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.

@Chessfan - I'm a driver too.

When I pass cyclists I give them tons of space - I watch drivers behind me NOT giving space.

My son is a cyclist and used to cycle to school - most of the route was off road cycle lane, the part of the road closest to school was most dangerous.

White vans used to roar past him, uphill (so he was working hard at the time) close enough that the wing mirror touched him.

As a driver I watch 95% of cars being unsafe around cyclists.

I was LUCKY when I had my accident that the cars behind me were part of the 5% - tbh they were probably cyclists too.

One thing cyclists do where I live is ride for ages without pulling over to let the massive tailback behind them get away. The roads are very narrow, it’s a rural area and very scenic so attracts a lot of cyclists, which is grand. But if they would just pull in now and then and let the tailback get away it would be a win win for everyone. The tractors seem to be able to do this. 🤷🏼‍♀️

This is precisely why I would not encourage a child to cycle on the road. Too dangerous.

Every driver should imagine that the cyclist in front of them is someone they love and believe me, you'd drive differently around them.

@AgileGreenSeal and why is it too dangerous? Because of DRIVERS! Instead of encouraging our kids not to drive, why can't me ensure that drivers follow the Highway Code, drive safely, and are held accountable for when they don't?

Honestly the replies on this thread are unbelievable. Victim blaming at its finest.

Bikes aren't actually as environmentally friendly as you think because of the micro plastics coming off the tyres and the damage to the environment to create them in the first place. Bikes go a lots of places cars don't, which means more plastic spread across wider areas of hills, fields etc.

I'm a pedestrian and I'm not jealous of cyclists even though my impact on the environment is lower and the cost is lower for me too.

I'm annoyed about cyclists because they think they own both roads and pavements, often recklessly switching between the two to avoid red lights with no consideration for anyone. They are horrible to pedestrians, I saw one yelling at a pedestrian with a stick to get out of the way the other day, even though the pedestrian was perfectly within their right to walk down a bloody pavement and was obviously not the best mobility wise.

I live near a canal and the amount of cyclists who think it's reasonable to cycle down a narrow path with a bridge wall on one side and water on the other, where there is clearly no space for anyone to pass or see them, is ridiculous.

Plus they don't fit in with any road users anywhere - they're too vulnerable on roads and too overpowered for pavements, and you give them cycle lanes - cost millions where I live - that they studiously ignore. Even when there's a cycle lane next to a pavement, they ignore it in favour of the pavement.

Cyclists planning to use bikes on the public roads should pass a test to have a licence. They should be required to wear or attach some kind of identification code, they put cycle numbers on people's backs for sports so it should be something like that. And if they think it looks stupid, it's no more stupid than their ridiculous headcams.

Of course in a collision a cyclist will come off worse.

And I didn’t apportion blame I stated a fact. It’s dangerous. Personally I don’t encourage children to put themselves in danger. 🤷🏼‍♀️

@deltabluesandpinks

What can't you comprehend?

Read more slowly if it helps 🙄

I said

I CAN understand why cyclists need room to be overtaken.

So do not misquote.

What I cannot understand is why, when vehicles are queuing, cyclists feel the need to (sometimes at speed) pass vehicles within inches, kicking, pawing with their hands, bumping them and knocking wing mirrors askew.

What is there not to understand?

As a pedestrian in central London all my incidents / near misses have been with cyclists.

I'm currently teaching my youngest road safety and in the past week alone we've had a cyclist go through a red light / green man and 2 other separate cyclists not stopping at a zebra crossing. How the fuck am I meant to teach my child road safety when cyclists don't obey the laws of the road?

It's infuriating.

@timeforanewmoniker

bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/2023/03/28/tyre-particles-are-the-next-micro-plastics/

No.
Read again.
She wants accountability for some of the shit and frankly dangerous behaviour that occurs.
Not too much to ask for.

I’m quoting you because I hope a few people will actually read this.

You are right and most sensible people still do not know that cycling in the middle of the road, whilst annoying, is often safest for everyone. If a cyclist falls due to hitting a flooded cycle lane or an obstacle in a badly maintained cycle lane , then they will fall in the path of a vehicle.

Yes it is annoying but I would rather the car/bus/lorry traffic was delayed up over and over again to avoid cyclists having to cycle in frankly terrifying conditions.

I have recently started to train my 6 yo to cycle on small local roads, because we have to tackle a few short stretches to get to our cycle paths and routes, or simply walk with our bikes (which we do, if it is busy).

He is an amazing cyclist and happy on pump tracks and he can signal and manoeuvre almost as well as I can, he is learning to manage his gears. But he is small and inexperienced and prone to error.

Most of his peers can cycle now but we are the ONLY family practicing road cycling, because IT IS TERRIFYING. Too many cars, and too many drivers not concentrating or driving above the speed limits .

Most people I know who cycle on roads are very experienced , brave and aggressive, or young and reckless. Because everyone else is too afraid to do it.

Guess what, people cycle similar to how they drive (or would drive if they could).

The roads are not full of average, middle aged folk pootling along. If they were, you’d have a more representative sample of the population and wouldn’t notice that “all” cyclists are law-breaking lunatics with a death wish.

Go to the Netherlands and you’ll see how it works well.

I know someone killed by a cyclist going over the speed limit blasting through a pedestrian crossing.

the cyclist ducked identification for ages and when it finally got to court he got off. Because cyclist.

horrid.

In a Royal Park near me there are clear signs saying No Cycling on two perimeter paths I often use. But too many of the Lycra-clad brigade zoom along them at Tour de France sort of speeds - they won’t use the actual perimeter road which has a 20 mph limit, because of the deer!
I absolutely hate them!

But there’s never anyone there to catch or fine them.

I live near a canal and the amount of cyclists who think it's reasonable to cycle down a narrow path with a bridge wall on one side and water on the other, where there is clearly no space for anyone to pass or see them, is ridiculous.

I get this, the cyclists often (not always, but often) ride as though the pedestrians should stop and squeeze themselves up against the wall. They’d be the first to moan if cars tried to get past them like that. The one time I decided I had as much right to be there as anyone, the cyclist just rode straight into me - shame he didn’t end up in the water!

FWIW I drive, cycle, ride a motorbike and often walk so I just want everyone to get along.

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.

How many times have I/you seen cyclist squeezing up the inside of cars at traffic lights and not keep the 1.5 metre clearance (mind the paint) and then you have to overtake them again

Just make cyclists get an ID on their bikes and get insurance for 3rd party damage and injury, if the risk is so low then the premium should be low.

I live in Cambridge. It’s a place where a lot has been done to make drivers slow down and be accountable. A lot has been done to make life easier for cyclists. Pedestrians are often caught between these approaches. There is a campaign to minimise pavement parking by delivery drivers etc. but this often feels like the only thing for pedestrians we are talking about here. Cyclists can be quite aggressive here and many really don’t stop at red lights. There are cycle ways on some main roads where bus stops are on little islands between the road and the cycle way. Cyclists can fly along at great speed giving little heed to a pedestrian crossing to the bus stop. The redesign of access to the railway station includes a road that is very difficult to cross safely. Cars and cyclists come round a corner with no crossing or incentive to give way to pedestrians marooned outside a Sainsbury. Yes, the pedestrians can backtrack and walk the long way round, but it’s an illogical thing to fail to provide a crossing. Cyclists fly at you from all angles faster than the cars sometimes and I’ve been told off by them more than once for attempting to cross.

Not all cyclists behave like this. I am one, but I’m also a pedestrian with a son with a disability and don’t think we the consideration the cyclists do here. Some of them know it and are no better than bad drivers. Slightly less dangerous, of course, but I agree we should have official guidelines, training or something in place.

But surely the weight of the bicycle being much lower means that a vastly lower volume and weight of particles will be emitted than cars or buses. Unless people regularly have 2+ hours to spare you just can't walk to places that are even 3 miles away as a method of transport because it would take you an hour in each direction - vs maybe 15 minutes on a bike.

If you think how heavy a bus is (for example) that will have a much higher weight per passenger and therefore much higher particulate emissions per passenger even in the case of an electric bus.

@ruffler45 many children are cyclists.

How on earth can anyone suggest making a good form of exercise and travel more expensive for families?

YANBU.

I live in London and here, the problem is absolutely cyclists. There are also dangerous motorists but I see dangerous cycling every day.

I haven't driven in years but the only time I came close to a collision with a cyclist is when I slowed down for a junction, indicated left to turn (in plenty of time) and the cyclist decided to 'undertake' me at speed which frankly is moronic. I did see them before I turned but it was just such a dick move.

I no longer have a car so I am a pedestrian. The amount of dangerous and aggressive cyclists out there is astonishing. The majority ride straight through red lights, often at speed. I've nearly been hit, my kids have nearly been hit, I've had to teach my kids that they always have to look for cyclists breaking the rules of the road.

Honestly I don't have a lot of sympathy for them. The guy who nearly cycled into my son who was on a pedestrian crossing, and didn't even check his speed... well let's just say I wouldn't be particularly sorry if he got hit by a car. Nor particularly surprised.

“ we are the ONLY family practicing road cycling, because IT IS TERRIFYING. Too many cars, and too many drivers not concentrating or driving above the speed limits .”

This isn’t an attack on cyclists, just a question - you’ve described very well how dangerous cycling on the road is, so how do you manage the risk to your child? You must feel that the danger is somehow “worth it”?

As someone who cycles and drives I would love unbroken cycle lanes with actual barriers to cars.

I would love if buses didn't try to crowd me out of the shared lane.

If the road quality weren't so awful its feels like holding on for dear life when you try to avoid the main road, but they're the only ones without massive bumps or pot holes.

And if stupid idiots didn't cycle everywhere as if they were doing time trials on a normal commuter roads terrifying the rest of us.

yabu

we should enable safe cycling for the masses. it's a healthy and sustainable mode of transport.
for that we need to enforce drivers to adhere to the highway code and build better cycling infrastructure.

Trust me, I am really, really not jealous of Lycra clad cyclists.. In fact I can’t think of a more unpleasant form of transport if I’m honest.