This morning's commute and other commuting stories

"3. Road junctions (170 to 183)
170
Take extra care at junctions. You should

watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists, powered wheelchairs/mobility scooters and pedestrians as they are not always easy to see. Be aware that they may not have seen or heard you if you are approaching from behind
watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning.** If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way.**"

Sorry but this is a source of much frustration for me when I'm a ped. You, as a rider or a driver, are entering a new road, of which is in use by a ped. Yes, obviously look to see if cars are flagrantly breaking this rule and are likely to run you down - no one wants that -, but the rule still states, to paraphrase, if you have started to cross you have priority. What if the indicating car is behind you as you look left and right and cross? or perhaps it is behind a bus/line of cars coming the other way? What if it isnt indicating (very likely)? are you just supposed to wait around in the case of a car perhaps turning up? No, this rule exists so you can, after checking both ways, cross the road in safety and approaching road users (who, of course, have slowed down as they are approaching a junction) will give way for you.

Apologies I thought I'd stated that peds always have right of way when crossing the road.

Also, I was referring to when a rider or driver are on a side road approaching a main road to turn L/R, rather than turning into a side road, like the cycle lane junction in question in this scenario - I concede that I also did not make that quite clear.

mistertea is correct. We are very lucky that British law in this respect dates back to the days when the main conflict between road users was between drivers of carriages and people on foot. Sensibly, people on foot have to be considered first and foremost when they're in the carriageway.

http://i.imgur.com/XQHaEpQ.jpg

The modal filter shown is fairly old and a bit of a halfway house. We'd generally recommend the 'Culford filter' now, as seen at the junction of Culford Road and Northchurch Terrace/Road.

Apologies for the pedantic point, but pedestrians are road users. The road or street is comprised of the footway and the carriageway. It's actually a very important distinction to keep in mind, especially if you're campaigning for cycling and walking.

When someone shouts 'get off the road'--you can't, not unless you have a convenient private house, public building or park to dodge into. The road or street is for everybody.

I take your poing about peds being road users, this did come into my head while writing that. 2/10 more research needed by me.

However, I think part of my still point still stands when referring to:

"Sensibly, people on foot have to be considered first and foremost when they're in the carriageway."

As soon as a pedestrian leaves the footway and enters the carriageway they have right of way, but in the junction in question there is no official crossing so right of way would stay with the cyclists until the pedestrian stepped into the road. Who would then decide whether the pedestrian made an unsafe move into the carriageway? I'd always be inclined to slow up to allow a pedestrian to cross on that junction, as I always do when riding or driving, but clearly not many others would.