Should cyclists be allowed to race on public roads?

I'm happy to share the roads with whatever comes along, so long as there is a mutual understanding that courtesy and safety comes first. For road racing cyclists, that means they need to be looking where they're going (I understand this can be an issue), and prepared to slow if necessary. We (horse riders) need to be prepared to move over to allow them to pass without slowing if possible.

Live and let live can work. It is unfortunate that the internet age the actions of a few idiots gets everyone else a bad name.
 
Polos Mum said:
Because they race all over the place all the time - drivers would be up in arms if the roads were shut all the time. Within 30 minutes bike ride of here there is a race almost every night of the week normally 6pm - 9pm - EVERY week. The good ones are on the major dual carriage ways which is why you don't get more horse vs. cyclist incidents.

Actually the cyclists would probably LOVE the roads to be shut, they could race without worrying about traffic - everyone commuting home from work would go mental.
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They're allowed on dual carriageways:eek3:
 
Our house is on an internally-recognised race route and we have three or four organised races every year, all involving temporary closures while the cyclists go through the junctions. All are well marshalled, although some are better organised than others. If the road was shut for the duration, we would not be able to leave the house at all.

One club writes to every house on the route in advance. Last year, they made the mistake of saying that horses would not be allowed on the circuit (which they cannot legally do) and my riding mate, who also cycle races, dropped them a polite email pointing out the error of their ways. We used to be on a yard where we need to use a short section of the route to get out and we would wait at the end of the track until a marshal told us we were clear and then do our ten-minute walk to get off the route before they came round again. We also pointed out that there was a new livery yard which was not actually on the route but where riders used the route regularly and suggested they informed them too.

We got a very quick and polite response and this year's letter was far better worded, saying marshals would request riders not to use the route if possible.

Current yard is also on a road circuit that is used a couple of times a year. Usually both that and the house route are well signposted, although the yard race was not so well flagged up this year.

I think cyclists should be allowed to race on the road - we all need our fun - but there should probably be a bit more emphasis on forward warning, signage and educated marshals to keep everyone informed and safe.

On a complete separate route, we happened to meet a club ride (not a race) with a lot of cyclists. My horse is scared of on-coming peletons so we pulled over into a gateway. The ride leader slowed the whole bunch down, thanked us for our patience and off they went. They were wearing club jerseys and that evening we emailed to thank them for their consideration, something they then shared with all their members.
 
Slightly at a tangent but relating to competitive road cycling - as a driver I worry about the lack of observation and darting between traffic; my fear is that if they misjudge the risk and an accident happens I will automatically be blamed as a driver even if it was due to the cyclist negligence.

And don't even get me started on the fashion in cycling for wearing black clothing and no hi vis...
 
After watching that film of the horse/cyclist nope go race somewhere else like on a proper race track, not one of those cyclists seemed really happy to consider that horse/rider and pass wide and slow with due consideration

Unfortunately I think cycle racing on roads needs a big overall and I come from an era where drink driving was acceptable and seat belts didn't exist

I don't want to spoil anyone's enjoyment but without that recording I wouldn't of even known that sort of thing went on
Behave! What you do today will be on Facebook tomorrow (A good sign I saw)
 
Auslander said:
I don't understand why they would WANT to conduct races on public roads. If achieving the best possible time is the aim, why would they want their finish time to be compromised by negotiating around motorists, leisure cyclists, walkers, riders, etc etc.
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Certainly from what I've seen near where I live they don't tend to compromise! I recently watched them bomb up and down the A404 between High Wycombe and Marlow & thought the car drivers were incredibly accommodating - the cyclists had their heads down and their observational skills were non existent.

I'm pretty sure if our livery yard all went out one day and clattered up and down the A40 with 30 horses the local council, local police, local residents and the local paper would have something to say about us being reckless. Perhaps the cyclists need the equivalent of our local gallops built for them.
 
For marathons and other races on foot, car rallies, road races (motorbikes) etc, roads are closed, so why not pushbikes?

A local, very fast, deadly dual carriageway near me is nicknamed 'the velodrome'.
It is criss-crossed by rural roads with all the associated junctions and and on/offslips.
It is hairy enough to drive on, never mind ride a bike and is the only real connection to a major motorway/airport/city/onward travel to anywhere else, really. Closing it regularly would cause chaos. There are regular accidents and fatalities for both cyclists and motorists (mostly caused when people crossing from one side to the other meet people going up and down).
So I don't really know why people cycle on it.
 
"It's a blind bend, not closed off, two way traffic. Only a matter of time until they either hit a horse, dog walker or tractor at 40mph. I just hope it's the latter not the former. -_-"

The kind of accident you describe has happened in my area. Cyclist with head down, flying round blind bend on single track road - straight into a pickup truck who had nowhere to go and was travelling slowly according to forensics. That was over a year ago and the cyclist has never regained consciousness.

Edited as the quote from Fourshiresrambler disappeared!
 
The use of the roads for triathlons, cycle time trials etc is quite common nowadays and I think a knee jerk reaction to this incident is not in anyone's interests. Education of all road users is needed along with prosecution of those who break the rules in a dangerous or reckless way.

The organiser's of these type of events need to ensure they have sufficient stewards/marshalls and signpost it clearly along with giving clear instruction to the participants.

Poor manners and lack of respect for other road users should be reprimanded and punitive action taken where appropriate.

We are all too impatient nowadays and need to learn to accommodate others. Closing roads would be costlier to the participants but it would also be a lot more inconvenient to the locals than the existing position.
 
Auslander said:
I don't understand why they would WANT to conduct races on public roads. If achieving the best possible time is the aim, why would they want their finish time to be compromised by negotiating around motorists, leisure cyclists, walkers, riders, etc etc.
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This is so similar to something some said to me just recently, as in "I don't understand why you would WANT to ride on the public roads. If your horse can be spooked, why would you want to risk meeting fast cars, tractors, rattly trailers etc"
 
Round our area, the races are actually OK as they are signposted and marshalled. The issue is the informal practice sessions, where they are not signposted, nor marshalled, yet the same 'speed at all costs' mentality is in place. I eventually had to complain to the local clubs, after one incident too many, and behaviour is better (or I've just been relatively lucky recently). The worst bit was when I nearly had a head on collision with several cyclists. I was (driving) on my side of the road - they were 'overtaking' each other and came round the road towards me on a blind bend. Total nutters.

However, the reality is that most cyclists are sensible, considerate, well lit/brightly dressed and obey the rules of the road. Like everything else, there is a small minority who cause a bad reputation for everyone. Not sure that is a good reason to ban though, as where does the banning stop? Much better to have improved education, better manners and everyone being more considerate. As we get more and more crowded on our small island these issues are only going to get worse.
 
Auslander said:
I don't understand why they would WANT to conduct races on public roads. If achieving the best possible time is the aim, why would they want their finish time to be compromised by negotiating around motorists, leisure cyclists, walkers, riders, etc etc.
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Because cycle racing is largely split into 3 categories:
Mountain
Track
Road

Its rather difficult to do the latter without going on a road. For the larger races where they all start together then the road is normally closed or at least has a rolling road block for the main group, however for time trials where they set off separately in say 2 min intervals then closing the road would be very disruptive and is likely to only be done for national events.

Most are well signposted and most cyclists are pretty good at sticking to the rules of the road, lets not spoil it for the majority for the sake of a few idiots
 
I would like to see the roads closed. Yes I know it's a PITA, but round here there are all sorts of road races going on, often the only notice is that small direction signs start appearing on lamp posts. We also have a half marathon every year for which the roads are closed; and yes I moan about that too; however it does make life safer for everyone, and the road does usually reopen promptly.

I wouldn't normally support road closures, because of the attitude that neither road races nor horses should be on the road. BUT, there is a world of difference between someone hacking on the road to reach a bridleway and twenty or more fast moving cyclists.

Another thought, if the road is open and cyclists are doing more than the speed limit to beat a time trial, shouldn't they be done for speeding?
 
laura_nash said:
This is so similar to something some said to me just recently, as in "I don't understand why you would WANT to ride on the public roads. If your horse can be spooked, why would you want to risk meeting fast cars, tractors, rattly trailers etc"
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Sorry but I think there is a confusion here between ride and race. Not just in this post but in a few.

Everyone has the right to ride, walk or drive along publc roads either to get from a to b or just as an end in itself.

Racing on the other hand where the point is to be competitive introduces a different mindset. Risk taking and more aggressive behaviour is part of that and arguably what wins.

I wouldn't want to do a cross country course where I had to keep stopping and starting and negotiating people en route but hacking out on a bridle path or road I'll happily stop, slow down, turn into passing places to let cars past and stop to exchange a few words with walkers and let children pat the big horsey. If I see walkers on a canter stretch I either wait till they're out of the way or pass them at a walk depending on whats safest. However I wouldn't want to negotiate them in a competition.
 
criso said:
Sorry but I think there is a confusion here between ride and race. Not just in this post but in a few.

Everyone has the right to ride, walk or drive along publc roads either to get from a to b or just as an end in itself.

Racing on the other hand where the point is to be competitive introduces a different mindset. Risk taking and more aggressive behaviour is part of that and arguably what wins.

I wouldn't want to do a cross country course where I had to keep stopping and starting and negotiating people en route but hacking out on a bridle path or road I'll happily stop, slow down, turn into passing places to let cars past and stop to exchange a few words with walkers and let children pat the big horsey. If I see walkers on a canter stretch I either wait till they're out of the way or pass them at a walk depending on whats safest. However I wouldn't want to negotiate them in a competition.
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Surely competing endurance riders must use roads and bridlepaths sometimes. Should they be stopped too?

Perhaps parkrun shouldn't be allowed to continue in public parks across the country every Saturday?
 
Even without being in a race some cyclists do not want to slow down for hazards. It takes more time and energy to get back up to speed again.
A friend and myself were waiting patiently for traffic to clear to pass a parked car. A cyclist came up on my inside crossed in front of my pony and then squeazed between the parked car and a car level with it. No regard for his own or anybody else's safety. I knew the other cyclist had stopped behind us but never heard the second one at all. Both me and pony were startled by the cyclist that came on our inside, but he stood still but grew taller. It could of been a lot different if pony had moved.
It is not normally the normal everyday cyclist that are the problem but some of the lycra clad adrenaline fueled cyclists on racing machines that do not want to slow down for other road users whether they are racing or practising.
For the last few years the roads in our area are closed about half a day for a massive (several thousand participants) cycle race. Yes, it is an inconvenience, but no traffic at all is allowed on those roads so it is safe. Publicised, road closure warnings beforehand and everybody knows about it. Racing on roads without any warnings is a big hazard for the cyclists and every other road user. No other groups of road users can race on the roads.
 
CorvusCorax said:
For marathons and other races on foot, car rallies, road races (motorbikes) etc, roads are closed, so why not pushbikes?
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Not all! 95% of the road races i run in, are not closed to traffic.

I despise cyclists with a passion, but i don't think road races should be banned. Big races need rolling road closures if possible, and better marshaling and stricter penalties for rule breakers.
 
Well parkrun certainly has been the subject of similar controversy.

I wonder in part if it is a numbers game? How many people are involved in each competition- I'd guess a lot fewer for endurance/trec and often not all roadwork.
 
There's a few fun rides around here that cross the major roads. Signposted to death in the run up to them, with marshalls at the crossings on the day. Horses are stopped in groups to let the backlog of cars through, then cars stopped to let horses across etc. All very good humoured and as each area only really has 1 x big ride a year not a big problem for the residents. I think it also helps that groups of riders are given start times so they can stagger the flow of riders on the roads - whereas racing obviously couldn't work like that because it would muck up your times.
 
In a professional capacity I have head scanned about 25 cyclists taking part in time trials who subsequently died of blunt force trauma to the head. This was 1980's and early 90's long before the upsurge of cycling post 2012 Olympics. They all had their heads down and rode into a larger non moving or slow moving objects.

Last year we had the Tour of Britain go along the road near us which involved a rolling road block I was hit by a drink bottle flung sideways by a competitor. Did anyone litter pick afterwards NO.

Every Tuesday on my way back from work (8.30ish PM) I encounter cycle club(s) out and about usually in dark clothing and usually no lights. This is a quiet country lane with lots of blind corners I dislike having the slam on the brakes in the dark (except in summer) when confronted with 3/4 abreast. A lot seem to have a death wish and a few succeed........
 
stencilface said:
Surely competing endurance riders must use roads and bridlepaths sometimes. Should they be stopped too?

Perhaps parkrun shouldn't be allowed to continue in public parks across the country every Saturday?
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Yes competitive endurance rides will often use public roads - it would be difficult to create a route that did not include some roadwork. I for one would not like to see them stopped. Its a shame that a small %age of cyclists behave badly, but banning a sport because it inconveniences someone else is hardly the answer.
 
I wasn't aware it was banning due to inconvenience, I thought the suggestion to ban was because of the inherent risks and dangers as demonstrated by the video?
 
Does anyone know Who would have been held accountable if the horse on the video had reacted differently when that inside cyclist clipped the stirrup iron? It was very lucky that the horse didn’t spook to the right into the path of the other cyclists who were also going past to close and fast?
 
Horses are very dangerous on the roads without cyclists.

Should we all just retire inside and enjoy sports in a virtual dimension and leave the roads to become racetracks for motorised transport?

No. Minority road users unite!!

Yes some are idiots, but none more so than oblivious dangerous people hacking horses on the buckle end
 
JCW said:
Does anyone know Who would have been held accountable if the horse on the video had reacted differently when that inside cyclist clipped the stirrup iron? It was very lucky that the horse didn’t spook to the right into the path of the other cyclists who were also going past to close and fast?
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In all honestly the person with the best insurance would ultimately pick up the bill/ claims. If a cyclist had been killed or injured then their legal people would sue the horse rider, the horse riders insurance would sue the undertaking cyclists insurance company or the even organisers insurance company - a big bun fight and then they all agree to chip in.

I said to cyclist OH last night that the sad thing was that the undertaking competitors could have literally killed those on the other side if the horse had freaked spooked sideways and taken out a load of very vulnerable road users. I don't think this is horsey people vs. cyclist - It's common sense people vs. idiots which there are in all sports (sadly)
 
I'm well up for minority road users, I cycle the commute a fair bit, the concept of doing that route in a race-like fashion with the same traffic just sort of baffles me.
 
I thought that would probably be the case although it seems very unfair that the horse rider could be held partly responsible.
 
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