- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
Highway Code.PNGCycle safety in focus as Highway Code changes revealed, including setting out hierarchy of road users
An updated edition of the Highway Code to be published in the Autumn will see the introduction of a hierarchy of road users, as well as setting out guidance to motorists on issues such as safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists.
People on bikes will also have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead, while there will be greater pedestrian priority on pavements and when crossing the road or waiting to do so.
Under the hierarchy of road users, those with potential to cause the most danger to others will be deemed to have greater responsibility to those who are more vulnerable than them.
For example, a motorist will have greater responsibility for ensuring the safety of a cyclist, who would likewise be responsible for safeguarding any pedestrians with whom they come into contact.
The concept is well-established on the continent, including in countries such as the Netherlands, where it also applies in insurance through the application of presumed liability, although that will not be brought into force under the changes, which apply to England, Scotland and Wales but not Northern Ireland.
The changes, which follow a consultation launched last year, were announced today by transport secretary Grant Shapps, who also unveiled £338 million in funding for cycling and walking scheme in England.
> Consultation launched on proposed changes to Highway Code
“Millions of us have found over the past year how cycling and walking are great ways to stay fit, ease congestion on the roads and do your bit for the environment,” Shapps said.
“As we build back greener from the pandemic, we’re determined to keep that trend going by making active travel easier and safer for everyone.
“This £338 million package marks the start of what promises to be a great summer of cycling and walking, enabling more people to make those sustainable travel choices that make our air cleaner and cities greener,” he added.
We've seen a huge increase in the number of people adopting active travel as a healthier and more environmentally-friendly way to get around.
We want to keep that trend going with our £338m package to make cycling and walking easier and safer 🚴🌍🚶https://t.co/yZG07OVeqe pic.twitter.com/OTLS1zZetI— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) July 30, 2021
> Department for Transport say councils must give walking and cycling schemes time
Also announced today are a new scheme that aims to increase awareness of e-cycles and help overcome barriers to using them, with an e-cycle support programme to be launched later this year, plans for a new road safety strategic framework, and looking at how historic railway infrastructure can be turned into cycling routes.
Xavier Brice, chief executive of Sustrans, said: “This funding will bring major improvements to the National Cycle Network in England by linking communities together and enhancing valued and well-used cycling and walking routes. Most importantly of all, this vital boost will further enable those who want to cycle or walk to do so.
“The pandemic has highlighted the huge benefits of active forms of travel to people’s personal health and wellbeing, to local communities and to the environment. We’ve seen a marked increase in numbers using the cycle network and this commitment to funding underlines its importance.
“We welcome the government’s continued focus on cycling and walking,” he added. “The time is right to ensure we’re able to carry on working with our volunteers and other organisations in our role as a proud custodian of the network, to create and offer a safe, accessible and traffic-free travel environment for everyone’s benefit.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- mctrials23 4 sec ago
Part of it is that but a large part of it is just deeply ingrained hatred of cyclists because cyclists are blamed for ridiculous things and drivers...
- chrisonabike 11 min 51 sec ago
The exact situation shown in this photo is pretty common near me....
- brooksby 1 hour 13 min ago
Nope - had an urgent appointment with his tax advisor
- brooksby 1 hour 17 min ago
I'm not sure which one of them looks more like a crook…
- OnYerBike 1 hour 50 min ago
It might not be Miche-specific, but across all the thru-axle, disc brake wheelsets in my household (including Hope, DT Swiss and Bitex hubs), none...
- S.E. 4 hours 2 min ago
That made me think of that "Hot Fuzz" comedy movie... so many truths in it.
- Rendel Harris 5 hours 54 min ago
Good to see a V-brake option available for all those people who ride Cosmic Elites with V-brakes...seriously, you must know really that the answer...
- mattw 6 hours 32 min ago
Get thyself over to Buildhub - a community owned forum where I am on the moderation team ("Ferdinand") which is about self-build and renovation....
- Destroyer666 16 hours 36 min ago
Nonono, not those, but those that have constructed Italian cars and motorcycles that have been driven to hundreds of race and championship...
- RoubaixCube 16 hours 45 min ago
This may well be the case although Im unaware of the brands popularity on their home turf. I used to see them being advertised more in the UK...
Add new comment
73 comments
Let's start by removing DM readers and then hearing their appeals, which might take some time.
This is really good news, and would hopefully stop the mental distress caused by insurance companies and civil courts when it comes to stuff like this.
In this (still ongoing through civil courts ) incident , the driver, having hit and injured me with his wingmirror, stopping to tell me off, and then leaving the scene, decided to sue me for alleged damages to the side of their van , and the driver's insurer refused to accept any liability at all; despite the driver having accepted a "driving awareness court" (yeah, i know, that's all :s) , so we're now at the point of setting a court date.
Each and every time i get an email, letter or call from my solicitor, the PTSD (formally assessed by the medical assessor) kicks in... it's no bloody fun, and has removed all joy of cycling, which for 5 years has been my main mode of transport.
Video and report will be written up for Road.cc's Hit of the Day when it's all done and dusted.
"All of us what voted leave and save OUR country from the tyrancial EU know that this EU cyclist nonsense has no part in Britain, OUR Britain, cyclists don't pay NO road tax so THEY have NO rights on the road, OUR road. If YOU see a cyclist on the road, then YOU know two things, to wit (1) he is a remainer vote and (2) it is ALL his fault, so don't be bullied by HIM. All the best, UKIPPER Dave (Continuity UKIP)"
Please tell me this a wind up !
Sadly not. I've spent almost an entire day educating idiots on social media about how the roads are funded, why cyclists don't use cycle lanes, etc. Probably the most ridiculous response I had was from someone that used an article of a cyclist being killed by a motorist in Gloucestershire to justify their point that "cyclists are a menace".
When you see the vast levels of ignorance, entitlement and downright dangerous attitudes on show you really have to question how these people ever got their driving license and how much they really value it.
Worryingly, my wife and her father join them. I'm trying not to make a big thing of it...
Difficult, you have to tow the line a little bit with family. Although I'm the type of individual that will call anyone out irrespective of who they are. If I met the queen and she started whinging about cyclists not paying road tax then she too would receive a dose of stern but undeniable logic, even if it cost me my knighthood!
Difficult, you have to tow the line a little bit with family. Although I'm the type of individual that will call anyone out irrespective of who they are. If I met the queen and she started whinging about cyclists not paying road tax then she too would receive a dose of stern but undeniable logic, even if it cost me my knighthood!
“As we build back greener from the pandemic, we’re determined to keep that trend going by making active travel easier and safer for everyone"
Disingenuous tripe and bollocks, when the police just ignore what are essentially attacks on cyclists like this
Blimey that's awful. - that's no "essentially attacks", that's "Does Attack". Surely the police took some action on that?
that's not "essentially attacks", that's "Does Attack". Surely the police took some action on that?
You should watch out after giving an invitation like that! You may get some hate mail from people who are sick of hearing about the evils of Lancashire Constabulary, an organisation so hostile to cyclists and so desperate to forgive motorists for serious offences that it makes the Daily Mail look like a combination of Sustrans, Greta Thunberg and St Francis of Assisi. Suffice it to say: you will see that the incident occurred on 13th July. LC is currently not even looking at reports until 3 weeks after the incident - if you were to say that it is then not possible for them to send out NIPs, you would be right because that's the plan of the loathsome idle b******s. There has been no response at all from LC to that report, despite 2 'reminders' (I'm collecting evidence for complaints about this abysmal worthless travesty of a police force), and there is unlikely to be any response to this Audi Q5 T90 JDT crashing through red lights at 50+ while towing the large caravan- the rear of the caravan crossed the line 2.2 seconds after the light turned red. I extract from the video the first frame with the light at red- in this case the vehicle was so far back none of it is seen on the frame
This news has caused the Daily Mail comments section to go into meltdown. I've had to print off another dozen bingo cards!
4332 comments and counting !
" theres going to be a motorists Revolt soon if this peresecution doesnt stop - the French wouldnt put up with this s..it - they'd push their Citroens and Peugeots into the centre of Paris and leave them there"
Someone tell them about Paris' active travel plan !
"This country is quickly becoming uninhabitable mainly because the government went mad."
(hope that's not too political rich_cb !)
Haha. Did they miss the consultation stage.
It did strike me as odd that the anti-cycling media didn't point out there was a consultation until the consultation had closed. I guess they just like moaning more than actually being pro-active.
I've always had a pretty low opinion of Grant Shapps (or whatever name he is currently using) but the DfT have been bringing out consistently sensible policies for active travel recently.
I may have to reconsider.
It might be dangerous to reassign values to someone because of a couple of actions when their whole life has been spent doing the exact opposite. Boris the Liar for instance.
I agree.
If somebody has been consistently and demonstrably dishonest then you can probably dismiss their opinion on most things...
Cool, thanks. I will yours then.
Give one example where I've been dishonest.
I'll wait.
I thought you were a paid-up member of the fan club of the Conservative & Brexit Party.
Maybe Michael Green leaves you cold, but you love the dynamic and modern attitude of Rees-Mogg, or the integrity and honesty of Alexander Johnson (or whatever name he is currently using).
Looks like you thought wrong.
Given your track record, that's hardly a surprise.
Does 'someone exercising on a velodrome' count as 'active travel' nowadays? Or is that what DfT thinks is going on??
I also thought that was an own goal when I saw the tumbnail of the video but, to be fair, if you watch the video, it's just a hook - along the lines of "we've done really well in the velodrome, but cycling isn't just an elite sport, it's also for people getting around". It then goes on to discuss the latter.
Oh, fair enough then (I didn't actually watch the video...).
Meanwhile LibDem and Labour councils in Liverpool are ripping out cycle lanes.
Remind me, who's the pro- eco-friendly low-cost travel party?
A purely factual statement here - the Liberal Party (found at Liberal.org.uk) that's removing the bike lanes is not the Liberal Democrat Party (found at LibDems.org.uk).
Ok, that's confusing. Also confusing is that they seem to also be known as the Scottish Liberal Party whilst Steve Radford is in Liverpool.
I fed back on the consultation.
I have to say, I hate this government of snakes with a passion, but the ideas in the consultation were 95% brilliant, and it's good to see this carried forward.
Go and read the Daily Mail Comments on this subject if you want a depressing view on this country and some of the morons that inhabit it.
Dont need to bother with the Daily Mail comments,we get enough in the local paper whenever cycling gets mentioned, the worst part being I'm far more likely to be sharing the local roads with them when out riding https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/lifestyle/cycling-and-cyclists-good-news-8...
Pages