Highway Code petition please sign and forward

copied from the BC site:

Several members have been in touch with us asking us to back an on-line petition against revisions of the Highway Code which are likely to affect cyclists.

This is the outline of the thinking behind the petition and it's one we're sure many members would be very keen to support:

"The new highway code requires cyclists to use cycle facilities 'wherever possible'. Many facilities are of poor standard, or just plain dangerous. cyclists should not be forced to use such facilities against their better judgment. In short, cyclists should be allowed to use the road."

British Cycling believes that we need to protect the right to ride and race bicycles on the highway whether for sport, active recreation and transport. We also need to promote mutual respect amongst all road users to ensure that the we create a safe environment for the most vulnerable users. Plus we should encourage the development of complimentary traffic free cycling networks and facilities as these will encourage more people to participate in cycling as a sport, as active recreation and as active living.

For your chance to sign the petition, please visit: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/roads4bikes/

done it

there was an article from Matt Seaton in the Guardian about this today.

guardian article

Done it.

Me too. I hate this attitude. Cars always have right of wayover bike, peds are fine to walk all over the place without looking, but bike have to go alround the houses to avoid everyone. It is only ok to cylce if you cause everyone else zero incovenience.

it's bullshit innit.
the era of the motor car is ending, and they just won't fuckin admit it.

a million mugs all sitting in jams every morning can't be wrong.

bikes should be allowed on everything and everywhere FFS, most pavements are massive enough. But oh no, far too many angelic pedestrains have been "nearly run over" by those cyclist scum.

do the same people complain that they are "nearly run over" by about 20 cars whenever they cross the road?

how many more people have to die because of this country's blinkered approach to transport?

I'm so angry now I need to hit something

don't the last time I did that I snaped knuckle!

oh yeah!

I need to go punch fat people. in the guts.

fucking done!!! some twat in a big fucking merc tried to run me over today,i was mildly annoyed.......

Done it. Cycle tracks or other such "facilities" are always covered in parked cars or used by pedestrians. The road surface is never as good as the road and basically just slows you down. If it comes down to it, I'm willing to pay some form of cyclist road tax in order to claim my right to the road.

Signed.

I also wrote to my MP using this link in asking them to sign an early morning motion

http://www.writetothem.com/

From moving target man Buffalo Bill

http://www.movingtargetzine.com/article/cyclists-to-be-banned-from-using-the-road

"Cyclists to be banned from using the road
11.05.07 by Buffalo Bill

Use this - or else!
OK, that’s an exaggeration. But it’s not far from the truth. The Highway Code is currently being revised. And those nice men at the ministry have decided to insert a clause recommending that cyclists use cycle routes and cycle facilities…wherever possible, as they can make your journey safer. Moving Target reported on why this could be a threat to cyclists’ safety last year.

Whilst the Highway Code does not have the force of law, it carries considerable weight with the courts when deciding where responsibility for collisions lie. It has been argued in the past by insurance companies that cycling on a busy fast road is contributory negligence ie simply riding a bike in heavy traffic is stupid, and therefore, as a stupid person, an injured cyclist is not entitled to full compensation.

If the new Highway Code includes this clause, then it will be possible for the insurers, and the lawyers of defendants in prosecutions for criminal driving, to argue that as the HC instructs cyclists to effectively stay off the road ‘whereever possible’, then motorists should not be held responsible for the consequences should cyclists be so unwise as to continue to occupy the hallowed tarmac.

another world-class cycling facility

I think bike lanes are ludicrous, unsafe and merely an attempt to keep us out of the road. Bicycle messengers rarely use them. I rarely use them. Anyone with any sense rarely uses them, unless they are a Bromptonocrat, in which case they take whatever ridiculous detour is required to follow them with glee, enthusiastically dismounting where instructed and joyously halting at all the nonsensically sited yield signs.

The Cyclists Touring Club and others are petitioning the Department of Stupid Ideas to get the clause dropped. Previous attempts to reason with the Ministry of Madness have resulted in the word ‘practical’ being changed to ‘possible’. I strongly recommend all MT readers to sign one of the on-line petitions.
this is where you belong!
I have received 3 or 4 different emails on the subject in the last 24 hours from such diverse sources as ‘Headbanging’ Bob Davis and Winston, urging action. Matt Seaton spoke out against the amendment yesterday in his ‘Two Wheels’ column, and Will Self, despite dividing the London cycling community, did likewise in the Standard. I am not aware of a single organisation representing cyclists that approves of the change.

So what is the Department for Increasing Carbon Emissions playing at? I read somewhere that there is not a single cyclist working in the Highway Code revision bit of the Department for Transport. Maybe that’s why they are unable to comprehend that pavements are for pedestrians, gutters are for sewage and that the safe and direct route from A to B is not around the bloody houses.

Menzies Campbell, leader of the Literal Demagogue party, has put down an Early Day Motion (I have no idea what it means either) that the alterations in the provisions of the Highway Code proposed to be made by the Secretary of State for Transport, dated 28th March 2007, a copy of which was laid before this House on 28th March, be not made.

In layman’s language, this translates to don’t be so stupid, you fing muppets, do you take us for complete cs?

If you really want to make a difference, you can also write to your MP (even if you didn’t vote for him/her or are not registered to votein the UK), and insist that they sign the motion.

Here is what the Cycle Campaign Network has to say on the subject of lobbying MPs:

Particularly if you are writing to a Labour MP , it is worth mentioning that the cycling organisations are still in dialogue with officials and hope that the Government may yet agree to revise the Highway Code – hence they may be paving the way for a ‘good news’ announcement from the Minister.

For MPs of all parties, please also ask them to speak to their party colleagues in the Lords to ask them also to ‘pray against’ the Highway Code. For procedural reasons, the Code is far more likely to be challenged effectively in the Lords than in the Commons.

Once again: sign the petition. Write to your MP.

If you want to know more, download the Cycle Campaign Network pdf"

i often used to cycle back from brentford to hayes late using the cycle path (only when pissed mind) had a bunch of punctures, fell into 4 ditches when they put in cable or whatever street lights on that side often not working.. had a large truck driver leap out the cab when i was passing straight on top of me, nearly ran over a small child running around the car, the lane is in the middle of a pavement and the car parking area..stupid.....so riding along these at 20 mph is not a good idea.
stopped using it about about 6 years ago... no punctures since no accidents (touches wood) but yet still get yelled at by drivers for not using the fucking cycle path......

Ha! I lived in West Drayton for two years and would ride along the Uxbridge road some times to see friends a truly horible rode.

even worse carrying on into southall, use that road everyday

.