Came out of the King Charles yesterday and noticed that the Council are advertising (there's a yellow notice attached to a lamp post) that they are going to allow cyclists to turn right out of Cheap Street even though car drivers cannot. It seems odd, when there's two crossing points within 20 metres of the junction, that they would allow a slow moving cyclist to pedal himself across the road in the face of oncoming traffic but still not allow car drivers to do the same.
If it's safe for cyclists surely it's safe for cars to turn right? Why is this restriction even there? Presumably when the main route through Newbury took ALL traffic past this junction it may have been difficult to find a gap and get across, so they made drivers turn left... But that's LONG gone. Why keep the ban in the first place when they redesigned this junction recently?
Came out of the King Charles yesterday and noticed that the Council are advertising (there's a yellow notice attached to a lamp post) that they are going to allow cyclists to turn right out of Cheap Street even though car drivers cannot. It seems odd, when there's two crossing points within 20 metres of the junction, that they would allow a slow moving cyclist to pedal himself across the road in the face of oncoming traffic but still not allow car drivers to do the same.
If it's safe for cyclists surely it's safe for cars to turn right? Why is this restriction even there?
I agree. The restriction in both directions (i.e. also turning from Market Street into Cheap Street) is ridiculous.
I normally ignore both of these but the other day I thought I would be good and, instead of turning right out of Cheap Street I decided to turn left, then turn around by reversing into Mayor's Lane. I wished I hadn't!
As I tried backing a bus came up behind me so I couldn't get into the lane far enough with the result that I was blocking the road to the vehicles which were coming in both directions in Market Street. The whole business caused more delay, disruption and danger than if I had ignored the restriction.
I normally ignore both of these but the other day I thought I would be good and, instead of turning right out of Cheap Street I decided to turn left, then turn around by reversing into Mayor's Lane. I wished I hadn't!
Much easier to go a bit further and to a U at the mini roundabout by WBC HQ.
Much easier to go a bit further and to a U at the mini roundabout by WBC HQ.
Indeed, and I began to wish that I had done that. But there must be many drivers who waste fuel by having to do as you suggest. And that is not the most risk-free manoeuvre with the exit from the car park being there.
This argument is similar to the one about the entrance to the Abbotswood tip. Drivers coming from Newbury have to drive exactly an extra mile to the Swan roundabout and back.
"Have a look around, and see what the country looked like in the 1940s and 1950s".... Thatcham didn't amount to much around that time, that's for sure...
"Have a look around, and see what the country looked like in the 1940s and 1950s".... Thatcham didn't amount to much around that time, that's for sure...
Why does it make him a problem if there are no cars or pedestrians to be inconvenienced?
If we all took that point of view: nobody about so park on double yellow lines, go through red lights, 150mph on the motorway, cycle on pavements, drive down a one way road, not inconveniencing anybody so it is ok. You also have the 'see and copy' syndrome.
If we all took that point of view: nobody about so park on double yellow lines, go through red lights, 150mph on the motorway, cycle on pavements, drive down a one way road, not inconveniencing anybody so it is ok. You also have the 'see and copy' syndrome.
Two things...I didn't say it was right, only that I do it. If I get nicked, so be it. I also cycle on the pavement, when I think it is safe to do so and when it is in my and other road users interests to (I prefer to cycle on the roads, and that is where I would normally be). I won't park on DY lines, I wouldn't go through red lights, intentionally up a one way street and drive 150 mph anywhere in public.
Two things...I didn't say it was right, only that I do it. If I get nicked, so be it. I also cycle on the pavement, when I think it is safe to do so and when it is in my and other road users interests to (I prefer to cycle on the roads, and that is where I would normally be). I won't park on DY lines, I wouldn't go through red lights, intentionally up a one way street and drive 150 mph anywhere in public.
I didn't imply that you would. I was attempting to explain to Nobby my comment that you were the problem not the solution, which you agreed with in an earlier post. I am sure you take good care, BUT if we all broke the law because cars/pedestrians were not about it would be a different matter.
Out of interest, where do you do your 150mph in private?
I didn't imply that you would. I was attempting to explain to Nobby my comment that you were the problem not the solution, which you agreed with in an earlier post. I am sure you take good care, BUT if we all broke the law because cars/pedestrians were not about it would be a different matter. Out of interest, where do you do your 150mph in private?
Down my drive, or when I take off in my private jet!
I agree. The restriction in both directions (i.e. also turning from Market Street into Cheap Street) is ridiculous.
I normally ignore both of these but the other day I thought I would be good and, instead of turning right out of Cheap Street I decided to turn left, then turn around by reversing into Mayor's Lane. I wished I hadn't!
As I tried backing a bus came up behind me so I couldn't get into the lane far enough with the result that I was blocking the road to the vehicles which were coming in both directions in Market Street. The whole business caused more delay, disruption and danger than if I had ignored the restriction.
Isn't the answer a mini-roundabout at this point?
Tut, Tut, Brewmaster, you of all people breaking the law eh. Watch out there's no-one around with a video camera.
The other day while I was opposite 20/20 Dental practise, I noticed a car trying to turn right down Chaep Street from Market Street until a bus came along and stopped across the junction and signalled 'No' to the driver, the driver of the car went to pull away as to go down towards the Post Office but when the bus started to move he tried to do it again until the bus driver noticed and again parked his bus in the way. At this point no traffic was moving in either direction due to the car one side and the bus the other.
Now I know the driver was wrong for wanting to cross at this junction but surely it's not the job of a bus driver to be upholding the law and blocking traffic himself to make a point?
IMHO if the road is totally clear then there is no reason for anyone not to be able to turn right into or turn right out of Cheap Street, so long as they are not holding anyone up or blocking someone else.
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