Applecross bealach defeats big van

[Northernraider]

It doesn’t mention rowing boats either but you wouldn’t want to try in one , ’ very large vehicles‘ covers a multitude of vehicle types. The road requires common sense and some skill, not just to get up or down but to be able to deal with oncoming vehicles.

Ive never been one to fear life. So if it doesn't specifically say don't do something then ill give it a go.

I don't need instructions for every action.

 

[Itsmcb]

I've just watched the entire first video waiting for the 'difficult' bits to appear. Honestly didn't see any. If you think those are hairpins you need to stay away from Switzerland. I was also really surprised how many passing places there are, the sign for the next one was visible nearly all the time. Fair play to the driver he made it look easy not like the person in the red car towards the end.

 

[knickam]

The road had an 18t weight limit the last time I went over. An 18t truck would be over 10m long
So no reason why motorhomes are not allowed.
All you need to to when driving it is make sure not to follow closely behind another vehicle.
This gives a better chance of a passing place being available to allow vehicles to pass easily.
Problems are caused by long queues of vehicles travelling in both directions meeting each other at a single passing place.

 

[Paul Frost]

Also fed up hearing this " giving us all a bad name " nonsense

Does a car parking on double yellow lines give all car drivers a bad name?

Course not ....so why is it different for motorhomes?

The difference is that car drivers are the majority, motorhome drivers are a minority, along with cyclists. Some on this forum paint all cyclists as traffic light jumping, road blocking, lycra louts, who don't care about other road users.
Taking a large vehicle with limited manouvarablity on such a road seems anti social to me. The argument that you may have the skill to drive down there and so should be allowed to could be applied to fast driving, "I can safely drive at 100mph so I should be allowed to".

Whilst cycling in Lanzarote there was a steep road that had a sign banning cyclists on it. It wasn't because the cyclists couldn't manage to ride it, it was because cars would be held up if they were behind one. I went down it and was held up by cars who couldn't negotiate the bends as fast as I could, but it didn't occur to me that cars should banned because of holding up cyclists!

 

[knickam]

The difference is that car drivers are the majority, motorhome drivers are a minority, along with cyclists. Some on this forum paint all cyclists as traffic light jumping, road blocking, lycra louts, who don't care about other road users.
Taking a large vehicle with limited manouvarablity on such a road seems anti social to me. The argument that you may have the skill to drive down there and so should be allowed to could be applied to fast driving, "I can safely drive at 100mph so I should be allowed to".

Whilst cycling in Lanzarote there was a steep road that had a sign banning cyclists on it. It wasn't because the cyclists couldn't manage to ride it, it was because cars would be held up if they were behind one. I went down it and was held up by cars who couldn't negotiate the bends as fast as I could, but it didn't occur to me that cars should banned because of holding up cyclists!

I am trying to overtake a cyclist in busy road, After a while I safely get past.
Stop at some lights
Cyclist overtakes me on the inside.
Lights go green and I am then stuck behind the same cyclist again.
Is the cyclist being anti social?

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[Paul Frost]

I am trying to overtake a cyclist in busy road, After a while I safely get past.
Stop at some lights
Cyclist overtakes me on the inside.
Lights go green and I am then stuck behind the same cyclist again.
Is the cyclist being anti social?

Perhaps they are, but if I was the cyclist and that repeatedly happened I would let the driver go first at the lights. But I don't recall ever experiencing that scenario of repeated overtaking and traffic lights. It might happen at one set of lights but the distances between traffic lights is usually too great for the bike to keep catching up except in busy urban areas, but then bikes aren't usually the cause of slow traffic.
But it also happens the other way around, cars overtake you then slow down, especially on bendy downhills.

But this just highlights that you shouldn't tar all drivers or cyclists with a broad brush, we should all be a bit more accepting that there are other road users with different skills and needs.

I've driven 40ft artic lories in central london, had a motorcycle, drive a car and motorhome, and ride 10,000km a year on my bike. When I'm on the road I think about how my actions will interact with other users.
I don't sit on the motorway at 50-55mph, because I know that HGV's want to travel at 56mph. Either go slower so they can get past or speed up to stay in front.
I don't try and get past artics on roundabouts, as I know the trailer will cut across in front of me.
I know there are blind spots and so don't undertake large vehicles that may turn left on me.
When I'm driving I am aware that the left edge of the road is full of drain holes, gravel and generally broken up, so I don't expect cyclists to stick tight in to the edge, and I'm prepared if/when they suddenly swerve out to avoid a big hole.
In my motorhome, I'm aware that some car drivers seem incapable of reversing, and on single track roads I might be the one that reverses even if the car is closer to the passing place.

Saying you have the right to drive or ride wherever you please and other road users need to get out of your way is anti social.

 

[Northernraider]

Taking a large vehicle with limited manouvarablity on such a road seems anti social to me. The argument that you may have the skill to drive down there and so should be allowed to ..........

But this just highlights that you shouldn't tar all drivers or cyclists with a broad brush, we should all be a bit more accepting that there are other road users with different skills and needs.

Do make your mind up.

I have the necessary confidence, skill and experience to drive that road with my vehicle... Therefore i will drive it.
Thats why these vehicles aren't banned from using the road .... there's advice for those who perhaps don't have the confidence or skill to drive it.

Doing so doesn't make me anti social.

To be honest i used to think that road was quite difficult ...but compared to many many roads ive found throughout europe its a dawdle ....

 

[knickam]

Saying you have the right to drive or ride wherever you please and other road users need to get out of your way is anti social.

Where did any one say other road users had to get out of the way.
If the passing place is at my side of the road I pull in and on the other the other motorist pulls in.
Although frowned upon I have no problem pulling into a passing place on the other side of the road if there is a row of vehicles approaching.

 

[Paul Frost]

Problems are caused by long queues of vehicles travelling in both directions meeting each other at a single passing place.

And that is what is happening on the NC500 at the moment, and combine that with the significant increase in motorhomes this year, (quite a few of which are hired and probably have less experienced drivers). Less large vehicles fit in the passing places than cars.

I'm not saying that no one should drive on these sorts of roads, but be aware that doing so on a really busy summer day you might be viewed as anti social by other road users.

There are many who live on the west coast of Scotland that are not happy with the volume of motorhomes currently visiting the area. We should try not to antagonise the situation, and that video gives locals the ideal propaganda to beat us with. Pick a quieter time of the day or year to go and test if your skills and vehicle size can handle the challenge.

I rode over it on a perfect November day and saw only 2 vehicles. I would not even consider riding over it during June-September, because I know it wouldn't be a pleasant experience, for both me and the other road users.

 

[tonyidle]

Any slower vehicle no matter what type will slow traffic. There are many areas of the UK where, for example, tractors and agricultural machinery slow everyone for miles at a time. They can't be expected to pull over to allow traffic to pass so patience is in order. Any driver of anything using single track roads should be able to judge blind side position accurately and be able to reverse as far as necessary if only to avoid inconveniencing someone who is actually working for a living. I'm much more concerned at being tarred with the littering / bog emptying brush.

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[glenn2926]

Its never mentioned motorhomes.

You will always get someone who wants to stop others doing things they probably can’t.
I’m sure ambulances, fire engines, bin wagons, petrol tankers and myriad other vehicles manage with no problems. If someone is incapable of doing things they should not try to discourage others.
I’m not good enough and never have been good enough to climb the North face of the Eiger but I certainly wouldn’t discourage others doing it.
Sure some need rescuing but I don’t see that giving all mountaineers a bad name.

 

[JamesT@Dundee]

Its never mentioned motorhomes.

Though those with extra long MHs towing cars may have pause for thought with "very long vehicles" or "towing caravans". A long MH + car is probably as long as car + caravan.

 

[Northernraider]

Though those with extra long MHs towing cars may have pause for thought with "very long vehicles" or "towing caravans". A long MH + car is probably as long as car + caravan.

Considering the one very long motorhome towing the car was going down the pass and not up it he wouldn't have seen the sign as there is only one sign and its at the bottom of the pass.

 

[gerry mcg]

Considering the one very long motorhome towing the car was going down the pass and not up it he wouldn't have seen the sign as there is only one sign and its at the bottom of the pass.

No excuse.
There are signs at both side
It wasn't teleported to the summit. They drove past a sign

 

[Northernraider]

No excuse.
There are signs at both side
It wasn't teleported to the summit. They drove past a sign

Well if theres a sign at the top its been put there very recently.... And it STILL does not mention motorhomes.

And if they were driving down it they obviously entered applecross from the north ....

They don't need an excuse....as i said before if you aren't confident to drive it don't. Those who are will continue to do so.

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[spikehcm681]

Never seen any sign saying unsuitable for motorhome. Its unsuitable for bad drivers. I can manage just fine


Also fed up hearing this " giving us all a bad name " nonsense

Does a car parking on double yellow lines give all car drivers a bad name?

Course not ....so why is it different for motorhomes?

Perhaps because "we" are an identifiable minority who are perceived as being a nuisance/inconvenience to other road users aka car-drivers.

Cyclists fall into the same category. Carvanners have been a bete-noire to some (J Clarkson?) for years.

My friends who live on the Northern 500 are fed-up with the antics of some motorhomers.

We used to go to Sheildaig regularly (when the small camping place was just that.) A local commented that - going over the Bealach - in fact driving all of that road was a nightmare -"When the Italians arrive in the Summer"

 

[gerry mcg]

Well if theres a sign at the top its been put there very recently.... And it STILL does not mention motorhomes.

And if they were driving down it they obviously entered applecross from the north ....

They don't need an excuse....as i said before if you aren't confident to drive it don't. Those who are will continue to do so.

There is a sign at the bottom of the pass at both sides.
Not at the top. But by definition the must have driven past one of them to get where they are...

 

[glenn2926]

I am trying to overtake a cyclist in busy road, After a while I safely get past.
Stop at some lights
Cyclist overtakes me on the inside.
Lights go green and I am then stuck behind the same cyclist again.
Is the cyclist being anti social?

You can’t overtake on the inside. That’s undertaking, and illegal. So not only is the cyclist being anti social they’re breaking the law.
The only way the cyclist can pass on the inside is if there is a cycle lane. If there isn’t the same rules apply to them as everyone else.

 

[gerry mcg]

You can’t overtake on the inside. That’s undertaking, and illegal. So not only is the cyclist being anti social they’re breaking the law.
The only way the cyclist can pass on the inside is if there is a cycle lane. If there isn’t the same rules apply to them as everyone else.

It would appear "filtering" (I.e passing stationary or slow moving traffic lights on the right or left) on a bicycle or motorcycle is not prohibited by the Highway Code, therefore is not illegal.

Overtaking and Filtering whilst Cycling | Cycle Law

"Whilst neither the law, nor the Highway Code definitively state whether or not filtering by cyclists is legal, it can be inferred from the text of the Highway Code that it is acceptable practice, for example:

Rule 160 states that road users should ‘be aware of other road users, especially cycles and motorcycles who may be filtering through the traffic’ and Rule 88, in relation to manoeuvring, states that road users should take care and keep speed low ‘…when filtering in slow-moving traffic’.
Furthermore, rule 211 says that ‘it is often difficult to see motorcyclists and cyclists, especially when they are filtering through traffic"

 

[glenn2926]

It would appear "filtering" (I.e passing stationary or slow moving traffic lights on the right or left) on a bicycle or motorcycle is not prohibited by the Highway Code, therefore is not illegal.

Overtaking and Filtering whilst Cycling | Cycle Law

"Whilst neither the law, nor the Highway Code definitively state whether or not filtering by cyclists is legal, it can be inferred from the text of the Highway Code that it is acceptable practice, for example:

Rule 160 states that road users should ‘be aware of other road users, especially cycles and motorcycles who may be filtering through the traffic’ and Rule 88, in relation to manoeuvring, states that road users should take care and keep speed low ‘…when filtering in slow-moving traffic’.
Furthermore, rule 211 says that ‘it is often difficult to see motorcyclists and cyclists, especially when they are filtering through traffic"

I am a cyclist and motorcyclist, whilst filtering is perfectly legal it is to be done on the off side just like any other overtake. Why the ones on bikes of the pedalled persuasion think it’s ok on the inside, near side I really don’t know. It’s just dangerous. its no more difficult to go down the off side. Perhaps just like red lights, pavements etc they think the law doesn’t apply to them.

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[gerry mcg]

I am a cyclist and motorcyclist, whilst filtering is perfectly legal it is to be done on the off side just like any other overtake. Why the ones on bikes of the pedalled persuasion think it’s ok on the inside, near side I really don’t know. It’s just dangerous. its no more difficult to go down the off side. Perhaps just like red lights, pavements etc they think the law doesn’t apply to them.

Not certain this is correct (I'm a cyclist and motorcycist too.
On a stationary / slow moving traffic motorway or DC, motorbikes often filter between Lane 1 and 2 or Lane 2 and 3. Not exclusively outside Lane 3.
Filtering does carry risks such as car lane changes, so one has to be hyper aware
The attached link to filtering article by Bennett even shows an image of a motorbike filtering between Lane 2&3 in moving traffic on a motorway

Filtering on your motorcycle【 The laws & Top tips 】

Is it legal to filter? What are the most common filtering crashes? Here’s all your key questions around filtering answered! Plus some handy tips you can apply to your riding.

www.bennetts.co.uk

 

[glenn2926]

Not certain this is correct (I'm a cyclist and motorcycist too.
On a stationary / slow moving traffic motorway or DC, motorbikes often filter between Lane 1 and 2 or Lane 2 and 3. Not exclusively outside Lane 3.
Filtering does carry risks such as car lane changes, so one has to be hyper aware
The attached link to filtering article by Bennett even shows an image of a motorbike filtering between Lane 2&3 in moving traffic on a motorway

Filtering on your motorcycle【 The laws & Top tips 】

Is it legal to filter? What are the most common filtering crashes? Here’s all your key questions around filtering answered! Plus some handy tips you can apply to your riding.

www.bennetts.co.uk

As far as I’m aware filtering between lanes 1+2 is overtaking lane 1 and filtering between lanes 2+3 is overtaking lane 2. Cyclists in general seem to think they are above the law and undertake all vehicles. This is legal if they are in the cycle lane.