E-Scooters ‘Not Safe’ Without Audible Signals

Yes, audible on e-scooters would be good, but more imoertant is the attitude of the person with the e-scooter for pedestrians.

I say this for my experience of persons on bycylces, some have bells but mainly it is their vocal out bursts. For those I have come across feel they have the right of way be it road or pavement. When I wish to cross a road, I will use a crossing when there is one, but in many instances there are not so I have to cross the road. Now in my 70s I am not as nimble on foot as I used to be and cross where I see the road is clear. But my slownest of step does on some occasions mean traffic may come while I am still crossing, Cars extra will slow down and allow me to cross rather than peeing their car horns, scaring me.

But not so with the cyclists I experience, they do not slow down, they shout very loudly and angrily for me to get out of their way, rather than excepting my slowness of mobility.

You could nargue that they have the right of way on the road and you may be correct, but if they do not show consideration people will get hurt.

But on the pavement, surely the pedestrian have the right of way and I nhave experienced on many occasions, more so han on the road with cyclists shouting and ringing bells, and many occasions when they have not done so, but pass me at speed very close to me, the first I know is when they go flying past.

As yet I have to experience my first encounter, maybe that due to COVID I have not been out for more than a year.

So while bells will be good on e-scooters it is the attitude to other users of the same space, which I feel is way more important.

Same Difference

A visually impaired woman from London says e-scooters are not safe enough to be used across the city as they do not have audible signals.

The signals, which alert pedestrians to the silent e-scooters, will not be installed for at least two months.

Transport for London (TfL) said in May the e-scooters would have audible warning systems that could be used without riders adjusting their grip.

It now says that all e-scooters on the rental scheme are fitted with bells.

The RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) said e-scooters posed potential risks to blind and partially sighted people because “they are fast-moving, difficult to detect, and are often ridden on the pavement despite this being illegal”.

London’s walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, said the trial could not be stopped to fit them.

He said: “We can’t stop the trial before everything is brought in because we need to continue…

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Real reason police stopped crack down on morons on bikes | Daily Mail Online

After a report said penalty notices to cyclists have fallen by two thirds over the past five years, DOMINIC LAWSON says the increase in reporting child sexual abuse may be responsible.

Source: Real reason police stopped crack down on morons on bikes | Daily Mail Online

Cyclists, Are they above the Law?

Cyclists Uphold the law?

This article from The Melanie Phillips column in the Daily Mail is one to which I agree with.

I do not, as some may think, believe that cyclists should not be on the road and that I am against cyclists, I am not.

My belief, is that like all other road users, cyclists should uphold the law and not disregard any that they do not wish to conform to. I myself do not wish to cycle and can not ride a cycle, but I do respect that others do wish to.

Why do some cyclists believe that they do not have to stop at RED traffic lights? I like Melanie have seen cyclist do through red lights at junctions and pedestrian pelican crossings.  Not only are they causing a danger of injury or death to themselves, but to other road users and pedestrians.

Whether they do or not, they give, by these actions, an indication of arrogance and contempt for others.

Some incidents I have noticed some months ago are in a previous post Cyclists and their safety.

What is the answer?

Unlike any other road user in charge of a vehicle, a cyclist is not required to display a number plate, if they did, then it would make reporting the cyclist to the appropriate authorities, normally the police, much easier.  Also a cyclist can proceed to ride on the road without passing a driving test.  This could mean that that there are cyclists in the UK who have no road knowledge at all.

I have just come back from a short holiday in Brugge, Belgium, here you will find that cyclists have been given the right of way.  They can cycle virtually anywhere and all other traffic and pedestrians have to make way for them.  So if you do go to Brugge, be watchful for the cyclists.

So it may be that all the UK cyclists who disregard the UK traffic regulations, think they are in Brugge, Belgium.

Trial scheme to open up Sheffield bus lanes – Green Scene – The Star

Trial scheme to open up Sheffield bus lanes – Green Scene – The Star.

While on the face of it this would appear to be a good idea, why is a trial required, if as they say it is already in force in some other cities.

Are they saying that Sheffield car drivers will be unable to abide by the rules, if so, I think car drivers should be telling the council to think again about a trial.  You either allow it to occur in bus lanes or not.  If you do not, how will car drivers with passengers know if they can go in the bus lane or not.  You may say indicate on a sign, if you do, how many accidents will occur by drivers taking the eyes from the road to read even more wordings on signs.

Some may say it will not work, as some car drivers do not respect the bus lane rules in force at present. I am sure this in only a minority of drivers and why should the majority suffer for the minority.  We do I believe in a democratic country.

Cyclists do need law on helmets – Letters – The Star

Cyclists do need law on helmets – Letters – The Star.

I do not wish to stop people cycling, but all cyclist should realise that they are not exempt from the highway code, but many would think they are.

As for helmets, the helmet is there for the safety of the cyclist. Anyone who does not wear one is not respecting themselves. Do they know that the emergency services can charge people for the cost of attending road accidents. While for any other road user, this would, if charged, be met through their insurance, as many cyclist will not have insurance, this charge would be met by themselves. If the fault of any accident is with another road user, the lack of wearing a helmet could reduce any damages being charged to that road user.

Any adult cyclist who is not safety aware and is not wearing appropriate protection is setting a bad example to the younger generation.

Cyclists and their safety

Before I make my comments I would advise that I am not a cyclist, in fact I can not ride a bike, I tried to ride one in my early teens and fell off and never went on a bike again.  This, however is not a reason for me to not comment on cyclists safety, I am concerned for their safety on the road, as I am for any road user.

Today, at approx 1.30 pm, I was driving in north Derbyshire on the road from Hope to Bamford, in the direction of going to Bamford and at the point where the 50 mile speed limit changes to 40 mile speed limit there are road works, where the traffic follow is controlled by temporary traffic lights, allowing only single lane traffic, for approx 300 – 400 yards.  When the lights changed to green, the traffic started to proceed towards Bamford. At approx. half way into this controlled flow of traffic, what do we see approaching us,, but a cyclist, although in the cycle lane for the direction he was going, it did mean that he had gone through the red traffic light, which was stopping all the other traffic.  To view this cyclist, he was dressed as through he was a seasoned cyclist, as he was in all the right attire.  What concerns me is why he thought that the red traffic light did not apply to him.  The cycle lane was only separated from the roadway by a single white line and it’s width only just sufficient to accommodate the cycle and cyclist.  He was riding as though he had no concern for his own safety from the oncoming traffic.  Only a slight deviation from either the cyclist or any of the vehicles approaching him would have caused a major accident in which many would be injured, if not dead, especially the cyclist.

Currently there is an increase in the amount of cyclists on the road, in some, no doubt, due to the successes of the Tour de France and Olympics. I do not object to the cyclists on the road, but do feel they should abide by the Highway Code.  Unfortunately the law of this country is not currently stating, that cyclists need to know the code or in fact show that they know the code or that the cycles are of road worthy condition. In fact anyone can get on a bike, go on the road with no training and no road sense.

Further on, on the road from Bamford to Hathersage, going to Hathersage, there was 2 or 3 cyclists going towards Hathersage and a car was trying to overtake them.  The car in doing so went into the flow of the oncoming traffic in the drivers frustration to get passed them. The car driver , in this instance should have waited for a suitable gap in the traffic flow approaching and then overtake, which I did.  So before someone says it is not always the cyclists, but mainly the drivers of other vehicles at fault, in most cases I would agree.  All road users need to show more consideration for their fellow road users and in doing so, the roads would be much safer for all concerned.

If any cyclists or in fact, any interested party read this, please see the following:

General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders (103-158)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069856

Cyclists

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/Cyclists/index.htm

Signals (103-112)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070289

109

Traffic light signals and traffic signs. You MUST obey all traffic light signals (see ‘Light signals controlling traffic’) and traffic signs giving orders, including temporary signals and signs (see ‘Signs giving orders’, ‘Warning signs’, ‘Direction signs’). Make sure you know, understand and act on all other traffic and information signs and road markings (see ‘Signs giving orders’, ‘Warning signs’, ‘Direction signs’, ‘Information signs’, ‘Road markings’ and ‘Vehicle markings’).

[Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10, 15, 16, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 36, 38 & 40]

You and your bicycle

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069866

Rules for cyclists (59-82)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/travelandtransport/highwaycode/dg_069837

REMEMBER the Highway Code is there for all road users to follow and to do so, is in the interests of safety for all concerned.