Higway code- progress!

It appears common sense is beginning to prevail. It's also fairly clear that the actions of individuals writing to MPs and signing online petitions helped the CTC a great deal. There's news from the CTC here and, inevitably, another petition here which should help the CTC show the wide grass-roots support for their campaigning position.

From BikeForAll.com: Following a high-profile campaign by CTC, the Government has agreed to amend the draft Highway Code wording to improve cyclists’ safety and to encourage drivers to take more care around vulnerable road users. 11,000 people contacted their MPs, 20,000 signed an online petition and a cross-party coalition in both Houses of Parliament defended cyclists' right to cycle on the road.

CTC campaigner, Richard George, said "We're delighted that the Minister has decided to make these changes to the Highway Code; it now makes clear that cyclists have every right to be on the road. Following some intensive negotiations the Department for Transport has listened to cyclists, and this new version is a definite improvement."

From The Daily Mail:

Rule 61, stated: "Use cycle routes and cycle facilities such as advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings wherever possible, as they can make your journey safer."

It is now planned that it will read: "Cycle Facilities. Use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time it is unsafe to do so. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer."

Rule 63, said: "(cycle lanes) are marked with a white line (which may be broken). Keep within the lane wherever possible."

The proposed revision now reads: "Cycle Lanes. These are marked by a white line (which may be broken) along the carriageway. When using a cycle lane, keep within the lane when practicable. When leaving a cycle lane check before pulling out that it is safe to do so and signal your intention clearly to other road users. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer."

Highway code- in Parliament

Cycle lane, originally uploaded by rich-pix.

News from Parliament, via Theyworkforyou.com

Read what your elected (and unelected) representatives have to say.

Then sign the petition and write to your MP!

Yesterday (17 May) there were questions in the Lords on the highway code changes. Answers were varied, if somewhat predictable. Pro-cycling peers opposed the changes and put up with the inevitable 'cyclists jump red lights, ride on pavements and don't use lights at nights' comments with great patience. The government maintained that "the department is extremely conscious of the need to get this right. I have gone through the wording very carefully with your Lordships; if your Lordships have a better form of wording, we will listen to it. We have been consulting for a very long time on this and are determined to get it right." The debate is well (and amusingly) summed up by this thread on the usenet forum uk.rec.cycling.

10 May Stephen Ladyman repeats the government position in a written answer, asserting that that other rules were amended to afford more protection to cyclists and other venerable road users, but not saying why cyclists' responses to the consultation were ignored.

8 May In response to another question Stephen Ladyman fails to detail how much account was taken of cyclists' responses to the consulation.

9 May 2006 House of Commons cycling debate, containing some indication of the volume of letters to MPs on the Highway Code revision

2 May 2006 'The simple answer is that it will not' says Derek Twigg, when asked if the new Highway Code may force cyclists off the road for fear of legal consequences.