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What’s the usual procedure for cyclists wishing to complain to TVP about careless driving? Phone 101 and send any video clips into a particular email address?
That was a nasty pass – seems like you had a positive response from the Police. I normally use a Virb mounted under handlebars, and though I’ve not contacted the Police, this year I’ve emailed ~ four companies re. close passes, and generally had a reasonable response.
Re. close passes, you may be interested in what the Met have on their RoadSafeLondon ‘reporting’ website, which includes:
“Video footage
…
Videos should not be edited in any way. They must not rely on a perception of distance such as a close pass as the apparent distance will vary according to the type camera and settings. There are other issues with video evidence, such as parallax error, which makes objects appear close together when they are seen in line. In general, evidence of provocation or disproportionate reaction will mean that no action is taken..”I notice Hagbourne Hill road closes today for about 5 months – that’s likely to increase traffic levels on A4185 between Rowstock – Harwell Campus.
Just preference really; though Abingdon centre does get pretty busy at peak times, and some of the traffic lights have fairly long ‘cycle’ times – e.g. the Ock St – Stratton Way lights.
I’ve been doing 2/3 road bike commutes/week on this same route from North Abingdon, via Drayton & Steventon. My return journey is after 6pm. I avoid Abingdon town centre, on the way out, and head down Faringdon Rd/Spring Rd & over the double mini r-ab. I also tend to use the cycle track between Abingdon & Drayton, about the only one I use anywhere, just for a quieter life – although it does mean turning right on to said path heading back out of Drayton on the return. In Abingdon on the return I simply head back up Ock st, then do a left onto Bath St. I haven’t had any problems, perhaps ~3 ‘close’ passes in 2015 so far… It’s a good distance & normally around 35-40 mins in, and 30-35mins back for me.
Andy
Another cement mixer incident a few days ago; very close pass (with oncoming HGV) on the main road nr. the Harwell Rec Soc ground. I didn’t notice any company name, but reg: WU51 P– . The vehicle turned onto site, but after that I don’t know.
Can just ask if there was an official Harbug response made to the proposed Science Vale Cycle Network?
I commute from Abingdon by car, and also bike. When in the car and I come across a cyclist, I simply wait until it’s safe to pass giving sufficient room. Until such time vehicles behind me have to wait with me, and I have no qualms whatsoever about them doing so, or potentially delaying them by a few seconds. When I hear from motorists that they hate being held up, I have no sympathy – in the grand scheme of things, it simply is not significant. Likewise when on the bike cycling from Abingdon, I grasp hold of the fact that I am a perfectly legitimate road user, I assert my road position by not cycling in the gutter, and expect cars and vehicles to pass me safely, and do not worry about ‘holding anyone up’. Doing the Abingdon-Drayton-Steventon-Rowstock route by bike, after 9am & 6pm, I do not usually find any problems at all. Motorists commuting at a busier (or any) time, have to come to terms with the fact that some people will choose to do the same by bike, and they need to respect this accordingly.
I like that… ‘dogs are under control because I’ve just let them off’; I think not. Also, ‘you’re on a MTB, so you can just ‘nip around’… the pack of wandering canines. The last time I was on this track, I had to spend a good few minutes at home afterwards pressure washing doggy-doo out of my tyre treads!
I’m registered for this; should be good.
Andy