On 26 Nov 2013 at 3:10pm JillG wrote:
Hello Forum - I hope I can use this to let everyone know that Cliffe High St really is two-way for bikes? Most days that I bike west along it (slowly, and legally) I'm shouted at or (particularly by taxis, sorry to say) forced off the road. I respond politely that it's two-way for bikes, but the cars have driven off by then. I do agree that the signs are pretty unnoticeable; but we really are allowed to go westwards.
Thank you!
On 26 Nov 2013 at 3:25pm Dave wrote:
Very good point JillG we cyclists have as much right as the pedestrians to go either way up Cliffe High Street.
Don't let motorist push you around.
On 26 Nov 2013 at 6:46pm The Kronic wrote:
Cyclists should NOT be allowed to cycle in, what is largely, a pedestrianised area. The only cyclists ive seen there have been members of the aggressive, lycra party.
On 26 Nov 2013 at 6:54pm JillG wrote:
Kronic - you're going for a wind-up :-) as evidently I'm not a Lycra loony and am polite to motorists who don't know that bikes can go W. And are you saying that all the cars constantly in the street can be there but not bikes? Interesting.........
On 26 Nov 2013 at 6:58pm Motorist wrote:
Why don't you keep to the Left then ? Instead of storming up the middle, then vering to the right ?
Asking for trouble.
On 26 Nov 2013 at 7:29pm Biker wrote:
I ride both ways (if you know what I mean!). A bit dodgy coming over Cliffe bridge though if you meet a car coming the other way.
On 26 Nov 2013 at 10:27pm Dave wrote:
@Motorist Do you keep to the left as you drive down Cliffe High Street. I suspect you drive right down the middle like every other car does and don't pause at the white line at the end of Morris Road like virtually every other ignorant driver (who probably shouldn't be there in the first place)
As a cyclist it's unsafe to ride down one side of the road if there are no oncoming vehicles as pedestrians often step off the kerb without looking.
The issue is lack of awareness that cyclists have every right to ride both ways along the street, which I guess means there should be more signs (or maybe less cars parked on the pavements so pedestrians have enough room.
On 26 Nov 2013 at 10:47pm Thursday's Child wrote:
Does anyone else remember that stupid letter in the Susse express some years ago, when a cyclist wrote in asking for the cobbles on Cliffe Bridge to be removed as it was uncomfortable to ride (roughshod) over?
Tw@t!
On 26 Nov 2013 at 11:51pm JillG wrote:
Hello Motorist - I can only respond that I do always keep to the left :-). But I do understand that most respondents on this thread are having a general rant and not attacking me personally.
On 27 Nov 2013 at 12:15am Down South wrote:
If you dont want bikes in the street have a go at the council, don't swear at the cyclsts going legally along
On 27 Nov 2013 at 12:36am Southover Queen wrote:
More to the point, most of the other traffic shouldn't be there in the first place since it's supposed to be restricted to residents and deliveries only.
On 27 Nov 2013 at 11:42am Clive wrote:
What about that shopkeeper who parks their car on the pavement, with a disabled badge, all day whilst they run the store ? Liberty !
On 27 Nov 2013 at 2:06pm Taff wrote:
What about the cyclist who a few weeks ago whilst crossing over Cliffe Bridge and going West only to meet a car coming the 'correct' way chose to ride into my wife standing on the pavement? Fortunatley she was not hurt.
He didnt even consider apologising until I shouted at him as he tried to cycle away.
To repeat myself from a previous post, I question the mentality of cyclists who want to put themselves in situations where a vehicle will always win? Well, the driver and occupants are at no physical risk are they?
I will remind you that I use 2 wheels also, the motorised kind so I am aware of the exposure and vulnerability that goes with the territory BUT I will always adhere to the Highway Code. Unlike many cyclists.
Sorry, but if cyclists cannot cycle with consideration to all other road users, often pavement users too they deserve what they get.
On 27 Nov 2013 at 2:21pm Cheeky Monkey wrote:
I think cyclists have to remember that just because they have "the right" to use a particular stretch of road, "the right" comes with it's attendant responsibilities. Exercise caution as other road users and pedestrians use Cliffe High Street and not everyone may be aware that cyclists could be travelling the wrong way up what many think of as a one way street. As some may remember, I reported on this forum a cyclist travelling at excessive speed causing a police car to take avoiding action. Even the police car didn't seem to be aware of the cyclist contraflow in operation.
On 27 Nov 2013 at 2:55pm JillG wrote:
Taff and Cheeky Monkey, I 100% agree with you. My thread is (well, was!) solely about drivers who abuse and drive at safe, careful, slow cyclists going west. And about the lack of knowledge of the contraflow, as you say.
On 27 Nov 2013 at 5:15pm ar10642 wrote:
It's interesting that the sort of motorists who carry on about cyclists ignoring/not understanding the highway code apparently themselves can't understand not only the "no motor vehicles" sign AND the blue cyclist contraflow sign at the start of the pedestrianised zone.
Check it out here »
On 27 Nov 2013 at 5:28pm Penguin wrote:
Whilst bikes may be a problem, the biggest problem is the number of drivers that use it as a short cut. They should put some bollards across the road outside Bills so that cyclists can get through but cars can't. Anyone with legitimate reasons could still access and exit Cliffe High St from the other end.
They would have to be removable bollards of course, in order to allow the Cliff Tab to get through!
On 27 Nov 2013 at 6:27pm Belladonna wrote:
Deliveries shld only be allowed before 10am and after 4pm - like Hastings old town. The amount of illegal dropping off and cutting through that goes on is ridiculous. One town estate agent regularly uses it as a cut through, as do many cab drivers. And frequent use by big 4x4s poshos who think they own the road or wide boys in crappy fiestas revving their engines. I've seen it all.
Using the east end of the Cliffe wouldn't work either - already huge lorries regularly get stuck attempting to turn round by Chapel Hill.
On 27 Nov 2013 at 7:04pm JillG wrote:
Yep, the guy who shouted 'It's one-way, madam!' at me yesterday was driving a big 4x4, and all three of the cars which have driven at me to force me off the road were taxis (though one last week, when I said politely 'It's two-way for bikes', promptly moved over - thanks!). Well done ar10642 for showing a Google Streetview link to the signs that all of them MUST have driven past. But all I'm asking is for them not to diss me for coming west.
On 28 Nov 2013 at 5:50am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
My understanding is that cars are allowed to use the road for loading AND unloading.
I drive up there when I'm collecting huge sacks of dog food, or dropping off heavy bags of books at Oxfam (or picking up polypins of beer from Harveys!). I think restricting times for loading/unloading would be awful for traders, it would put people off buying anything that was too big or heavy to carry to the car park if they had to come back later or the next day to pick it up.
It just needs people to be sensible, and not to abuse the system.
On 28 Nov 2013 at 7:52am LOAD OF PIRATES wrote:
If you're going to Oxfam, you don't need to use the pedestrian zone. What next; Iconc? Bag of Books? The Dorset? Tescos?
Check it out here »
On 28 Nov 2013 at 12:49pm TDA wrote:
I've had a few shouts of abuse from drivers who try to force me off the cobbles whilst cycling westwards - none of the signs are clear enough. You just have to tell them, and if they don't believe you, show them the signage. And the speed that some drivers do, especially when they get to Morris Road - someone is going to get T-boned at that junction. It's all badly laid out.
On 28 Nov 2013 at 1:05pm Shanks Pony wrote:
The hierachy on that section of road should be pedestrians then cyclists then vehicles.
Why should a street full of pedestrians have to move out of the way of one person in a car/van? And cyclists should give priority to pedestrians at all times.
On 28 Nov 2013 at 1:14pm Belladonna wrote:
ACT. It works well in Hastings old town and business is thriving. All over the country are pedestrianised zones where people manage to pick up or drop off without using vehicles. If you make large purchases just use the car park at the end of The Cliffe and shop keepers will generally trolly it to your car, especially if you are disabled. The books to Oxfam argument is rubbish - there are loading bays just outside Cliffe gallery antiques and iconic that allow 20 mins.
Unfortunately people do abuse the system because they are selfish. I've started to walk down the Cliffe in the middle of the road with my walking stick to slow traffic. Sod them.
On 28 Nov 2013 at 3:25pm Taff wrote:
Do you walk west - east Belladonna? Teehee.
I am unsure of the legality behind all of this and it would be interesting to know how the regulation would pan out if, say, the cyclist was the guilty party.
My wife almost marmalised a cyclist only yesterday evening, up in the bottleneck. Cyclist just went straight through red light travelling into town whilst traffic is moving out of town and has the right of way at that time. Had to be brainless methinks. Body v vehicle there is only 1 result. Damaged body. Then these selfish/arrogant cyclists can progress to disability scooters!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On 28 Nov 2013 at 6:54pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I saw a cyclist jump the lights at the bottleneck the other morning. Admittedly, it was only 6.50 so pretty quiet, but still daft.
When a car came the other way, he swerved onto the pavement by the place that used to be a hairdressers, and just sailed round the bend as though his x-ray vision told him there was no pedestrian coming along the other way.
Was your wife trying to get revenge for the one that hit her in the Cliffe, Taff? 
On 28 Nov 2013 at 10:21pm Resident wrote:
I often have a near miss with cyclists at the traffic lights on A26 before you get to Earwig Corner. Mind you, half the cars don't bother to stop at them either.
On 30 Nov 2013 at 3:12pm Madge wrote:
Disabled drivers are also allowed through the Cliffe and unfortunately just as drivers seem unaware of it being being two-way for cyclist people on foot seem unaware of the fact it is not totally pedestrianised so just wander into the path of vehicles. Granted the vehicles should only be going very slowly but its still dangerous when people are not expecting cars at all as they dont even look - more signs are needed for all.
Cyclist wearing headphones should be banned or even outlawed EVERYWHERE, its ridiculous when they ignorantly create mayhem and cycle on without even hearing warnings, protests or even car horns. Same thing re pedestrians using them or talking on mobile phones whilst crossing the road.
On 30 Nov 2013 at 8:32pm Belladonna wrote:
It clearly says pedestrianised zone, with limited vehicular access for loading only. All wheeled vehicles (including bikes) should be prioritising and giving way to pedestrians, who are the most vulnerable users of the space.
On 30 Nov 2013 at 9:07pm JillG wrote:
Yes, agree, Belladonna. Pedestrians fully allowed (with priority but should be sensibly aware generally of other traffic as it does exist), bikes allowed in both directions (but should give pedestrians priority and be courteous to cars), vehicles allowed for loading etc in one direction (and should give priority to pedestrians and be aware of legal west-coming bikes). In lots of places (e.g. Pinwell?) it works fine, and maybe the problem is lack of awareness of the 'street rules' - more signs? or more drastically making the street look less like a street (kerbs etc) and more like a pedestrian zone?
I hope this is useful.
On 30 Nov 2013 at 11:19pm JillG wrote:
PS re my above post, I should mention that this is the PRESENT situation in Cliffe - this is what the signs etc actually say. My original thread was about people operating carefully within the present allowances getting grief: separately, I'm totally out there with the name-calling when lunatics in any sort of conveyance go messing us up. Yay!
On 1 Dec 2013 at 12:05am Madge wrote:
I totally agree it is predominantly a pedestrianised zone but everyone legitimately using the area needs to be more aware and courteous. I have seen...vehicles driving too fast, cyclists impatiently weaving around people on the 'pavement' areas & pedestrains deliberately remain sauntering down the centre of the 'road' rather than moving aside to let permitted vehicles pass. The layout of the road seems quite obvious and user friendly to me but maybe for some the signs need to clarify exactly how to be courteous to all users.
On 2 Dec 2013 at 3:27pm GhostBike wrote:
"Granted the vehicles should only be going very slowly"
Yes, they ALWAYS drive slowly. ALWAYS. NO-one ever speeds down there at full blast expecting everyone to get out of their way. No, Never.