Post by vjaska on Sept 5, 2014 22:35:34 GMT
Speaking as someone who has cycled on the road for 1/4 of a mile, it puts you in a vulnerable situation where you feel the pressure of cars, buses and even motor bikes on your tail wheel, it is very nerve racking. I don't agree with (nor do I support) skipping red lights it is very dangerous and unfair to pedestrians. I see why cyclist do it cause the cyclist box is not anywhere near a significant head start, but if you can't take the heat get out the kitchen (or in this case get out the road) if your road cycling confidence is low don't be in the road, use a segregated lane or tow paths and this is why I totally agree with the East - West and North - South Cycle Superhighway, it puts cyclist in a safer place where they can't be a nuisance to cars, buses etc.
I can guarantee that there is no false sense of safety in a fully segrated or even semi segrated cycle lane because you are not sharing your road space with larger vehicles it's just with other bikes. When the Cycle superhighways lose there segregation it becomes very dangerous because you're back to the bog standard, in the road lane, which has no protection.
It's unfair to use inaccurate and untrue statistics about skipping lights espically when it's far from true because like many I've seen Buses, Taxi, Cars, Motobikes, even roller skaters (not at the same time) all skip red lights.
I agree though that infrastructure is not the only solution; attitude, infrastructure and punishments are crucial. The needs to be less emphasis on cars more on bikes and buses. The punishment is not one side and focuses on punching cyclist and vehicles, I have no clue how the former will be inforced but more needs to be done.
After the N/S & E/W superhighways are introduced the next infrastructure I personally would like to see is the cycle hire scheme extended out to all areas within zone 3 to encourage urban / suburban to city cycling and Mini Holland to Mini Holland cycling, for those who have not got bikes.
I note the use the phrase 'less emphasis on cars but more on cyclists & buses' - where is the advantages in this scheme for buses?