Dawlish Discussion

It is extremely frustrating to see an empty cycle path and then be held up on the road by cyclists. But it isn’t actually compulsory for them to use it, it is just advisory.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82

Also, riding 2 abreast is perfectly legal and also recommended by some as a safer way to ride. Having said that, on busy roads or on bends they are supposed to reduce to single file. Young cyclists on the courses they run in Devon, what used to be the Cycling Proficiency Test back in my youth, are actually now taught to ride in the centre of the lane to avoid drain covers, car doors opening and mostly to make them more visible. Car drivers should overtake as they would any other slower vehicle - when it is safe to do so, by giving plenty of room and without causing any danger to the cyclist they are overtaking.  I’m the first to admit to the dread of seeing a line of cyclists ahead of me on the road, but with a bit of patience and care they rarely hold you up for more than a few minutes.

I do agree that I wish more would use the cycle lanes built at such expense but they probably view them as more suitable to family groups or slower cyclists. 

DJ, but he was held up for ”nearly 5 minutes”! Yes, 5 minutes!

Almost as long as it took him to write his ill thought out rant. Hopefully he’s recovered from the emotional trauma he clearly suffered at losing 300 seconds of his life and that he’s back taking photos again soon. I wonder if he has a dashcam video of his horrific experience yesterday...?

And they’re all far more interesting than either of yours... x

Can one of these cyclists please explain to me what is the problem about them using the cycle path (which, of course, was specially constructed at a cost of £1,000,000 from council tax receipts for them to use).

I'd say that the reason the lycra cyclists don't use the cycle paths is because the cycle paths were built for the more leisurely type of cyclists eg kids and families.

And as a lot of the cycle paths are also pathways the last thing pedestrians want are fast pedalling athletes sharing their space.

I will never wear Lycra because I do not want to make members of the public or, more importantly, my good lady wife vomit. However when I do venture out on my boneshaker, I tend to avoid cycle lanes that are shared with pedestrians. This is mainly because pedestrians have no obligation to indicate their intention of moving suddenly left or right, so I find it is safer for me to use the road. If, for whatever reason, I find cars moving slowly behind me not wanting to overtake, I will pull into the side and wave them on.

Whats five minutes, nottalot in 24hrs. I can wait that long in the coop to get through the check out, and there are no cyclists in there.

The law includes pedestrians and cyclists as traffic as well as vehicles, but it does not say that a vehicle has any more right to a space on a road than anyone else, unless there is a traffic order.

Dunno about dat, try another guess.

for once/twice, i totally agree with @majorp. 

i’ve reported @Pete’s hateful comments to @webmaster. 

Lol *** ***

***

Lot of universal language showing its head. I can take name calling and bad language all day long - it doesn't hurt me.

Of course I can't speak for others as to how they feel about it.

Just go away will you......................................................................................

Why do you have to use that word ? Might be children on here .

And I bet children can give as good if not better. I am not surprised at anything these days.

Still should not be on here . Keep to the subject please.

I'm not sure what has happened to @Pete 's account, but I've censored the language and suspended the account.

thank you @webmaster. 

Met a pack of cyclists as I was coming out of Kenton towards Dawlish, Their average speed was 20mph and I followed at that speed until they turned off at New Road,  Starcross.

Took less than four minutes, maybe a little bit longer than if they were not there.

People get agitated at traffic lights and the longest I have found waitig (unless they fail) is 1min30secs.

People are so impatient these days.

In my youth you walked to the shops, but it seems these days it is too much trouble.

My job every Saturday morning as a kid was to walk into Keswick to get 4ozs of yeast for my mam it was 7.2 miles the same distance i walked every day to School 14.4 miles per day i often wondered why i couldn't get it on a Friday night on my way home probably the old saying idle hands are the devils workshop.