Cyclists and the Highway Code

[Jemima232]

Huh. Just Huh.

And Wow, too.

So now we have to be careful not to knock cyclists over, when driving past them.

Of course, they don't have to be careful not to knock anyone over when they go through red traffic lights, do they?

As if they need more legislation in their favour. It absolutely enrages me.

Re the "if everyone started to ride bikes we'd still need to pay for the roads" argument: I've definitely read that on tarmac roads light things like bikes do practically no damage to the surface, so in this bike utopia road maintenance costs would plummet, plus people wouldn't feel the need to argue congestion means we should build more roads

Yep absolutely nothing worse than driving on a 60mph country lane and meeting a cyclist.

What about meeting a horse and rider - hopefully you give them sufficient space, if you're so angry about cyclists.
And no, I don't ride horses.

MiniMum as it happens I am both too frightened to cycle in London, because of lorries, Uber drivers and general speeding non signalling phone using arseholes, AND exasperated by the cyclists who go through red lights etc.

It is all true at the same time.

Mile for mile you're more likely to be killed as a pedestrian than a cyclist in the city

OP what makes cycling in London unsafe? Vehicles I’ll bet. Not other bikes.

Yes.
Vehicles make cycling dangerous.
That does not negate the fact that when cyclists go through a red light it is also dangerous.
Yes, vehicles are the biggest threat to pedestrians
This does not negate the fact that pedestrians also get hit by bikes.

It isn't a competition.
Or Tit for Tat.

This thread is about the behaviour of cyclists.
Bad behaviour of drivers doesn't make bad behaviour by cyclists OK

Why does everyone keep banging on about this?

Especially for the 114th time on the thread.

Go read the OP again redbarrows. It is absolutely about the behaviour of drivers - the OP is complaining about legislation trying to make drivers be more careful around people on bikes.

(Most) People are not saying bad or dangerous behaviour of cyclists is ok.

They are saying some people regardless of how they are travelling do stupid or dangerous things but the potential harm is greater of the person doing it is in a vehicle.

They are also saying that there’s a disproportionate level of ire reserved for cyclists.

Finally some cyclists are pointing out that what others may perceive as dangerous behaviour is actually safer in certain situations E.g primary position or two abreast riding. Most people who object to that don’t cycle. If they did, they’d understand why it’s sometimes advisable to do so. Same for some red lights, in some situations (quite rare, admittedly) It’s safer to ride through a red light assuming it’s clear). Some cyclists break red lights without due care. So do some drivers. Neither is ok.

OMG, how embarrassing! I had got so into the whole ‘dangerous things that cyclists do’ content of the thread that I thought it was about bad cyclists.

Sorry!

Such a goady OP.

It is about bad cyclists.

The ones who go through red lights (which is most of them.)

I am both a driver and a cyclist. I have never cycled through a red light. Yes, I've occasionally seen another cyclist do so but not often. Mostly when it's a pedestrian crossing where no one is crossing rather than at a junction where you'd be mad to do it as you're likely to be hit by a car.

Some cyclists break the rules of the road as do some drivers. I see drivers speeding on a daily basis. The road out of my village is 40mph. I am regularly overtaken on this stretch by other drivers when I am sticking to the speed limit. Today i was driving on a 60mph road and was overtaken by a driver who must have been doing 90+.

Tarring all cyclists with the same brush is unfair. Most of us are law abiding road users. Sadly a minority of motorists have attitudes like yours, OP, where they seem to think it's acceptable to abuse cyclists for no reason.

The ones who go through red lights (which is most of them.)

Really? You know this? Got stats? - there are cameras at so many traffic lights you'd think there would be some hard evidence. Hang on....

I live on the corner of a one way street in London, that connects two major roads. Every week a cyclist is hit, either on this street, going the wrong way, or at the junction with the main road, having driven up the side street the wrong way, not looked while pulling out, or hit by a car turning into the side street.

The cycle superhighway near us is also rarely used by cyclists, who prefer to take their chances on the road with everyone else.

I've been hurt by far more pedestrians busy on their mobiles than cyclists. That's with me in a wheelchair and blind DP pushing me.

The slight edginess caused by going fast in a car is not offset by the physical tiredness and endorphins that would naturally occur, if you cycle fast, run fast or even ride a horse fast. Therefore, whilst a cyclist or runner going fast will feel a natural buzz and satisfaction, a driver feels frustrated

The faster you drive the slower it feels.

Hmm OP. You're a bit..well.....not up to speed with most things it seems.
Do you actually drive? On public roads?

I have been both a cyclist and a driver.

Cyclists deserve respect. Cars should give them safe room, and not try to intimidate them. At the same time, cyclists should follow the same rules of the road. It is true that cyclists rarely stop at red lights. I have more than once nearly had them run into my pushchair when I was crossing the road on a green Man. I've also seen them cross busy junctions on a red light: truly a death wish on their part.

*It is about bad cyclists.

The ones who go through red lights (which is most of them.)*

Really? Most of them? Based on you saying they do or do you have done factual information?

Anyone ignoring the Highway Code should face the consequences, I think it’s about time cyclists should have to pass a test to be on the roads. Surely that would help increase safety for all concerned. There should be an offence of dangerous cycling. Yes including weaving in and out of traffic (should definitely apply to motorbikes too). I think there also needs to be a limit on the size of groups of cyclists, driving down a windy country lane on a Sunday morning trying to get past a group of cyclists stretching the length of an hgv is downright dangerous for all concerned.

Cycling is a great way to get around, keeps you fit and environmentally friendly. I think the problems arise when people have stopped seeing roads as a means of transport to get from a to b and started seeing them as a place to undertake their competitive hobby, whether that be cyclists tearing round country lanes pumped full of adrenaline, becoming very aggressive and ignoring all other road users, people using roads to race their customised Corsas through residential areas certain groups of young men borrowing daddy’s Range Rover/top of the range Audi to drive at 70 in 30 mile an hour zones to prove something.

If cyclists going through red lights is the biggest problem in your life then you have a good life. If my friend had cycled through the red light rather than sitting at the junction where a tipper truck came up next to her and turned left across her path, she'd still be alive today. Cycling through red lights is not what's wrong with the world today.

Numerous times we heard bells and shouts from cyclists coming up behind us telling us to move out of the way even though we were walking in the pedestrian part.

Bells.... damned if you do damned if you don't. Some pedestrians get cross if you use a bell and some get cross if you don't. On shared paths I do - just so the pedestrian knows I'm passing them and doesnt suddenly step sideways or something but some people see it as rude ho hum . Bit like I don't pass other cyclists or horse riders if they don't know I'm there its a recipe for disaster.

OP yabvu and what a delightful human being you sound.

There should be an offence of dangerous cycling. Yes including weaving in and out of traffic (should definitely apply to motorbikes too)

1. there already is
2. filtering past/through traffic is perfectly legal, for both bikes and motorbikes.

I agree with you op. Cyclists should be subject to the same rules as drivers. They should have insurance, and a number plate.

All the cyclists I've encountered in central London cycle like complete dicks. They should be held accountable the same way drivers would be if they took the same risks.

I think the problem with people on bikes going through red lights is that it looks so blatant. But it is responsible for a very low proportion of cycling accidents. The biggest cause of accidents (for bikes and cars) is not looking properly. It would be really good if people had some idea of what is actually dangerous rather than what looks bad.

Cyclists bashing is always a decoy to the 5 killings per day by drivers of cars each & every day in the uk on roads & pavements

If anything else was killing 1700 people each year there’d be a national outcry

They should have insurance, and a number plate

Read this, Eliza9919:

www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2019/mar/18/should-cyclists-be-licensed-and-insured-robert-winston