36
votes
Accepted
Can I legally use front facing blue light in the UK?
Regulation 16 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (1989) states:
Restrictions on fitting blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices
No vehicle, other than an ...
- 16.9k
28
votes
Accepted
Preparation/tips for 50 mile ride
50 miles is feasible but it will be hard work. Think about how tired you felt after cycling 20 miles. Then cycle 20 miles again from that tired start and think about how tired you'll feel then. Then, ...
- 16.9k
18
votes
Accepted
Turning right but can't see cars coming (UK)
It's not easy. A few factors make it harder.
The double yellow lines don't extend vary far up Chipperfield Road (for those not in the UK, they mean "no parking").
Cars can come up too ...
- 55.7k
17
votes
Accepted
Training for driving on the left in the UK
It's worth reading the whole Highway Code (the rules of the road for the UK), including the bits that only apply to those you'll be sharing the road with. That's not to say people follow it, of ...
- 55.7k
16
votes
Found my stolen bike, what to do? (London, UK)
Call the police again.
If they say no again, ask at least for a log number, I'm nearly certain they should be able to give you one while you're still on the phone.
If you haven't previously reported ...
- 2,265
15
votes
What does this road sign mean?
The 'arch' is actually an arrow - look at the right hand end.
I believe it means there is a junction between the carriageways that allows you to make a right turn and travel along the opposite side.
...
- 75.3k
15
votes
Accepted
Frame manufacturer not covering crack as saying it was crash damage
Despite what others have said, a warranty is a bona fide contract between the company and you. It's used in the selling of the product thus is covered by decent consumer protection law (in the UK ...
- 386
15
votes
How strong should lights be for a route partially in a city and partially outside city on a public road?
https://bikelightdatabase.com/ has a lot of good information.
There is much more to a light than output. Optics is far more important (and in parts of the world, its illegal to use bike lights that do ...
- 47.8k
12
votes
Training for driving on the left in the UK
I haven't heard of any bike-specific training or anything like that for transitioning from riding on the right to riding on the left. I have lived on both sides of the channel and it does take some ...
- 683
11
votes
Accepted
Is passing traffic on the cars' passenger side ("Undertaking") with a bicycle frowned upon in the UK?
As the previous answer states, you're perfectly within your rights to continue along the cycle lane in this situation, regardless of any cars to your right.
Some junctions even have advanced stop ...
- 301
10
votes
Turning right but can't see cars coming (UK)
There is really not much you can do except taking it slowly and carefully looking around. Parked vehicles (especially high ones like trucks, vans and SUVs) at intersections are always a problem and ...
- 25.8k
9
votes
Preparation/tips for 50 mile ride
It's doable if you are young and fit and don't mind some pain.
If you have ridden up to 20 miles, but regularly only ride a few miles, you may find 50 miles is a struggle, just because you are not ...
- 75.3k
9
votes
How strong should lights be for a route partially in a city and partially outside city on a public road?
For illuminating the road ahead at speed where you'll get motor assistance on a UK-legal e-bike, 300 lumens in a well-shaped beam is plenty. You only need the sort of output you mention for off-road, ...
- 55.7k
8
votes
Accepted
What is the best time to cycle during the day (traffic)?
For the UK there are traffic statistics available. This graph from the 2015 Road Traffic Estimates shows the general trend for cars.
There are detailed tables of traffic flow available.
There is ...
- 7,725
8
votes
Accepted
Is using hand signals a legal requirement in the UK?
They're in the highway code, but the word "must" isn't used in the online version or my paper copy from 1999, which states:
Turning right
155. Well before you turn right you should
Use your ...
- 55.7k
8
votes
Maps for cycling routes in Scotland and Yorkshire
As I commented, Google Maps is really awful for outdoor activities. The maps are not detailed enough and the visual presentation is just bad for this purpose.
I tend to use mapy.cz for all countries ...
- 15.3k
8
votes
Found my stolen bike, what to do? (London, UK)
Report to the police and ask for instructions. They should be capable of telling what you are legally supposed and allowed to do. You will be asked to prove your ownership over the bicycle, maybe ...
- 7,222
8
votes
Training for driving on the left in the UK
The biggest problem is not normal riding, it is what happens when something goes wrong. If someone spends their formative years in a country where people drive on their left, they form a habit of ...
- 211
7
votes
Preparation/tips for 50 mile ride
I regularly ride quite long distances in the UK (SW England, Wales). For 50 miles one large bottle of water is enough for most people even in hot weather (even me and I get thirsty). However you'll ...
- 55.7k
7
votes
Accepted
No locked off youth gearing restriction for road racing British National Series/Championships
A year and a bit on, I'd like to answer my own question. In the UK, I've not seen anyone turned away from National Championship races for having locked off gears, and the ruling that was sent to us, ...
- 141
7
votes
Preparation/tips for 50 mile ride
Consider clothing as well. I commute a short distance daily and rarely do long rides, so proper shorts are not something I bother with.
When I've done longer rides, I quickly noticed that as the ...
- 171
7
votes
Accepted
Is it possible that the gears switched from left to right?
The standard setup is left for front and right for rear for gears.
For gears you would need special left rear and right front shifters, which are not manufactured. It is very unlikely that you had ...
- 21.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Maps for cycling routes in Scotland and Yorkshire
In the planning stages I will always use multiple options, online map sites, like Google, for the general distances but not for cycling information.
Cycling specific information sites for route ...
- 3,606
7
votes
Training for driving on the left in the UK
I am not sure where you are based, but my local council offers "Refresher cycling training" courses every so often, for adults to gain confidence cycling on the road/local cycling ...
- 253
6
votes
Right of way for a raised crossing?
The vehicular and cycle traffic has priority, since the crossing is not a zebra crossing and there are no traffic lights, which are the only situations in which the Highway Code talks about ...
- 16.9k
6
votes
Is passing traffic on the cars' passenger side ("Undertaking") with a bicycle frowned upon in the UK?
This isn't the example situation described in the question, but it is what immediately what came to mind when I read the title, which is:
Undertaking another cyclist whilst on a bicycle is in my ...
- 169
6
votes
Turning right but can't see cars coming (UK)
Get the junction improved!
You already have some good answers for dealing with it "there and then", below is a parallel, long-term solution.
Write to:
the council (the borough council in ...
- 2,265
6
votes
Maps for cycling routes in Scotland and Yorkshire
If your goal is to make a multi day route, online routing tools are actually the last resource I would use. There are local associations and tourism offices that maintain cycling routes, that would be ...
- 16.1k
6
votes
How strong should lights be for a route partially in a city and partially outside city on a public road?
You must see more, not less with the powerful light. What is the point of the bright light if you actually see less? This may be contra-intuitive, but:
A light so bright that you see colors of the ...
- 7,222
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