Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

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mercalia
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Joined: 22 Sep 2013, 10:03pm
Location: london South

Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by mercalia »

M1 cyclist escorted off motorway in Hertfordshire

Any one ever done any thing like this abroad?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-31726226
pwa
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Joined: 2 Oct 2011, 8:55pm

Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by pwa »

No, but in the UK yes. I stayed with my wife at a motel near Heathrow once, and the next morning we asked the woman at the desk the directions for the airport (cycling). We set off, reached a roundabout and finished up on a road with plenty of traffic but a completely unused lane on the left. And all the signs were white writing on a blue background! After a while we realised we were cycling up a hard shoulder, but we only had a short distance to go so we put the hammer down.
irc
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Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by irc »

I've cycled a few sections of freeway in western USA. It's legal, safer than roads with no shoulder, and often lower traffic levels than a UK A road.

7-freewayused.jpg


Usually when there is no alternate as the freeway was built over the old road and there is no other roads there.
kuba
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Joined: 22 Jan 2011, 1:35pm

Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by kuba »

When touring Andalusia a few years ago I was told to cycle part of my route on the motorway by a police officer, whom I approached for directions. She insisted there was no alternative route (aside from a super-long detour) and cycling on motorways was legal in Spain. It was a very busy road but the hard shoulder was wide so I thought it was a good idea... until the first junction. :shock: Next time I'll choose a detour.
andrewwoods
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Joined: 28 Aug 2012, 12:43pm

Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by andrewwoods »

We don't help the situation by using the same colour for cycle routes and motorways.

"Cycling? Yes - just follow the blue signs..."
John Holiday
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Joined: 2 Nov 2007, 2:01pm

Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by John Holiday »

A couple of years ago,was cycling along the SS113 (?) along north coast of Scicily. It was not a Motorway, but appeared to have been 'improved' in recent times compared with my map. Was suprised to find the local 'Gendarmarie' alongside waving me over. After some discussion (my Italian/their English not brilliant), they indicated to follow them. Mad dogs & Englishmen perhaps? Think they were just a bit concerned at lone cyclist on road with occasional large trucks.
We then proceeded to next junction with me sweating profusely with them behind, & headed up the slip road with several more vehicles trailing behind! At the roundabout, they pointed to the road to take. As I rounded the next corner, was confronted by a 'No Cyclist' sign!
Thoroughly enjoyed my tour of north & east Scicily!
Chat Noir
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Joined: 22 Jan 2010, 8:52pm
Location: York

Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by Chat Noir »

Last year was cycling up to Briancon along the N94, just north of Embrun. Came to roundabout with signs clearly saying no bikes as the road became dual carriageway. Bit alarmed as couldn't see any other way so decided to carry on. The traffic was going v fast and even though I was sticking near the drain channel at the side (no, I was in it!) did not like it. After few miles came to another roundabout and was also hooted at by a motorist. Looked very carefully this time and found small road to the side - the main road had no bike signs again. Turned into delightful side road along the valley for few miles and then returned to the main road. At the first junction, again, a sign saying no cycles. Found extension to the quiet road so continued. Overtaken by some local cyclists and watched as they returned to and then joined the main road to Briancon. The junction showed no cycles allowed going back, but allowed to carry on. Understood the logic, the high speed of vehicles v bikes, but unusual to force bikes off road when an alternative route but to allow on when no alternative.
Dawes Galaxy 1979; Mercian 531 1982; Peugeot 753 1987; Peugeot 531 Pro 1988; Peugeot 653 1990; Bob Jackson 731 OS 1992; Gazelle 731 OS Exception 1996; Dolan Dedacciai 2004; Trek 8000 MTB 2011; Focus Izalco Pro 2012
iviehoff
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Joined: 20 Jan 2009, 4:38pm

Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by iviehoff »

mercalia wrote:Any one ever done any thing like this abroad?

I've cycled on short sections of motorway in Portugal because it was too difficult to find any other way, maps and signposts being poor in Portugal. I've even lifted my bike over barriers separating slip roads to get where I wanted to be.

I've cycled on sections of motorway in Argentina and Chile because there wasn't any other road. Got off as soon as poss.

I cycled on a section of motorway in Bolivia because someone pointed me that way, and they put the no cycling sign where you can only see it too late, but they didn't seem to mind. It was perfectly OK.

I cycled in/out of Tunis airport on a motorway for a short distance because there didn't seem to be another way and no one cared.

I cycled on a section of motorway in Malaysia because I misunderstood a signpost in Malay: I temporarily thought that Bandaraya was the name of a place I definitely didn't want to go to, but when I got to the 3rd junction I finally remembered it meant Town Centre. It was 37C that day, and drippingly humid as usual, and I cycled about 150km so perhaps I can be forgiven getting a bit befuddled.
mrjemm
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Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by mrjemm »

irc wrote:I've cycled a few sections of freeway in western USA. It's legal, safer than roads with no shoulder, and often lower traffic levels than a UK A road.

7-freewayused.jpg


Usually when there is no alternate as the freeway was built over the old road and there is no other roads there.


In California, north of Novato on the 101 IIRC, we found ourselves getting a 'whoop' from a police car, followed by an announcement over the bullhorn (?) "You're not supposed to ride on the freeway, come off at the next exit". Guess we must've passed a sign or something, but we'd already started being wary of it getting quite fast'n busy.
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gaz
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Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by gaz »

In the UK, four lanes plus hard shoulder in each direction,
Image
70 mph limit and you CAN cycle on it legally (at your own risk but I'd advise against it).
High on a cocktail of flossy teacakes and marmalade
Valbrona
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Joined: 7 Feb 2011, 4:49pm

Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by Valbrona »

John Holiday wrote:A couple of years ago,was cycling along the SS113 (?) along north coast of Scicily. It was not a Motorway, but appeared to have been 'improved' in recent times compared with my map. Was suprised to find the local 'Gendarmarie' alongside waving me over. After some discussion (my Italian/their English not brilliant), they indicated to follow them. Mad dogs & Englishmen perhaps? Think they were just a bit concerned at lone cyclist on road with occasional large trucks.
We then proceeded to next junction with me sweating profusely with them behind, & headed up the slip road with several more vehicles trailing behind! At the roundabout, they pointed to the road to take. As I rounded the next corner, was confronted by a 'No Cyclist' sign!
Thoroughly enjoyed my tour of north & east Scicily!


The Italians have the 'Autostrada' designation: roads where slow moving vehicles like cycles and mopeds are banned. And lots of Italian roads are designated as Autostrada - not just their motorways.

I like Italy lots as it's the closest thing to a Fascist state in Europe. What this means, is that when Italians think-up new laws they actually tend to give some consideration as to how these laws might be enforced. The State Police or Caribinieri might ignore a cyclist riding on Autostrada - more a job for the Polizia Regionale (County Council wardens in uniform) or Polizia Stradale (state road traffic police).
I should coco.
deckertim
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Joined: 10 Oct 2009, 12:17am

Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by deckertim »

I toured Andalusia last year. I had to use a couple of motorways as there was no alternative. Getting to Malaga airport was a case in point. I just couldn't find a way of getting there without using one.
John Holiday
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Joined: 2 Nov 2007, 2:01pm

Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by John Holiday »

One further point I meant to mention earlier.( re- Scicily riding)
May I claim to be the only person to have ridden a Brompton down the outside lane of the M5?
A couple of years ago you may recall the heavy flooding which occurred around Worcester/Tewksbury etc.
Well, I was travelling south that evening & we all stopped on M5, north of services at Worcester.
No sign of any movement for several hours & Police said probably there until morning (River Avon was flooding across motorway). So got the Brompton out of the boot & rode on to the Service area a couple of miles south,to find total chaos & not a scrap of food or drink left! Cycled back to the car to sleep for the night, & caused much amusement as cycled by all the static vehicles!
We were eventually allowed to proceed south about 8.00 next morning.
Valbrona
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Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by Valbrona »

There was that African national team that got chucked off the M54(?) when they were out for a training ride while competing in the UK at some or other Games.
I should coco.
windysmithy
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Joined: 10 Dec 2009, 8:03pm
Location: Blackdown Hills, Devonside

Re: Eastern European cyclist escorted off motorway

Post by windysmithy »

The motorways in Cuba have a lane that seems to be entirely devoted to cyclists and horse drawns.
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