Please look first (From York Press)
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Please look first
9:00am Saturday 27th October 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter
I WOULD like to thank the very kind man and young girl who helped me when I was knocked off my bike in Gillygate on Saturday, October 20.
Luckily, I have only minor injuries, but they really helped me as I had no idea what was going on.
Can I say that if anyone chooses to leave a taxi or car in a line of stationary traffic, please look before you open your door into a cycle lane.
Thank you once again to these two kind people, whose names I did not get.
J Hebbron, Holgate, York.
Comments(7)
NoNewsIsGoodNews
says...
2:30pm Sat 27 Oct 12
But I do seem to remember reading in the old Highway code that when passing stationary vehicles, you should leave enough room for said vehicle doors to open.
I know this is virtually impossible when using cycle lanes, and have often thought that this could lead to a few accidents sooner or later, as most lanes in York are not fit for purpose.
Corran
says...
10:52am Sun 28 Oct 12
Ouch.
Back and Beyond
says...
10:55am Sun 28 Oct 12
On a side note I frequently observe many cyclist putting themselves in danger by undertaking through the very tightest of spaces along with the ones that mount the pavement to save a vital few seconds.
May I also add the cycle lane in Gillygate is an advisory one and doesn't always guarantee free passage for cyclists.
YSTClinguist
says...
11:53am Sun 28 Oct 12
That it is an offence means that anyone thinking the cyclist is automatically to blame ought to get re-educated. If the cyclist was filtering at a dangerous speed there is issue (and I've seen plenty who do this without regard to their personal safety.)
Buzz Light-year
says...
1:12pm Sun 28 Oct 12
On a side note I frequently observe many cyclist putting themselves in danger by undertaking through the very tightest of spaces along with the ones that mount the pavement to save a vital few seconds.
For every cyclist doing that I see 20 drivers passing bikes and immediately cutting in just as they draw up to the queue or to give way to oncoming traffic at a parked car and I wouldn't even say it was to save vital seconds, more that they just don't look further than a car length ahead.
In queues, it's not "undertaking" it's filtering.
yorkshirelad
says...
1:44pm Sun 28 Oct 12
A few years ago someone was killed by a card door being opened in front of them. So many cyclists try and stay out of the door zone when passing parked cars - even when there's a cycle lane.
I've experienced intimidating driving when doing this and I've also seen a driver cursing at a cyclist doing this while driving a bus.
Every vehicle user needs to be aware of this issue and every filtering cyclist needs to go at an appropriate speed.
A door edge in your face is a potential killer.
I also agree that in queueing traffic it is entirely reasonable for cyclists to filter forwards with due caution.
pedalling paul says...
10:17am Sat 27 Oct 12
And it doesn't need the presence of a cycle lane, to occur.