Last week our article about drivers receiving fines for making way for ambulances received the highest response we have ever had from an article (99,000 visits). We are delighted with the comments, which in our view are better than the story, so please keep them coming. Clearly the topic was one that gripped the attention of our members!
To follow on from this, new research from the College of Paramedics indicates that segregated cycle lanes across Britain impede ambulances and put lives at risk. The cycle lanes are also a cause of congestion on Britain’s roads.
A segregated cycle lane has a concrete kerb alongside it to stop drivers from veering into it. This means that when the emergency services need vehicles to move aside, they are unable to do so. Segregated cycle lanes directly hinder ambulances and other emergency vehicles from passing drivers, by boxing vehicles in the road.
A more widespread rollout of segregated cycle lanes across Britain is in the pipeline. However, paramedics are warning that such a move could lead to lives being lost. They argue that the concrete curb makes it much more difficult for motorists to move out of the way when they see the flashing blue lights of the emergency services.
Regional variations
Segregated cycle lanes have been implemented across most of Britain’s major cities, including London, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh. Local councils in many other towns and cities have already agreed to take part in similar projects. However, not all have fully considered the potential impact on the emergency services.
A spokesman for the College of Paramedics states,
“For some of the most critical emergency patients, such as those suffering cardiac arrest, every minute added to the time it takes to reach a hospital can significantly reduce the chances of survival. For instance, in Manchester there are many cycle lanes close The Royal Manchester children’s hospital and some lanes in London are close to St Thomas’s Hospital.”
The College of Paramedics is now calling for town planners to reconsider introducing segregated cycle lanes.
Does segregation save lives or cost them?
Fully segregated lanes were introduced in London after the number of cyclists killed on they city’s roads peaked in the years 2001 and 2005. 21 cyclists died in each of those years. Since then, the number of deaths has declined steadily, to a 22-year low in 2015.
This news comes at an interesting time. Last week we reported on GEM’s Blue Light Aware push for motorists to understand how they can help emergency services vehicles. It seems that the issue of impeding ambulances is one that is gaining in momentum and it will be interesting to see how local councils react to this.
Do you agree with the calls by the College of Paramedics to stop the rollout of segregated cycle lanes? Let us know in the comments section below.
Image credit: Pixabay
As an example we live in Enfield Nth London the council were granted £30 million plus to implement segregated cycle lanes & create a mini Holland in our town centre. The cycle lanes being built have either kerbs or (the only way i can explain it is) big sticky up cats eyes that we certainly wouldnt want to drive over & posts on the corners of side roads to stop you turning into a side rd too tightly, but these do not stop the cyclists ride straight past as your turning, (& like not stopping at red lights & going up the inside of HGVs they wonder why they get knocked off.) The council in their wisdom have also extended bus stops out into the road, i.e. making it impossible to pass a stationary bus at a bus stop on the main highway, making it even harder for emergency vehicles to get past & also adding to all this congestion & pollution that Silly Sadiq keeps going on about. First we had Bumbling Boris (a 2ft Orangutan puppet wearing a Hi-vis jkt on the front of my motorbike, which appeared in the Evening Standard.) Now we have Silly Sadiq, (a Droopy Tiger soft toy nailed to our front side fence) Why a Tiger, as in The Jungle Book film with Shere Khan the brave intelegent tiger. (well no resemblance there then!)
So if you all want a driving experience never to forget & something you can boast about to your Grandkids & slag off to your local councillors & MPs (should the occasion arise) so you know exactly what to expect & what you are talking about, heres an invitation to come over to Enfield Please & see for yourselves what its going to do for you, cos by god it aint done nothing for us. Please drive on Green Lanes from the A406 (Nth Circular Rd) to Enfield Town. (we have a mkt thurs fri sat) A good excuse for all you MPs in your chauffeur driven jags to come & view what you have done to a nice on the edge of Londons green belt but just urban town. And we hope you choke on the fumes that you’ve caused our cars to give off. An even better thought come on this Bank holiday for The Enfield Pagent of Motoring, (got to see how Green Lanes copes with this lol) Mr Khan i dare you to come & see what these so called bright ideas are doing! Make sure its in rush hour. P.S. we’ve only seen one pushbike use the lane, the rest still ride on the pavement.
Yes. As a cyclist commuter who rides 60 to 100 miles a week, I would say: stop building segregated cycle lanes. In fact, stop creating cycle lanes at all because if not segregated they are useless anyway. At least cyclists will carry on getting killed therefore emergency services will still have work to do. Makes sense.
it is not just the cycle lanes that are causing problems for emergency services its also bus lanes where the buses that pass each hour are in single figures along with speed humps and chicanes when will the councils realise that they do not work also the fact that they have people in charge of the highways that do not have a clue what they are doing get experts in
basingstoke to city road morefields eye 3 and a 1\2 hours ? my wife arrived late
The potential for deaths caused by slightly delayed ambulances getting to hospital has to be weighed against the reduction in deaths caused by the population becoming fitter because increasing numbers of people are taking up cycling.
Get a lot more people out of their vehicles and onto bikes Also Park & Ride..Solves congestion more room on the roads for Emergency vehicles..Sorted
The potential for accident/injury/deaths reductions by introducing segregated cycle lanes far outweighs the possible hazard of slightly increased journey times for blue light vehicles. Add into that the health benefits, pollution reduction etc etc from increased commuting by bike and it becomes a very obvious and correct policy to pursue, one which many European countries adopted years ago. For the doubters try visiting anywhere in Holland Denmark, most cities in Germany just for starters.
I don’t think councils have thought out the problems segregated bike lanes would cause, or have caused. In Leeds there are so many narrow lanes, some marked off for cyclists, and this makes it impossible or extremely difficult to pass, not only for large vehicles but cars as well. As noted by Peter Smith many cyclists do not follow the rules of the road, particularly at traffic lights, thereby causing hold-ups and other problems for vehicular traffic. To deal with those damages to cars where cyclists disappear before a driver can get to them, perhaps cyclists should be required to have large identification plates at the rear.
Also, maybe pavements could have bike lanes on roads or streets that are narrow. Emergency vehicles absolutely need room to pass. I have noted that some cars fail to pull over to allow this!
The College of Paramedics should feel thoroughly ashamed at peddling this nonsense. Cycling is part of a healthier lifestyle that should be encouraged. Don’t blame cycling for traffic congestion. In any case, as a driver as well as a cyclist, I always get out of the way of any ambulance responding to an emergency – so do all other drivers that I have come across.
we the motorists have to pay to use the roads but cyclists get away free, when they start to pay then maybe they should be allowed on the roads AFTER they have shown they know how to obay the rules of the road,for instance a RED traffic light means STOP not GO & it is very dangerous to ride down the INSIDE of a large truck or bus,not a good idea as you can & some do get hurt or killed, oh sorry I forgot that is the fault of the driver.Yes I am a driver but I also rode to work on a bike for some years & on a motorbike in the past & I know the rules of the road apply to ALL forms of transport.
Why do we over and over have to put up with the same silly, nonsensical, arbitrary rant according to which ‘the driver pays for the road and the cyclist doesn’t so why should bikes be allowed on the road?’ This is the reason why so many cyclists get hurt or killed: motorists having that belief that the road belongs to them only. Has it ever crossed your mind that many cyclists, also own a car, sometimes like myself, two? Are you going to tax children because they cycle to school? should wheelchair users use the road because pavements are for pedestrians? Shall I carry on saying stupid things like you do to make my point? I think not. Remember though that if you are paying for NHS cover, part of it goes for treating people who can’t afford it. Will you stop contributing to the NHS because it’s YOUR money and only you should benefit from it?
When cycling myself I see cyclists jump the red traffic lights and it annoys me because they give a bad name to ALL cyclists and allow motorists to think that cyclists should not exist. As for cyclists riding down the inside of large vehicles, it is a non-topic: they make the choice to do it and they put theirs and no one else’s lives at risks.
There is no such thing as Road Tax!!!!!
Apart from the fitness benefits from cycling – which is optional, and the related reduction in pollution/congestion, segregating cyclists will stop them being casualties for said ambulances. I am a commuter cyclist, and although I’ve not used a segregated cycle lane, it must be safer than sharing with the road traffic and equally safer than cycle paths shared with pedestrians on their mobile phones!
A concrete kerb is not a well thought out solution though for the emergency vehicles, maybe a bump, similar to those severe plastic speed bumps, would allow traffic to move out of the way for blue lights, but be enough of a reminder for then that it is for cyclists. Of course this is assuming the road is wide enough in the first place for a cycle lane.
Where a segregated cycle lane starts it should have a sign saying CYCLES And EMMERGENCY VEHICLES ONLY. Please note CYCLISTS should dismount and move their cycle onto footpath to allow Emergency Vehicles PRIORITY right of way.
Then the Emergency Vehicles could run with their nearside (Kerbside) wheels within the cycle lane and cars etc could move out towards the centre of the road (as half of them do anyway) and allow clear passage up the nearside of the road for the Emergency Services.
Also, as cars etc are not allowed to drive within the first two feet (600mm for foreigners) of the carriageway when designated as a cycle path (dimensions approximate), THEN cyclists should not be allowed to ride outside of that measurement on ALL roads so that car and van drivers can get past them without knocking them off.
Hove & Brighton have these curbs separating the road & cycle lanes causing the same problem for these emergency vehicles.
Also in hove we have cycle lanes going directly through where people stand at Bus stops waiting for Buses, how illogically STUPID is that!!
BUT then, Councils don’t work on a logical Level, well not in Brighton & Hove, anyway…..
As usual the motorist is penalised, we pay to use the roads, we have to have insurance to use the roads, the cyclists are given their own lanes free of charge and id they damage any body’s vehicle as they plough through red lights well that’s just tough for the motorist claim off your own insurance. Cyclists above a certain age should have a certificate of competency before being allowed on the road and they should definitely have to buy insurance to cover the damage they cause to property and the pedestrians they some times knock over. Also how about paying some thing towards all these cycle lanes that only they can use.
It is about time cyclists and councils were controlled.They are the cause of most accidents on town and village roads.Mainly because of there lack of thought for the rest of the road users.As others have stated they belive that the rules of the road do not apply to the.Councils through there lack of planning have made the situation worst.It is about time cyclists have to carry insurence and above a certain age pass a test to prov that they are safe to ride on the road.
As both a cyclist and a car owner, I find it very difficult to take seriously people who claim that cyclists don’t pay for roads. Of course they do, exactly the same amount as car drivers. VED does not pay for roads, council tax does. As for segregated cycle lanes, I’m not sure about them, ideally people would learn to share existing roads safely.
Another option would be to provide bus, cycle, ambulance lanes.
VED may not directly pay for the roads but you sure as hell have to pay it to be able to use your vehicle on that road, and I have yet to hear of cyclists having to pay for the privilege of driving on what are fast becoming 3rd world dirt tracks.
Of course! Cyclists are the problem! Why didn’t I think of that…
Or possibly it’s partly due to many people driving unnecessarily large cars these days and on top of that being clueless about when and how to move aside for the emergency services.
Although I will say that the ideal solution would be some kind of network of elevated bridge cycle lanes, especially in the areas where the emergency services are most likely to be impeded.
so I take it the nut case cyclist that dart and wobble about all over the place hardly paying any attention to cars let alone the size of them , as though they’re the only ones on the road ,I pay over a £1000 each year to be able to drive my car on the road , do cyclists have to pay that ? cyclist should move out of the way of cars , not hold them up which leads to more traffic congestion
You mean you pay over £1000 a year to drive a large, poluting monster if your Tax costs that much. Wow, love these daft comments.
Further to Mr Smith’s comments, I too live in the Enfield area and often have to use Green Lanes. The work involved has taken several months, traffic lanes are greatly reduced, and the subsequent delays and congestion have added to the poor air quality as a result of increased fumes. The irony of the situation is that, when we do see cyclists (not often), they ride on the pavement or the road, completely ignoring all those expensive cycle lanes installed for their benefit! I am cynical about the so-called health and financial benefits of cycling, especially when said cyclists take absolutely no notice of road rules. My guess is that they are the ones who need the (delayed) ambulances as a result of their lack of respect for road rules and road users. (Another irony!) I agree they should be registered, tested and insured like other road users – it might make them more aware of their responsibilities in this respect.
A few years ago, our local council spent a considerable sum, widening footpaths and incorporating cycle lanes into them, a good idea, however, there are a significant number of cyclists (usually the Lycra wearing variety) often without lights, who refuse to use them and persist on cycling on the road. The council also put pedestrian refuges every couple of hundred yards, thereby reducing the width of the road to an extent that it’s impossible to safely overtake a cyclist who is using the road. This leads to vekicles either accelerating past the cyclist and cutting in at the last second to avoid the pedestrian refuge or a queue of traffic building up behind said cyclist.
I pay Council Tax, I also pay VED, I have to buy Insurance and pay Insurance Tax, plus I pay a small fortune (actually, not that small) per year in Fuel Duty, oh I nearly forgot, VAT on all of them. Yet if a cyclist runs into me, it appears to be my fault and I have to pay for my own repairs??? How is that fair? Cyclists should be responsible for their own Health and Safety, they know that in a collision with a vehicle , that they are going to come off second best, so why not ride defensively. A couple of days ago, I passed a cyclist, on the road rather than the cyclepath, he was riding without using his hands whilst talking on a mobile phone, which was unusual, because he normally rides with headphones on, thereby ensuring that he cannot hear traffic.
I have been in the situation of being expected to go into a bus lane by Ambulance and go across a red light by Police. (whilst in his car not out on the road). On both occasions it was made very clear that I should do as instructed. Thinking quickly I reasoned that I would be possibly be wrong whatever I did. Looking for the least worse option I thought that if it resulted in an accident with another vehicle I would not be covered by insurance (and my premium would increase considerably, I would be personally responsible for the repair of both vehicles, injury of any people involved and the possibility of having to go to Court. I opted for the ‘stay where I am’ option as being the least worse for me.
For those that think cyclist don’t pay their fair share of income tax. How are the roads funded?
In regard to the road being blocked and prventing emergency services getting through, the road would still be blocked without cycle lanes due to poor driving. I drive, I like driving and I drive a lot during the working day and I see many examples of poor driving and poor driving when it comes to emergency vehicles.
This is a very irresponsible article and I feel that the whole story hasn’t been published.
It is well known that anti-cycling stories will bump up page hits and discussion, usually with an ugly ending.
So car drivers, please use your indicators, please use your rear view mirrors before changing lanes, please stop jumping red lights, please stop entering box junctions if your exit isn’t clear except when turning right, please stop parking where the hell you like, please stop opening your doors into traffic, please stop jumping queues and screwing up motorways, please stop driving badly. Then, and only then can you criticise cyclists otherwise shut up…
And as for insurance for cyclists, I agree, it would be a good idea. I think it should be applied to pedestrians too as they can do damage to others and to precious vehicles.
And finally, please pass cyclist with the required minimum of 1.5m, while understanding that we can, and indeed should, ride 0’5m from the kerb. Understand that we legally can take primary position and punishment passes make you look silly.
If you had done this in the first place instead of killing cyclists, then there wouldn’t be a need for segregated cyclepaths. 😉
Hi Simon.
Well, I can clearly see which side of the fence you sit, and you are correct that the behaviour of SOME car drivers leaves a lot to be desired, however, I MUST add to this the failings of cyclists, as you have neglected to do.
How about jumping red lights, ignoring pedestrian crossings, thus ‘buzzing’ pedestrians already on the crossing, undertaking and not taking into account whether you can be seen by the driver, riding two or more abreast, travelling the wrong way up one way streets, and just a general arrogance on the road.
Oh, and yes, AS CYCLISTS, you do NOT contribute to the upkeep of the roads, yet you tent to moan the loudest at the poor quality of our roads.
Need I go on……….
Hi Michael,
Just to point out that:
a) Cyclists do contribute to the upkeep of roads. The upkeep of roads is funded from Council Tax. VED taxation goes straight to the exchequer’s coffers, not your local authority, and total VED taxation is nowhere near enough to fund the upkeep of roads in any event. You will also be aware that car drivers do not pay any VED if their vehicles are low emissions (like bicycles..).
I write this in the full knowledge that it probably won’t stop you from peddling your ignorance regardless.
b) You’re a moron.
Kind Regards
Hi Michael,
I love these debates because of the blinkers. Perhaps you missed the bit where I mentioned that I drive, and I drive considerable mileage on a daily basis. My side is that of a car driver, a cyclist, a pedestrian and human being.
I love the “some” argument as a way of saying that a few drivers are bad while hinting that more than “some” cyclists are bad. That one always gets me.How dare I criticise drivers?
Now, to pick up on a few of you inacurracies.
“How about jumping red lights, ignoring pedestrian crossings, thus ‘buzzing’ pedestrians already on the crossing, undertaking and not taking into account whether you can be seen by the driver, riding two or more abreast, travelling the wrong way up one way streets, and just a general arrogance on the road.
Oh, and yes, AS CYCLISTS, you do NOT contribute to the upkeep of the roads, yet you tent to moan the loudest at the poor quality of our roads.
Need I go on……….”
And taking from your post.
1. Many cars jump red lights, in fact I’d say that at most sets I come to cars are jumping reds and generally making congestion in city centres worse. I see this at all sets of lights, that’s right ALL!
2. We have a camera fitted to view the pedestrian crossing near where I live due to the speed and lack of respect drivers give pedestrians. I’ve had them shouting at me for slowing them down.
3. undertaking is not illegal, it’s called filtering. You can even do it in the car.
4. Drivers need to be more vigilant when driving, if they have trouble seeing other road users, perhaps they should reconsider whether they should be driving.
5. Two abreast is not illegal and it’s a lot safer for the impatient car driver to ovetake a bunch rather than a string. Safer for the cyclists too. Far better for the driver to be patient though…:/
6 You say that cyclist DO NOT PAY for the upkeep of the roads. I don’t think I mentioned my employment, so how do you know? THE UPKEEP OF THE ROADS COMES FROM INCOME TAX….. LOOK IT UP. 🙂 AND YES, AS A CYCLIST I PAY EXACTLY THE SAME % VED AS CAR DRIVERS. Cycles just have zero emissions, that’s all. How do you feel about VED free cars? Should they be kicked off the roads.
7. I bet cyclists aren’t the biggest moaners of road contitions, admit it, they are pretty crap though. Perhaps they should increase Council Tax…
I’m also trying to work out which other rights I have where I need a test and licence.
The roads are for sharing. So learn to bloody share them.
Go to a country like Belgium and see how traffic is managed correctly.
There is a clear order of priority: pedestrians first, then cyclists and then motor vehicles.
EVERYBODY respects each other and the rules of the road.
I don’t cycle in this country because “I prefer to live”. We put our bikes on the back of our car and head to Belgium. There cycling is pleasurable and really safe.
So what is need s a change of attitude by all road users and enforcement of the rules of the road against all who transcend the rules.
Instead of having segregated cycle lanes on our roads, how about segregated cycle lanes on the pavements, as the majority of cyclists appear to be using pavements anyway.
Solves many problems at once!
What a sad state of affairs we have , people ranting on about cyclists stating this and that , will you please all read your highway code and look at the rules and regs regarding overtaking and passing. With regards to road tax there is no such thing albeit the term is still used. Road tax was phased out in 1937. I am a cyclist and a driver I drive for a living so I think I do contribute to the upkeep of the roads. What we need is an education programme for everyone so we appreciate the needs of all. As for riding a segregated pavement lane this is more dangerous than riding the road. I love driving I love cycling please lets do it in a manner so we all survive. By the way I am insured for my bike but to enforce such a thing would be impossible.
Here is a novelty idea – Cyclists having to make a contribution to the roads – like Road Tax and having to have Third Party Insurance. I am fed up with us pandering to bleating cyclists who pay nothing to society for the use and indeed misuse of the roads, pavements and traffic signals. I was told years ago – if you do not vote you can not complain about the politicians that are elected. Likewise if you do not contribute to to using the roads then stop bleating.
I’m a cyclist and a motorist – I enjoy both and recognise that each has its place.
The mentality that persists against cyclists is a matter of numbers – when cyclists start to outnumber motorised vehicles (as they do in places like Copenhagen, Amsterdam and even Cambridge to a certain extent), then the “better than thou” attitude of motorists starts to dissipate…
As has already been correctly stated, cyclists (and the tarmac they use) have every bit as much right to be there as motorised vehicles, in fact arguably more so as they don’t pollute. Roads are the responsibility of the Highways Agency and County Councils (depending on the type of road), so everyone who pays Council / Income Tax funds road developments. VED is simply your licence to drive a polluting vehicle – it offers no rights over cyclists.
Traffic management planners do not do the planning anymore they use a computer to do it for them Computers cannot think or use common sense but do everything on the data put into them The data is quite often put in as average conditions when conditions are never average but one extreme or the other Get the planners back planning by going out and watching things not justr inputting rubbish into their computer Which then does not come up with the correct answer for the situation That’s why many silly decisions and made now and every day
It is about time that cyclists made a contribution to using the roads and cycle paths they contribute a total of zero. They pay no road tax no insurance and are often very rude. Tax and insurance should be totally compulsory right across the u.k.. Also while I am having a rant how about taxing foreign road users with a vignette, the same as we have to pay when we drive abroad. Our governments are all to wet on these issues. Pastor Gordon.
Indeed – Insurance should be compulsory for cyclists.
I agree; we have to pay tolls or buy vignettes abroad to travel on many of the best roads, lets have the same for vehicles coming here.
The fact is the cvcles and vehicles various are here to stay and share whatever roadways there are. The roadways and the traffic systems need to be completely redesigned and this will take quite a while. We need cycle roads and separated vehicle roads. This will cost time and money. Since this is for the benefit of both types road user I can not see why both types of user should not contribute to this long term aim. Motorists already contribute enough to the government for the use of the roads that currently exist. It seems reasonable to me that cyclists should now contribute as well. Perhaps a dedicated fund for the improvement of roads to a standard acceptable to both cyclists and other road users is required. I would suggest a bicycle tax for this purpose, or legally enforceable cyclist insurance scheme.
So in addition to paying two lots of road tax for my cars, perhaps a motorcycle too, you now wish me to contribute some further tax because I choose to bike to work. Wow what an incentive, I’ll just jump in the car and add to the queues!
If you want an updated system such as they have in Belgium someone has to pay for it. If you want to ride a bike you should contribute. As a motorist you already contribute.
As a motorist and a cyclist segregation saves lives and pavements are no place to be. Roads with no segregated lanes don’t prevent motorists from mounting a kerb so why should this be any different? People need to learn to coexist and stop bashing each other!
The point here is not if car drivers or cyclist are causing issues, a minority of both are if the truth be known. It is about EVERYONE to stop to try and get from A-B in record time, being considerate of all road users at all times, planning ahead and being the best road user you possibly can. Weirdly enough this would help reduce journey times and therefore congestion, use less fuel so be better environmentally and be less stressful, cause less accidents so have less need for emergency services. Then the gaps for drivers to move out of the way into for the ES when needed would naturally appear.
The idea to charge cyclist is ridiculous. What about children, do they get charged. Road tax is now about how polluting your car is so a bike wouldn’t qualify anyway and its your council tax that pays for the (non) upkeep of roads anyway. Also most cyclists own cars so are infact contributing in this way already (although nothing to do with road maintenance around towns and cities).
Only once driving standards are greatly improved by most (including me at times) then there would be no need for dedicated cycle lanes ( which I think is a good idea but impracticle to implement in the UK without redesigning the roads) and a 1 meter space at the curbside is plenty as long as drivers keep out of it and only enter it once checking their mirrors and blind spot for cyclists.
There is no such thing as undertaking on a push bike, (a comment further up th thread) that’s the whole point of biking to work, cyclists don’t have to queue in traffic.
I am both a cyclist and a car driver in Portsmouth area and the standard of driving here is particularly bad. Until both parties learn respect for the other things won’t improve because ignorant car drivers will blame the bikes, and bad cyclists will blame the car drivers with their selfish and narrow minded points of view.
Remember, the bike was around long before the car.
Cyclists pay tax like all workers and therefore contribute to the upkeep of our roads as much as drivers do. Fortunately cycles don’t contribute as equally to the congestion and the pollution that kills and disables the population and causes much of the work the NHS now has.
We currently need motorised transport to support the civilisation that we currently have. We need to decide whether this is sustainable in the long term, or whether we now need to change for the better. This means we ALL need to change, and ensure the government, NGOs and councils implement policies that support sustainable transport FOR ALL, including goods and services that we need. It will take time, but the more people that buy in to sustainability, the more will be persuaded it is the best way forward.
Well guys get over it!
Where I ride my bike in York, you are lucky to have worn-out dotted line protected you… and don’t get me going on potholes that drivers don’t see but bicyclers feel every one…..
Until we taxpayers are prepared to invest in a proper infrastructure for bikes and public transport we will stay in the Middle Ages… I never saw this problem in Denmark, but guess what, their taxes are even higher than UK.
BTW I drive a diesel that I’m just waiting for Mrs M to pay me for…..
Biased, unreasoned articles like this Really get me annoyed.
Has anyone who complains about segregated cycle lanes ever thought about the Fact that the space taken by every car on the road will accommodate 4 cyclists, and that those 4 cyclists, if they choose to drive their cars will be putting the complaining motorist 4 cars back in the queue at the traffic light or road junction that they’re stuck at? If all those cyclists using that annoying cycle lane get in their cars to travel how the heck is that going to add to the efficient flow of traffic and the progress of the moaning ambulance driver? Please explain!
And as for poor ambulance drivers, not able to get past all the Cars that are in his way because the bottle-neck of rush-hour traffic won’t move (nothing really to do with a cycle lane – traffic’s been getting worse all of my 58 years and cycling will stop it getting even worse still in the future) how about the Fact that if if I don’t ride my bike to make my journey, I’m sat down in a car, train or bus, taking more space than I need to, adding to atmospheric pollution and causing some child or adult asthma that may lead to a premature death. In addition to that I’m potentially adding to my own risk of ill health by being sedentary, adding to my own risk of heart disease, diabetes etc.
Could it be possible that as I don’t drive my car for most journeys I make I’m potentially saving that ambulance driver the inconvenience of other emergency call outs, either for myself or some victim of my exhaust pipe effluent, no? Has anyone ever thought that ceaseless pandering to the needs of unthinking car drivers is slowly throttling the way this nation moves and that we now need to go ‘back to the future’?: to a time when most people walked and cycled an we were all a damn sight less obese, sclerotic and asthmatic?
Subliminal, anti-cycling propaganda articles like this are so retrogressive! When you, PetrolPrices.com and other pro-motoring journals, Clarkson-like in your disdain for other road users, adopt a knee-jerk anti-cycling reaction, please consider that you are potentially stirring up unjustified anger, as seen in the form of verbal abuse and at other times physical assaults on bike riders. When printing articles that put forward only one (often biased or even bigoted) view, you are also holding back progress to a cleaner, healthier and much more sustainable way of living.
Finally, it would be nice if those who express the sort of opinions in this article would bear in mind that most cyclists are also car owners and income tax payers and as such have paid for the road system in this country all their lives. As such we are also entitled to have a road system that is planned and built to accommodate our needs as cyclists as well as a car drivers.
Tim, you miss one thing out.
Town plans separate leisure, work, housing and retail. We have to travel from one to the other to live. Do your shopping in a retail park and you will have too much to carry by hand or on a bicycle – solution? The Car!!
Mix these areas up and people do not need to travel the same.
This change in town planning needs to start now because it is long term and it will cost billions. Use a bicycle or an electric car (pollutes at the power station) is fiddling with the edges. We do it but it is not a solution.
Here here!
Cyclists we should analyse how many cyclists have actually left cars at home compared with how many have migrated from public transport then we can see true effect on pollution as cycle lanes definitely cause congestion. Cycle lanes ought to be created from pavements not from roadspace Cyclsts not using cycle lanes should be given fixed penalty notices as they are a danger to themselves incidentally I was in Paris today the cyclists did undertaking overtaking red light jumoing there too
I would be more sympathetic to cyclists if I didn’t see almost every night cyclists on the road in the dark without any lights and almost get knocked down on a daily basis by adult cyclists on the pavement . As a pedestrian and motorist, I think cyclists do themselves no favours and until they abide by the rules already laid down, why should everyone else bend over backwards to accommodate them. They are actually a danger to all other road users – pedestrains, motorists and responsible cyclists.
UN’ Agenda 21 (renamed Agenda 2030) is forcing governments to reduce people’s free travel. This is why we are seeing roads closed, slow speed limits, pinch points, narrowed roads and concrete block central reservation to stop people being able to turn around during a staged calamity.
Fed up with cyclists claiming they pay road tax because they own a car. If they don’t own a car they pay nothing.
Main problem is one of identification. Having been knocked down by a cyclist on the pedestrian pavement, I had no means to identify the cyclist involved and he just rode off. I have first hand experience of a cyclist ignoring a road closure notice and very nearly causing a fatal accident. Cyclist refused to give his name and again just rode off. Until we can identify this rogue element in the cycling fraternity, we are going to continually have the animosity between motorists and cyclists. We need cyclists to carry a number plate and third party insurance.
Road tax doesn’t exist. Vehicle owners pay vehicle excise duty, which is essentially a tax on owning a vehicle because they pollute. Vehicle excise duty is not ring fenced to be spent on road maintenance. Roads are free at the point of use and we all contribute to their upkeep through general taxation, council tax etc.
Clearly all cyclists should obey the rules of the road, and there is a minority that don’t and can create dangerous situations – this is the same as car drivers and isn’t a problem specific to cyclists. However, when car drivers don’t obey the rules of the road, they are more likely to endanger lives simply because of their higher speed and size of vehicle they are travelling in.
‘Road Tax’ is the common name given to Vehicle Excise Duty which was charged originally to create a Road Fund to pay for new roads. It has since been put into general taxation, a portion of which is spent on roads. Vehicles without an engine use the roads but do not pay this and therefore are subsidised by those who do pay it. I can be argued that vehicles without and engine put very little wear and tear on the roads and should therefore pay less (or none).
Recent governments have chosen to ‘reward’ less polluting vehicles by charging less or no Duty. Electric Cars are an exception to this because the pollution they cause is always somewhere else. I have been told that energy losses in generating and transmitting electricity from fossil fuel are spectacular (I have been told over 70% loss). If this figure is true then electric cars are very polluting unless charged exclusively from wind turbines or the like.
Your comment has nothing to do with the article and really shouldn’t be here. You’re just using it as an opportunity to whine about a cycling incident which affected you. The problem is, vastly more deaths and injuries are caused directly by motor vehicles. They also indirectly cause health problems through their pollution, plus environmental damage.
Anyone with their eyes open would want to encourage more cycling and less motor vehicles. Or perhaps just stick to the topic in hand: segregated cycle lanes.
And you are a sanctimonious cretin
Too lazy to even provide a reasoned argument? I must assume, therefore, that you have no foundation for your insults, & that the points made in my comment must stand. It’s quite surprising that this website allows raw insults like yours to be posted & very tempting for me to throw some back. But I’ll refrain.
First of all Stephen, There is no such thing as ‘road tax’. It was abolished in 1937, a process started by Winston Churchill ten years previously. The correct term is VED, Vehicle Excise Duty, which is currently linked to how ‘green’ a vehicle is. The money collected goes into a general pot, not on road maintenance as many think. Some vehicles that produce no emissions pay no duty, I think it would be reasonable to assume that cycles would also fall into this category. So that would be a case of increased bureaucracy and cost for no real gain.
The problem of identification you mention could equally apply to pedestrians, who on occasion do cause accidents and leave the scene unidentified. So what’s the solution? A European style identification card carried by citizens? It certainly wouldn’t be very popular and who would be allowed to request to see it, a policeman? anybody?
Unfortunately another cheap journalist jumping on the trend to set drivers and cyclists against each other – and all the usual badly informed and reasoned comments.
Yes, there are bad cyclists who flout traffic lights etc and yes there are equally bad drivers who ignore the rules or are unaware. Both are dangerous and action should be taken against them.
Far too many drivers are unaware of how different vehicles move and specific rights they might have that don’t apply to cars.
Yes, Britain’s roads are a mess and most Council Highways departments have no idea what they’re doing and put lives at risk in many different ways, but how on earth this turns into a general attack on specific other road users is insane.
Completely agree with you there, you’ve summed it up very well.
Surly its not beyond us to figure a solution that suits all/most without setting one against another?
I disagree in one key area with what has been said by many correspondents. It is not a minority of cyclists who break the rules; it is a clear majority (from my own observation). I have been driving for fifty years and the increasing lawlessness of cyclists is a cause of great sadness to me. When younger I was a cyclist. I enjoyed the experience as well as the clear advantage it gave me in town. But rules were observed then. In present circumstances they are not and the thought that ambulances could be obstructed because misguided local authorities are assisting cyclists makes me feel quite upset. Let them find their own way unless and until they understand that rules are there for everybody.
Some points in this article may have merit, but it is titled, plus written, in a way that is clearly nonsense.
Cycle lanes don’t create congestion, cars do. In fact, good, safe and extensive cycle lanes would encourage more cyclists and create LESS congestion on the roads.
A large proportion of these ambulances are having to attend accidents caused by motor vehicles. Some are even attending to people with illnesses related to them not getting enough exercise! So the answer is to improve the infrastructure for cyclists (lanes, paths, secure parking etc) & reduce motor vehicle usage. Get cycling, get healthy, and reduce congestion!
As to whether cycle lanes with curbs are an issue, yes, it is certainly worth looking at. Research might perhaps determine an optimum curb height over which cars can still pull over, to let emergency vehicles pass, but which is still high enough to deter casual lane hopping. But it is certainly more important to ensure that cyslists are as safe as possible from careless motor vehicle drivers, otherwise they, themselves, will be in need of ambulances.
Cycle lanes like this are OK as long as pedal cyclists use them properly and do not jump on and off them to use the pavement and the road to go a bit faster and avoid traffic laws.
Over 60 years ago I did my cycling proficiency test and people were talking then about licences and number plates for cyclists and cycles. Other countries have or have had these. I remember plates on bicycles in Switzerland at one time.
I say bring on licences and number plates for cycles.
One further point – I believe ‘undertaking’ is allowed if the traffic in the lane in which you are travelling is going slower than the traffic in the lane to your right. ‘Filtering’ (by two wheeled vehicles) does not meet this criterion, hence it is illegal in many cases. It is also dangerous especially when carried out by a lone two wheeled vehicle weaving through stationary traffic when pedestrians are trying to cross the road. The ‘filterers’ are often hard to see and, being road users, are supposed to take notice of pedestrians. This is also true if they have taken to the pavement to go a bit faster.
in the town i live in on my 7 mile daily commute to work the only 1 1/2 is a cycle lane, this is a pavement along side the A38. This cycle path is only 3 foot wide this is also a footpath. As for the rest of my journey it main roads are wide enough for cycle lanes but the council would sooner provide on road parking for houses that have off road parking.
As mentioned we have theses in Manchester and appart from the ambulance service complaining about them the fire brigade and police have too, there is no where for the motorist to go if they have an emergency vehicle behind them. Don’t think this was thought of when making the discision to install them
Once again cyclists are being given priority over common sense.
The cycle lanes in London are fantastic. In the Cycle Superhighway e.g. From Lower Thames Street to Tower of London, the emergency vehicles use the cycle lane in emergencies, so removing the need for cars to get out of the way with a clear run. So many time, as both a cyclist and car driver, I’ve seen drivers that are completely oblivious to the blue light behind them!
When London started to impose the speed hump cancer under Red Ken the London Ambulance Service complained about delays caused by humps and costing lives and permanent injury to patients.
Plus of course the ‘bumping’ of patients who may already be suffering from back injuries etc.
But anti-driver legislation takes precedence over everything, including the extra pollution, fuel wastage and noise they cause
In my experience Police and Ambulance drivers could do with a bit of common sense , they generally will not drive up empty bus lanes, they prefer scattering drivers in stationary or slow moving traffic all over the road in order to drive up the outside or use the lane occupied with traffic, it completely baffles me! So, I say they they should get some nous before the question of segregated bike lanes even comes up! While I am here, why is it that many bus stops are built out into the road such that it is very difficult to pass them, stopping the traffic and creating problems??
As an example we live in Enfield Nth London the council were granted £30 million plus to implement segregated cycle lanes & create a mini Holland in our town centre. The cycle lanes being built have either kerbs or (the only way i can explain it is) big sticky up cats eyes that we certainly wouldnt want to drive over & posts on the corners of side roads to stop you turning into a side rd too tightly, but these do not stop the cyclists ride straight past as your turning, (& like not stopping at red lights & going up the inside of HGVs they wonder why they get knocked off.) The council in their wisdom have also extended bus stops out into the road, i.e. making it impossible to pass a stationary bus at a bus stop on the main highway, making it even harder for emergency vehicles to get past & also adding to all this congestion & pollution that Silly Sadiq keeps going on about. First we had Bumbling Boris (a 2ft Orangutan puppet wearing a Hi-vis jkt on the front of my motorbike, which appeared in the Evening Standard.) Now we have Silly Sadiq, (a Droopy Tiger soft toy nailed to our front side fence) Why a Tiger, as in The Jungle Book film with Shere Khan the brave intelegent tiger. (well no resemblance there then!)
So if you all want a driving experience never to forget & something you can boast about to your Grandkids & slag off to your local councillors & MPs (should the occasion arise) so you know exactly what to expect & what you are talking about, heres an invitation to come over to Enfield Please & see for yourselves what its going to do for you, cos by god it aint done nothing for us. Please drive on Green Lanes from the A406 (Nth Circular Rd) to Enfield Town. (we have a mkt thurs fri sat) A good excuse for all you MPs in your chauffeur driven jags to come & view what you have done to a nice on the edge of Londons green belt but just urban town. And we hope you choke on the fumes that you’ve caused our cars to give off. An even better thought come on this Bank holiday for The Enfield Pagent of Motoring, (got to see how Green Lanes copes with this lol) Mr Khan i dare you to come & see what these so called bright ideas are doing! Make sure its in rush hour. P.S. we’ve only seen one pushbike use the lane, the rest still ride on the pavement.
Yes. As a cyclist commuter who rides 60 to 100 miles a week, I would say: stop building segregated cycle lanes. In fact, stop creating cycle lanes at all because if not segregated they are useless anyway. At least cyclists will carry on getting killed therefore emergency services will still have work to do. Makes sense.
it is not just the cycle lanes that are causing problems for emergency services its also bus lanes where the buses that pass each hour are in single figures along with speed humps and chicanes when will the councils realise that they do not work also the fact that they have people in charge of the highways that do not have a clue what they are doing get experts in
The potential for deaths caused by slightly delayed ambulances getting to hospital has to be weighed against the reduction in deaths caused by the population becoming fitter because increasing numbers of people are taking up cycling.