Good Morning Britain (GMB) have managed to make a complete pigs-ear of showing the new Highway Code rules on cycling this morning.
The new rules, which are planned to come into effect on 29th January, say that cyclists are now instructed to ride in the centre of the lane in slower moving traffic, “on quiet roads or streets, moving over to the left if a faster vehicle comes up behind them, but only if they can do so safely” and “at the approach to junctions or where the road narrows, where it would be unsafe for drivers to overtake them”.
Another rule says that cars must leave at least 1.5 metres room when passing bicycles – and revised guidance also says “it can be safer” for cyclists to ride two abreast.
In the demonstration given on GMB, our little friendly cyclist decided to ride on the left-hand side of the road – which is technically correct if a fast car is behind them. But how do you differentiate between a quiet street or a busy street?
Sadly, they decided to film the piece in Warrington, which is a town which already has a large number of cycle lanes to use – so not the best example.
The new rules state cyclists dont need to adhere to the cycle lane…?!
To make things worse, the piece of road they decided to film on, has a cycle lane to the left of the rider!
So what exactly were they trying to tell people? That you shouldn’t cycle down the middle of the road, but keep to the left – like you already do?!
And don’t use the cycle lane which is shown completely empty? No. Just stick your bike on a busy road with a really slow Range Rover with a film crew and then ‘upset’ all the car drivers who are stuck behind you trying to get to work at 8.34 in the morning.
Finally, as if the pain wasn’t enough, GMB also decided to stick someone who clearly doesn’t ride a bicycle on the TV to talk about it all. Good job!
