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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think cyclists should pay tax and insurance?

252 replies

Pumpernickel10 · 19/06/2011 15:45

I'm probably digging a big hole here but I really feel that cyclists should pay road tax and insurance. This is why...
My SIL had a smash yesterday in her car, caused several thousand pounds worth of damage and had whiplash, this happened cause a cyclist rode through a red light causing her to swerve and hit a tree. The cyclist just carried on riding not knowing the damage he had caused. SIL will now lose 12 years no claims cause of this fucking idiot cyclist. He's got no number plate as they don't have them so there no telling who he is. This just doesn't seem right.
AIBU?

OP posts:
Bennifer · 21/06/2011 10:39

SDTG,

What's to apologise for? I didn't accuse anybody of anything, I've certainly not called anyone a liar. I will accuse you of poor reading comprehension however if you think I did

mousymouse · 21/06/2011 10:45

yab sort of u
road tax is for heavy vehicles that cause a lot of damage to the roads. bicycles can't do that much damage.
I would like to see more (all) cyclers insured, for their own sake.

your SIL is lucky that she didn't kill that cyclist.

Original poster
Pumpernickel10 · 21/06/2011 10:46

This what you said bennifer

As I pointed out earlier, none of us, not even the OP knows how this accident happened. It's a big hypothetical. We don't know the junction, we don't know the cyclist went through on red, we don't know that the OP's SIL was tuning the radio, or fully in control of her car.

We've done the road tax to death (seeing motorists don't pay road tax, why should cyclists?)

OP posts:
Original poster
Pumpernickel10 · 21/06/2011 10:48

By that statement your saying my SIL made it up and cyclist didn't go through red, to be honest I really don't care what you think anymore. I've been civil to you throughout this thread so I'm just going to ignore you from now on.

OP posts:
Bennifer · 21/06/2011 10:49

Thanks for reposting that to show I didn't accuse you of lying.

Stars82 · 21/06/2011 10:50

YES they should!!!!! and so should horse riders!!!!
if you want to ride on the roads made for vehicles then you should also pay up!!!!!!
they are dangerous and cause many accidents!!! and never mind the horses shitting on main roads that we drag our cars through!!!!! if you want to use them then you should be expected to pay for the up keep like everyone else!!!!
I witnessed a biker riding and swirving in front a car on an extremely busy roundabout yesterday, had the driver not have been more aware there would have been another biker/driver related accident!!!!!

PAY UP OR USE THE PAVEMENTS!!!!!!!

Bennifer · 21/06/2011 10:52

Stars82, as others have pointed out, cars don't pay road tax, why should cyclists?

Rosa · 21/06/2011 10:55

Insurance and some kind of identification ( a small number plate on the front or back) so they can be identified when they run red lights , go over zebra crossings when people are on them ..Bacically not respecting the highway code so they can be fined. Of course it would cost far to much money to set something up like this but think of teh money they could collect in fines ?. It also might help drivers respect cyclists a bit better as well.........

mousymouse · 21/06/2011 10:55

"PAY UP OR USE THE PAVEMENTS!!!!!!!"

no, do not use the pavements to ride bikes. it is against the highway code (point 64) and bloody dangerous for pedestrians!

Original poster
Pumpernickel10 · 21/06/2011 10:55

I'm a horserider and pay extra insurance to ride on the roads, my horse bennifer doesnt damage the road or create fumes it even leave a lovely bit of manure for you cyclists to ride into, I'm so kind! I pay insurance.

OP posts:
StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 21/06/2011 10:56

Bennifer - you asked me if I was the OP's sock puppet. This was you accusing the OP of making me up - a false persona/mumsnet nick - just to back up her story - that is an accusation of dishonesty, and it is also accusing me of not being real. As I pointed out, I've been here since October 08, which is a helluva background for the OP to have built up, just so she could back up her OP! It's also implying that I am not an individual, that I am just parrotting the OP's views for her - and that is insulting and not true.

Original poster
Pumpernickel10 · 21/06/2011 10:57

I pay insurance to protect me, my horse and other road users. It's called be responsible and this is what this thread is about

OP posts:
Bennifer · 21/06/2011 11:00

SDTG,

I didn't mean it literally, it was a throwaway line, perhaps one has to be super literal when discussing things on the internet. People might not read the subtleties in a phrase. I'm sorry if you misunderstood me.

Don't worry, I've very sure you're a solid human being

Original poster
Pumpernickel10 · 21/06/2011 11:00

davidtennant as been here a lot longer than you, does it matter bennifer if I've been on here 5 minutes or 5 years, anyone is allowed to post on here, just because someone is a newbie(I'm not) doesn't make their post any less believable.

OP posts:
Bennifer · 21/06/2011 11:03

It was originally about tax as well, and you must see it was perhaps a daft idea. I'm potentially in favour of the idea of some form of insurance, but this is often covered by other forms of insurance (contents, etc)

TheBride · 21/06/2011 11:13

is is often covered by other forms of insurance (contents, etc)

No- that only covers damage or theft of the bike- there's no third party liability insurance, so if, say, the OP's SIL had hit a tree and been paralysed, the cyclist would have to be sued to get compensation.

As a cyclist and a driver, I think cyclists should have to have insurance. I used to have it in case I scraped someone's Ferrari or something and it was pretty cheap (£30 per year I think).

Original poster
Pumpernickel10 · 21/06/2011 11:16

Well let's just agree on insurance then Grin I can be reasonable

OP posts:
MynamesMikeIswimlikeafish · 21/06/2011 18:02

TheBride - I claimed on the public liability part of my contents insurance for damage done to another car by my son whilst riding his bike. They paid up no problem.

PredictableDullard · 21/06/2011 18:04

i thought of you all today as i cycled through red lights laughing wildly

DrNortherner · 21/06/2011 18:12

My dh uses a hybrid bike to travel to work, he also has a couple of road bikes, is affiliated to club and as a result has full insurance.

He says 90% of teh time the majority of car drivers do not give him enough room and is quite often forced off the road.

I hate the attitude that soem drivers have towards cyclists. They are very vulnerable on their bike, whilst you are in your big metal box flying past them.

FGS, calm down, be patient and give them room.

Katvondee · 21/06/2011 18:54

Cyclists are a menace on the roads, I've been cut up by them and had my car scratched too.

PredictableDullard · 21/06/2011 18:56

i bet you haven't been cut up, i bet it was just a cyclist trying to use the road properly and you weren't paying attention

Riveninside · 21/06/2011 18:58

Like it or not katvondee, bicycles are vehicles and traffic and have a right to be on the road. And less likely to cut you up or damage your one ton car.

AwesomePan · 21/06/2011 18:58

and the scratching bit if it happened would be the same reason for not giving enough room and the bike rubbed against your car.

Katvondee · 21/06/2011 18:58

Nope I was cut up, why have all you cyclists got to think the cars are at fault, take some blame and responsibly yourselves for once in your life and stop naming motorists.