Cyclesafe Sudbury

17/08/2022

Peter Walker, who aside from being Guardian Political Editor is a huge advocate for cycling, takes the frankly bonkers notion of registration of cyclists apart.

He fails to mention that the only country to do it for all cyclists is North Korea.

Transport secretary’s apparent hint at number plates for cycling is met with confusion and criticism

13/06/2022

Come and learn how to fix your own cycle with one to one training from a professional.

02/01/2022

The Highway Code changes on 29th January 2022.
These changes affect all road users.
It establishes the principle of a heirarchy of road users with pedestrians at the top, cyclists second, horse riders third, motorcyclists fourth, car drivers next then van drivers and bus and HGV drivers.

This heirarchy establishes responsibilities towards road users further up the heirarchy and will be used when acertaining who is responsible in collisions.

Some very specific changes that affect cyclists rights but also responsibilities

Specific changes include
Simplifying the rules for non-signalised junctions
New rules to tackle dangerous overtaking and ‘close passes’
The inclusion of the Dutch Reach, to help prevent ‘car-dooring’.

other specific rules relating to cyclists are:
Rule 66 – group riding
Rules 67,72, 213 – road positioning
Rule 140 – priority at cycle tracks, and that cyclists don’t have to use them
Rule 151 – allowing pedestrians and cyclists to cross in front of you in slow moving traffic
Rule 178 – Advanced Stop Lines
Rule 186 – drivers to give priority to cyclists at roundabouts.

Note the government has yet to start publicising these changes.

The full text of all the changes are here:

01/12/2021

How rural roads are becoming more hazardous for cyclists.
This will be of no surprise to some cyclists and some drivers.
More cyclists were killed by drivers in 2020 than in 2019 (and I gather the figures have climbed higher still in 2021).
The problem is that drivers don't drive cautiously enough on rural roads, get surprised by cyclists and in some instances drive aggressively which causes accidents.
How do you solve the issue. Ultimately there are campaigners who are working hard to provide safe cycle routes in rural areas, especially where there is no alternative for a cyclist than to use busy rural roads (there are sections of the A134 that are unavoidable for example). This will take years to accomplish and possibly a change of government as the current one still offers nothing more than pin money funding.
The new Highway Code should in theory help, assuming what it contains is actually passed on to all drivers so they are clear on the new rules (given so many drivers are oblivious to what the current Highway Code says this may also take some time).
So in the meantime we need drivers to change their behaviour.
1) Cyclists are advised, and often trained, not to ride in the gutter. This used to be the advice but is no longer so. A cyclist is advised to ride in one of two positions. Primary position, where the road is narrow or the lane has solid white centre lines which makes it impossible for a driver to overtake a cyclist without endangering the cyclist. Secondary Position: Approximately 70cm to 1m from the kerb, where the road or lane is wide enough for a driver to safely overtake them.
If a driver understands this, then they should not get frustrated by a cyclist holding them up by taking primary position and should patiently wait for the opportunity to overtake.
Rule 163 of the Highway Code is the current advice, the new Highway Code is more flexible.
2) Cyclists can cycle 2 abreast unless the road is far too narrow to make this safe. A driver overtaking a group of cyclists who ride two abreast will find the overtaking maneouvre is shorter and safer when they have sufficient room.
3) A cyclist, even if they don't own or operate a motor vehicle pays just as much for the maintenance of rural roads as drivers do. No motoring taxes or duties are earmarked for roads spending and almost all rural roads are paid for by Council Tax and funding from Central Government. This means all drivers do not have any special rights to use the roads, in fact legally driving a motor vehicle is not a right but a privilege that can and is removed by the Courts or DVLA.
4) Rural roads are hazardous. We all know roads with blind tops of hills where you cannot see what is coming, sharp bends also reducing visibility and often have poor surfaces. If you cannot see what is ahead, slow down, if you have a cyclist ahead of you and can see potholes then be prepared for the cyclist to swerve to avoid these potholes. Cyclists will often avoid puddles on roads, because if it hides a pothole they may well end up crashing or damaging their bike.
Basically, slow down on rural roads. They are often emptier and just slowing down may still get you from A to B than the busier trunk road that you may be avoiding.
All of the above also relates to other vulnerable road users, horse-riders, walkers and mobility scooter users. The new Highway Code introduces a Heirarchy of Road Users, and drivers of motor vehicles are towards the bottom with a duty of care for everyone above.
Killing a cyclist, who may be cycling to work, shops or school or just having a gentle pootle about will ruin the lives of families and friends, and will ruin your life as well. The courts sadly don't punish drivers who fail in the above sufficiently to be a deterrent, but the psychological effects of killing someone by driving too fast, without due care and attention and in breach of the rules, will, I can guarantee, ruin your life.

The number of cyclists being killed on rural English roads rose sharply over the last year.

16/06/2021

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are developing a Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan. As part of this, we want to hear your views on where and how you think improvements could be made to walking and cycling routes in your area.