You're safer not wearing a cycle helmet, according to research...

[emmelinemay]

Bicyclists who wear protective helmets are more likely to be struck by passing vehicles, new research suggests.

and what i think is the crux of the matter...
Most adult cyclists know what it is like to drive a car, but relatively few motorists ride bicycles in traffic, and so don’t know the issues cyclists face.

There should definitely be more information on the needs of other road users when people learn to drive, and practical experience would be even better.

and this made me laugh -

To test another theory, Dr Walker donned a long wig to see whether there was any difference in passing distance when drivers thought they were overtaking what appeared to be a female cyclist.

Whilst wearing the wig, drivers gave him an average of 14 centimetres (5.5 inches) more space when passing.

Comments

[miss-glitch.livejournal.com]

There should definitely be more information on the needs of other road users when people learn to drive, and practical experience would be even better.

I think that's true, but I also think there should be more emphasis placed on teaching cyclists that about the dangers of skipping red lights without checking to see if there are any pedestrians coming, and about riding between buses at bus stops and the kerb, etc. I have more near misses with cyclists than I've ever done with cars.

Saying that, pedestrians who run across busy roads (I have to admit, I do that) are just as bad!

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

the dangers of skipping red lights without checking to see if there are any pedestrians coming

This is a massive issue in cycling-geek-world. There's whole debates about it! The legal line is, we are traffic, and so should stop at red lights. But if we're traffic, we should have more rights on the road than we currently do have. I try to stop at red lights, as i feel like i ought to...i know i don't always though, if there's no one there. Which is naughty.

I possibly hate crap pedestrians more than cars. I have nearly hit people SO MANY TIMES who just don't look when they cross the road. They just walk straight out!! I've noticed that whee people are crossing a side road, they NEVER look behind and to the left, EVER, so if you ar a cyclist and turning into the side street, they walk RIGHT out in front of you. Arrrgh!

I nearly hit a woman last week who wsa walking her kid to school, along a road where the cars go pretty fast, and there's a zebra crossing 10 feet away. Suddenly, she swung out into the road with child, not looking to the right until i yelled out 'careful'. She got a proper shock, and yelled 'sorry' - but sorry isn't the point, is it? If i'd been a car, i would have hit her, as there was no time to stop, only swerve.

[liz-lowlife.livejournal.com]

Haha! I was typing the same thing at the same time!

[miss-glitch.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean - I try to make an effort to look out for cyclists as I know it must be really difficult/scary trying to navigate so much traffic! I don't have an issue with cyclists skipping red lights as long as there are no pedestrians, but speeding past pedestrian crossings without slowing down/taking any notice of people trying to cross is definitely wrong.

Similarly, pedestrians who ignore zebra crossings (especially ones with children!) have no right to complain. They don't seem to realise that if they get hit and end up dead, the driver/cyclist who hits them has to live with it for the rest of their life even if it wasn't their fault.

It would maybe be good if there were another light to give cyclists a head start (or just the amber light, I suppose) at crossings before the traffic is allowed to catch up with them, to stop them running red lights in order not to get hit by traffic.

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

i like the idea of a cyclist light! I fear turning left at major crossings. it's fucking terrifying. and yet strangely fun. but that may just be me.

[mr-bizarre.livejournal.com]

I've just taken up cycling, I do still ride my motorbike to work everyday as I wouldn't want to take on rush hour traffic with no means of acceleration. I know what you mean about jumping lights, it can be so frustrating having to stop and start all the time and if there is space....And seeing as cyclists don't pay any road tax (they still take up space) then why should they stop at the lights if it's safe to continue. It never bothers me when I'm on the motorbike and cyclists ride straight through.

One of my biggest peeves on the road is pedestrians walking across the road without looking, scary on a cycle, much worse on a motorbike as they're not insured! In 9 years of riding motorbikes I've hit 2 pedestrians, one of them needed a hospital visit, both times I was fine and both times there were witnesses that saw said 'walkers' make like lemmings. I've even had mothers push a pram out before themselves, possibly to 'test the water', utter insanity!!!

[liz-lowlife.livejournal.com]

As a hardened cyclist, who generally obeys the rules, I have noticed that peds often step out infront of me, because they simply aren't looking! It's actually quite hard to do an emergency stop when cycling without throwing yourself over the handlebars! Even when I indicate I am turning left, people step out infront of me into the side road, which they would never do if I were driving a car.

I think EVERYONE, from drivers to pedestrians should make more of an effort to learn the Highway code!


LOL! And don't get me started on peds who wander into the cycle lanes!

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

peds who wander into the cycle lanes and then yell at you for being there yourself...

[miss-soap.livejournal.com]

When I get my bike I'm going to spend one Sunday riding up and down the cycle lane on Birdcage Walk; it's ALWAYS full of tourists. We could play tourist skittles!

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

sign me up for that!

[miss-soap.livejournal.com]

s/aren't looking/can't see.

Bikes can be hidden by other vehicles and you just don't see them when you check. Obviously the answer to this is to check harder, but cyclists can't always assume that it's just total ignorance on the part of the pedestrian.

I've been struck twice by cyclists when crossing on a green man at traffic lights. Both times the cyclist clearly had no intention of stopping at the red lights and both times I got a mouthful of abuse for the incident.

There are assholes on all sides of the argument [as with everything] but cyclists are in a weaker position as regards the rules of the road and therefore need to appear squeaky clean.

[miss-glitch.livejournal.com]

And don't get me started on peds who wander into the cycle lanes!

Okay yes, that is a pretty stupid thing to do!

Same applies to cyclists on the pavement, though...

[juliet]

In terms of the Highway Code - if you're turning L (or indeed R) into a side-street then the crossing pedestrian does have right of way over traffic of both bike & car variety :-)

(I am a long-term cyclist, in London, & stop at red lights etc etc.)

I do like Advanced Stop Lines; and bus lanes. Allowing bikes to turn L on red (much as cars can in I think France) might be an interesting idea.

One of the problems with cycle lanes IMO is that they encourage bikes into the gutter where they're both less likely to get seen by cars, & more likely to have issues with pedestrians. And also more likely to pick up Sharp Objects in tyres...

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

they've got right of way if they are already crossing, but not if the vehicle is already turning...

[juliet]

Hmm, I guess maybe I interpret that more generously on the pedestrian-rights side then :) I can't think of many occasions where I've found it a problem, so possibly I'm giving way where I needn't!

Now, people just randomly walking sideways into the gutter (Westminster Bridge I am thinking of in particular here) - *that* I see a lot of. Grr. At least they've widened the bike lane there now so it is actually wide enough to fit a bike in...

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

interesting news article - Women cyclists ‘risk death’ by obeying traffic lights...

[miss-glitch.livejournal.com]

I think someone posted that a little while back - that's why I think there should be another light to let cyclists get a head start, whilst also ensuring pedestrians can cross safely without having to worry about rogue cyclists seemingly coming out of nowhere :)

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

big lorries = not my friends.

[juliet]

In theory that's what Advanced Stop Lines are for! When they get observed by cars, anyway :-/ (actually drivers do seem to be getting better at this, at least in London).

The women/lorries thing is a v dodgy interpretation of the data, btw - http://baconbutty.blogspot.com/2007/04/women-cycle-and-live.html has some discussion & some links. Although lorries turning left is a major issue for cyclists - the straightforward solution is a) don't go up the inside of long vehicles & b) don't stop alongside LVs (stop behind or ahead). Retro-fitting decent mirrors to all LVs would help as well...

[mattydesade.livejournal.com]

Well I don't wear a helmet and I've got girl's hair so I should be safe enough. I hope.

[liz-lowlife.livejournal.com]

But you look like a two wheeled man-warrior!

[mattydesade.livejournal.com]

You haven't seen my pushbike have ya? ;-)

[yaruar.livejournal.com]

ive actually changed the way i cycle since i started driving as i never realised what it was like from the drivers perspective.

[juliet]

In what ways, OOI?

[yaruar.livejournal.com]

mainly being aware of blindspots, but also being more agressive/defensive in certain situations. Particually at lights or in fast traffic, not hesitatating and making sure i'm seen. Going faster rather than slower in dubious situations and also being a lot more wary of drivers. Whilst driving i pay a lot more attention to other road users and i've seen just how bad most of them are at signaling their intentions in all senses of the word so i make sure i'm not going to be in a position where other peoples rash decisions will adversely affect me.

[juliet]

[nods] That all makes sense - certainly I've found that being more assertive / not hesitating seems to be a lot safer (as in, gets me into fewer dangerous-seeming situations) than the opposite.

I read an advanced driving book a few years back when I still drove regularly that suggested that you actively think about what idiot things other drivers might be about to do (they didn't quite put it like that ;-) ) & make sure you're in a position to deal with them. Which sounds very much like what you're saying! And clearly also applies to cyclists.

[mattydesade.livejournal.com]

Agreed. You have to own your bit of the road.

Make sure that I've you're passing a parked vehicle that you start pulling out early and that you pass at least a metre away. Most traffic will realise that they can't overtake you and so won't even try (and if they do you've got a spare metre to the left).