to think cyclists ought to sit a test before being allowed on the road?

[SantanaLopez]

I live on a route popular with amateur cyclists. Yet again this morning another group of folk were causing absolute havoc on a two lane road. They aren't dressed properly, they don't signal, they don't even look where they're going. One man was weaving along instead of cycling in a straight line!

So while I have a cup of tea and a cake (for medicinal reasons)- aibu to think that they should have to be tested before being allowed on the road? I know drivers are the biggest hazard, but safety works both ways!

My local cycling club now splits groups into no more than over 14 cyclist, they may have 70-80 turn up for Sunday rides and they though 5groups of 20 going out was not fair on motorist.

Then they thought actually all these groups leaving from the same place but splitting was a bit much so now they have staggered times to leave to make it easier on motorist

They do this as they are wanting to keep peace and harmony between cyclists and motorists

They don't want to antagonise motorists as this can be very dangerous for them

They have rules when yo ride single file, again for safety and to not antagonise motorist

Cyclist on the whole do not in any way want to antagonise a motorist and clubs will have rules and protocols set out to avoid this

One main club rile is you are not allowed to ride if you don't have insurance and you need to quote you insurance number to join the club and go on club rides

Oh and you know when you drive into town and can find a parking spcae , remember that cyclist you past is not going to be parking there bike where you want to park your car

not sure why one is invariably pitted against the other

surely this is about investment into cycle lanes to ensure the safety of all road users

I just wish the cyclists would wear high visibility clothing and have lights at night, so many of them don't and it's scary.
But yes to it shouldn't be one side against the other, all road users should be being considerate of each other.
Not really practical for everyone to cycle though is it.
I also don't think most motorists hate cyclists or vice versa.
There's always a minority who are inconsiderate.

Where I live the council has recently installed traffic light with a head start for cyclists at a major crossroads : cyclists go along the left hand cycle lane into the ASZ and get a green light 5 seconds or so ahead of the cars. At busy times there's not enough space so bikes are still queued up down the cycle lane at the side, so they're trying to go ahead when the cars get green and they often try and turn left across the going-straight-on bikes. So even with a chance to go ahead (what would be "going on red" in ay other situation) doesn't guarantee safety if the car drivers don't look to their left first.

Rudy - how do you do that tho if (eg as has happened to me) there's a bus trying to turn left right next to you? What seems to happen quite often is you head forwards in the bike lane, then vehicles pull up next to you indicating left and there's nowhere to go :(. They have added those mirrors to get drives to check inside themselves but I wonder how many actually do?

Yes, there's two sets of lights where I go through on red, as it is far safer for me to enter the next road when it is empty, rather than have some numpty drivers trying to shove me into the kerb.

Given the fact that bikes going through red lights make no difference to drivers at all, i'd think it's only jealousy that gets them sooooo riled.

and thedog, you can fuck off too. Except a bit further than me.

Question RE 'taking the lane'. If I was coming up to a junction where I wanted to go straight on, and some of the cars would be turning left (and not slowing very much), that would be an appropriate time to move into the centre of the lane, to avoid being hit by a driver turning left who might not see me/bother to check his blind spot or mirrors?

Thanks, I'll bear that in mind when driving as well as biking.

LazyJaney, are you going to give any actual evidence for how many accidents cyclists cause? Or yet again is this just your personal belief?

Although the OP was complaining about cyclists making their way through a suburban setting on a Sunday, in daylight. tbh I think you have to be very perverse to find something wrong with using leisure time for cycling.

Ivykatty My local cycling club now splits groups into no more than over 14 cyclist, they may have 70-80 turn up for Sunday rides and they though 5groups of 20 going out was not fair on motorist

Its the same here, and there are several clubs. They don't all meet in the same place! But it is that popular. I don't know, I don't think curtailing people from doing a healthy hobby is very progressive. I don't think encouraging people to drive instead of cycle is progressive either. To me that's dark ages thinking, and the way into the past, not the future.

Did someone actually complain that flashing bike lights gave them a migraine?

Don't you think you are being a tiny bit precious? What do you do if theres an ambulance, or a police car? The whole world has to change in case you get a migraine?? If your migraines are triggered that easily, is it safe for you to drive at all?

I’ll attempt to articulate why these sort of cyclist bashing threads wind me up so much.

• Tarring of all cyclists with the same brush.
• The lack of comprehension that cyclists really are far far less likely to hurt or kill someone else than a car.
• Out of every 3 cyclists who die on the roads, 2 are due to someone else’s actions not their own.

Yes safety ‘does work two ways’ as the OP puts it, but believe me, when you get on a bike you are acutely aware of your own safety. Much more so than when you are driving. If you don’t believe me, try it.

That is not to say that cyclists are perfect. They’re not. But I don’t assume all drivers are idiots because of the actions of a few. The attitudes behind these threads feeds into the obnoxious and dangerous behaviour of others towards cyclists. It is part of the culture of lack of respect towards cyclists – for their space on the road, for their safety. When I go cycling I don’t want to be the focus of abuse simply for doing something I have every right to do. Calling for licenses, compulsory insurance etc legitimises those who view cyclists as scum, and deserving of everything they get.

I’ll leave you with a selection of posts from twitter:

• Im pretty sure I hate bicyclists more than anyone else.
• I hope all #cyclists wake up tomorrow and their bikes have been stolen
• I'm not racist... I just despise cyclists.. #selfishtwats
• Bloody cyclists!!!! U don't even pay ROAD TAX!!! Get off MY ROAD!!! PRICK!!!
• Cyclists make me furious, I wish I could run them over

Yes, I find it really discomforting too Hill. Its almost becoming like a political movement. I do honestly wonder whether one of those cyclist haters might deliberately drive into me on purpose, or just be deliberately careless, if they were having a particularly bad day. Of all the groups in the world to demonise! Inherent in it is laziness - I can't be bothered to cycle myself but I'm ignorant and lazy so you should get out of my way because I'm in a car.

I think the roads are getting worse, they are certainly getting busier, but theres little improvement to infrastructure.

I'm also sick of being told I "don't pay road tax". 3 sets of £280 road fund license plus a higher rate taxpayer, yet apparently owning a bike exempts me - I'd love the Inland Revenue to agree with that.

Am reminded of this delightful driver.

some people can be guaranteed to cause annoyance when they opine that lamps on the road at night, and traffic lights, are optional and can be disregarded by road users when they consider it appropriate.

Are you actually going to read a thing that I have written Less?

I am NOT saying that cyclists should be banned. I am saying that there seems to be a sizeable minority who cycle dangerously.

And where is your evidence for this please Santana? Surely if so many people were being dangerous there would be consequences. And by evidence, I don't mean "My auntie Beryl was knocked over once".

But at least it's Darwin's Law in action and happily the cyclist was okay hopalongon