Cyclist urges council to install warning signs on busy road

Keen cyclist Martyn Coombs.

A keen cyclist has launched a campaign to install road signs warning motorists to give space to push-bikes on a busy road.

Martyn Coombs, 68, of Bedale, is calling for the signs to be erected along the full length of the A6055 between the Catterick A1(M) junction and the A61 Ripon roundabout.

Martyn said: “Having cycled a lot on the continent, road signs reminding motorists to leave a minimum 1.5m gap between their vehicle and cyclists, are very common and appear on most roads.

“Such is the compliance, it is common for drivers to sit behind cyclists for some time until there is a clear path ahead for them to safely overtake, leaving a significant gap between the bike and the vehicle.”

He added: “Motorists driving at 60mph on the service road, who do not leave sufficient space, probably don’t realise the danger they are putting cyclists in.

“Many times, whilst cycling on the service road, I have had near misses by motorists passing too close. Studies have shown there are two distinct phases when overtaking cyclists.

“There is a pressure phase as the vehicle approaches followed by the suction phase as the vehicle passes which acts to pull a cyclist towards the vehicle.

“There really is a feeling of being pushed from behind then almost immediately, being sucked off into the road, which is deeply concerning and could be eliminated if motorists left sufficient space between them and the cyclist.”

In June a 71-year-old cyclist was killed in an accident on the A6055 near Pickhill.

The Highway Code changes, made in 2022 gave updated guidance on safe passing distances and speeds for people driving or riding a motorcycle including, leaving at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph, and giving them more space when overtaking at higher speeds.

To start this campaign, Martyn has emailed the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, but has not yet had a response.

Richmond MP and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has got in touch to say he would be contacting North Yorkshire Council about the issue.

The campaign says he has been told by the authority’s highways department that it is the responsibility of road users to operate their vehicles safely and to ensure that they are familiar with the requirements set out within the Highway Code, including the recent update for positioning within the carriageway.

They also said additional signs would increase risk of ‘sign clutter’ reducing the impact of any intended warning and could potentially lead to drivers becoming distracted.

But Martyn rejected this argument of a risk of sign clutter.

He said: “There are already 19 warning signs between the Catterick and Ripon roundabouts to remind road users they are on a two-way road and a staggering 22 order signs to remind road users they are on a clearway.

“Replacing four of these signs with cyclist signs to remind drivers to give at least 1.5m space, would be appropriate and could prevent future accidents between motorist and cyclists.”

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