Cycling: reducing the hostility (part 2)

75,000 rode around closed roads in the centre 

of London on 29th July 2017

On Friday I posted Part 1 of Cycling: 'reducing the hostility'looking at what pisses motorists about cyclists' behaviour. Now it is the turn to look at what pisses off cyclists about motorists.  Much of this post is based on the behaviour of some drivers in London.

Overall it is a lack of consideration that cyclists are far more vulnerable than people safely ensconced in their cars a lorries. 

Close pass

It is good to see that the police starting with the West Midland's Police's initiative are targeting and seeking to educate motorists to give cyclists space when passing them. This is a minimum of 1.5 metres. 

In London as a cyclist cars, lorries and buses pass far too close. It is noticeable in the Scottish Highlands cyclists are usually given much more space. They do, however, tend to try and pass where it is not safe to do so on the brow of a hill or a corner when they just can't see. 

In London the stress of driving in a crowded city makes drivers stupidly impatient. Not only not appreciating the need to give cyclists proper space but trying to pass when there isn't space.

SpeedingIt is good to see 20 mph speed limits being introduced across of much of London driving at this speed greatly reducing the likelihood of being killed if you are hit or in a collision with a car. Despite this unfortunately too many motorists drive at well over 30 mph in 20 mph zone. I would like to see many more remote speed cameras to enforce this ban.  

Impatient and reckless driving

Although there are considerate drivers there are too many boy racers who have no consideration for other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Driving far too fast, shooting red lights, driving through bollards and road furniture on the wrong side of the road. Again it would be good to see many more speed and traffic cameras to both discourage reckless driving through fines and driving bans. We have the technology to do this, we don't need to waste scarce police resources on checking idiotic driving.

Abuse

It is commonplace for cyclists to be verbally abused by drivers complaining that they are being held up when a cyclist rides in the middle of the road or not right in the gutter. 

There is nothing in the Highway Code that requires cyclists to ride in the gutter. There are clearly times when cyclists need to ride well out in the road to be safe, for instance when passing a row of parked car to avoid someone suddenly opening a car door or when passing through road furniture. 

Given the slow average speed of journeys through London impatient drivers often do not benefit from speeding ahead or from the stupid risks that they take. Time to take a more relaxed approach to driving in urban areas.

Can they be persuaded to be more considerate of other road users?