Edinburgh Council leader Nice Way Code blasts bus ads

I like it when a council leader is a cyclist. They should all be forced to cycle around their constituency to understand what it is like to be on two wheels. That way when they see something like the Nice Way Code they know what is wrong about it and where they should spend their time and money to actually help cyclists.

“If there’s a bus stopped at a bus stop, what are you supposed to do? Wait behind it until it moves off again?”

Forgive me, but that's exactly what cars must do unless it is safe to overtake. Why should bikes be subject to any difference in rules?

"there are hazards such as passenger doors being opened into the rider’s path"

How many cars have passengers, and how many have drivers??

If cyclists aren't "nice" it's a mild irritant. If motorists aren't "nice" it's lethal.

This fuels the entitlement of motorists and the concept that cyclists are equally at fault/a hazard on the roads.

I wait with baited breath (well Ok ALL of us Edinburgers have waited till we turned blue) for the trams* which run down the right hand lane of Princes St with other traffic/buses on the left.

Are they going to reverse the silly messages on the trams since it's probably impossible to pass them on the right or are cyclists just meant to bugger off and not ask questions?

*mythical form of transport not yet spotted in Edinburgh despite ££££ spent

What this advert DOES do, is indicate that the bus operator is aware of the danger their vehicles pose to cyclists who mat 'undertake' perfectly legally. This means they are acknowledging their duty of care in that situation and become liable for any accidents which occur.

The point about vehicular cycling not having led to mass cycling ignores the fact that so far, it has mainly been tried in one form: teaching people to cycle in the existing, unmodified, uncivilized car-dominated environment. Now, that's a bit silly, but it isn't a reason to reject the concept of vehicular cycling as such. Even if you believe that cyclists should have segregated infrastructure that goes absolutely everywhere, cyclists are still going to need to go everywhere for a few decades before it is delivered, so we still need to address the problem of civilizing the road environment so that vehicular cycling becomes practicable for a wider range of people.

Saw this yesterday:
http://newcycling.org/news/20130807/pen-reports-kiel

It bears out what I have experienced myself as a cyclist living in Germany: on-road cycling can be rather pleasant when motorists are civilized.

Half a million pounds that would have been better used - filling in 3 or 4 pot holes to make roads actually safer for all.

"Lets all get along" sounds like something the Mafia would say.... When they say it of course there is an implied term ....or we will f**k you up.....

*DAILY MAIL COMMENT*

Cyclists will just ignore the adverts anyway, like they do red lights!

*END OF DAILY MAIL COMMENT*

Sounds like a motorist that ignores the rights of a cyclist as well as there responsibilities in accordance with the law and the Highway Code!

Good spot. Shame on the person who wrote it. Why do such people have a license to drive again???

*DAILY MAIL COMMENT*

Cyclists will just ignore the adverts anyway, like they do red lights!

*END OF DAILY MAIL COMMENT*

my god, how incredible from a 'responsible' bus company, beggars belief. The 'if you must' left me speechless ... the sheer arrogance.

This whole "niceway" campaign appears to be a anti-cycling campaign dressed up as something which it appears not to be.

The Nice Way Code seems to be getting things plain wrong.

They are also relying on some top-secret "research" that, despite multiple requests for clarification on where this is, when it will be published etc, they seem to want to keep secret for now. Hmm.

I just commented this on their site:

“Our bus backs are in keeping with messaging … and with the Highway Code”;

No, I’m sorry, but they’re not. A red circle sign, in the highway code, means you MUST NOT do something – e.g. there’s a law against it. There is no law against undertaking buses in the UK.

A strikethrough of such a sign, somewhat confusingly but in keeping with the highway code, can lift a ban on something (which has previously been banned earlier on the road by another sign). For example, the sign lifting a ban on overtaking. Alternatively some signs do use both the red circle and the strikethrough to ban something, eg the no U turn sign.

You can see these at:

https://www.gov.uk/road-signs-giving-orders

Most adults who cycle, myself included, also drive, and should understand these things. Using the red circle sign like your campaign has done is irresponsible and wrong.

How do we marry up the two apparently contradictory parts of this statement

“even when there is a bike lane that would seem to facilitate overtaking on the left, there are hazards such as passenger doors being opened into the rider’s path"

Are we saying that instead of actually pulling into Bus stops the Buses can just disgorge passengers anywhere they feel like it?

Or are we saying there is no reason to ensure bike lanes avoid/circumnavigate Bus stopping places?

Not happy with either to be honest

Someone else has taken a swipe at these adverts:

http://beyondthekerb.wordpress.com/2013/08/10/the-back-end-of-a-bus/