To think cycling should be banned under lockdown?

[catsarelifetome]

I just had to drive to an essential medical appointment, and come across dozens of cyclists.

Why is cycling still allowed when driving is only allowed for essential travel? Surely the 1 hour exercise should be restricted to walking? If the cyclist falls off or is hit by a car, that puts pressure on emergency services.

And yes I know a very small minority will be cycling to an essential job... but I doubt all the people I saw were doing so. Surely the rules should be the same... essential travel only.

@ivykaty44 I wasn't 'all over the road', no. I was driving appropriately on my side.

I stated: "All over the road and seemingly traffic unaware "

I'd rather they didn't decide to not look what was behind or in front of them, and not signaling before moving and swerving all over the shop. I was carefully trying to pass a group of approx 6 including children. They were riding pretty much abreast of each other taking up the full road. Again, not as issue as such, get to safe place and move over, no hurry. But they just were unaware of my even approaching. Just not taking care. That's not safe, not sensible and if you're a decent cyclist shouldn't that worry you?

I don't fucking want to be the one accidently hitting someone with no road safety on their bike.

I am not against cyclists... never said I was.

I bought a bike especially to ride during lock down as I'm getting bored of my local park. I go on my own. No different from walking.

If a cyclist is injured it will be by a car but you don’t want to ban them.
So tired of these cyclist bashing threads.
Live and let live. (I’m not a cyclist but it’s healthy exercise and doesn’t pollute so why not).

theemmadilemma

And yet you wanted to pass cyclists cycling all over the road taking up the entire road - sounds like you were thinking of a dangerous manoeuvre

How on earth would you safely pass cyclists completely cover both directions, why even think about it?

As for looking at what is behind them, you don’t actually need to, that’s the responsibility of the traffic behind and neither do they need to move over.

Many cyclists hold primary position to stop drivers making dangerous manoeuvres, especial at pinch points or on country lanes near bends

Cycling is safer than driving.

I'm a doctor. I cycle to work. Many of my colleagues do to.

Galleyfm Why do you want to create licences for people riding bicycles?

As for insurance, how do you know cyclists don’t already have insurance?

Perhaps if your worried about crashes being a drain on the under pressure NHS get fellow drivers to stop speeding, it’s become a big issue and caused injury in more than one driver crash

@Eckhart Sure, here's a couple for starters, sports which can be done solo, and in some cases people can do these from their home i.e. no travel to get there, with governing bodies saying please don't at this time:

www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news/2020/british-canoeing-update-on-paddlesport-activity
www.bhs.org.uk/advice-and-information/coronavirus-covid-19

There is no one hour restriction. No where in the law or guidance is a time length specified

Not so many cars but they are still breaking the speed limit and having accidents with trees.

Now is the perfect time to cycle. The roads are clear. The pollution us down. It's great.

@ivykaty44 I'd like them to be held accountable for any accidents or damage that they cause and they do that (I'm not saying drivers don't also). I think that if we are to share the roads them cyclists should share the responsibility and the only real way to do that is to be able to trace them somehow. I think a licence plate is a good idea, it is equal.

I'm not aware if they do but I've yet to hear of a cyclist that causes damage giving their details.

I'm not saying that cyclists should be removed from the roads (to be honest, yes as a driver I would love this, they drive me around the bend) I think they should be regulated and safe. Anyone could legally pop to Halfords and go out on the roads on a bike, legally at least you have to pass a test, be insured etc to drive a car.

If I hit a cyclist even if it was their fault I would feel terrible.

given the number if cars and bikes on the roads now why shouldn't cyclists have to learn the basics and pass a test to be on the road?

At the moment during the pandemic I think it's dangerous for oropendola to be cycling for pleasure/exercise on roads. I also think people should be taking responsibility for other actions e.g. If you've never used a nail gun now isn't really the time to start using one for diy.

sorry, you'll have to just decipher my typing, I'm shattered and the iPad keyboard has a life of its own.

I cleaned my kitchen floor yesterday and then forgot it was still wet and skidded on it.

Let's ban that, for the sake of the NHS, eh?

I cycle to work and am still working at the moment. The training I could and have taken in the last has been cancelled for the forseable future and we have ome ar which my husband uses for work as he also looks after our son. How do you suggest I get to work if cycling was banned? By the way, where I work is classed as essential and I can't work from home. Also it's been much safer to cycle since the lockdown as there are fewer cars on the road

@ivykaty44 again agree people driving cars without insurance etc and speeding are pains in the rear also. I've just had a claim go through with the mib from being a passenger in a car that got rear ended while stationary at traffic lights. I'd love the roads to be safer.

Don’t be daftC it’s perfect cycling conditions for once, hardly any traffic.

What is the coronavirus risk from going form a solo drive? There isn't one, but it's not allowed, because if you're in an accident it puts responders at risk and could put you in hospital. Surely the same is true of cyclists on the road?

This.

Coronavirus is just an excuse for extreme pettiness and rubbernecking for so many here. I don't think the fact that thousands have died has anything to do with the judginess. It's just a convenient excuse. If you were saying "all these bloody cyclists having wild parties and kissing each other when they're supposed to be in lockdown" I could understand. But you know as well as I do that them cycling past you poses little to no risk to your health.

I know what you mean we went for a walk yesterday around a lake it was a footpath but people were cycling round it too generally people were being respectful and safe but there were 2 cyclists who came pelting round a bend at full pelt neither wearing helmets and on large mountain style bikes and could have potentially caused serious accidents. I also saw a man cycling with his young son, around 8, on a national speed limit road in full Lycra gear. I guess they were doing their ‘one form of exercise’ but Surely there a safer way of getting some exercise in without the risks associated involved, some people are treating this as a jolly with the quieter roads giving people a false sense of security.

@ivykaty44

As you well know, cyclists should not ride more than 2 abreast.

Highway Code, Rules for Cyclists: 66 You should never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.

It’s also courteous ride single file to allow cars to pass you if it’s safe for them to do so, and you can regroup after the car has gone past.

That aside, as I clearly said, I was happy to wait to pass. So no, no dangerous moves to be made from me. The previous pair I very carefully followed and waited longer than they expected as I wanted to be sure I had safe room, thanked me as I passed them.

How on earth would you safely pass cyclists completely cover both directions, why even think about it?

Unless the road is only wide enough for two abreast that shouldn't be the case. But usually I wait until polite people pull to the side to allow a pass where none is available to me otherwise.

Whilst not needing to look behind (well actually you should if you are going to change lanes etc.) they should be aware of surroundings and the presence of cars behind them?

Completely agree on holding a primary position. It's safest for everyone, and it's correct, most importantly, safe cycling.

So your issue with me seems to be that I'm pointing out some cyclists in the current climate appear to not be taking usual and appropriate road safety precautions.

Galleyfm All boris bikes are numbered and traceable to the person riding, not once in London has a boris bike been needed to be traced.

A licence wouldn’t trace me on any of the bikes I ride in any case and I hold a valid driving licence as so 80% of cyclists.

How many drivers have cyclists killed in the last 10 years?

theemmadilemma Read the first page of the highway code and you will find the difference between should and must not, and if you’re still not sure ask Surrey police to explain to you why cycling more than 2 abreast is legal

"I also saw a man cycling with his young son, around 8, on a national speed limit road in full Lycra gear." Wtf is wrong with that..? Seems like a good and healthy, normal thing to do.