I had an interesting conversation with a Guardia Civil officer on the roundabout where the N-323 begins (near the gasolinera and the on-ramp for the A-7/A-44, near the coast).

Travelling nearly everyday on the N-323 now that the Rules Bridge is closed, I have noticed drivers not abiding by the speed limit, which is 80 on that road as it does not have hard shoulders of 1.5m or more. Some insist on travelling the same speed that they would do on the A-44 autovía.

Secondly, there is the presence of cyclists on this road which is now channelling the vast majority of the autovía traffic between Granada and the coast, which includes heavy-goods vehicles.

The combination of the excessive speed and the illogical presence of cyclists, who have become used to the light traffic under normal circumstances, is a recipe for an accident, most probably fatal, if it involves a cyclists.

As I said above, I pulled over on my bike to speak to the two motorcycle officers to ask them why it is that cyclists are allowed to used the N-323 even though it is handling the full weight of the A-44 autovía traffic. Cyclists aren’t allowed on autovías for obvious reasons so when the N-323 is acting as a conduit for autovía traffic, it is disaster in waiting.

The office explained, “They use it because it is their right. However, they insist on using the road despite the danger involved and they will continue to do so regardlessly until there is a death,” adding, “We can’t stop them from using it, but the consequences are their own.”

Unfortunately, the consequences are also born by the driver who didn’t see the approaching danger until it was too late and hits one; a consequence that he or she will have to live with for the rest of their lives.

Logically, just as drivers are temporarily inconvenienced by the traffic diversion, having to use the N-323, then cyclists should expect to be temporarily inconvenienced through not being allowed to use the N-323 between the Vélez de Benaudalla bridge junction and the Acebuches junction.

Reader’s comment: “What an odd article to write. First, he inconveniences a police officer on duty with a question to which there is an obvious answer,  revealing a lack of basic knowledge of spanish traffic law. He then sets out to promote novel rules; a system of privileged transport modes. Lords over peasants. Get off the road you pedal idiot!

If his driving licence was confiscated, he didn’t say, he will now try out his alternative route for a cyclist to get from Vélez de B to the coast and back. 

Why this negative obsession with cyclists? This is far from the first time he raves against them. Overwhelmingly, when there are traffic issues, motor transport is its own worst enemy. As an example, there has always been excessive speed on the N-323, especially at weekends by motorbikers, posing a danger to every traveller on that road.  ” – Thor

Have you ever seen roadwork signs along a road? You have? Not too busy using a mobile whilst cycling to notice (as I witnessed today)? Why do I mention them… well, because roadwork signs (signalling special speed limits/lane denial) take precedence over normal Spanish Traffic Laws, which you are referring to. Ringing a bell? There are special conditions on a road route, where general road usage conditions change to a specific situation. In other words, it isn’t safe for cyclists under these special conditions.

Oh, did you happen to notice the attached video on that bloody great lorry hauling a massive blade from a wind turbine on the very stretch of road that I was referring to? Perhaps not. Actually it was a convoy of three such large-load transports – fun road companions for cyclist.

If a cyclists gets himself killed, that is a pity; for him, or her, their family and friends, but if a cyclist through a total lack of common sense, applying blinkered obstinacy, (I know my rights!) gets somebody else killed or leaves a driver, through no fault of his or her own, with a lasting clinical depression and clinging sense of misplaced guilt, then that cyclist deserves no pity in my opinion.

I am sick and tired of some (not all) cyclist thinking that they are ‘special’ and that such trivialities as traffic lights, one-way streets, pedestrian area only, do not apply to them. It is nauseating that car drivers, quite rightly, get fined and lose points off their licence for using a mobile whilst driving, yet cyclists wobble all over the place immersed in telephone conversations, with impunity. You’ve seen it yourself, I am pretty bloody sure.

I have absolutely nothing against the traditional cyclist, which is a form of honest transport that I grew up with in the 60s, with workers cycling off to work, but when I see gaggles of idiots hogging a lane whilst they chat merrily amongst themselves, it mightily pisses me off.

Oh, and I come from a country where it is normal to approach a police officer to ask a question. Perhaps it’s different in Valhalla 😉

(News/Editorial: N323 Traffic, Acebuches, Velez de Benaudalla, Granada, Andalucia)

Keywords: Cyclists, Speeding, Dangerous, Guardia Civil, Motorcycle Officers

news, andalucia, granada, costa tropical, velez de benaudalla, valle de lecrin, acebuches, cyclists, speeding, dangerous, guardia civil, motorcycle officers