Highway Code shenanigans
Feb.28, 2006, filed under Miscellany
Some of you will already have heard that the Highway Code is up for revision. As stated on the CTC’s campaign page, the proposed wording could lead to some serious problems for vehicular cyclists who value their right to use the road:
The major problem is a proposed new rule telling cyclists to “use cycle routes when practicable and cycle facilities … where they are provided†(Rule 58). If confirmed, this would open the way for driver’s insurance companies to seek to reduce the damages for any cyclists injured by their clients, on the basis that the cyclist’s failure to use a nearby cycle facility (in accordance with the Highway Code) represented “contributory negligence”.
You probably know my opinion of cycle farcilities by now – mostly I wouldn’t use them if you paid me. Exeter has some particularly fine examples of shoddy cycle facilities, not least of which is the much hyped Exminster – Exeter facility that runs up Countess Wear. Fine if you don’t mind crossing the road three times, dealing with 7 conflict points and having to contend with dog walkers. Not to mention that it’s isn’t gritted in winter, meaning hitting a patch of ice could cause you to skid off right into the path of a car doing 40mph up the dual carriageway. There’s also the incredibly badly designed Gallow’s Junction at the junction of Heavitree and Honiton Road. Sticking to the painted cycle lane while navigating that junction is a recipe for disaster. If you don’t claim the lane you’re likely to be smacked by a car turning left. I know plenty of people to whom that’s happened.
Risible cycle facilities are stock in trade for most discussions involving cycling in this country. They seem rarely to be put in with cyclist’s needs as the foremost concern. The one along Bad Homburg Way in Exeter is a nightmare, with draincovers and broken glass and all sorts – but even when they put in the new diversion along the back road they won’t be taking that one out because, according to council members I asked at one of the Cycle Forum meetings, it is there as a traffic calming measure to stop cars overtaking on a wide road.
Getting involved in this campaign is in every cyclist’s interest. There’s a handy facility there to drop a line to your MP. I suggest you take advantage of it and keep up to date. We have enough problems with erosions of our rights without it being written into the Highway Code.
Leave a Reply
-
Singularity
~something that is singular as (a) a separate unit, or (b) unusual or distinctive manner or behavior; PECULIARITY;
~the quality or state of being singular;
~a point at which the derivative of a given function of a complex variable does not exist but every neighborhood of which contains points for which the derivative exists;
~a point or region of infinite mass density at which space and time are infinitely distorted by gravitational forces and which is held to be the final state of matter falling into a black hole. Sight
