from A to B in cars and vans and lorries to make £. If you want to go cycling on them among all those NCAP rated cars or 7.5 tonne lorries then you have to take the rough with the smooth I'm afraid.
The whole infrastructure of our roads is not created for, or paid for, so people can do their hobby on two wheels.
Strange, because I'm pretty sure I still get paid when I have the audacity to commute by bike on these roads.The whole infrastructure of our roads is not created for, or paid for, so people can do their hobby on two wheels.
Gandahar said:
Roads are paid for to get people from A to B in cars and vans and lorries to make £. If you want to go cycling on them among all those NCAP rated cars or 7.5 tonne lorries then you have to take the rough with the smooth I'm afraid.
The whole infrastructure of our roads is not created for, or paid for, so people can do their hobby on two wheels.
only two possible places to send this muppet The whole infrastructure of our roads is not created for, or paid for, so people can do their hobby on two wheels.
Edited by Gandahar on Saturday 5th July 16:57
1. back under his bridge
2. the clue shop
at least he didn't talk about VED as 'road tax' and suggest it is hypotheticated
Back on topic - does she understand primary and secondary positioning? Where I feel it unsafe for a car to overtake me I'll take a primary position, so they can't. I don't feel unsafe cycling as I'm pro-active with regard to my own safety, however, I'm not sure I'd feel the same if I just cycled everywhere in the gutter. Sounds like the van driver may have tried an overtake where one was not available. The reverse of course being that where I am holding up a car for a distance, I'll try my best to let them get past me.
IMO, it's all about increasing your odds. You're never going to be 100% safe no matter what you do but you can mitigate the risks somewhat.
For me this means picking my roads carefully, perhaps drive them first to see what they're like. You shouldn't have to as in an ideal world you'd get respect, time and space no matter where you rode but this is the U.K. where a sizeable percentage have barely evolved past the chimp stage.
I'll happily ride on busy roads but stick to 30/40 mph limits which are wide enough to allow cars to pass without having to ride in the gutter or take up the whole lane. I'm happy taking a primary position round blind corners, parked cars and pinch points but not for extended periods of time.
I'll happily ride rural NSL roads but only if they're quiet enough to allow me to take a lane for the majority of the time. Drivers can see me from way back and have no excuse to squeeze past as there's generally very little coming the other way.
I never ride on fast and busy trunk roads however I have no need to as there's nearly always an alternative and there's much nicer roads to ride on where I live.
Basically I try and limit the time that drivers spend waiting for me. A lot of riders will disagree and that's fine, I'd never try and dictate how people should ride just stating what (so far) works for me. I've done over 10000 miles over the last 2 years, about half of which was commuting on a variety of roads and never had a close call.
There's no excuse for your missus getting clipped by a mirror and the van driver should have his license removed.
For me this means picking my roads carefully, perhaps drive them first to see what they're like. You shouldn't have to as in an ideal world you'd get respect, time and space no matter where you rode but this is the U.K. where a sizeable percentage have barely evolved past the chimp stage.
I'll happily ride on busy roads but stick to 30/40 mph limits which are wide enough to allow cars to pass without having to ride in the gutter or take up the whole lane. I'm happy taking a primary position round blind corners, parked cars and pinch points but not for extended periods of time.
I'll happily ride rural NSL roads but only if they're quiet enough to allow me to take a lane for the majority of the time. Drivers can see me from way back and have no excuse to squeeze past as there's generally very little coming the other way.
I never ride on fast and busy trunk roads however I have no need to as there's nearly always an alternative and there's much nicer roads to ride on where I live.
Basically I try and limit the time that drivers spend waiting for me. A lot of riders will disagree and that's fine, I'd never try and dictate how people should ride just stating what (so far) works for me. I've done over 10000 miles over the last 2 years, about half of which was commuting on a variety of roads and never had a close call.
There's no excuse for your missus getting clipped by a mirror and the van driver should have his license removed.
Agree with the comments about increasing your odds and being sensible to minimise vulnerability.
While there are plonkers in control of every class of vehicle it never ceases to amaze me how people put themselves in the most life threatening situations seemingly oblivious that they are trusting complete strangers.
Regularly used to see an old geezer cycling up the A38 on his way home from work every night on a tricycle. Ok on light evenings but on dark winter nights with a glow worm for a rear light.
While there are plonkers in control of every class of vehicle it never ceases to amaze me how people put themselves in the most life threatening situations seemingly oblivious that they are trusting complete strangers.
Regularly used to see an old geezer cycling up the A38 on his way home from work every night on a tricycle. Ok on light evenings but on dark winter nights with a glow worm for a rear light.
I did five years and about 25,000 miles of rush hour commuting by bike. Filtering through urban jams, mixing it with lorries on NSL A-roads and rural twisties, the lot. In the dark and all weather since I had no car for most of it.
In that time I had one actual 'other vehicle' accident when I tried to negotiate a poor visibility mini roundabout at 20mph and someone pulled out. I rode away fine.
I also once called 999 when I got into an argument with a driver who then followed me about for an hour. Something about cycle lanes and road tax, actually.
There were a few near misses and a bit of aggro from time to time but I didn't and don't consider it dangerous. IME you are mostly able to heavily influence your own safety through constantly developing better riding, even when other people's behaviour isn't up to much. Whether you should have to go to such lengths is another question.
So, possibly somewhere like London excluded, I think it can be very safe. If you work to make it that way.
In that time I had one actual 'other vehicle' accident when I tried to negotiate a poor visibility mini roundabout at 20mph and someone pulled out. I rode away fine.
I also once called 999 when I got into an argument with a driver who then followed me about for an hour. Something about cycle lanes and road tax, actually.
There were a few near misses and a bit of aggro from time to time but I didn't and don't consider it dangerous. IME you are mostly able to heavily influence your own safety through constantly developing better riding, even when other people's behaviour isn't up to much. Whether you should have to go to such lengths is another question.
So, possibly somewhere like London excluded, I think it can be very safe. If you work to make it that way.
Been cycling for a few years, even when commuting 20 miles to Cambridge on a busy A road, the only memorable 'incidents' I recall was when I realised my front tyre had a slight buckle in it when I braked on a downhill towards a red light, and when my camelbak froze up early one March.
I don't commute any more, so just do weekend cycle rides with the local club, and the occasional time trial or sportive. Still never had any close calls, at least not close enough to bother me.
I don't commute any more, so just do weekend cycle rides with the local club, and the occasional time trial or sportive. Still never had any close calls, at least not close enough to bother me.
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