Cyclists killed and seriously injured on roads.....spmeone is being unreasonable

[GabbyLoggon]

Big news in todays independent.(and elsewhere)

They say 230 cyclists are killed or seriously injured on our
roads every month.

Really? I would like to see those figures broken down to serious injury/death
The report says HGV drivers are often involved.

Cycling is becomming more popular here

The other evening I was driving home from the stables when I saw a cyclist weaving all over the road. When I got to the point where I could safely overtake him, I did so cautiously in case he continued to weave and discovered that he was texting with one hand!

During the dark winter months I was driving through the village and indicated right to turn into a parking space, saw there was a parking space to the left instead, put my left indicator on ..... and nearly hit a cyclist who was coming up the inside of me. Entirely my fault. I did not hit him. I apologised profusely.

A few days ago I was walking up the lane with my dog, as we reached the main road the dog was very nearly flattened by two adult cyclists riding down the pavement (on the wrong side of the road iyswim).

There is good and bad everywhere surely.

I'm not denying that there are some shite cyclists, but the fact is that it's the cyclist who's going to suffer the most in any crash, so being a shit driver is worse than being a shit cyclist.

I live in a small town on the South Coast - so not comparable to London or a large city. I drive or walk, and DH cycles.

As a driver I do worry that one day I will knock over one of the cyclists that rides with no regard for any other road user. As a pedestrian I worry that me and my daughters will be run over by one of them. I do worry for DH on his bike as I know motorists can be idiots where cyclists are concerned.

I'm not saying motorists are superior to cyclists at all, but I see many more instances of idiotic cycling than I do idiotic driving.

I have a bike helmet. I have lights. I have insurance. I am also a driver and know the highway code. I cycle very proactively in terms of my road placement and always attempt to make eye contact with drivers to know they've seen me, having been previously knocked off by a driver who pulled out without looking AT ALL.

It seems many drivers don't know the highway code. I counted 5 highway code violations on my last 15 minute ride, from cars not indicating to cars stopped at the lights in cycle boxes. I think you actually only recognise these instances of idiotic/illegal driving when you're on the receiving end of them, on a bike.

On top of this the amount of aggression you encounter from occupying your rightful and safe place in the road is staggering - cars seem to perceive that you're slowing them down, or that you somehow shouldn't be on the road, when you have every legal right to be there. Probably in the grand scheme of things as a cyclist you're making their commute shorter and the air cleaner and the noise pollution less by not being in a car, but all these benefits are apparently null and void because it does take you seconds longer to accelerate off the lights, which seems to trigger disproportionate road rage.

I guess what I'm saying is that it feels as a cyclist you can't win - yes there are some idiots wobbling about, but even if you are the world's safest, most rule-abiding cyclist you're still on the receiving end of driver's ire, and you have to just pray that you're not on the receiving end of a driver's error.

I have already made the point that when you're driving, you're more likely to notice cyclists doing the wrong thing than those that are abiding by the Highway Code. I do it myself. It means you're a good driver who looks out for potential hazards on the road, and as a consequence is much less likely to have an incident with a cyclist.

I do believe that cyclists attract unnecessary levels of hatred which is out of all proportion to any supposed inconvenience we cause. However, if you're a motorist in Cambridge you have my sympathy - when DH & I went there for the day we were the only cyclists wearing helmets and high-vis clothing, and observing one-way signs etc. It's just taking the piss really.

A shit cyclist is probably only going to hurt themselves, or cause a minor injury. A shit car, lorry or bus driver is going to kill someone. That's the difference.

My main mode of transport is on foot, and it's the motorised vehicles that give me the most grief.

• Driving through red lights when the green man is showing and people have started to cross
• Stopping across pedestrian crossings so that people can't cross the road
• Driving aggressively
• Starting to move forward while you are still crossing
• And on and on and on

Look at the figures of pedestrains killed and seriously injured on the roads every year (horrifying) and how many people they cause to be killed or injured, put that next to the figures for cyclists, and cars lorries and buses. Then ask yourself who is causing the problems here. Stupid bloody pedestrians throwing themselves under cars? Evil cyclists with a "death wish" (seriously?) going out and killing themselves. Come on.

The original Independent article is here and has some stories of people who have died. I don't understand the lack of empathy.

Well since so many of you have zero tolerance of cyclists clearly they should all ride on the pavements where they will be safe. Then it'll be the pedestrians at the bottom of the food chain

I think cyclists are doing us all a favour, reducing pollution in our towns and cities and if they are cycling on the road they are being responsible citizens by not using the pavements which would be much safer and easier for them.

Give cyclists a break, look out for them, slow down and don't get 'pissed off' by their presence.

Special lanes for cyclists is imperative .

I watched a young girl die after a lory ran in to her :(

It was horrific to witness ,I can not imagine the horror for her family .

As petrol prices soar ,I can see more deaths until something is done .

And if a cyclist behaves stupidly by and large he'll come off worst. If a car driver behaves stupidly (God forbid! We all know car drivers are the safest most law-abiding people in existence ) they are likely to do a great deal more damage.

bubblecoral - It is safer to ride two abreast on bikes, this is due to the fact that motorists then are forced to slow down and have to overtake properly, a car is required to give a cyclist 3 foot distance between the off side of the car and the cyclist - this means on most uk roads a car driver needs to put the near side wheels over the white line.

Unfortuantley a lot of drivers refuse to give cyclists three foot when cycling in single file but are forced to when two abreast. it does slow the traffic down.

It always turns into cyclist bashing, Darth. We're everyone's scapegoats.

I see bad driving every day, whether on my bike, in my car or on foot. It seems like it's admitting weakness to indicate these days, or stop for red lights at anything less than a major junction .

My dh cycles to work everyday. He's very experienced, wears correct gear, lights, obeys the highway code but EVERYDAY he gets cut up or put at risk by some tosspot driver who can't be arsed to slow down, leave enough space when going around him, tries to get in front and cuts him up when turning right, i could go on and on.

I don't know about cyclists taking tests but every driver should be made to cycle for a day before they get given a licence because it might make you think twice.

quodlibet - agree with your entire post.

One of the things that infuriates me is when drivers completely ignore me signalling (well in advance) that I'm going to pull out further into the road to "over take" the cars parked in the cycle lane. Do they think my bike will conveniently grow wings and float over the frigging cars? I always have to be really pushy in this situation and often get fuckwits revving aggressively and cutting me up. It can be terrifying, esp with the trailer.

i have only been driving a short while, passed my test in jan. prior to this i owuld have been 100% on the side of the cyclists and i dont even cycle. BUT since i have bene driving i do panic slightly every time i see a bike now. before you think i am biased i see really really bad driving that i never noticed before, all the time - but thats another thread. anyway it just seems like cyclists just follow the rules that are ocnvinient to them atthe time ie going on the pavement at red lights. what annoys me the most is the not going nearner the kerb when traffic needs to overtake. i see this every time i take dd to nursery which is at the bottom of a huge hill with parked cars along both sides forcing traffic into single lane here and there. i sit behind cyclists going down the middle of the road fully aware that traffic is bunching up behind them. its hard enough to overtake as it is because the road is bendy and single lane.

otoh i am sympathetic - cyclists should be catered for and i fully support cycle lanes - they are a win win solution but away from the lanes i think there should be a stricter code of conduct and perhaps allow cyclists to go on the pavement where pedestrian traffic is no existant.

I dislike cyclists for a few reasons;

1. they never use the said bike lanes/paths where I live.
2. they rarely wear helmets
3. they jump red lights or decide to "pavement it" for the said red light
4. they don't pay insurance and therefore when they cycle like morons and get hit it'll be MY insurance forking out for it.
5. They don't pay road tax and therefore should not use the roads.

do you ask each cyclist you see whether they pay insurance ladyofthemanor?

I have insurance through the ctc for world wide cover on my cycle - you did ask me if I did have insurance or not - slightly

motorists don't pay road tax - should they not use the roads either?

I think the message about only overtaking cyclists as you would another car - i.e. when safe to do so - has not reached/ gotten through to many motorists and they still think they should be able to "fit" between a cyclist without going into the other lane. Thus they dont wait for a gap in oncoming traffic. Its frightening to see. A public safety campaign could help with those who are thoughtless about this.

Spawnchorus there is of course no way that cars should be parked in a cycle lane. I hate it when they are as it seems more dangerous than having no cycle lane as bikes are pulling out and in. But there is no way I would rely on a motorist respecting your signal that you are going to pull out. Many motorists will interpret it more like a "car changing lanes because of obstruction" situation and may be expecting you to wait for a gap in traffic.

Darth Road tax is actually a licence to operate a price of machinery on a public highway

what country are you talking about...?

I think they should be required by law to wear helmets so the innocent drivers are held up for manslaughter.

My DH lost his brother in a cycling accident. He was hit from his bike and was not wearing a helmet-which would have saved his life.

sungirl - why should the cyclist get nearer the kerb when you overtake - or why do you think the cyclist should ride in the gutter when you overtake? Unfortuantely after last winter the roads and in particular the gutters are not in good condition and full of potholes and if we cycle in them we are likely to come off our bikes. We are allowed three foot from the kerb to ride, this will put us over half way to the white line on a lot of roads.

i am cyclist too, can drive but dont have car and know the highway code and use it..if i am on the road I obey the rules
totally agree with Quodlibet post on cycling
in London you have to take it seriously do not use ipod or do it stilettos! yes i have seen this, the university student lot
have lights bells i signal i stop

and yeah the road tax is NOT for the road per se

some drivers are cool and polite and some cut you up and deliberately try to knock you.. and often other cyclists can be the worst- wild card unpredictable stylee but you learn to spot them, its often about your attitude to safe road use not what you choose to travel in..