"Use the f@*&^%g cycle lane!"

Sorry to hear of your altercation.

To this point about the cycle lanes, specifically down Fermi Avenue, is it just me or are the curb drops between roads dangerous. The clearance for a road bike is enough to get a puncture (or at least send your 2 veg up into your stomach!) and is a reason I stick to the road.

If it was a dark blue Saab, I’ve had a run in with him before. He cut me up at as the road narrows coming off the Diamond roundabout, then waited for me to catch him up and braked suddenly in front of me. Also used the same sentence on me. I suggested he learnt the highway code.

They do have a security camera that looks from the security box to that junction. However that might too have a side on view.

it’s sad to hear about this;
anyway the cycle lane is an option that a cyclist can have, but staying on the road with the bicycle respecting the code is our right;

unfortunately, the rudeness of ignorant people is something to deal with everyday

Although it sounds like it wouldn’t apply in this case, do you think Diamond and RAL would be prepared to remove the parking permits for members of their staff who behave like this? Perhaps encouraging the various organisations on campus to message their staff would be beneficial.

We can and should bring this type of incident to the attention of the Campus management (their roads) and to the companies to whom the motorist works for. It would be easier if we could get a number plate, I know in the heat of the moment you don’t think of that.
Also if we have two independent incidents and number plate IDs we can go to the police and get them to ‘have a word’ or issue a driving ASBO.
Don’t forget to log any incidents on the Collidescope.pe website.
Let’s identify this SAAB driver and get him to amend his ways. If you think you know who he is please contact chair@harbug.org.uk in confidence.

Although I doubt if they would remove a parking permit for one (reported) offense, I would hope that if they found that an employee was driving in a dangerous manner whilst on their property, and/or acting aggressively to another employee whilst on their property (whether in their car or not), that they would take some sort of disciplinary action.

I have no time for people hurling abuse at others but what is the problem with the cycle paths on Fermi avenue? Yes the curbs between R56 and the RAL main entrance are a bit harsh but other than that they are smooth, wide and keep you away from cars, what’s not to like?

For me it’s about the priority, in particular having to give-way across side roads. I can stay on the main road and sit at 20mph, only having to worry about the roundabout (which you very rarely have to stop for). Or I can use the path and have to slow down outside ESA, the roundabout, goods delivery, while dodging pedestrians coming off the bus.

When you’ve been on the road most of the way up to site it doesn’t really make sense to leave just for the last mile unless it is more convenient (which it isn’t).

(My inbox tells me it has all been said already but oh well..)

Reasons for not using shared cycle ways:

– Shared cycle ways are often used by pedestrians who aren’t always aware that they are on a shared cycle way and therefore cross without looking (e.g. the Zebra crossing where bus users cross to the RCaH gate).
– Pedestrians would, quite fairly, expect me to travel slowly as I pass them in a safe manner when the only segregation is a line of paint.
– At each road junction on a shared cycle way, I need to give way to road users turning across my route, which will in sometimes mean I just slow down and sometimes means I have to stop and wait.

If I was any other road user, would I be expected to choose the above or an alternative which avoids all these things?

Does anyone know why the metre of land used for the cycle lane could not be shifted 2m northwards to create a cycle lane that allows cars to overtake me and removes all the conflict?

I think both of you have fair points to not using the cycle lane and I agree with some of them. However, i do use the cycle lane and I share it with pedestrians and other cyclists in the same considerate way I share the road when I drive my car and share it with cyclists.

Also, I’ve found that no pedestrians shout and swear at me as I weave in and out of them at 5-10 mph. Whereas, on the road I have been verbally abused and threatened just for riding along the road.

Horses for courses I guess. I am not concerned about keeping my average speed as high as possible during the last half mile. I am more concerned about what is on the pudding menu in R22.

My point is, whatever we as cyclists prefer to do, other people are always going to have their own opinion which may be voiced in an agressive manner. That is their problem not ours whether we are on the cycle path or not.

If we didn’t have a cycle path but was in fact a cycle lane attached to the road then would the minority of aggressive car drivers behave in the same manner?

I always think the main issue is the getting onto the cycle path in the first place.
I either have to stop to turn right, slowing traffic and sitting in the middle of the road.
Or do dodgy roundabout/pedestrian crossing maneuvers which runs the risk of cycling into lampposts (also conveniently located in the middle of the cycle path entrance coming out the south of Abingdon).
Its easier coming off site, but there is still the issue of re joining the traffic again.
But then the same right turn issue with the road between Drayton and Abingdon.
Maybe its just me being too clumsy to do right angles at speed.
There is a very nice slip road onto a cycle path somewhere in oxford they should have more of those.

You’re perfectly entitled to ride on the road regardless of other facilities and nobody has the right to yell at you for it. That said, being abusive and a total ar$e probably isn’t a serious enough offence to have the Saab driver fired.
However, I would also balance my need to keep moving against the needs of a whole line of traffic when a good alternative is there for me, for the minor inconvenience of the odd stop at a junction. I do know that when I pull over on a busy road to let a stuck lorry past, the look of amazed gratitude on the driver’s face gives me a warm cosy feeling!

I seem to be in the minority who prefer off-road paths, and always use them unless unbearably rough. On-street paths often get abused by vehicles, parked or moving, especially swerving into my path around other cars waiting to turn right!They can also quickly get cluttered with glass and other debris where they don’t get swept by passing traffic. I heartily agree that the access to many paths is a disgrace, with stupid dog-legs and bad kerbs, poorly sited signs etc. A lot of road designers seriously need their heads banging together! But for the most part the ones on campus are not too bad. I have requested that prominent walk / cycle symbols are painted at regular intervals along the Fermi Ave path so that even the most gormless pedestrian in auto-mode with phone and earplugs, who won’t hear your warnings, should realise where their bit is. My request was favourably acknowledged – we will see.

Hello, just for a giggle, I decided to use the f@*&^%g cycle lanes on campus where ever possible on my morning commute. I use Route 544 from Wantage, then go south across campus on the new link road, past the Library, to Fermi Avenue. Usually I do all of this on the roads until Fermi Avenue, where I switch to the cycle lane as a courtesey to the motorized masses who are so keen to get to work at our wonderful science and technology facilities.

Today, it took me 4 minutes 28 seconds to go from the edge of Campus to RAL main gate. I obeyed the instructions “Cyclists Dismount” in two locations. In think there is a sign missing on the first Zebra crossing, where according to the Highway Code, cyclists are definitely supposed to dismount. The new cycle paths on the link road have 90 degree dog-legs and give way markings just before the road crossings, and I haven’t yet got the hang of the cyclocross flying dismount! I had to unclip/clip 8 times to give way were required to do so (I may have missed one place). Luckily Fermi Avenue wasn’t busy and I was able to cross it witohut waiting for traffic. Why no “Cyclists Dismount” signs there? Then a bus had just arriived, so I gave way as required.

4:28 doesn’t sound a lot, but the actual distance covered is only a mile and my normal commute time on that route is about 30 minutes. Until I get to Fermi Avenue, there is almost no traffic, so I feel cycling on the road isn’t annoying any drivers. My point is, using the cycle lanes as they are currently laid out is mostly a pain in the @r$e.

I think the campus management should be asked:
a) What is their policy and infrastructure plan for people commuting on and off campus?
b) Ditto for people moving around campus
c) Why is the signage and instructions to cyclists at junctions inconsistent (“Dismount” vs. “Give Way”) ?
d) What will be the impact of proposed changes in traffic circulation on cyclists?

Thanks very much for all the replies. I suspected that the dog legs at each junction might be one of the issues but I was unaware of the lamp post placement at the entrance to sight as I turn off at the space building.

Bit of a late reply, but I ride on the dual-use path down from the main Fermi roundabout in the morning; it’s not the best and I tend to ‘bunny-hop’ the non-flush kerbs. I have had drivers failing to indicate before turning left across my path. Going home (after 6pm) I just use the road.

A few weeks ago, I had a driver of a dark blue Mazda trying to beat me through the pinch point on A4185 before Fermi roundabout. I indicated to ‘please give me more room’, and received retaliatory gestures back. I then met said car again a few minutes later, as they were going back up Fermi in opposite direction, cue ‘frantic vitriolic gesturing’ by the driver. Aggressive.

I had a cycle lane preacher this morning who tried to overtake me using the right turn lane at the 8th St/Fermi roundabout but had to abort as I wasn’t hugging the gutter. As it turned out he works a few offices down (and of course the overtake saved him absolutely 0 time) I pointed out his shit driving to be told ‘should have been in the cycle lane’. Definitely some campus wide driver education needed!

What do people think about whether “cycle route ahead” warning signs along Fermi Ave would help at all?
From the highway code: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/55b76fbced915d07e200000f/warning-sign-cycle-route-ahead.jpg

The danger with “Cycle Route Ahead” signs is that a significant number of UK motorists think they mean “No Cycling”. They may worsen the problems with Mr Angry Man.

It’s not like people regularly using site can’t see the cyclists or don’t expect them. More an ignorance of how to drive around cyclists with the odd ‘Mr Angry Man’ mixed in.

A few months ago I had a similar, but more polite exchange with a driver of the same opinion.

Driver: Why aren’t you on the cycle path?
Me: Why aren’t you on the A34?
Driver: It doesn’t go where I’m going.
Me: Exactly!

He calmed down after that.