April 24 Combined - Flipbook - Page 44
Hayling Herald Cycling
Be aware of Highway Code changes
By Wilf Forrow of Cycle Hayling
DRIVERS – are you following the new Highway Code?
It’s more than two years
since it was massively updated, mainly to make safer
walking and cycling.
It’s drivers who need to
make the biggest change,
although cyclists and pedestrians have to follow it too.
But who reads the Highway
Code unless they’re taking
their driving test? And which
pedestrians and cyclists?
I bought a copy of the
Highway Code as a book, and
as an iPhone/iPad app, and
I have to admit, it’s not the
most enthralling reading.
To save you time, let me
summarise some key new
rules which everyone needs
to know, especially drivers:
n Rule H1: The Hierarchy of
Responsibility. The greater
our risk to others, the greater
our responsibility. And yes,
that does mean cyclists are
responsible for not endangering pedestrians.
n Rule H2 and H3: Vehicles
turning at unsignalled junctions must give way to those
going straight across, including pedestrians and cyclists,
whether on the pavement, or
a cycle path, or on the road.
But pedestrians and cyclists
still need to look first to make
sure.
Vehicles passing bikes must
leave at least 1.5m clearance,
and more if travelling above
30mph. That’s the width of
a smart car if you haven’t got
your ruler with you.
Prevent car-dooring cyclists
with the Dutch Reach technique, whereby you open car
doors by reaching across with
your opposite arm so you’re
looking behind. It’s good
exercise too.
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Every road user, including pedestrians and cyclists,
should read the full version.
Special tip – if you don’t want
to pay, there’s a really good
free version at highwaycodeuk.co.uk and there’s more
information at cyclinguk.org/
safer-highway-code-cyclists.
The biggest reason people
say they don’t cycle is because
the roads are dangerous. If
we all follow those rules,
and are considerate to each
other, then roads won’t just
be much safer, they’ll be more
people-friendly places. And
that will encourage people
to walk and cycle more, and
keep themselves and the NHS
healthy, and reduce pollution.
Speed
But there’s one other important factor. If a driver hits a
pedestrian at 40mph, they
have a 90% chance of dying.
At 20mph, it’s a 90% chance
of living. That’s worth a few
seconds on your journey
time, isn’t it?
Riding
Last month, I recommended
Portsmouth CTC’s fantastic
Cathedral Challenge, to help
past cyclists get back into
cycling, at PortsmouthCTC.
org.uk/CC.
For more adventurous
riders, I have an even bigger
challenge – the oldest multiday charity ride in the UK,
possibly in the world. Where
do you have to go for that?
Hayling, of course!
It’s the haylingcycleride.
org.uk, originally the Paris-to-Hayling ride, and it’s
world-famous, because it
attracts entrants from all over
the world.
If you’ve never done it, it
really is a life-changing experience.
And if you have, why not
Rule H2 of the Highway Code, above, and The Hierarchy of Responsibility, top
give it another go?