Changes to the Highway Code

I would like to see a law that states every bike should have a bell and only sell bikes with a bell.

No law about helmets is a surprise. Also nothing about those dreaded electric scooters which slalom round me at the rate of knots with no warning. Wheeeeeee.

Whose going to police no bikes on pavements, another of my pet hates?

GrandmaKT

Lincslass did you see my comment re cycle lanes further up-thread? They aren't suitable for all types of cyclists. In addition to putting other cyclists and pedestrians at risk, speed cyclists will not use them as you often have to stop as the cycle lane crosses every side road. If you're a serious cyclist in training or commuting a long distance to work, they often aren't suitable.

Yes I did. Still allowed my comment though. I have seen wide cycling /pedestrian lanes empty, we have such one in my area, yet cyclists persist in using the narrow road, oh yes they might have to stop at a junction on the path, oh dear, cuts down their speed.

I always have stopped when turning into a minor road and someone is crossing. That’s not new grumppa. What is new is that you have to stop even if they just look as if they might want to cross.

Cyclists will be allowed on pavements if the traffic is extremely heavy.

If I am driving along a road, especially a major road, and the driver in front signals a left turn, especially into a minor one, I don't expect him to stop before turning.

I look forward to cyclists keeping off the pavements, and to pigs flying.

Can we stop this nonsense about cyclists paying road tax. First of all no one pays road tax because there is no such thing. You pay excise duty based on emissions, as cyclists don't create emissions they pay nothing, just like many cars.

Lincslass did you see my comment re cycle lanes further up-thread? They aren't suitable for all types of cyclists. In addition to putting other cyclists and pedestrians at risk, speed cyclists will not use them as you often have to stop as the cycle lane crosses every side road. If you're a serious cyclist in training or commuting a long distance to work, they often aren't suitable.

Our local area is spending thousands on new cycle lanes. Apparently now, even if no blocking, which there shouldn’t be, cyclists are not obliged to use them. As is evidenced anyway. So why waste money, it’s ridiculous.

Some cyclists are already arrogant on the road and this will make them worse.

I think what is often regarded as cyclist arrogance is actually them cycling in a way that keeps them safe from too close overtaking and suchlike. Exactly what the new highway code is saying they should be doing.

Going through red lights and such is already against the law and is arrogant but just using the lane width (being well out from the kerb or cycling two abreast or in a clump) is not. That is cycling safely because vehicles that might kill you if the hit you simply have to take notice and treat you like an equal road user.

That is what the new rules are about.

It’s called the Dutch Reach by the way.

I’m concerned that I will be fined for opening my door with the wrong hand!
I’ll have to put a post it on the steering wheel, use left hand to open door, not right hand…..

Grants now, just how will it work having bikes registered and insured? Many cyclists, myself, Mr B and my son, are already insured through either club membership or affiliation to some cycling body. How will it work for families who only go out at weekends with their children and children cycling to school. It will also be illegal for children to cycle on the pavement, so I think a change of attitude is needed by many drivers and slower speed limits. I agree their are cyclists with attitude but there are also drivers of the same mindset and calling people Lycra louts is not helpful. Lycra is worn for a reason by many cyclists and is not a just a fashion statement. Cycling is here to stay and is far healthier than cars so you are just going to have to get use to it.

The bit about pedestrians having the right of way even if they are crossing after a left turn is a very bad accident waiting to happen. I wonder if jumping the red light will continue.

I think I have got the message which is to take my car off the road and I say, provide good and timely public transport at a reasonable price and I will be pleased to use it.

Where I used to live closer to London, and I'm not sure this is a thing nationwide, designated boxes for cyclists were implemented a while back right in front of the traffic lights in order for them to take off first. However, when there was a long line of cars as there sometimes is, the car caught as the lights change would often unintentionally have to stop in the box. It wasn't unusual for the "enraged" cyclist of a certain persuasion to come alongside that car and remonstrate with them for having the audacity to stop there often with a thump on the bonnet. I know of one motorist who wound down the window to try and explain that only to be covered in spittle from the cyclist, oh yes some of them are lovely people I know there will be the thrusting equivalent behind the wheel, just as I know that there are two breeds of cyclists, the perfectly normal ones who are nothing like that and those who are pulsating with an overload of testosterone and think the road belongs solely to them.

I think cyclists should be registered, display a number and pay road tax. In London cyclists are often aggressive delivery people and I've been sworn at several times when crossing the road on a pedestrian crossing.

Our road has a staggered, 4 way junction with the village High Street and locals are pretty careful when doing a left turn but, if we stop to let people cross, we end up stopping half on the Zebra crossing that is also at the junction. I'm fairly sure that stopping on a crossing is against the law.

Trouble with many cycle lanes is that cars parked on them so if you are using one you have to pull out into traffic which is dangerous for the cyclist. I welcome the change

Sago

Dash cam on order!

We have just ordered one for our new car!

I can see an accident waiting to happen ?
The first time we took the motohome to Portugal we thought they were the pedestrian equivalent of Kamikaze pilots when using zebra crossings. They don’t stop and wait for you to stop, no, just walk straight out.
I don’t think our highways department have thought this through ?

If pedestrians can leap lemming like in front of cars at junctions an abrupt stop on the part of the driver could cause the car behind to hit the one stopping up the backside. I was hit by the car behind when I stopped for pedestrians on an actual pedestrian crossing which we are obliged to do anyway. Many of these crossings sited as the driver is accelerating coming off a roundabout.

The aggressive often male clad lycra cyclist are going to have a field day with these new changes many act with impunity anyway and who pays the road tax, not them

I only heard about the changes listening to LBC. I also think important changes should be well advertised across all broadcasting platforms. It seem so easy to fall foul of regulations these days. Public safety should come at the top of the list.

BTW with regards to ‘smart’ motorways. IMO all of them should revert to having a hard shoulder. It’s dangerous enough driving as it is without the added dangers that these motorways bring. It makes me anxious about driving on them, let alone if the car goes wrong.

I don't really see much difference to be honest. I don't think pedestrians are going to leap lemming-like in front of cars at junctions just because the highway code says cars should give way. Just as I don't think there are motorists currently who would run over a pedestrians at a junction because the car has right of way. It's just common sense.

Regarding cycle lanes, I do a lot of cycling and do always use them. They are often shared use with pedestrians. This is fine, as the groups I belong to don't go faster than 12mph. However, a 'serious' cyclist doing 30mph plus is more suited to the road.

Some of the changes might be sensible for safety, but the changes themselves have not been well advertised, so many people won't know.

Some cyclists are already arrogant on the road and this will make them worse.

The main complaint that I have, though, is that cyclists will not be obliged to use a designated cycle path even if there is one adjacent. Using them is so much safer for everyone.

I'm not against cycling, only against thoughtless cyclists.

The change I notices and thought was good was that cyclists were not allowed to cycle on the pavements. Is the Highway Code law, can people be charged if they cycle in the pavement?