Cycle Lanes

[Snoop Doug]

Mate of mine spotted this on bbc web site - can anyone top this lot??!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4794198.stm

Cheers - Snoop

[Tamar Collis]

It's great init? Did you click the link to Warrington CC's 'facility of the month' to see them all?

It is timely that this is in the news and I am going to email a link to my MP as a follow up to my email objecting the proposed changes to the Highway Code (see [url]http://www.londoncyclesport.com/news_2006_ctc/ctc_culp.html[/url])

It might help him understand how badly designed many of the cycle facilities that are so 'thoughtfully' provided for us really are.

[Alan M]

I did - got a nice supportive letter back from my MP (Richard Ottaway - never voted for him never will) with an additional suggestion to log my views via the public consultation at http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/

Alan

[Alan M]

well I went on line with the intention of commenting. It is not easy - you firstly have to register with the DSA, then access the online consultation form or a pdf. You then need to reference rule changes, page numbers, section headings and place your comment. I gave up and will rely on CTC and BC to make the case. Ho Hum!

[Alex P]

Marco is right, we have to use this chance to get this stopped, I used the CTC facility which was straight forward and go a response from my MP...:-

[color=darkred]Dear Mr. Protasiuk,

Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding the current consultation on the revision of the Highway Code.

I note the issues you have raised as a cyclist and I have taken the opportunity of writing to the Ministers at the Department of Transport. I shall be in touch with you again as soon as I have a reply.

I am sure you will be contributing separately to the Department's consultation.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Taylor, M.B.E., M.P.

Tel: 020 7219 5221[/color]
http://www.iantaylormp.com

[Alex P]

To make this easier I have taken the CTC script from their website, changed it a bit (this is the one that I used) and shown it below. Change as you feel fit and you can copy and paste this into the message box for your MP on the website below:-

http://www.writetothem.com/

[size=75]Dear Mr ,

As a keen cyclist, I am very concerned about the new draft of the revised Highway Code, now out for consultation.

The new rule telling cyclists that they ?should? use cycle facilities where provided, and the existing rule saying that we ?should? wear helmets, may at first look like perfectly sensible advice. However, cyclists often have good reasons for not using cycle facilities ? many are very poorly designed and some are positively dangerous and tend to collect the general debris of the road including glass. The same goes for the pros and cons of helmet-wearing ? there is strong evidence and opinions on both sides of the debate (see http://www.cyclehelmets.org for more information).

The advice will therefore have little benefit for cyclists safety, but could be very damaging in other ways. One only has to think of the 9 year old boy who was permanently brain-damaged by a negligent driver. The driver?s insurers promptly claimed that the boy?s parents bore liability for their son?s severe injuries, as they hadn?t made him wear a helmet. Nobody should have to suffer the anguish which they and several other cyclists or their families have gone though, simply because of that one word \"should\". If anything, the legal consequences of the rule about cycle facilities are even more insidious, as it will be far harder to argue against similar ?contributory negligence? claims.

Please will you therefore press ministers to make the following changes to the Code:
* Remove all words which could give rise to unwarranted ?contributory negligence? claims against cyclists;
* Include clearer advice to drivers on safe interactions with cyclists (e.g. on how much space to leave when overtaking a cyclist);
* Ensure that its advice to cyclists (particularly that on negotiating roundabouts) is in line with the Government-backed National Standard for cycle training and;
* A recommendation that anyone wishing to improve their confidence and safety should undertake cycle training to the National Standard

I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully[/size]

[Alex P]

Having said all of the above I have been looking through the Highway Code consultation documents and I could not find anything that refers to 'should use the cycling facilities' - only "use cycle routes where practicable" (see rule 58 on the link below) which I think has a completely different slant.

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Documents/consult ... tation.pdf

[Snoop Doug]

great to see that some folk have had reponses from their MPs. I sent mine a letter and the Lib Dem cyclist MP has yet to utter a peep. Bah humbug - I'll nag him again

Cheers - Snoop

[stevefunkster]

Mr snoop, generally i have found sending e-mails generally gets the response as its so easy for people to rip up a letter and deny ever having received it, unless of course its signed for.

[John Cochrane]

I received a helpful reply from my MP. see below.

I feel that the phrase "where practicable" would still be argued by the insurance companies in the same way that "should" is. In other words if a cylist is involved in an accident where there is a cycle lane then the cyclist is partly to blame because by not using the lane they contributed to the accident by being on the road. I know it sounds crazy but that's how these insurance cases are argued in court.




"Dear Mr Cochrane



Thank you for your email regarding the revision of the Highway Code. I am a strong supporter of cycling in Croydon. I wrote a strong manifesto for cycling for the last Council elections.



I recognise the concerns you raise about the wording of the new Code. It is my understanding, however, that the new Code does not say cyclists ?should? use cycle facilities rather that they should do so ?where practicable?. It is, however, important that the legal consequences of the wording ? particularly on the use of cycle helmets ? are fully considered. As such, I will happily write to the Minister of State for Transport, Dr Stephen Ladyman MP, making him aware of your concerns.



May I suggest that you also participate in the consultation on the new Code? To view the revised Code and comment on the changes visit: http://www.dsa.gov.uk/highwaycode. Or write to:



Publications Department,

Driving Standards Agency,

The Training Centre,

Harrowden Lane,

Cardington,

Bedford MK44 3ST,

Consultation closes on May 10th

Please mark your response for the attention of Karen Lees.



In addition I will pass your letter to the Shadow Transport Team who are currently considering the Government?s Road Safety Bill. I am sure they will be interested to read your comments on the design of cycling provision and the need for clearer advice for motorists on their interaction with cyclists.



I want our roads to be as safe as possible for all road users. Thank you for taking the time to write to me.


Andrew Pelling GLAM MP"

[Snoop Doug]

Messrs funkster and marco. Being an old feller I meant email - I just put the word letter in me post. Notwothstanding that - I will email that somewhat negligent MP of mine one more time and see whether I can riase him from his parliamentary slumber.

Crikey - I need a cup of tea and a biscuit after 3.5 lines of typing.

Zzzzzzzzz

Snoop

[Tamar Collis]

I've done Malcolm Wicks....and it was only after I clicked send that I remembered I was using my work email which comes up with a load of Big Lottery Fund logos and blurb down the side. Oh boy am I gonna be in trouble if they realise!!!

[huw williams]

That's the end of lottery money for British Cycling then