This morning's good news story

[Andrew G]

Chap at work just informed me that as he was walking in to the office from the station a taxi driver was being ticketed for stopping at the lights in the cyclists only advance box.

[Antloony]

About time too, fed up of seeing blind motorists just cruising up into the box like it wasn't there. I love annoying them by parking my bike smack square in the centre of their front bumper and just staring at them then the ground. I will get the message across, we must all fight the fight and educate these dumb asses...once this is accomplished we shall invade Poland...damn it, sorry, went into Adolf mode again.

[huw williams]

I saw some figures on the telly yesterday that the number of people commuting by bike has gone up by some massive amount (like 30% or something) which seems pretty amazing - have you chaps who commute regularly actually noticed increased numbers on the road?

[Ivor]

[quote="huw williams"]I saw some figures on the telly yesterday that the number of people commuting by bike has gone up by some massive amount (like 30% or something) which seems pretty amazing - have you chaps who commute regularly actually noticed increased numbers on the road?

[quote="Ivor"][quote="huw williams"]I saw some figures on the telly yesterday that the number of people commuting by bike has gone up by some massive amount (like 30% or something) which seems pretty amazing - have you chaps who commute regularly actually noticed increased numbers on the road?

[quote="adrian"] So they get ahead of the lights and wait - unable to see when they change and being in everybody's way when they do.

[adrian]

Crikey. The Battle of Cable Street - 21st-century style

[kieran]

oh, well, saw some dumb riding today by both cyclists and scooters, 2 of 'em almost getting knocked down by a left turning truck clearly indicating for ages ( I had moved to the right of the truck and overtook it with no problems). Some seem too preoccupied with 'racing' to keep an eye on the traffic and to anticipate drivers. Must admit I don't think the majority of drivers are bad, most seem to be tolerant of the dodgy bike handling by some cyclists and motorbikes/scooters. Also as usual most cyclists tend to either attempt to across the red lights or position themselves so far in front that they can't see the light change to green, and either block the footcrossing or impede traffic that does have the green light ( those people who seem to stop in the middle of junctions). Must admit I don't get worked up by it anymore.

[Ivor]

[quote="kieran"]Must admit I don't get worked up by it anymore.

[Phil L]

In some respects I don't mind the motorcycles in the advance stop boxes, otherwise they queue up in the gaps between the cars blocking your own access. Most accelerate away before any cyclist can get get going, apart from the odd under powered scooter, so tend not to cause too much of a problem, unless it is really busy, in which case you would be lucky to make it into the box.

It's mainly buses I hate, who seem to pull up into them without a care in the world, leaving sod all space for anyone, even if it's only half into them, so soon as they start getting tickets (and 3 points on their licence, as it is technically jumping the lights), then they may start to think twice about doing it - the bus companies should be drumming it into them during their training too.

I also think that there is still a lot of ignorance about how these advance stop boxes work, and the penalty that can be given, so extra signs like the ones used for bus lanes should be put up at the lights reminding people of the consequences, plus if the boxes had green cross hatching like the yellow junction boxes, then it might help to emphasise them a bit more.

[Andrew G]

I'm with you Keiran, let yourself get wound up by it all and you'd be in a rage all the time commuting in to London.

[Jon H]

[quote="Phil L"] in which case you would be lucky to make it into the box.

[Andrew G]

Not paying attention, you're bound to slip the odd one passed me.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

I only encounter advance stop boxes in Croydon as they don't bother with them out in the sticks, and U find it's ALWAYS taxis that pull right across them - as such good professional drivers they tell us they are.