Cycling on motorway

[ChrisV]

Just read about the tragic death of a cyclist on the M3.

I don't know that road though - I take it that it's a motorway? I didn't think bikes were allowed on the motorway.

 

[NorthernDave]

http://road.cc/content/news/188789-cyclist-killed-collision-m3

It is a motorway and no, the cyclist shouldn't have been there - and whatever the reason he has paid the ultimate price.

 

[ChrisV]

That's what confused me. That's horrendous. For the cyclist and the driver.

 

[robjh]

There are several on-line news reports about the incident, and the poor man is even named, but no clue as to what he was doing on the motorway. No-one, but no-one, knowingly cycles on a motorway. What an awful mistake to make.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I reported two cyclists on the M25 many years ago. The call handler said I was about the 20th person to alert them and plod were on their way.

Stupid in the extreme, there's no way a cyclist can join a motorway by accident.

 

[ChrisV]

The fact it was 11.40pm doesn't help.

 

[jim55]

I rem in the commonwealth games in Glasgow ( not too long ago) an African team ( I think took the wrong slip road and ended up on the main mway in Glasgow , but thankfully it was sorted with no injuries or anything

 

[mjr]

The wide hard shoulder of most motorways is more attractive for cycling than the narrow marked cycle lane of many Highways England A roads (for example, the A43 near Silverstone or A5 in Milton Keynes). To reduce the frequent instances of cyclists in motorways, there really should be good cycleways alongside most motorways (as happens in a few places, such as the M5 Avon bridge, or most places in the Netherlands) because they're often obvious desire lines. Don't blame the cyclists. Blame the crap transport network that probably served them so ill that they thought cycling on a motorway was worthwhile

 

[screenman]

The fact it was 11.40pm doesn't help.

10.40 I read, makes no difference to the outcome. I have driven that section of road many times.

 

[mjr]

I rem in the commonwealth games in Glasgow ( not too long ago) an African team ( I think took the wrong slip road and ended up on the main mway in Glasgow , but thankfully it was sorted with no injuries or anything

I think Chris Froome has admitted training by cycling on South African motorways when younger, hasn't he?

 

[Tim Hall]

The wide hard shoulder of most motorways is more attractive for cycling than the narrow marked cycle lane of many Highways England A roads (for example, the A43 near Silverstone or A5 in Milton Keynes). To reduce the frequent instances of cyclists in motorways, there really should be good cycleways alongside most motorways (as happens in a few places, such as the M5 Avon bridge, or most places in the Netherlands) because they're often obvious desire lines. Don't blame the cyclists. Blame the crap transport network that probably served them so ill that they thought cycling on a motorway was worthwhile

Except in this case the unfortunate cyclist was killed on a bit of motorway that has no hard shoulder.

 

[Smokin Joe]

No matter how crap or otherwise the transport network is you need your brains tested before taking a bike onto a motorway. Because it is your brain that will be smeared all over the carriageway.

And the hard shoulder is the most dangerous place to be, as the widow of many a breakdown driver will testify.

 

[ChrisV]

The wide hard shoulder of most motorways is more attractive for cycling than the narrow marked cycle lane of many Highways England A roads (for example, the A43 near Silverstone or A5 in Milton Keynes). To reduce the frequent instances of cyclists in motorways, there really should be good cycleways alongside most motorways (as happens in a few places, such as the M5 Avon bridge, or most places in the Netherlands) because they're often obvious desire lines. Don't blame the cyclists. Blame the crap transport network that probably served them so ill that they thought cycling on a motorway was worthwhile

No. If the cycle routes were so bad and the only option was cycling on the motorway, then there are no options. No one should ever cycle on the motorway, regardless of the situation.

 

[ufkacbln]

I reported two cyclists on the M25 many years ago. The call handler said I was about the 20th person to alert them and plod were on their way.

Stupid in the extreme, there's no way a cyclist can join a motorway by accident.

Yes there is.... not every junction is clearly marked

I remember this one:

 

[Trickedem]

Stupid in the extreme, there's no way a cyclist can join a motorway by accident.

Oh yes there is. I ended up on a motorway in Glasgow on my LEJOG when I misread some instructions