Truck on the cycle route

Heading down to work this morning I came across this truck parked across the shared cycle and foot route near Milnrow. The driver didn't notice me on account of being sound asleep at the time.

I get a bit fed up with inconsiderate behaviour like this but just think how you would tackle this path if you use a wheelchair, ride a trike or if you were a person with limited vision.

January Weather

Another lovely January morning. Took this on my way to work, a lovely day although a little cold. Commuting by bike is so good at times like this.

I didn't get a picture on the way home because I didn't think the camera would like the sleet and hail that blew up around tea time. Still prefer commuting by bike. How does the saying go?

"There's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothes"

Free Adult Cycle Training Available

I've got FREE 2 hour adult cycle training sessions for people living, working or travelling in Rossendale, Lancaster and Blackburn. This National Standards training gives people skills and knowledge to ride safely and with confidence. The instructors are qualified and friendly and deliver an enjoyable as well as informative course.

We'll provide bikes and helmets if required.

If you know anyone in those areas that might be interested please let me know here or by emailing me at work seamus.kelly@ctc.org.uk

Stop Lines

I can't help wondering if both motorists and cyclists actually know what Stop Lines at junctions are all about. Am I alone, or is there a wide lack of understanding? I think its time for a rant!

Where there are traffic lights there are accompanying stop lines. When the traffic lights are red, or amber, then all traffic must stop behind the stop line. If you have already crossed the stop line then you should continue through the junction.

In the case where there is a cycle advance box at the junction there are actually two stop lines the front one is where pedal cycles must stop and the back one is where motor vehicles must stop. Pretty simple and straightforward really. So why do I need to have a rant? Because I'm fed up of people ignoring the rules and creating pressure and risk for everone.

I'll pose a simple question; When should you cross a stop line whilst either the red or amber light is showing?

Possible answers (all incorrect); When the light has just changed, when I'm in a hurry, when there is nothing coming the other way, when I want to get ahead of the traffic to stay safe, when no-one is looking, when ....

The only correct answer is: NEVER

Simple question, simple answer so why do so many motorists and so many cyclists fail to follow the simple rule?

EXCUSES;

I think there are some who genuinely don't understand the rule - if you drive a motor vehicle you should understand the rule and there is no excuse for not knowing, you must have a licence and you have access to the highway code. If you ride a pedal cycle you should understand the rule or you are not safe to cycle on the road, and you also have access to the highway code.

Some cyclists think it is sometimes safer to set off before the traffic so set off before the light changes. Sorry guys but it isn't safer, in fact it adds to the overall sense of rushing and encourages some of the other road users to behave similarly and annoys others, that doesn't make anyone safer!

Some people say "everyone else does it" - are you lemmings or people with minds of your own?

THERE ARE NO EXCUSES - just reasons

You do it because of ignorance, pressure, a need to hurry, misguided advice, peer pressure, because you can get away with it or for other obscure reasons of you own. They are reasons but don't excuse your actions.

JUST DON'T DO IT!!

Ring a Bell?

I hadn't had a bell on a bike since the 70's until I started to use a Brompton to commute a couple of years ago. The bell on the Brompton came in for frequent use on towpaths where its polite ding seems to go down well with most pedestrians.

In fact I've since added a bell to my mountain bike (which didn't have one for its first 14 years) because I often use it on the towpaths and sometimes a couple of bridlepaths where I have also found it useful. Sometimes a pedestrian might not hear the bell, especially if they're wearing headphones, so I'll shout to alert them.

Either way I'll slow down to pass people and always thank them for letting me pass - these are shared use paths so we ought to "share nicely" (like our Mums told us when we were little). There has been a "Two Tings" campaigns on towpaths around the country and in Rochdale bells were fitted free of charge to towpath users who wanted them.

Not sure I'll put one on my road bike though, I don't think it would work so well with traffic and the general noise levels on the road.