[Yak] Roads and bikes

[Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604]

High speed roundabouts, and the common US equivalent, high speed
merging lanes (especially on an overpass) are MUCH more dangerous than
freeway riding. And the obvious answer for motorists "not expecting
slow-moving cyclists" is to get more cyclists out there so we're
expected.  Not fun, but sometimes necessary.

But marginalizing cyclists by requiring, or even encouraging, them to
stay off "dangerous" roads is not useful.  And if the only route for
cyclists is three or four times as long as that for motorists, that's
not useful, either.

Some of us actually use our cycles for transportation.

73, doug

   Date: Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:52:28 +0100
   From: Andy Heath <cycling at axelrod.plus.com>


   > What you are worrying about, being hit from behind, is in fact very
   > rare.  Almost all cyclist-car collisions occur at junctions not on the
   > straight bits in-between.

   Well yes that's true, but I can appreciate Winter's feelings
   on this.  I do cycle on roads everywhere and that includes
   any roads that its legal to cycle on in many cities all over
   the world (I'm lucky with my work and travel a lot).
   But there are places where I feel very nervous even though
   I do it.  For example Milton Keynes in the UK, where I have
   an office.  The roads are all dual carriageways and there
   are no speed limits and there are large multi-laned
   traffic islands (US translation: traffic circles) everywhere.
   All kinds of vehicles tend to drive at at least 70 mph
   on those roads and approach the islands very fast.
   Being out there in the centre or middle lane approaching
   an island with traffic coming up behind you at 70mph,
   sometimes racing other vehicles - this is not fun, its
   really scary.  In such circumstances what is scary is
   the knowledge that if a car hits you at that speed
   then its the next world for you.  Its also very obvious
   that they are not taking the care needed for your safety
   and are not expecting slow-moving cyclists.

   In that town, there are dedicated paths for cyclists
   and pedestrians but they are complete rubbish because
   they are not designed for cycle use - blind corners,
   bad cambers, slippery leaves and so on - amazingly, statistics
   show they are actually more dangerous than the roads.

   I choose the roads but it aint fun there.

   andy
   > 
   >> Message: 5
   >> Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 08:20:32 +1200
   >> From: Winter Green <wintergreen at birthingbetter.com>
   >> Subject: [Yak] Roads and bikes
   >>
   >> Just because you can doesn't mean you either should or that it's  
   >> pleasant. Yes, most roads I could bike on but I don't like to. I  
   >> shouldn't say that exclusively. I don't like to bike on roads where  
   >> every few seconds I have to be aware that a car is coming up my back.
   >>