This hatred towards cyclists needs to stop

[OverlyFragrant]

This constant drip feeding from the media and online that cyclists are road vermin, dont pay tax, shouldn't be on roads etc needs to stop.
The last two days ive read about cyclists being pushed into dangerous situations by members of the public who feel entitled to hurt them, just because...
First a cyclist was pushed into a canal, the cyclist was still clipped into their bike pedals and couldn't swim. They very nearly drowned.
The second was pushed off a beach wall and needed urgent assistance from the ambulance and suffered serious injuries.
Words aren't just words, they have consequences and know two people have come to harm simply because they were riding a bike.

deeply sad

😆

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bingo!!

Hypocrisy in spades!

You clearly said on this thread that you think any and all cyclists are entitled twats

does that include you and* *your daughter ? @arethereanyleftatall

It’s interesting reading the thread how little mention there is of the responsibility of local councils and National Highways to provide adequate infrastructure for cycling, even though it is their failure to do so that results in the conflicts between different modes of transport that have been the subject of so many posts on this thread.

Government guidance for cycling infrastructure for local authorities is found in Local Transport Note 1/20. This makes clear that cyclists should not be classed with pedestrians and in busy areas shared space solutions for cyclists and pedestrians are not appropriate. If this advice was followed, this would cut out a lot of the conflicts complained about on this thread. The guidance also makes clear that cyclists should be protected in busy areas from motor traffic by being physically separated by kerbs etc. - again if this advice was followed it would cut out yet more conflict and more importantly would help with reducing road traffic collisions (the majority of which are caused by drivers).

The incidents referred to by the OP are horrific - no-one should be attacked just because someone dislikes their mode of transport. Equally horrific is the fact that we have so many road traffic collisions in this country - my local newspaper has a few collision reports each week and that is just one small part of the country - and that some at least of these collisions would be avoidable if roads were designed to a higher standard of safety such as by adopting Vision Zero principles. Sadly, these collisions rarely trigger any inquiry or action to improve road safety, yet if the same thing happened on the railway there would be an enquiry with recommendations for action.

After my responses yesterday being pro-cyclist, I had quite a scary experience today... coming across a time trial being held on a duel carriageway. They can legally do it, but why would they think its a good idea to be having a race amongst cars and lorries doing 70mph?

I saw one pair of cars who had had a light collision stuck in the left lane as well as no hard shoulder on duel carriageways.

It's a strange one the Time Trial. Closed roads would be far better but there is a cost involved.The appropriate people do have to be informed about the event. Personally I wouldn't do it but that's me even tho I ride regularly on the road.

There was no signage or officials, they just suddenly appeared. That was made it scary. If there was warning, the cars and lorries could have moved over into the right hand lane properly. (There was one van who seemed to be enjoying weaving).

I do find it madness that cyclists are allowed on duel carriageways with 70mph limits at all, because of how vulnerable they are. But there is often no alternative route for them.

Usually road signage to indicate a cycle event is in progress.