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.

I just had to drive

OFFS! OP.

Most of us in Europe HAVE to cycle to the supermarket cos we have no car, no choice.

Not excusing wanker Mamils of course.... they can fuck right off.

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.

My issue is you think that some cyclists are breaking rules that are a myth

Cycling is ace op. If you can you should try it. Quick, non-polluting and keeps you fit.

I come from a cycling culture and not the British ‘cycling on the pavement, helmet-wearing, not understanding how to keep left, jumping red lights, cycling with the saddle way too low, mamil’ nonsense.

I suggest you get on a bike, put some proper lights on, use mudflaps and a proper carrier in the back, raise that saddle to the right hight, and get places you need to be, don’t just mamil around in large groups aimlessly. On a proper and certified bike you can carry up to two kids as well. And then you can leave your car at home. And can go shopping and go to medical appointments without polluting or driving around in a one tonne of piece of metal. You would need a Dutch style granny bike (with plenty or gears if it is hilly). Avoid riding a mountain bike or dropped handlebar bike as they are not appropriate for cycling with shopping. See Amsterdam or Copenhagen for how it’s done.

There many dangerous roads for cyclists and pedestrians, and not near enough segregated bike lanes. It is also often impossible to cycle between towns/cities as the cycle network is pathetic compared to many other countries. And pedestrians are not also cyclists so they have a limited understanding. Get on a bike and see the world from a different perspective.

Most people who hate cyclists have never cycled.

DH is asthmatic and determined his lungs be as healthy as possible.Now he can't go to spin class or park run he's having to actually ride his bike and run near our house. He needs to ride as it's good for his lungs, so YABVU.

Cycling can be a part of essential travel so it's not practical to police the distinction

This - I don't drive, so can see why it would be essential travel for some.
Just like it is with you and your car.
Plus it's exercise?
Also, if you're biking solo you're not coming into contact with anyone else.....

Oh fuck off .. we cycle , we hardly come across anybody and we stay local to our house .
It’s good exercise .
Your gripe seems to be cyclists are slowing down your driving .. tough shit

@ivykaty44, there are many more bikes on the roads than just Boris bikes.

I can't tell you how many drivers cyclists have killed in the last ten years, can you tell me how many of those deaths were proven to be the drivers fault with the cyclist at no fault at all? How many of those drivers weren't responsible and the cyclist was at fault but the driver has to live with that?

What I am suggesting is that bikes should have a tracable number like cars so if they are involved in an accident or cause one they can be traced. If cyclists have to pass a test at least they will all have a basic knowledge of what to do and when. Insurance just sounds sensible, cyclists do cause accidents, they should pay for damage etc. I don't understand why you would gave a problem with that.

Live in a small city and cycle rather than drive much pleasanter gets you fit reduces traffic and doesn’t pollute everyone else’s air. Being anti cycling is utterly irrational it’s cars that cause harm.

Galleyfm if you want bikes to have registration plates there is only one country in the world that does that, perhaps visit and see what you think to life there before requesting that type of notion here in the UK

Cannot believe that dreadful poster saying a car hitting her friend served her poor friend right! Jesus that’s awful! Can’t believe people like this live among us makes my blood run cold what a monstrous person.

Cars don’t cause harm, drivers cause harm, cars don’t drive themselves. It’s never bicycles that plague the roads, but cyclists and cars, interesting use of language

Galleyfm Increasing cycling levels is a huge win for any government, local or national - it means a healthier population so less strain on health services, reduced congestion, reduced wear and tear on the roads, reduced carbon emissions. So many positives and no downsides. There is no way that anybody sane is going to introduce measures that would deincentivise cycling and prevent children from cycling. Just forget it.

Cars don’t cause harm, drivers cause harm, cars don’t drive themselves. It’s never bicycles that plague the roads, but cyclists and cars, interesting use of language

@ivykaty44. I hope this isn't referring to my language, I've been quite careful to distinguish between the equipment and the user.

Are you referring to Japan? It's beautiful there, if so.

You seem quite closed off to the idea that cyclists can cause accidents or damage? As you rightly point out, it's the people in charge of the vehicles that make mistakes. I doubt that all cyclists are perfect road users in the same way I doubt all car drivers are bad drivers. Licences can be removed, points can be given, fines for bad driving/riding. Why not? It may make the roads safer for us all?

I am a key worker and I cycle to and from work as I don’t drive and refuse to take public transport at the moment

Galleyfm

Japan doesn’t have registration plates, they register bikes for security/theft reasons, there is only one country that has bike number plates.

People use different transportation, some people will always behave in particular ways?- it’s just that given different transportation will change the damage they can do, did you look at the 5 car pile up with 1 driver? If they’d been riding a bike instead of driving the actions would have been the same but with a different outcome

@PuffinShop if governments were that keen on getting people cycling and it was such a huge win for them why on Earth don't they make the roads more cycle friendly? Where I live we have odd cycle paths which suddenly stop or go through parking spaces, it's crazy and so dangerous.

Cars will never be replaced solely by bikes, it's impractical although yes, healthier.

Something needs to change and I doubt LA's have enough money to change the road layouts to make them better for cyclists and therefore safer for drivers.

@ivykaty44, I really don't know which country you're referring to, I'm guessing it's North Korea then?

The outcome may have been different with bikes, incredibly likely it would but cars won't be taken off the roads any time soon. We rely on them too much. Something we can change and work with is getting cyclists to be responsible for their actions and at the moment not all are but unlike drivers they are harder to trace.

Many people have started cycling due to it being safer during lockdown, it’s not the roads that aren’t safe but unfortunately many of the highways users, who are now not on the highway

if governments were that keen on getting people cycling and it was such a huge win for them why on Earth don't they make the roads more cycle friendly?

If only I knew! I wish they bloody would. To be fair I think there have been some efforts and well meaning in this area in most Western countries, but execution has often been incompetent and there has not been enough willing to take space away from the sacred automobile.

But they simply are not going to introduce a huge amount of costly bureaucracy that will have a negative impact on cycling levels.

Galleyfm you’ve done your research on bike registration and why there are countries that have abandoned such schemes, so you tell me which country has plates and why?

@Puffinshop, I imagine you're right. Although given the amount of billions the government has spent lately on various things i can live in hope.

Galleyfm Perhaps when cyclists are killing 5 people everyday of the year in the U.K. then perhaps I could take what you are saying below seriously

Something we can change and work with is getting cyclists to be responsible for their actions and at the moment not all are but unlike drivers they are harder to trace.

Preventing drivers from killing people through crashes is far more important and would save thousands more lives, quiet literally. Once that is at the level that cyclists kill then I agree we’d need to look at how deaths can be prevented.

It would though be by using number plates, as number plates don’t stop drivers from killing..

@ivykaty44, I'm actually quite and going to bed. I'm not really that interested in other countries licensing. I'm just bothered about my own safety on the roads in my experience many cyclists are dangerous (not all). If you ride so well, why would you be worried about a licence or insurance Incase you did cause an accident? I think you mentioned you have a driving licence are you against the principals for cars? Bikes can cause quite a lot of damage and cyclists do cause accidents. Why shouldn't they be accountable? Not really asking for you to answer, just trying to get you to being open to another point of view. If cyclists all behaved perfectly I wouldn't have an issue.