Dave Smith's Road Positioning Advice

Had a great day cycling from Canterbury to Reculver and back providing mobile Dr Bike and First Aid support to the ride in aid of the Christchurch University St Gregory Development Project. I noticed that on the few occasions when we were on the road, most of the cyclists positioned themselves firmly against the far left side of the lane right up against the curb. Years of cycling proficiency has resulted in many experienced cyclists thinking this is a safe position. 

When we got back to Canterbury I popped into Waterstones to buy a book and have tea and cake. Whilst sipping my tea I noticed a book on the display shelves by Dave Smith called Cycling for Fitness. Flicking through it I found a section on safe road cycling which kicked off with a quote from the Highway Code along the lines of "always cycle as far left as possible". I've checked my new copy of the Code and thankfully it does not give the same advice. 

Dave Smith's book was originally published in 2001, which was a while ago, but Cyclecraft was first published by TSO in 1997. 

Dave Smith then goes on to advise cyclists to position themselves on the left of Giveway lines at T Junctions to turn left and on the right of Giveway lines to turn right. Now in my book, that's downright dangerous and if this book is popular a new edition should be published correcting this dreadful advice. 

Just to clarify this, when you are approaching a T junction on a minor road, you should take control of the lane, that means moving to the centre of your lane, then when you get to the Giveway lines you should be in the middle of the Giveway lines whether you are turning left or right. To do this safely and effectively you should be looking all around you throughout the manoeuvre and signalling if there is a driver there to tell. If it is a wide lane or junction then you should move slightly to the left or right of the middle of the Giveway lines depending on which direction you intend to go.

Given Dave Smith's credentials as an Olympic sports coach I'm sure the rest of the book is spot on.

Murderous Maidstone

Maidstone has some great examples of down right dangerous cycling facilities. As well as that old chestnut the Advanced Stop Box with the undertaking cycle lane, there was a narrow strip and a roundabout lane.

Let me explain.

The Advance Stop Box is fine if the cyclist is at the front of the queue of traffic at the lights already. However, if cyclists have to use the short cycle lane feed, this encourages them to move to the curb and creep down the inside of the waiting traffic. This means that cyclists:

• Will be undertaking traffic
  
• Are in a dangerous position if the lights change whilst in the cycle lane feed
  
• Are in danger of being doored by exiting passengers
  
• Can frustrate other road users
  

The Strip

This cycle lane that has been installed on Sandling Road in Maidstone, as pictured here, shoves cyclists right into the gutter with the detritus, the metal drain covers and the deteriorating road surface. If cyclists follow this lane, they increase their risk of injury due to broken and slippery drain covers, wet and slippery painted lines, potholes, glass and metal fragments as well as pedestrians inadvertently walking into their path.

Cyclists should always cycle at least one step away from the curb. This cycle lane is ridiculously narrow. The recommended width of a cycle lane is 2.5m. This one is barely the width of my handlebars (68cm). In fact, taking one step away from the curb you end up right on the dashed line that denotes the outside edge of the cycle lane. 

Roundabout Threat

Which brings us to the last and most murderous cycle lane recently seen in Maidstone.

This cycle facility has been created at a roundabout on the intersection of Sandling Road and Stacey Street. It not only encourages cyclists to the curbside when they should be taking control by moving to the middle of the lane, it also disregards all the normal roundabout rules as set out in the Highway Code and puts cyclists in serious danger.

This cycle lane, as you can see in the picture, shoves the cyclist right against the entry and exit points of the roundabout where they will be most vulnerable to being hit by other vehicles. It reduces cyclists visibility and makes them less visible. This is aggravated by the beautification of the roundabout with high bushes.

So what can be done?

Well here's a list to start with:

1. Remove all the rubbish cycling facilities - you know where they are, complain!
   
2. Ensure that future cycling facilities work with the National Standards for Cycle Training
3. No highways planner should be allowed to create anything for cyclists without reading this paper first
4. Get more people cycle trained
5. Get all road users to understand that cyclists should and have a right to vehicular cycling, integrating with traffic rather than keeping away from it