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Cyclist Club 單車之友 -> Cyclist Club's Discussion Board 單車之友論壇 -> Safe Cycling 安全騎(踩)單車 -> Cycling position on the road
Post Info TOPIC: Cycling position on the road
nurgles


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Cycling position on the road
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It is important for all cyclists to take up the correct position on the road.Many cyclists cling to the gutter thuis inviting vehicles to pass even closer.It is natural to want to cause as little obstruction to faster moving traffic as possibel but consider your safety as well,


A major reason for NOT riding along the edge of the road is visibility. In the edge position you cannot see clearly ahead and you cannot be seen by others. Experienced cyclists know that motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians seem not to "see" cyclists. If you keep to the left, pedestrians can step onto the road in front of you, vehicles tend to turn left across your path etc.


· Riding near the edge makes you even more invisible.


· Riding near the edge invites vehicles to skim dangerously close passing you without making an overtaking manouevre.


· Riding near the edge is where you will find all the road debris like gravel and broken glass swept there by car wheels.


· Riding near the edge is riding in the gutter and this is where all the gratings, surface joints etc are located.


· Riding near the edge, in the gutter, when there is a kerb, railings,trees, parked cars, lampposts, slope, etc hard against your left hand side, you have no escape route in case of emergency such as close-overtaking vehicles.


Indeed you are in great danger of colliding with these obstructions if you ride along the edge · It is actually difficult if not impossible to ride effectively within a half metre strip. Try it and see. This is the nub of the problem-this advice is inserted in the Road Users Code by people who do not even know how to ride a bicycle!


The author of the section on cycling cannot be a skilled or experienced cyclist and writes from an ignorant perspective. Transport Department and The Road Safety Council are extremely evasive about disclosing any details about cyclist casualties, i.e. the manner in cyclists get killed by cars, buses and trucks (16 of them in 2002). I believe it highly probable that many cyclists become casualties when they follow the advice to ride along up against the edge of the road, and hence it is the Government which should be culpable in these cases. Unfortunately the relatives and friends of accident victims are unaware of any of this. If they think about allocating blame for the "accident" they will receive no legal support because of the flawed Code. Also of course, dead men tell no tales, so the vehicle drivers who NEVER get killed or injured by their hitting a cyclist are free to simply tell their version of how the "accident" occurred. There is no fairness or equity in a 1-2 tonne car or 24 tonne bus hitting a 30kg bicycle.


 



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kwyan


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Nurgles has brought out almost everything about this issue, very well done.


I think the consultant for Transport Department (TD) had in the Cycling Study Report also somewhat bring out this issue and had suggested a much more reasonable riding distance away from the curb than that recommended by TD.  There is however no conclusion drawn about this suggestion, probably because TD could not accept the concept that bicycles have to occupy a full lane and cause hindrance to the speeding of the motor vehicles.  I know for sure that the Police don't like the idea too because I had once been ordered by a policeman on motorbike through a loudspeaker (yes so loud that I almost fell off my bike) to ride close to the curb while I was already riding quite close to it.


Most of the public, without actual cycling experience on the roads, don't like the idea too.  I once accompanied a non-cycling friend to take a bus from Shek O back to Chai Wan and my friend commented that the few cyclists riding in front of the bus were too far out for no obvious reason. I had of course take this opportunity to educate her and perhaps some other passengers on the bus.  The general public should have better understanding of the situation and be more patient if TD and the Police themselves are well educated and had been able to educate the public.


While most if not all experienced cyclists prefer not to ride too close to the curb for the reasons Nurgles mentioned, beginners do have to consider the factor that their much slower riding speed will increase their chance of being hit from behind by speeding cars while riding down the centre of the lane.



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WheelieFine


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Yes, well done Nurgles - a clear presentation of this much misunderstood issue.

Additionally, drivers give more respect when they see you take up a clear road position (not necessarily the centre of the lane, but not hiding 'out of the way' in the gutter), as you are positively asserting your rights as a road user, taking up your space on the road.

Similarly, it is often good to make emphatically firm movements, such into the centre of the lane (preceded by a clear look over your shoulder / all around). Drivers see the move start and finish, and know that you are placing yourself precisely where you want to be.



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wong


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There is an excellent book  called CYCLECRAFT by John Franklin about safe cycling in traffic for those who want more advice- http://www.lesberries.co.uk/ccraft/ccraft.htm

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