To think that cyclists should no longer be treated as ‘exempt’ from the law?

[Amch]

I’m in no way trying to be difficult, but this is a situation that I find is getting rather problematic, dangerous and very unfair.

In my opinion, ALL road users should be identifiable and able to be held accountable for any wrongdoing.

I am in complete support of cyclists, but the fact that it is lawless for them is very unfair. Sometimes, like all road users, cyclists decision making and actions are unjust, these actions can cause and has caused serious harm.

I’ve had various personal experiences where on multiple occasions cyclists have completely ignored red lights, they’ve narrowly missed pedestrians whilst crossing roads. Just recently a cyclist knocked on the rear window of a car in front of me (the car had stopped due to traffic) in order to try to get the car to move over for them to squeeze through.

This particular cyclist had a camera on their helmet, as a lot of them now do and I do believe it’s a great move for them to wear cameras on their helmets. Of course other road users can also cause harm, drive aggressively, competitively and can cause harm to cyclists who are clearly more vulnerable in the sense that their mode of transport offers nil protection.

However, it seems very one sided that cyclists cameras are able to identify and report other road users, yet cyclists themselves cannot be in any way be held accountable for any wrongdoing on their part.

I’m interested in hearing other opinions, from all points of view.

@northerngoldilocks

Whaaaaaaaat?

Not a good analogy when cyclists come into contact with the vehicles they're passing.

Think of another one.

There's always one 🙄

@northerngoldilocks

And I certainly don't need any help. Especially from passive aggressive people.

If I wanted to make significant changes to improve urban life and road safety I'd simply ban suvs.

I'm always interested in why so many drivers dislike cyclists - I wonder if it's something in the psychology of having moments of fear that they may have hit the bikes then when they realise they didn't that fear turning to anger at the cyclist?

It's a perfect analogy as to why you need to give people on bikes space when passing.

As for the 'always hitting wing mirrors' - you might be really unfortunate and it probably does happen very occasionally (same re other cars), but generally bike riders avoid hitting wing mirrors with handlebars as it's easy to see where they are (under your hands) and hitting things tends to unbalance you.

Obviously this may be different if you're continually hanging out next to an Uber eat dark kitchen or similar with illegally modified 'bikes'

@Nonametonight drivers don't like cyclists because they are an inconvenience to them

But do you genuinely not understand why you legally have to give a cyclist 1.5m space when passing at speed? Honestly?

Go and stand on a train station next to a stationary train. Walk along side it. All good, yes?
Now wait for the high speed intercity to pass through. As it does, stand really close to the edge of the platform. Maybe start walking in the same direction that the train is going before it arrives so it takes you by surprise.
Still good?

YANBU I have seen and experienced so many dangerous cyclists. Every week I see at least one - one literally knocked a kid down while the kid was crossing (kid’s green light, cyclist’s red) and sped off, leaving the kid in the middle of the road. Another one barely missed a buggy by a hair’s breadth on a zebra crossing. One careened into our parked car - guess who was left to pick up the bill since he wasn’t insured? (We saw it happen from the window and went to check he was ok). It is absurd that anyone is allowed on the road without a license.

YANBU in theory because some cyclists could do with a reminder about the Highway Code and maybe they’d be more responsible if there was more chance of some comeback, but I don’t know how it could be done without costing a fortune and making it more difficult to cycle.

Maybe this already happens but I think road users (all types) should be involved in designing cycle routes. There’s one near me where there are raised concrete markers across the cycle path every time another road joins the main road. The cyclists have to keep swerving around the concrete things into the road - who thought that was a good idea?

Also, lycra cyclists should stop for a minute and think about other road users. One ploughed into me not long ago when I was out running. If he’d been identifiable I would definitely have reported him.

No it’s usually when drivers are having to brake sharply because cyclists have ignored a red light at a junction and are suddenly in front of them.

I'm actively involved in teaching children to ride more safely. I have undertaken many courses about cycling and teach Bikeability.

I take children out on the road to cycle - one of my parent volunteers is a police officer.

The biggest problem we have when out cycling is the car drivers who IGNORE anything they seem to know about driving safely.

The way cars are driven is so dangerous to any other road user. It's unbelievable the way some, many, drivers behave.

This in turn leads to cyclists developing bad (sometimes unlawful) behaviour - often because this behaviour is protective. I,e, jumping a red light gives cyclists space to get ahead of the cars behind them.

How many of you have driven INTO a red box before traffic lights which is space reserved for cyclists?

How many of you give cyclists PROPER space when overtaking them?

I recently had an accident on my bike - my front wheel slipped on iron works and my bike went out from under me, I fell to my right, broke bones and whacked my head off the ground (thank goodness for my helmet). Thankfully the cars had held back and I had space to recover. If they had been driving right up the back of me or too close when overtaking this would have been a much worse accident.

Because cars and drivers never cause accidents / injure / kill people, do they?
Stupid cyclists can cause injuries. But they are few and far between compared to the number of stupid drivers who can and do seriously injure and kill people in their 2 tonne metal boxes going at speed.

I have some sympathy OP much as I am keen to see more people out of cars and on their bikes or the bus. London can be a bit of a nightmare now with battery assisted bike schemes like Lime allowing inexperienced cyclists to hop on and zoom off at speed. Add to that deliveroo bike deliverers and the like who whizz around to get an order out as fast as possible ignoring all traffic lights and pedestrians. Don't get me started on the hire bike users who just get off their bike and dump it in the middle of the pavement. A total nightmare for wheelchair users and those with buggies.

My favourite cyclists are the ones who ignore the miles of empty bike lines and choose to cycle at 11 mph in the middle of the road. I’m sure the double decker crawling behind them full of people who can’t afford a bike are really grateful.

I agree with you, OP. There is about a 10 per cent chance of cyclists stopping for red lights or zebra crossings where I live. Someone got knocked down quite badly recently. It doesn't matter if 'mopeds are worse' or 'cars cause the most damage'. All road users should be following the same rules and be punished if they don't.

What a good idea! I bloody hate cyclists but I am one...but I cycle with real respect for pedestrians and cars and also don't let a massive stream of cars end up crawling behind me if on a windy road where you can't get enough visibility to pass!! (Enough lay-bys, grass, etc, to simply stop a few seconds and let people pass if needs be).

Well yes, but I'm sure we've all had to brake plenty of times for other car drivers, pedestrians, buses, tractors... But it's only cyclists who come in for such a lot of dislike. Braking to avoid harming other road users is a normal part of driving

@northerngoldilocks

You're wasting your breath. Cyclists are always the scapegoat

It's a bit unfair to berate drivers and suggest we all drive into red boxes when we shouldn't and don't give cyclists proper room (I'm guilty of neither, and I never have been!!), before going on to say that when you had an accident, all car drivers at the scene drove well and gave you proper space!

The middle of the road is known as primary position and where if you imagined a car, the driver would be.

It's the safest position to cycle. We TEACH children to take the lane (take primary position) if they feel unsafe, or the road is damaged, or there are obstructions, or there is a traffic island coming up. Bike lanes are often unsafe and/or completely inappropriate to use. The amount of debris and broken glass or damaged surfaces in bike lanes (especially those at the side of the road) is huge.

Cyclists have as much right to use the road as any other road user and according to the hierarchy of rights are a more vulnerable road user.

The children that I have taught are taught the Highway Code and how to ride safely.

They can’t be identified!
no number plate 😑

@MotiRoller
"No it’s usually when drivers are having to brake sharply because cyclists have ignored a red light at a junction and are suddenly in front of them."

And everyday when i have to break snarly on my bike because a car decides to cut me up and turn directly in front of me? Or ignores the giveaway lines by the cycle lane and just pulls out across my path? Or when a pedestrian just decides to step into my cycle lane or into the road in front of me? I've got scars on my face thanks to that.

I don't understand why the UK can't just look to other countries that have solved this problem like the Netherlands or any of the Scandi countries. It's not just about plonking down some useless bike lanes, there needs to be a holistic look at design and planning that takes everyone into account. And that includes pedestrians too, in fact their needs should be first.

Instead it seems to be going more the way of America where people have to own a car to participate in society and screw the rest.

It is literally impossible to police. We should be doing everything possible to get people out their cars, for the sake of their health and the planet. The damage caused by car drivers daily is utterly ridiculous and no-one seems to be up in arms about that. Car drivers should have to take a test every 5-10 years, they are the ones killing people. i think OP, like many, is jealous of the freedom, low cost and good health that cyclists have. That's where the hate comes from.