NC500 now being advertised for Cyclists

[Orion]

I’ll throw my twopenneth in.

I walk, cycle, ride motorcycles, quads (road legal), drive a car, vans (small and large), pickup truck, and (when the thing eventually arrives) will be driving a MoHo.

I believe I have a reasonable appreciation and awareness of other road users and to comment on the ‘cyclists v others’ that the thread appears to have developed into, would offer the following simple observation:

Just this morning I took my usual 5 minute cycle ride from home to our works unit and was nearly knocked off twice! That’s twice in about 3/4 mile on the road in a country market town - not in the middle of a city or suburban setting. Once when someone who’s time is obviously so precious just had to overtake on a blind 90 degree bend, and in cutting across the corner had the choice of either ending up as a bonnet mascot on one of Mr Stagecoaches finest double deckers or pushing me firmly against the kerb. The second occurrence was within 200m at the brow of a hill when Mrs Overtaker had to take avoiding action because, surprise, surprise, other vehicles were suddenly and obviously out of nowhere,coming the other way! Luckily the council have recently trimmed back the bushes on the nearside so I wasn’t forced to do a David Bellamy impression when the wing mirror brushed my arm. Needless to say neither driver showed any sign of acknowledging how close they’d come to causing an accident.

I’ve toured extensively on the continent on two wheels, both muscle powered and ICE, and can honestly say that the standard of general driving and appreciation of other road users (particularly those smaller than themselves) by many car drivers in the U.K. is abysmal.

 

[TDub49]

I never said it wasn't a vehicle - it is (except under certain circumstances where pushing it makes it count as baggage).

Is is NOT a mechanically propelled vehicle, which is what you were claiming.


So parts of the law that apply to all vehicles (horse drawn, whatever) generally apply to bicycles. Parts that are for mechanically propelled or motor vehicles don't. So, for example, a "no vehicles" sign also bans bicycles, a "no motor vehicles" sign doesn't. The earlier link you provided about the rules applying to mechanically propelled vehicles don't apply to bicycles.

It is a common misunderstanding though. As a cyclist it's common to have a motorist yell at you, throw things at you, or aim their vehicle at you for not following a rule that only exists in their head.

Well that was fun wasn't it. I'll give upon now and bow to your superior knowledge and staying power.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I'm on my way. Duck me about and you are toast

 

[mofurt]

Well that was fun wasn't it. I'll give upon now and bow to your superior knowledge and staying power.

Obviously nothing personal was meant, hope you didn't take it that way.

 

[bobnick]

Well that's a cyclist's thread done to death. A doggy one should be along soon

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[Otter Spotter]

Well that's a cyclist's thread done to death. A doggy one should be along soon

Trust me to wind em up

 

[nicholsong]

Well that's a cyclist's thread done to death. A doggy one should be along soon

OK I'll start it off.

Do they do 'dogging' in the Highlands and in particular on the NC 500?

Is that the popularity of the route?

 

[Tio64]

From sheer coincidence, I happen to have found this Facebook page about the NC500. https://www.facebook.com/groups/595039354532848

From this it's clear that there are complaints about cyclists, and complaints about sports cars, and second-homers and tourists in general, but boy oh boy they are REALLY complaining about us motorhomers and camper vans.

Regarding complaints about cyclists causing delays - given the crushing and grinding congestion that us motorists cause, I really do think that complaining about cyclists is somewhat out of order and misplaced.

I keep seeing claims of traffic queues created by cyclists and on this thread is a claim of a bus delayed by 30 minutes due to two cyclists. Now, as we know, in the past 20 years there has been a massive growth in use of dash cams, go-pros and similar devices, and of course the good old smartphone. This has led to unprecedented footage of what goes on on the open road. I have still yet to see a film of a traffic queue that can be attributed to cyclists, but just having a scan of that Facebook page, I have found a couple of videos of queues involving motorhomes.



I do think for any motorist to complain about cyclists delaying traffic is the height of hypocrisy. I also think that as a considerable number of us motorhomers take our bikes with us, I find these repetitive anti-cycling threads to be boring, and anything but FUN.

 

[bobnick]

We wouldn't be British if we didn't moan and complain about something.

 

[PhilMary]

Why oh Why after all these years, has the Health and Safety exec not forced the DOT to ban these buggers off the road and put them into velodromes where they belong...?

Because ignorant car drivers have forgotten that a cycle has the priority.

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