Burka wearing driver nearly killed me.

[SHare]

I can sympathise with cyclists, but to be fair anyone on the roads that impedes traffic flow in such a way would all end up suffering the same problems regardless of what they are in\on. Ever tried driving down a country road at 45-50? It just seems cyclists have got organised and labelled themselves something of a minority so they can all feel wronged together when the genuine problem on our roads is that driving is regarded as a right rather than a hard earned skill in this country.

On another note, what's the legal view of taking pictures of people in such situations? How would the law view it?

[peterb]

<---snip

On another note, what's the legal view of taking pictures of people in such situations? How would the law view it?

AFAIK traking photographs of people is perfectly legal. The exception is taking photographs in prohibited places (such as immigration or customs halls in ports and airports) or of police officers in some situations which may ne an ogffence under counter terrorism laws (but I'm not sure if that has been tested in court)

But I am not a lawyer.

[abs_rio]

Sounds like a lack of attention. Although there was recent research showing that a significant number of drivers do not meet the required visual standards for driving. This would have a greater impact on awareness than a helmet or head covering.

[Gryffes]

Head cams have been used to prosecute drivers, well worth the investment.

[IronWarrior]

Anyway, I'll would think wearing something like that while driving is legal and dangerous, since it limits your vision to the left and right sides, also I don't think you would be able to look behind very well when you turn your head to reverse.

Report it to the Police.

[TheAnimus]

I can sympathise with cyclists, but to be fair anyone on the roads that impedes traffic flow in such a way would all end up suffering the same problems regardless of what they are in\on. Ever tried driving down a country road at 45-50? It just seems cyclists have got organised and labelled themselves something of a minority so they can all feel wronged together when the genuine problem on our roads is that driving is regarded as a right rather than a hard earned skill in this country.

Wait wtf?

I was on a BUS LANE, then a DEDICATED cycle path.

The only time on my commute I'm on a hard to overtake, its a 20 zone. Given that my GPS logs tell me I'm cycling at between 18-23mph there, anyone behind can damn well wait.

[roachcoach]

Are the bike lanes down here are stupid as they are up here though?

The amount of times they have a bike lane and suddenly its in the middle of lanes of traffic is awful. It's a bloody deathtrap.

[Ferral]

I think the way this needs to be looked at is the whole being able what to see when wearing headware. Regardless of the specific type of headware or any sort of religous beliefs.

Would it be the same if someone was wearing a Balaclava and baseball cap, visibility could be equally as poor for example.

[Zadock]

I thought the Burka does not cover the eyes!

All motor vehicles in Sweden have to pass the "moose test" I hear? Probably not bicycles though

Ferral: Good points but things like a baseball caps usually move with your head, I think that hoods are probably more problematic as they can widen your blind spot quite significantly.

[SHare]

Wait wtf?

I was on a BUS LANE, then a DEDICATED cycle path.

The only time on my commute I'm on a hard to overtake, its a 20 zone. Given that my GPS logs tell me I'm cycling at between 18-23mph there, anyone behind can damn well wait.

Fine but, if for example, we had dedicated 'slower driver lanes' then they'd be the victim of this sort of thing instead. Most drivers out there seem to ignore lanes and just drive pretty much where they like and usually in the most direct route, straight across roundabouts, cutting corners, drifting across lanes and scything across the pass of dedicated bus and cycle lanes. These are the folk that shouldn't be on the road but unfortunately we live in a society where everyone expects to be allowed to drive regardless of their skill level. What I'm saying is that I believe you being a cyclist and her wearing a burka aren't the reason these incidents occur. It was her inability to drive.

[aidanjt]

Go Play in traffic.

Good grief, there are so many holes in that story you could drop the titanic through it. :\

[scaryjim]

Are the bike lanes down there are stupid as they are up here though.

I've yet to see a cycle path done properly in England. Bike "lanes" are just a ridiculous idea: we already have lanes, it's called the road, and as vehicles we (that is, cyclists) have an equal right to use it (and an equal responsibility to use it sensibly) as any other vehicle. The only place they have any use is at large / complicated junctions, and frankly most motorists ignore them and use them as an extension of the normally carriageway anyway, so what's the point.

Cycle paths, where there is a dedicated pathway just for the use of cycles, makes a lot more sense, but if you want to encourage people to use them then you need to do it properly, which is to say it needs to be separated from both the road *and* the pedestrians. Holland pretty much does it right. I'm not convinced anywhere else does though, really. There's plenty of places around Manchester where the cycle path / cycle lane provision is so appalling I choose to ride on the road instead. That's fine for me, because I'm a *very* experienced cyclist, but I'd be terrified if my children decided they wanted to bike round Manchester...

[roachcoach]

I know what you mean, however, I was meaning more things like this:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client...02642&t=h&z=19


It's harder to see since its not red (guess it wore out) but there's a bike lane there, which suddenly finds itself in the middle of multiple lanes. This bike lane, (to be fair like most due to a preponderance of greenways bus lanes) is generally observed, but the next thing you know the bikes are stranded in the middle of lanes of traffic with no warning to either bike or driver. What the hell do they do if they want to turn left? Break lane early? Stop in the middle of moving traffic?!

When I'm driving, I do look for bikes, but very rarely on the nearside of the vehicle, they're just not meant to be there, its too exposed.

But then, our council its a great advocate of:
"Oh ****, we've run out of road for x lanes."
"That's ok, just don't paint any more lines and let the drivers sort that out"

Like this one (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client...01321&t=h&z=20) the right hand fork is two lanes onto a slip road which just...stop. Not anarchy and a flashpoint in rush hour at all

So its no real surprise the bike lanes are screwed up

[scaryjim]

... I was meaning more things like this:

That doesn't look too bad to me: if you're going straight on you use the bike lane, if you're turning left you use the main traffic lane as soon as it branches off. Could do with slightly better signage though!

Can't find any good examples from Manchester. The worst bit on my commute is the section of clearly marked cyclepath that is always full of pedestrians who give you snotty looks for using it on bike, depsite the fact that it is clearly marked as a cyclepath, and there is a dedicated footpath within 5 yards...

[G4Z]

Obligitory link

[roachcoach]

I'll see your tree and raise you:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12604066