London Bikers beware - Operation "wastemoretime"

Unfortunatly, in the 8 years i've been riding into London, its got MUCH much worse.

There was a brief lul in the amount of traffic when the congestion charge initially came out. This did reduce traffic for a little bit. But now its back, with avengence. The amount of extra traffic + peoples stupiditty (anyone come up to Blackwall tunnel and sees everyone trying to squeexe fromt eh last junction into the 3rd lane (which comes back into 2 lanes at the tunnel anyway????)) will understand what I mean.

There was no lul in the traffic when the CC went up to £8.

I hear they are considering charging motorcyclists in the future as well witha CC. In which case, i'll just stop working altogether and become a pimp or drug dealer or something. Its easier it seems, and financially better?

They get less hassle...... The police are too busy pulling bikers who stop at traffic lights 1m too far into the "cycle" stop.....

I always use the advanced cycle box if i'm filtering and there is no room at the front of the que. it's just safer. Having said that, i also use the box on my push bike too. I am always off and to the side of the road before the cars behind, but I know alot of cyclists do hold up the traffic by forgetting to change down a gear. I don't care if there is a motorbike in the cycle box, he'll be long gone by the time I get off the line anyway, and I doubt very much that many biker topple over on to cyclists! I think this is a complete load of toss, and some stupid pr*ck who has never riden either a push bike or motorcycle has come up with this because it makes sense from their desk. Ah well, at least this kind of stuffgives us something to talk about here!

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by admin

Having said all that. I'm all in favour of giving the cyclist who ride on the pavement and jump lights a hard time.

I totally agree

I tend to sit in the cycle boxes when I'm on my push bike, purely because it gives me a chance to get away from lights before the cars do, I do tend to shift down into first and then pedal hard to get away, but sometimes car drivers will try and push you into the curb.

In the scenario where a cyclist is going straight across a junction away from lights, it stops or helps to stop car drivers scrabling to get away in front of you and then turning left across your path.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

Actually I can see the other side of this.

If they are going to enforce cyclists Crossing the Solid line at the front of the Advance Line, then they really need to stop motorists crossing the solid line further back or else calls of vicimisation etc will come out.

Yup, that's exactly why they want to cover both groups at the same time. About a year ago TfL did an enforcement drive which covered cycling on pavements + jumping red lights (esp aimed at cyclists) and also motorists driving in cycle lanes + (I think) using advanced stop lines. It was fairly low key though, and was linked to a comms campaign.

Originally Posted by Ch00

I have heard from a source at TFL that there is no offences of stopping a motor vehicle in that green area. The advance stop line is not the stop line.

I have done a little looking about this morning and cant find anything in law that states either way. I think its another grey law area.

Ch00

I can't quote the law on this, but I'm pretty sure that TfL ran an enforcement drive for this element in the past. This seems to indicate that it is enforceable, and also corresponds to what I've been told by the IAM in the past. Will see what I can trak down at this end anyway.

However if someone can find something that I can quote at a copper to get off if i get caught in the cycle box then that would be really handy!!

Having moved from 2 to 4 wheels I have to say I've noticed alot more bad driving most ppl I talk to say in the last year things have got alot worse

Only at the weekend I had an idiot in a white van try to go past me on the outside line....right line merges into left, I'am in left hes a bit back in the right
Never has a cat hells chance to go clear past me but trys anyway forcing me to brake,and yet I'am in the wrong when I catch up to him


But my pet hate at the mo is parents not putting the seat belts on their kids even when there wearing theirs in the front


P.s oh and the guy in the 4x4 who could not be arsed to wait in the cue of traffic to turn right at the traffic lights, so goes on the other side of the road forcing on comming traffic to move out of his way...at speed and on a blind bend

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Fizzy Fish

However if someone can find something that I can quote at a copper to get off if i get caught in the cycle box then that would be really handy!!

TBH I dont see what harm motorbikes in the cycle box are doing, seems a bit daft really to exclude them, as others have said you're not really going to hold up a car and a motorbikes more stable than a pushbike so its not like its going to topple over anyway.

Oh and it's unlikely that this clampdown will be related to bikes falling over on cyclists (i love that explanation from the copper!!) but it will be more about the wider government aim of attracting people to cycle more (sustainable form of travel, health benefits, etc).

Cyclists in general are in favour of having the advanced stop lines, so it makes sense that if they are there, they are at least enforced.

I don't disagree with this, but I'd just like us to be allowed to use them as well!

Originally Posted by Fizzy Fish

Yup, that's exactly why they want to cover both groups at the same time. About a year ago TfL did an enforcement drive which covered cycling on pavements + jumping red lights (esp aimed at cyclists) and also motorists driving in cycle lanes + (I think) using advanced stop lines. It was fairly low key though, and was linked to a comms campaign.

Yeah, mentioned this previously.

What I do find ironic is that in the 6+ months they were pulling cyclists (bearing in mind i've ALWAYS stopped at the front of traffic in the city), is that not ONE copper came over and informed me of this law, yet I saw them every single day, same place, (Bank junction, the big one), they always saw me do it and everyone else, but never said a word...............

Thats is another point i was saying. Does this mean that they will now ignore the cyclists and only concentrate on bikers????

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Fizzy Fish

but it will be more about the wider government aim of attracting people to cycle more (sustainable form of travel, health benefits, etc).

I dont see how having a clear cycle box would encourage this much more anyway. What they need to do is go further down the route of cycle to work schemes and also sort out the p*ss poor quality of the tarmac on the cycle paths some of the ones I've ridden on like riding off road and or full of pot holes, or broken glass rubbish etc.

If they want people to cycle give them a decent environment to cycle in, I dont cycle on the cycle paths anymore its to bumpy, and its full of other cyclists who wobble about all over the place due to having no bike control.

Cycling on the road also means I can maintain a constant speed without having to stop start all the time.

Most cyclists in London seem to ignore red lights. I rarely see any cyclists in these areas at traffic lights. I usually stop in them, as I'm not causing any obstruction to anyone and I consider it to be a safer place to stop than between cars.

And besides, my road tax says 'bicycle'