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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
- chrisonabike 3 sec ago
The exact situation shown in this photo is pretty common near me....
- levestane 6 min 46 sec ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyhz4q-5NKA gives some options.
- brooksby 1 hour 1 min ago
Nope - had an urgent appointment with his tax advisor
- brooksby 1 hour 5 min ago
I'm not sure which one of them looks more like a crook…
- OnYerBike 1 hour 38 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. 3 hours 49 min ago
That made me think of that "Hot Fuzz" comedy movie... so many truths in it.
- Rendel Harris 5 hours 42 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 20 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 23 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 32 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...
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73 comments
Are you rowan
Not just the DM, the Sun has similar:
"In news sure to anger drivers who already face long delays whenever they get behind the wheel, ministers are planning to make sweeping changes to rules on where to give way."
So, no mention of the fact that the main reason for delays is, errm, traffic! Great, so a load of worthless words printed in the HC which no one will read...and a greater sense of injustice and entitlement by those driving around on the roads. Hoorah!
So, no mention of the fact that the main reason for delays is, errm, traffic! Great, so a load of worthless words printed in the HC which no one will read...and a greater sense of injustice and entitlement by those driving around on the roads
The head-in-the-sand experts seem to have failed to notice that there is nothing to even pretend that there will be an improvement in the safety feature we spend all that time on here complaining about: close passing. The main enemy of the cyclist, the police, will continue to demand blood on the road before they will even think about taking action, and will continue to think that if the motorist didn't hit the cyclist hard then there is leeway for him to come even closer- meanwhile the number on the repetitive NMotD topics rises remorselessly to the 1000 mark while the odd cyclist is killed and the legal process delivers community service penalties. I am pleased to say that I shunned that worthless and insincere 'consultation'.
My favourite is if I'm on the bike in a queue of traffic and let someone out of a side road, and then the motorist behind me starts hooting their car's horn as if I've done the most dastardly thing.
Ditto on if I (shock! horror!) stop and let someone use a zebra crossing, or brake to a stop as the lights are amber.
All those things that you'd think motorists would be doing too, so why do so many of them get so angry about it...?
Got to be very careful when stopping at changing lights, keep a listen to the following cars engine noise, I've had to swerve out the way on many occasions.
"People on bikes will also have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead"
Sorry, was this not already the case? What am I missing here
I think this means that they will have priority even if they are on a parallel cycle track or shared path. As you say, cyclists on the road (including an on-road cycle lane) already do have priority.
Yes, also at the moment, the wording is that pedestrians have priority at junctions or Zebras if they're already crossing (the legal requirement).
The new proposed wording is along the lines that road users should also give way to people waiting to cross and includes side roads, as well as crossings.
As for cycle lanes/paths, the proposed wording was:
You should give way to any cyclists in a cycle lane, including when they are approaching from behind you – do not cut across them when turning or when changing lane (see Rule H3). Be prepared to stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists before crossing the cycle lane.
Cycle tracks are routes for cyclists that are physically protected or located away from motor traffic, other than where they cross side roads. Cycle tracks may be shared with pedestrians. You should give way to cyclists approaching or using the cycle track when turning into or out of a junction (see Rule H3). Be prepared to stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists before crossing the cycle track, which may be used by cyclists travelling in both directions.
Bear in mind that cyclists are not obliged to use cycle lanes or cycle tracks.
The current regs are a bit stupid. You have to step on to a crossing to enforce your right of way.
I once had someone have a go at me, they were waiting on the opposite side of the road to use a zebra crossing and I cycled straight through. I appreciate that if I was in a car I would have stopped out of courtesy. I didn't go back and point out that they were technically wrong and I had no obligation to stop.
I've had it the other way round. I stepped on to a crossing and a car flew across on the opposite side of the road. I gave them the finger. They got angry, started to pull over I kept on walking towards them so I could explain the law to them and they changed their mind and drove off.
Cyclists on a shared path and pedestrians on a shared path or pavement, continuing straight across a junction, already had priority - but only once they stepped/cycled onto the road. It was far too ambiguous and also not something that many people seemed to be aware of.
What they really need is some images that illustrate how ridiculous it is to expect someone who is travelling straight forward, to check for approaching vehicles from three or four different directions - especially when those who are approaching to turn, have much better visibility of those who are continuing straight.
How many degrees is it to look backwards for traffic coming up behind me to turn left in front of me, when the road is seven feet over to my right because the cycle path is set away from the road....? While simultaneously checking ahead and to my right for traffic turning (edit) right into the same entrance. While simultaneously checking for oncoming cycle traffic. Makes my head spin
I was envisaging an entirely different situation, where cyclists going straight on at a Give Way line would be given priority over the main road. A sort of "Idaho stop plus-plus-plus"! I was wondering how on earth it could possibly work in practice... So this makes much more sense. Shame it couldn't have been explained more clearly in the text.
I obviously hope to see the removal of give way signs on cycle lanes and shared paths when they cross side roads. What could possibly go wrong once the HC has been changed.
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