A very sunny but very windy morning (30mph gusts) was the backdrop to my adventures today. After yesterday’s 40 miles, my sit bones and thighs were both feeling a bit achy and it seemed best to take it easy. So, it was a 26 mile training circuit. All in all a very good ride and I even had cars give way to me on a roundabout. Not once but twice. And I kept to an average moving speed of 14.4 mph.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/29164622
But then there was white van man who I photographed while out riding today – yes that’s him over there on the left. Not that this is a rant about white van man but more a case of why I hate cycle lanes. I have blogged about this before and the hub of my argument is that if I am expected to use a cycle lane, then please make it usable. Do not use it as a car park, jogging track, dog walking area, or for any purpose other than to ride a bike. People moan enough about cyclists riding on pavements well, fair dos, keep out of cycle lanes.
Both the Highway Code and law are quite clear on this:
Rules 140 and 243 of The Highway Code: “Cycle lanes. These are shown by road markings and signs. You must not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable,” and “You must not stop or park on a………cycle lane during its period of operation (or) a cycle track”.
The Road Traffic Act 1988 states quite plainly “§21: Prohibition of driving or parking on cycle tracks: Subject to the provisions of this section, any person who, without lawful authority, drives or parks a motor vehicle wholly or partly on a cycle track is guilty of an offence.”
But do motorists care about parking offences? No of course not. Many think they have a right to park where they want, when they want. Don’t believe me? Just to watch a motorist’s reaction if he gets a parking ticket. That is a ticket for parking illegally!
Of course, if the cycle lane is along the side of the road and has double yellow lines, parking is not allowed – unless you are a disabled driver and have a blue badge, then it is fine.
So how about starting issuing tickets as this wasn’t the only offender. Further on there was a Royal Mail van and two trucks doing exactly the same thing.
So what am I going to do about it?
Why, continue to refuse to use cycle lanes and keep to the road of course!
Looks like this is a regular occurence: