Cycle lanes make roads more dangerous says study

I've had a few close calls with cars coming out of side roads after being waved on by other car drivers. Once someone tips them the nod, they'll pull straight out regardless in many instances. I saw a very nasty motorcycle accident as the car driver pulled out without looking and without checking to see if there were any other vehicles coming. The van driver who had waved on the car comng from the sideroad seemed to think it was the biker's fault. I corrected him on this and pointed out that he'd been as responsible as the dullard in the car. neither of them had bothered to look. Luckily the guy on the motorbike wasn't seriously hurt. But it was a close one. Only his bike was trashed.

A large number of car drivers young and old seem have no awareness of a cyclist in the cycling lane - just how often do they swerve out when they realise that you are there alongside them? add to that the fact that many encroach on to the cycle lane as it allows them to straighten out the bends can make riding main roads quite frustrating and dangerous.
Many will even slow down and flash somebody out of a side road whilst you are travelling alongside them - it's the ones that pull out that amaze me and them when you nearly end up buried in the side of them?

robike - Bear in mind that someone on a motorbike has a greater spatial awareness of a cyclist when overtaking because the rider is that much closer and the rider will be able to judge the required overtaking distances far more accurately than a car driver as a result. It's also worth remembering that a motorcyclist will be just as vulnerable in the event of a collision with a cyclist, as the cyclist him or herself. For that reason, a motorbike rider will be every bit as keen to avoid a collision as a cyclist.

I'm curious though about your comment regarding L-plate motorcycle riders. Most L-plate riders of powered two wheelers use scooters. Trust me, there is a BIG difference between a motorcycle and a scooter and there is a BIG difference between the types of riders who use these different machines. Many scooters have automatic gears and require far lower skill levels to operate.

kinda obvious really, theres a section of road out near Gordano/Portishead round these parts that has no road markings whatsoever and cars drivers are always driving noticeably slower, esp. with oncoming cars.. goes to show how much we rely on them white lines to keep us where we think we should be.

I find the most terrifying overtakes are by motorcycles, the worst (come too close) have L-plates.

Where possible I follow the line most cars would have their nearside (left) wheel, deferring to the cycle lane only when it benefits me (eg. to overtake on the inside).

Hmm, I tend to think the many car drivers whip past with the bare minimum of clearance no matter the road. That's been my experience anyway. BMW drivers rank amongst the worst offenders.

I was overtaken very closely by a car once on a road with no bike lanes. When I pointed this out to the driver (a rare thing for me to do) he replied, "you don't need much space - bike lanes are only this" (spreading his hands the width of a typical bike lane) "wide."

So not only are they dangerous where they do exist, they are dangerous where they don't exist!