Category: Safety

Safety, Travel

Manchester, Birchwood, Inverness – drama in Edinburgh

Posted on by insightndes
Good morning Manchester
Manchester Piccadilly is busy
Waiting for the train
Birchwood Station
Back to Birchwood, the leaves have been cleared.

The train is delayed by trespassers.

Off at Warrington Central.

The delay meant I could not get a decent lunch.

A short ride between Warrington train stations
Warrington Bank Quay

The train to Edinburgh was delayed due to trespassers. However there was plenty of leeway to catch the connecting train, especially if I changed at Haymarket.

River Ribble
Lancaster
River Laune

As we headed north the delayed train lost time rather than catching up.

We arrived at Haymarket. As I got off the train. I heard the Inverness train leaving. That added another hour to the journey. Why can’t the trains cooperate to avoid these problems. It was minutes. And why was the Edinburgh train continually slowed down.

Food at Fava Greek Kitchen

Time to kill so time to grab food.

Back to Haymarket

Now this is when things got crazy.

I was looking at the display times for the trains on platform four. A man stumbled down the stairs grabbed hold of one my belt loops, span round out of control, falling off the platform, onto the train track. At that point my thoughts were , was a train coming, how do we get this man off the tracks, going down onto the tracks was not an option, too risky. We coaxed the man to his feet, and four complete strangers hauled the man onto the platform.. We restrained the man to stop a further incident.

I thought that the next train was mine, got on discovered it wasn’t. After getting on the correct train I realised just how traumatic I had found the incident.

Arrived in a foggy Inverness
Foggy view from the hotel
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Environment, Safety, Travel

Skewed

Posted on by insightndes

It is Bike Week 2025. https://www.cyclinguk.org/bikeweek.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there. This bike week I addressed a few of them. This is my last blog post on the subject, for now.

In many western countries society is skewed in the favour of cars. In the UK we have allowed cars to dominate city and town centres. This has led to many negative effects, high levels of pollution, particulate, noise and visual. Plus there is the ever present danger of injury from vehicles. We are now afraid to allow children to travel on foot or by bicycle on their own. Even parked cars take precedence over children playing. God forbid a car is accidentally damaged.

In the US, it’s worse. Who came up with the idea of jaywalking as an offence? Too many lawsuits against errant drivers? So criminalise the victims. In the UK pedestrians take responsibility for their safety and decide when to cross. In Germany the onus is on the driver. In Budapest often the drivers ignore the red lights at pedestrian crossings. In busy cities it is frustrating crossing the roads, you have to wait for the green man and watch for cyclists jumping the red lights.

The UK has made an effort to rebalance. The Highway Code has introduced the idea of the more dangerous you are the more responsibility you have. When turning left cars have to give way to cyclists and pedestrian, cyclists have to give way pedestrians. This is the opposite of might is right. Low emission zones and traffic free areas have helped improve safety and reduce pollution.

Low speed limits in built up areas, 20 mph in the UK makes life far more pleasant for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Reduced noise and pollution, increased safety, what’s not to like. There is still a large minority of drivers who don’t think the rules apply to them. Enforcement is an issue, but when I am driving in a 20 mph zone, all the vehicles behind me obey the speed limit 🙂.

But even in higher speed limit areas, what could be round the corner? Drive so that you can avoid mowing down the mother with pram forced to walk on the road with no pavement, who could be round the blind bend.

There seems to be a lot of overly noisy people including some politicians who object. What’s not to like about increased safety and health? Unfortunately there is a sense of entitlement amongst some drivers, nothing must impede their speed. News for you, you are not that important.

Some politicians try to create a phoney argument with phrases like “war on motorists “, a typical populist approach to gain traction with an over simplified statement with no substance or merit. There is no war on motorists in this sense, just a push to make life better for people.

There is a kind of war on motorists in the UK, and all other road users. You can see the craters everywhere on the roads. Lack of maintenance a false economy. Today I hit a pot hole on my bike and ended up with a puncture.

Could things get more skewed across the world as driverless cars come into use? The offence of jaywalking makes it far easier to have poorly performing driverless cars on the road. Policy makers in all countries, protect people first, not car makers.

The UK has improved, you can see that in driver behaviour, but has more to do. Don’t allow repeat offenders to stay on the road. Speeding, reckless driving should be treated more seriously. Change the attitude of drivers so driving too close to cyclists and pedestrians and other vulnerable road users such as horse riders is absolutely frowned upon. Make towns and cities safe for people, especially children.

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Safety, Travel

You can ride two abreast ☑️

Posted on by insightndes

If course you can! The Highway Code even says in some circumstances it is better to do so, when in groups or riding with children. It’s easier to overtake a group of cyclists close together than strung out.

This is what the Highway Code says : “be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding in groups. You can ride two abreast and it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders. Be aware of drivers behind you and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when you feel it is safe to let them do so..” rule 66.

But, as the rule says, cyclists should also be mindful of the traffic and make it easy to overtake, when safe. We should all be kind and considerate to each other.

It is Bike Week 2025. https://www.cyclinguk.org/bikeweek.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there. This bike week I thought that I would address a few of them.

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Environment, Safety, Travel

Cyclists have to use cycle lanes❌

Posted on by insightndes

In the U.K. this is not true, as rule 61 of the Highway Code says.

Referring to cycle lanes and cycle tracks “While such facilities are provided for reasons of safety, cyclists may exercise their judgement and are not obliged to use them.”

The Highway Code defines what cycle lanes and cycle tracks are, they are different.

A cycle lane is marked on the road, with either a solid line or a broken line. Vehicles cannot drive in cycle lanes marked by solid lines or park in them. From my observations this is not observed. A cycle lane which is only half a meter wide are worse than useless. There’s not enough space between the bike and the vehicles, and does not comply with Highway Code rule 72. I recently saw useless cycle lanes of this nature in Guildford and Wallingford. This is the part of the road which collects debris.

Cycle tracks are routes physically separated from vehicles, so, they should be good. Unfortunately in the UK they are often poorly designed, with dangerous entry and exit points, obstructions, debris, poor surfaces and no right of way when crossing side roads.

Why would a cyclist not use cycle lanes and cycle tracks? For the reasons described above, the UK cycle infrastructure is often useless. The UK needs to look abroad to see how to make proper cycle infrastructure.

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Safety, Travel

Lawbreaker!

Posted on by insightndes

When cyclists are a topic on social media there are always those shouting their condemnation because all cyclists are law breakers, according to them. But does this stack up?

Anecdotally, on my commute to work I see no cyclists breaking the law but I see plenty of drivers breaking the law, either contravening the double white lines or speeding.

If you look online there are plenty of studies showing drivers break the law, in their respective countries, far more often than cyclists, so why is there this apparently unwarranted demonisation of cyclists? Probably because when cyclists break the law, usually by running a red light, they are visible.

Speeding drivers are less obvious and there appears to an acceptance among a large minority that this is ok, to an extent that many complain about speed cameras, “it’s a money earner”. It’s actually easy to avoid being caught by a speed camera, don’t speed.

Drivers of vehicles cause far more damage when they have a collision than a cyclist, they are far heavier and far faster. Non compliance with the law by drivers is far more consequential.

When I have cycled through London, I have wondered why cyclists jump lights 🚦, a bad idea as this could end in death. Cycling between Euston and Padding, I add 25% time wise to the journey waiting at traffic lights. However I am still faster than the motorised vehicles.

It appears that both cyclists and motorists have impatience in common.

Cyclists are an easy target. Mostly harmless, mostly law abiding, but a minority. This is what is known as prejudice.

Car drivers moaning about cyclists feel free to keep complaining if you have never contravened the law while driving, otherwise be quiet.

The sound of silence!

It is Bike Week 2025. https://www.cyclinguk.org/bikeweek.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there. This bike week I thought that I would address a few of them.

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Environment, Safety, Travel

Cyclists should be as near the kerb as possible ❌

Posted on by insightndes

This is rule 72 from the Highway Code:

72
Road positioning. When riding on the roads, there are two basic road positions you should adopt, depending on the situation.
1) Ride in the centre of your lane, to make yourself as clearly visible as possible, in the following situations

  • on quiet roads or streets – if a faster vehicle comes up behind you, move to the left to enable them to overtake, if you can do so safely
  • in slower-moving traffic – when the traffic around you starts to flow more freely, move over to the left if you can do so safely so that faster vehicles behind you can overtake
  • at the approach to junctions or road narrowings where it would be unsafe for drivers to overtake you

2) When riding on busy roads, with vehicles moving faster than you, allow them to overtake where it is safe to do so whilst keeping at least 0.5 metres away, and further where it is safer, from the kerb edge. Remember that traffic on most dual carriageways moves quickly. Take extra care crossing slip roads.

So it’s ride at least 0.5 m from the kerb but in some circumstances in the middle of the lane. In particular when the road is narrow, so it is unsafe for the vehicle to overtake the cyclist.

It is Bike Week 2025. https://www.cyclinguk.org/bikeweek.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there. This bike week I thought that I would address a few of them.

Number one – not particularly contentious, it’s in the Highway Code.

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Environment, Safety, Travel

Why are (some) motorists jerks

Posted on by insightndes

(When commenting on social media.)

When when the topic of  cycling appears in social media, whether discussing closes passes or the change in the Highway Code, there are always comments from people who appear to wholeheartedly hate cyclists, for no good reason, other than they seem to dislike the existence of cyclists. The same comments always appear.

Let’s deconstruct the comments:

“Cyclists do not pay road tax”. 

Actually no one pays road tax. Car owners pay vehicle excise duty. All tax payers pay for the roads whether they have a car or not. So maybe non car owners should pay less tax?

“Cyclists are not obliged to have insurance”.

True, but the amount of damage caused by cyclist in an accident is tiny compared with a car or lorry. Cycle U.K. membership includes third party insurance.

 “Cyclists are always breaking the rules – running red lights, cycling on pavements etc”

This is often cited in the discussion of close passes. But how does rule breaking by a minority of cyclists justify treating all cyclists badly. This is victim blaming. Ironically a greater proportion of drivers break rules than cyclists, just look at the routine breaking of speed limits. Have a look at https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2019/05/10/cyclists-break-far-fewer-road-rules-than-motorists-finds-new-video-study/?sh=d5e36564bfaa.

There is further irony in the discussion of close passes, to avoid close passes ride on the pavement, one of the things cycle haters complain about. Treat cyclists with respect and they will ride on the road.

The vulnerability of cyclists means it is in their interest to follow the road rules, jumping red lights will speed up an untimely end.

“Cyclists get in way / don’t move out of the way on single track roads / hold up traffic”

Cyclists have as much right to be on the road as other vehicles, motorists don’t feel so entitled. The amount of time a car is held up is seconds and certainly does not justify an angry shake of the fist. Ideally we are all polite and nice to each other and most cyclists are polite and nice, and will move out of the way when they can. Don’t forget the cyclists can’t always hear you with wind in their ears. Be patient, wait until it is safe and pass.

“Cyclists wear dark clothing / cycle in the dark with no lights  and are difficult to see”

Yes this does happen, but not a good idea for the cyclists. This is a bit of victim blaming. Strangely even when wearing a bright yellow jacket and having flashing lights I still get close passes.

“Cyclists don’t use the cycle paths provided and block up the roads”

There is no legal obligation for cyclists to use cycle paths. Unfortunately many cycle paths in U.K. are poorly designed, not kept clean and are dangerous. The cyclists has to give way at every side road. Sometimes the route is shared with pedestrians and is too narrow. Some routes require frequent re-entries to the road, which both produces delays and is dangerous.

“Cyclists produce congestion increasing pollution”

The best way to totally remove the pollution is to remove the motorised vehicles. This would also remove the congestion as cycles take up far less space than cars. Ok, although this is totally sound in its logic, it will be seen as extreme. But even when retaining the presence of motorised vehicles, each time a large vehicle is replaced by a cycle space is freed up. And this is true both with shared road space and putting in cycle lanes. More cycles, better flow of traffic, less pollution.

In the specific incidence of complaints about ambulances being held up by congestion “due to cycle lanes”, this rather misses the point. It is the motorised vehicles causing the issue not the cyclists. Again a bit of blaming the minority. Remove the cars and lorries and the roads will instantly clear.

So drivers stop being a jerk, with your knee jerk reaction and get on a bike, be nice.

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