To think it would be better if cyclists were licenced and insured

[WyldChyld]

I'm really not anti-cyclist when it's done properly!! I currently live in an area hosting a massive cycle race following an equally massive one last year and understandably, cycling has really taken off, especially as it's picturesque as well.

But there's been two or three incidents in the last few months which make me think cyclists who ride on the road need to be licenced and insured. There's lots of places to ride away from public roads so I wouldn't be banning cycling.

Firstly, we've had a number of times when we've had to try pass cyclists riding two and three abreast chatting away and going very slowly, totally oblivious of the traffic jam. I always pass round them wide and slow to avoid rocking them but this is ridiculous! There's also been a few incidences when apparently inexperienced cyclists have committed some terrifying manoeuvres and nearly caused massive crashes.

The key one is a good friend of mine who had a cyclist crash into her because he wanted to try beat her when he was coming out of a T junction. He was, thank God, unhurt but he has written her car off and she is now trying to find a new car for the pittance offered by her insurance company. They told her if it had been a car it wouldn't have been written off because they could have claimed against someone, and he point blank refused to even contribute to the damage, and actually threatened to claim off her insurance for the cost of the damage to the bike!! She is in financial trouble and this was the last thing she needed.

AIBU to think that it would be much better all round if cyclists were licenced (and has thereby proven they had some skill) and insured? I know car drivers can be terrible and can easily kill cyclists but the hope is that they have at least proven they can drive (in the majority) and are insured if any damage occurs

"There is no way on this earth I would let my 8 year old cycle on the road. No way! She'll stay on the pavement and to hell with anyone who has an issue with it."

Why is that Mrsnow? Pavements are for pedestrians not bikes.

Why would you not get some sort of insurance for your child if they ride a bike?

The first thing my parents did when I started to ride horses was purchase rider insurance for me and later when I got my first horse they bought horse insurance too. It's sort of an essential form of hopefully never needed back up.

Because she's 8 Loxley. I'm the size of a house and yet motorists still don't see me when I'm cycling so she wouldn't stand a chance.

She isn't going to be cycling on the roads just yet just to please a minority.

Loxley Do you teach her to slow down for pedestrians and at red lights even if she loses all her momentum and has to start from scratch?

That's the issue. Many cyclists don't want to do that.

Cyclists are the only group allowed to race on the road (even on dual caridgeways). They get away with it by calling a time trial which somehow makes it ok :-/

Yet if I raced my horse or car on the road in a 'time trial' I'd get a bollocking

At least on a dual carriageway it's easier to overtake cyclists safely because there's a whole other lane to go into without having to worry about traffic coming from the other direction. Particularly when it's quiet, and all the cycling time trials I've come across have been at times when traffic is light.

Plus, if you look at cycling events on TV, lots of them are held on public roads, so it makes sense that cyclists will need to practice on actual roads from time to time. I've never seen any professional horse competition that's held on a road of any kind, although I don't pay a lot of attention to horse events so may have missed something.

I guess car time trials would be done on a racing track or similar. I also think that a car time trial on an open duel carriageway would be a lot more hazardous to the general public than a cycling one, because cars are a lot bigger and a lot faster than any bicycle.

Wayward3 Racing a car on a road carries mandatory disqualification as drink driving does (and should) and driving uninsured used to (and should again).

YAB stupidly U and as someone said further up, you appear to be inviting the usual bike-bashing bun fight.

IF I have time later on (back from a ride) I'll join in!
_

Gosh you were lucky man in a woman's world. How did you know where to find him to sue him etc

What if he hadn't had the money?

Yikes! Horrible situation.

It scares me stiff when I see cyclists on the road. I know they are entitled to be there but there are just too many cars, heavy trucks and people who drive like idiots for them to be truly safe.

But my point Mrsnow is that the pavement is not for cyclists it is for pedestrians. An 8 year can pick up a fair pace on a bike and cause serious damage if they were to hit someone. By all means find somewhere safe for her to cycle, but they shouldn't be the pavement.

Andrewfogg - was that for me? I don't have a her, so not sure who you are referring to? I was quoting someone else.

I have three boys 5, 7 and 10. The older two are able to ride safely on a main road with an adult and they all ride around the street at home. DH is a firefighter and a mountain bike instructor, very strict on safety and yes, they would stop at a red light and for pedestrians.

An 8 year old with adequate cycling skills should be able to cycle on a road.

Unfortunately, the attitudes of car drivers (amply illustrated on this thread) often make it unsafe to do so.

For example, the safest way to cycle with a child on a typical two lane road is for the adult to cycle on the outside, alongside the child who cycles nearer the verge. This forces motorists to do what they should do anyway - ie to wait for the other lane to be clear, allowing a correct overtaking procedure with adequate clearance. If you don't do this, many motorists will overtake too close which can be very unsettling and dangerous for an inexperienced cyclist, let alone a child.

Now my son is older we ride in single file, but we have in many occasions been overtaken dangerously, and on one occasion a driver actually stopped to berate us for holding him up on a narrow section (he drove off sharpish when I used my phone to photograph him and his numberplate).

I'd add that the very best way to be visible and safe as a cyclist is to occupy plenty of road space. Of course this wouldn't be necessary if drivers knew the Highway Code and obeyed it but the majority cannot be trusted to do so.

She'll stay on the pavement and to hell with anyone who has an issue with it.

Well, the motorists who insist on parking their cars on the pavement might not be too happy at having their vehicles scratched by errant handlebars, but that would serve them B????? well right, wouldn't it.

I am well aware of your point, Loxley, and as Mistigri said, the attitude of motorists make it unsafe to do so.

And do you think I'm so irresponsible that I would allow to ride so fast on the pavement that would endanger others not to mention herself?

Oh but I must be, I'm a cyclist of course. The scourge of Motorists everywhere.

For the record it's not that often she does cycle on the path. She's mostly cycling on the street where she's been told to be alert to the boy racers who belt it up the road regardless of there or anyone else's wellbeing.

But that's ok isn't it. They are motorists.

Like I said. Another cyclist bashing thread.

I'm really not anti-cyclist when it's done properly!!

How about Motorists drive properly as well?

I think the sense of ownership that a car engenders can be a very dangerous thing. They get infuriated by other people holding them up, as it interferes wit a perceived right that they have to drive however they like

Mandatory registration and insurance will never work. They can't manage to stop uninsured drivers, so how do you think they'll go about doing such a thing with cyclists?

I agree, OP. My mum was injured by a cyclist on the pavement who didn't stop, even to see if she was ok. I know that's not normal behaviour, but with no registration or insurance, that's the issue over. The cyclist drives off, leaving my mum hurt. Schools doing cycling proficiency is a great thing, but so many people seem to forget it all.

I love bikes, I think they're great for our physical health, emotional health and the planet. But I think some cyclists should remember that they're not the most vulnerable people on the roads - the hierarchy goes: big vehicles, cars, them, pedestrians, to whom they can do a lot of damage at high speed. There should be better ways to hold them accountable and locate them if they hurt someone.

But I think some cyclists should remember that they're not the most vulnerable people on the roads - the hierarchy goes: big vehicles, cars, them, pedestrians, to whom they can do a lot of damage at high speed.

?????????

I reckon if I peddled as fast as my little legs could peddle and slammed into a big vehicle I would come off much much worse don't you think?

Hit and runs with bikes are awful, and I'm very sorry to anyone who has been injured. However, hit and runs are even more common with cars, and they can scarper even faster. In a hit and run situation, it doesn't matter if the culprit is insured if they flee before anyone gets a photo of the plates.

if we take your argument to it's logical conclusion Agentcooper then anyone who could potentially harm anyone else should be licensed and insured, all dog owners for a kick off!

We have to draw the line somewhere and I think there is a good line for drawing it at motor vehicles since thier potential destructiveness is an order of magnitude greater than that of cyclists

There was a local boy who got knocked over by a hit and run motorist just before Christmas. It was a very close call for him. He's made a good recovery but has problems with his short term memory. The police are still no nearer to catching the tosser either.

Right yes that's a great idea OP, make small children pay for licensing and insurance just so they can ride their bikes to the park or to their friends houses...

Or maybe you only have to pay if you're dressed in Lycra? Or maybe only if your bike is worth more than £350?

These threads are just stupid. There are cunts driving lorries, taxis and cars. There are cunts on bikes who don't stop at red lights. There are fucking stupid pedestrians who step out into the road without looking.

And unfortunately there are also nice Highway Code abiding sensible people who travel on foot bike or motor vehicle who get hit by the cunits.

Though it takes two to have an accident... Always drive and ride defensively, and if your on foot have a good look around you rather than relying in sound.