Is this right?

[Hip Priest]

Seeing as some of the fastest TT courses in the country are on A roads, I would say the guy is way above the normal standard for muppetry.

What's the crack with the A1? I live right by the A1, but I wouldn't cycle on it. I have, however, seen a time trial taking place on the A1.

 

[superbadger]

What's the crack with the A1? I live right by the A1, but I wouldn't cycle on it. I have, however, seen a time trial taking place on the A1.

The A1 is a sly one.... When it turns into the A1(M) as it does in a few sections you cannot cycle along it.

 

[Theseus]

What's the crack with the A1? I live right by the A1, but I wouldn't cycle on it. I have, however, seen a time trial taking place on the A1.

Last summer we stopped off at one of the OK Diners on the way back up north after visiting my mum. Every few minutes someone would zip by southbound. It helped pass the time.

 

[Arch]

I was in Cycle Surgery yesterday looking for some decent lights and mentioned that I had accidentally strayed onto a busy a-road when I ot lost.

They guy went

"You're lucky, if the police saw that they'd arrest you?"

I wasn't aware that driving on a normal a-road (ie not an a-motorway) was illegal on a bike. Is this guy just spouting crap or am I mis-informed?

It's rubbish. If it was a very busy or dangerous road, they might advise you to leave at the next junction, and they might even accompany you to do so, or insist they took you. But even if you strayed onto a motorway, I don't think you'd be arrested. Escorted off, warned sternly and possibly ticketed, but unless you came over very arsey or appeared to be on drugs or something, I very much doubt they'd arrest you.

(I was in Manchester last week, and getting a lift to Picadilly and we actually saw a lad joining the urban motorway via a slip road on the other side. Mad!)

 

[superbadger]

(I was in Manchester last week, and getting a lift to Picadilly and we actually saw a lad joining the urban motorway via a slip road on the other side. Mad!)

That be the Mancunian Way.... What a nut going over that thing

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Thanks people.

Not that I ride on a-roads that much, as I find it pretty unpleasant, but my immediate thought was that I had been breaking the law for months and thought I had been a complete div and missed an entire section out of the Highway Code.

BTW, I did have lights on (for all the use they were!) but it was still terrifying and had the police given me an escort off it, then I would have been very happy and possibly cried at their generosity.

 

[craven2354]

That be the Mancunian Way.... What a nut going over that thing

I cycle that way but come off just before it I thought it was ok to ride in 40's but anything above is a non cycle place?

 

[benb]

That sign is purely informative. Yes indeed, cyclists do dismount at some point; usually when they've got to where they want to go. Or they've found cake. It is not, however, an enforcable instruction.

How are we supposed to know which signs are an instruction that must be followed, and which ones are informative/advisory?
This one says "No cycling for 20 yards" but I never follow it - am I breaking the law?

 

[Arch]

I cycle that way but come off just before it I thought it was ok to ride in 40's but anything above is a non cycle place?

Not really. A country road, A, B or lower class, may be a 60mph limit. It could well be legal to cycle along a dual carriageway, where the limit might be 70. Not pleasant, or sensible, but legal.

As an aside, last summer I needed to ride down to the edge of Sheffield which involved crossing the A1. There were a few potential crossing places, the first of which was effectively a crossroads where two minor lanes meet at the A1. Legally, I could have crossed there, but google street view confirmed my suspicion that at that point the A1 is a dual carriageway, very wide, 70mph, with a gap in the central reservation. I've driven that bit, there are signs warning of pedestrians crossing, but you could wait months for a safe gap in the traffic.

In the end I had to use a footbridge, that had a ramp, comprised of shallow steps. Only in the UK....

 

[Mad at urage]

How are we supposed to know which signs are an instruction that must be followed, and which ones are informative/advisory?
This one says "No cycling for 20 yards" but I never follow it - am I breaking the law?

http://www.direct.go...kings/index.htm is useful...

Warning signs = http://www.direct.go...t/dg_070569.pdf

Informational signs = http://www.direct.go...t/dg_070560.pdf Some of the information is about things you have to obey - e.g. bus lanes.

Signs giving orders = http://www.direct.go...t/dg_070642.pdf Confusingly bus lanes are also in here! As are cycle lanes (but apparently only 'with flow' ones ), which of course are not ordering us to use them .

Then there's the separate link from Highway Code full contents (http://www.direct.go...ycode/DG_070202) to "Traffic Signs" = http://www.direct.go...t/dg_070644.pdf which divides the signs slightly differently:

"Signs giving orders
Signs with red circles are mostly prohibitive." and "Signs with blue circles but no red border mostly give positive instruction."

- still some rectangular blues in there though.

"Warning signs Mostly triangular"
"Direction signs Mostly rectangular"
and "Information signs All rectangular"

IIRC, the sign shape was supposed to tell you its status: Circular = order, triangular = warning and rectangular = information (including direction). Now it is a complete mess; the Cyclists Dismount sign isn't there in any HC category though! Occasionally they are placed to inform you that passing the sign on the 'bike would be unwise (lane blocked by railings "Didn't see the railings?") or illegal (pedestrian crossing on a cycle path - why not use a Give Way sign instead and a path beside the crossing?), but generally they are over-used and just plain wrong ("No, you mean 'end of cycle route' ").

Glad it's not just me they irritate though! http://revk.www.me.u...s-dismount.html
Edit: http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2011/03/motorists-are-never-asked-to-dismount/ "If anything characterises the lack of understanding about cycling it is these signs. What on earth makes highway engineers think that these signs make any sense or will be obeyed?This might seem like a minor matter, but actually goes to the heart of attitudes towards various users of the roads. Why on earth should cyclists get out and push when there is an obstacle in their way – why can’t the signs just say, please rejoin the main highway or something like that?"

 

[siadwell]

How are we supposed to know which signs are an instruction that must be followed, and which ones are informative/advisory?

http://www.direct.go...kings/index.htm

To summarise:
Information signs are all rectangular.
Warning signs are mostly triangular.
Signs giving orders are mostly circular (except Give Way!)
- Signs with red circles are mostly prohibitive
- Signs with blue circles but no red border mostly give positive instruction

So that's nice and clear, then. Mostly.

 

[gaz]

If it where true then i wouldn't be able to leave my drive

 

[subaqua]

I remember seeing that part of the A55 near Conwy is restricted, not only to cyclists but 50cc and some other as well. The rest of the dual carriageway looks to be open to all, although I wouldn't fancy riding down it if I had a choice!

thats an expressway and has a set of legals all of its own as it is neither a motorway nor a trunked A road.

ghence the 70mph signs not the National speed limit applies sign.

 

[benb]

So what about one way street signs? Blue and rectangular, but I'm guessing not merely advisory.

 

[craven2354]

Not really. A country road, A, B or lower class, may be a 60mph limit. It could well be legal to cycle along a dual carriageway, where the limit might be 70. Not pleasant, or sensible, but legal.

As an aside, last summer I needed to ride down to the edge of Sheffield which involved crossing the A1. There were a few potential crossing places, the first of which was effectively a crossroads where two minor lanes meet at the A1. Legally, I could have crossed there, but google street view confirmed my suspicion that at that point the A1 is a dual carriageway, very wide, 70mph, with a gap in the central reservation. I've driven that bit, there are signs warning of pedestrians crossing, but you could wait months for a safe gap in the traffic.

In the end I had to use a footbridge, that had a ramp, comprised of shallow steps. Only in the UK....

driving on a 70mph road would sh*t me up couldnt bring myself to do that haha