Cycling on a dual carriageway

Fuinseog · 01-03-2012 09:51PM #1

is it permitted? did it today and two motorists honked at me.

foggy_lad · 01-03-2012 09:54PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

is it permitted? did it today and two motorists honked at me.

Yes it is permitted.

Cookie_Monster · 01-03-2012 10:07PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

is it permitted? did it today and two motorists honked at me.

ignore them, they're just being arseholes. You have every right to cycle on any road apart from Motorways (and certain tunnels for some reason)

Bigcheeze · 01-03-2012 10:21PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

is it permitted? did it today and two motorists honked at me.

Were you cycling in the hard shoulder or the main traffic lane....or hogging the fast lane :pac:

Run_to_da_hills · 01-03-2012 11:12PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

is it permitted? did it today and two motorists honked at me.

I would have given both of them the middle finger.

monument · 01-03-2012 11:37PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I would have given both of them the middle finger.

A wave is far more effective...

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

(and certain tunnels for some reason)

Strictly speaking, currently, there is no legal ban on cyclists in any tunnel which is not part of a motorway, but you'd want to be fairly foolish.

Cookie_Monster · 01-03-2012 11:51PM

monument wrote: »

Strictly speaking, currently, there is no legal ban on cyclists in any tunnel which is not part of a motorway, but you'd want to be fairly foolish.

No legal ban true, but there was a thread here about the Limerick Tunnel not allowing cyclists use it wasn't there?

monument · 02-03-2012 12:06AM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

No legal ban true, but there was a thread here about the Limerick Tunnel not allowing cyclists use it wasn't there?

Yes, there was such a thread, but anybody who said there was a ban in force was wrong. There is not, I asked! Not at least until the regulations are updated -- there has been an updated traffic SI (dealing with a load of things) in the pipeline for maybe more than six months now. Before / in early December I was assured it would be a matter of a month or two at the most. So, any day now, or is it any month now?

Just to be clear: I am not against a ban on cycling in large tunnels, I'm just pointing out there is no ban. But I also think the authorities have failed in their legal responsibility to cater for all road users. Then again, the NRA, local authorities and other state bodies seem to like to invent things as they go along (like signs with no legal meaning), pretend there is no problem, and "solve" the problems later.

Fuinseog · 02-03-2012 12:16PM

thanks for the replies.

on another matter, do you dare cycle around a roundabout? technically its legal, but something that will land you in A n E.

monument · 02-03-2012 12:37PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

thanks for the replies.

on another matter, do you dare cycle around a roundabout? technically its legal, but something that will land you in A n E.

What roundabout? Are you trying to say every roundabout is going to land you in A&E?

flyingsnail · 02-03-2012 12:39PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

thanks for the replies.

on another matter, do you dare cycle around a roundabout? technically its legal, but something that will land you in A n E.

I dare, and it has landed me in AnE in the past, it also landed the driver in court.:D

galwaycyclist · 02-03-2012 02:10PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

thanks for the replies.

on another matter, do you dare cycle around a roundabout? technically its legal, but something that will land you in A n E.

See here for discussion

http://www.oocities.org/galwaycyclist/info/roundabouts.html

Basically you handle them like a car or get off and walk. It depends on your own assesment of your skills, nature of traffic etc

Doodah7 · 02-03-2012 03:03PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

is it permitted? did it today and two motorists honked at me.

And if you were cycling on the N7 southbound at about 5.30 yesterday evening, I was one of the two that honked you! Cycling (or ambling more like it) along in front of an exit with cars approaching it at c. 60km an hour and having to brake hard because a cyclist was crossing the exit is one way to end up in A&E...

Wicklowrider · 02-03-2012 03:10PM

flyingsnail wrote: »

I dare, and it has landed me in AnE in the past, it also landed the driver in court.:D

Snap.

Happened to me when I was exiting roundabout a car drove onto the roundabout without yielding. I was taken to hospital in ambulance with bad cuts and bruises. 5 weeks later and same driver same roundabout almost hit me again. So I got her summoned and done in court for careless driving because the roundabout was right beside a school and the she was determined to kill someone.

galwaycyclist · 02-03-2012 03:27PM

tallpaul wrote: »

And if you were cycling on the N7 southbound at about 5.30 yesterday evening, I was one of the two that honked you! Cycling (or ambling more like it) along in front of an exit with cars approaching it at c. 60km an hour and having to brake hard because a cyclist was crossing the exit is one way to end up in A&E...

This is true, in particular, for cyclists, Dual Carriageway type entry slip roads carry the highest risk of fatal collisions. Exit slip roads are also problematic as observed.

Irish roundabout designs tend to be problematic for motorcyclists and cyclists precisely because they tend to be laid out as a series of slip roads rather than a series of proper t-junctions.

Fuinseog · 02-03-2012 05:03PM

galwaycyclist wrote: »

See here for discussion

http://www.oocities.org/galwaycyclist/info/roundabouts.html

Basically you handle them like a car or get off and walk. It depends on your own assesment of your skills, nature of traffic etc

I have experienced the ones in galway and if you are not fast enough you are screwed. though I heard they are being removed. have been knocked twice at roundabouts. these days i get off and walk.

Fuinseog · 02-03-2012 05:08PM

tallpaul wrote: »

And if you were cycling on the N7 southbound at about 5.30 yesterday evening, I was one of the two that honked you! Cycling (or ambling more like it) along in front of an exit with cars approaching it at c. 60km an hour and having to brake hard because a cyclist was crossing the exit is one way to end up in A&E...

It was the N1 actually. so if cyclists are not fast enough get honk em? dare I say it but at times you have to drive slowly.

it reminds me of when I 'undercut' a motorist turning left by passing him on the inside, in other words going along in the cycle lane. he did not see me, but ran me down and tired to make out it was my fault. I always thought it was cyclists who were not vigilant.

Genghis · 02-03-2012 05:23PM

tallpaul wrote: »

And if you were cycling on the N7 southbound at about 5.30 yesterday evening, I was one of the two that honked you! Cycling (or ambling more like it) along in front of an exit with cars approaching it at c. 60km an hour and having to brake hard because a cyclist was crossing the exit is one way to end up in A&E...

I often cycle the N7, and you describe the most dangerous aspect. I cycle in the hard shoulder, to the left side. So far so safe. Approaching an exit, I need to move over to the left side of the left most lane so that I can pass through the junction. At the other side, I will need to revert to the left side of the hard shoulder. On both approach and leaving the juction I am crossing exiting and entering traffic moving at up to 100kmph.

PS I wasn't travelling southbound yesterday

In fact, I have never been honked at making those manouvers, but I have certainly felt very vulnerable.

jd · 02-03-2012 10:18PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

It was the N1 actually.

.

Where on the N1? Coming up to the Coolock Junction?

mickredirl · 02-03-2012 10:53PM

Am very new to road cycling and have to say... I love cycling but feel very vulnerable when approaching roundabouts. Just started in the last week cycling to work 14km one way each morning..

From reading this tread... I think I will have to build my courage to cycle around the roundabout.. At present I just hope off and cross over to the other side. Like all road users. I follow the rules of the road, but I find some people out there in the cars just seem to think that the rules are not written for them!!!Not all drivers, only some!!!

Any way... I think for the moment I'll continue dismounting and crossing at a safe place at my nightmare roundabouts..

Rock of Gibraltar · 03-03-2012 05:22AM

Here's a cycle segregated and prioritized roundabout in the Netherlands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEXD0guLQY0&feature=related

I was a bit sketchy about using one at first but they're great, the cycle priority really slows and calms the car traffic, it makes the drivers far more observant and aware of cyclists.
Here's more info on them;
http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2011/05/12/priority-for-cyclists-on-roundabouts-in-the-netherlands/

Cookie_Monster · 03-03-2012 08:10AM

mickredirl wrote: »

Am very new to road cycling and have to say... I love cycling but feel very vulnerable when approaching roundabouts. Just started in the last week cycling to work 14km one way each morning..

all I will say is don't be. Command your space, move out and block the lane if need be. You have every right to be on the road and take your space esp at any kind of junction

Taltos · 03-03-2012 08:40AM

Back to that meme - when I cycled to work and got honked my response was always a big wave and a happy smile - the amount of confused faces just made this priceless. Found nothing else worked as well - think it helped remind drivers that I was a human and not some weird bike hybrid machine (oh I wish).

I now drive on the N11 and regularly at night come across one of the local (I think) cycling clubs and always just as I come to my exit

Having cycled I at least am aware of how fast these guys can really be travelling - something that is deceptive to most drivers I think. Depending on where I meet them I will either continue and and take my exit or slow right down to follow them around.
I always tried to take the dominant position at junctions and roundabouts - a bit easier in the city center where traffic is naturally slow moving, but more difficult on motorways where cars are decelerating from 100k to go around a roundabout.

All you can really do is just be extra vigilent at roundabouts and exits, expect the unexpected, and expect a motorist to misjudge or not even see you. I know this is unreasonable but have found it mostly stood to me while I was out and about with only one incident where I had no chance to avoid a car that swung right in front of me and did an emergency stop due to a panicked driver. seeing me at the last second (not sure how he missed me up to then). If he had kept going we would both have been fine but I had zero chance to avoid and so had my front forks bent almost 90 degrees to the bike. Still thank the magic bike gods to this day - somehow the bike and I stayed on that side of the car without doing a flip.

Paddy Bateman · 03-03-2012 08:44AM

Fuinseog wrote: »

is it permitted? did it today and two motorists honked at me.

I don believe it is

corktina · 03-03-2012 10:25AM

tallpaul wrote: »

And if you were cycling on the N7 southbound at about 5.30 yesterday evening, I was one of the two that honked you! Cycling (or ambling more like it) along in front of an exit with cars approaching it at c. 60km an hour and having to brake hard because a cyclist was crossing the exit is one way to end up in A&E...

in that case you should be aware that you are a poor driver. You must drive so that you can stop or avoid a hazard and adjust your speed accordingly. Cyclists crossing an off ramp have a perfect right to be there and are one of the hazards you should be looking for.

jd · 03-03-2012 11:50AM

Fuinseog wrote: »

It was the N1 actually. so if cyclists are not fast enough get honk em? dare I say it but at times you have to drive slowly.
.

Are you sure you weren't on a motorway? I don't know of any part of the N1 that is dual carriageway but not motorway between Dublin and Dundalk.

foggy_lad · 03-03-2012 11:57AM

Rock of Gibraltar wrote: »

Here's a cycle segregated and prioritized roundabout in the Netherlands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEXD0guLQY0&feature=related

I was a bit sketchy about using one at first but they're great, the cycle priority really slows and calms the car traffic, it makes the drivers far more observant and aware of cyclists.
Here's more info on them;
http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2011/05/12/priority-for-cyclists-on-roundabouts-in-the-netherlands/

Does it stop cyclists running red lights?

jd wrote: »

Are you sure you weren't on a motorway? I don't know of any part of the N1 that is dual carriageway but not motorway between Dublin and Dundalk.

There is no part of the N1 that is a motorway or it would be called the M1.

monument · 03-03-2012 12:19PM

OP -- where exactly were you? Can you point out where on google maps or street view?

Or can you explain what roads you were near?

Paddy Bateman wrote: »

I don believe it is

We'll you're thinking wrong. Cycling is allowed on duel carriageways, just not on motorways.

jd · 03-03-2012 01:19PM

foggy_lad wrote: »

There is no part of the N1 that is a motorway or it would be called the M1.

Ok The N1/M1 route :rolleyes:

Rock of Gibraltar · 03-03-2012 01:28PM

foggy_lad wrote: »

Does it stop cyclists running red lights?

Well there are no lights in that roundabout example but there is far less red light running in the Dutch junction design.
Most Dutch cycle paths continue around junctions so there is no red light if you were to turn right (left in Ireland). Whereas in Ireland you'd have to wait for a green.
Cyclists have their own lights for going straight or left (right in Ireland), I've seen a few people breaking reds when going straight at quiet junctions but the lights are synchronised for turning left so if you broke one light you'd have to wait at the second one.
There's a good illustration here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlApbxLz6pA

markpb · 03-03-2012 04:27PM

jd wrote: »

Are you sure you weren't on a motorway? I don't know of any part of the N1 that is dual carriageway but not motorway between Dublin and Dundalk.

The N1 runs from Batchelors Walk to the northern exit of the DPT. The N1/M1 runs from the airport to near the border with the M50 filling the bit in the middle (between northern DPT exit and the airport).

Cycling on a dual carriageway

Comments