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.

Comforting to see the irrational hatred of cyclists hasn't desisted during the pandemic.

My friend was hit by a car today while out in her bike
She cycles to work everyday (so very experienced and usually quite safe) and has been adamant she NEEDS her daily exercise- she has a garden and lives opposite the common which she never uses though- which apparently entails her cycling for a few hours each day or she will “lose her mind”

Well quite frankly she doesn’t and now she’s been hit by a car
Broken arm, smashed teeth, scraped up face and she’s covered in bruises
Driver of the car was hysterical apparently, not sure about damage to the car

COMPLETE waste of hospital time and now I am having to get her shopping as well as 2 elderly neighbours and my own family

------

I'm lost for words.

Cyclists have been banned from our local park (it has a perimeter road) because they were ignoring distance rules, staying far too close to each other and overtaking with barely a whisker between them.

This is a difficult one, as it is a mode of transport not just a means of exercising.

I’m more hacked off with the heavy breathing emitted by joggers. I don’t want to be breathed on at close quarters (pavement walking) by runners.

To some extent I agree they're everywhere! But I've seen so many people who clearly can't ride properly, never usually go on the road and have no helmets. They're the ones who shouldn't be riding!!

My husband is big on road cycling and he's only going out once a week the rest of the time is on his turbo trainer in the garage.

My daughter (11) also usually rides with him and we won't allow her out for a road ride atm. Too much unnecessary risk when stopping plus cycling can be a dangerous sport and I'd hate for her to have a fall and take up a much needed ambulance! She is also using the turbo trainer.

I could hardly walk to the appointment as it was 25 miles away.

And my point is, our police have told us NO DRIVING unless you have to go out for an essential reason. Driving 5 miles to the woods to walk your dog is NOT allowed. The argument is it increases the chances of needing the emergency services.

So I don't understand why driving is banned in case of hypothetical accidents, yet cycling isn't? You are more likely to be seriously injured in a RTC if you are a cyclist than if you are in a car, surely?

And there seems to be groups of cyclists together, not lone cyclists. Isn't that flouting the rules, to only exercise with people you live with? I went past a group of about 10 clucking together today.

dworky
Comforting to see the irrational hatred of cyclists hasn't desisted during the pandemic.

Almost as interesting as the posts that are derogatory towards walking,

Cars cause way more injury and death on the roads than bikes.

You are heavily biased.

London is much safer for cycling at the moment, hardly anything on the roads

Of course cars more accidents and injury, that's undeniable.

But if you are a cyclist involved in an RTC, you are more likely to be seriously injured than the person in the car, with just a helmet to protect you.

Disabled, can't walk, CAN use my trike every other day or so.

Thanks for suggesting I remove the only method of exercise I am able to get. PS, we have no garden either. Though you'd need a fucking massive one to cycle any adult biker round.

@OhMyDarling

I expect the poor woman who has had a terrifying accident and is now suffering from her injuries can do without “friends” like you. Yours is possibly one of the nastiest, most spiteful comments I’ve ever read. Shame on you and I hope you are shown more compassion if ever you end up needing help from others.

I went for my run the other day round a country park on my own. There was a group of runners, a known running club o e behind the other but all together all the same.
Rule flouting twonks come in all forms op.

*So I don't understand why driving is banned in case of hypothetical accidents, yet cycling isn't?&

Because cycling isn't driving a car.

Comforting to see the irrational hatred of cyclists hasn't desisted during the pandemic.

It seems to be a natural constant. My own mother is always ranting about how much she hates cyclists, doesn't have an answer when I ask her if she hates me then.

I don't think she hates me at all, but like so many British people she imagines that 'cyclists' are an amorphous blob that only exists to irritate her. Rather than, you know, just individual people who happen to be riding a bike at that moment.

But accidents can still happen while cycling, you could fall off and seriously injure yourself or be involved in a collision:

If walking was the only exercise allowed, social distancing would be impossible in any built up areas.

If the cyclist falls off or is hit by a car, that puts pressure on emergency services.

Maybe the solution is to ban cars then? Apart from those used by medical staff or other necessary workers to get to their jobs? Leaving you to walk to your 'essential medical appointment'. While socially distancing, of course.

Yes, you can get hit by a car on your feet, too. Let's just ban that, too, except for the special ones, of course, the exceptions. What about runners? In your paradigm are they banned, too?

Husband and I are both cyclists.

I certainly won’t be cycling during this pandemic as I don’t feel I am confident enough (I only turbo train over the winter so am rusty) and would not want to put myself or others at risk by having an accident. DH is a very experienced and responsible cyclist and usually cycles 20 miles to work every day but he has still decided no to risk it. If others are choosing to do so safely, I have no issue. We could be mowed down by a passing car waking or running down our lane (country lane, no pavement) if we were unlucky but we still need to get outside.

But if you are a cyclist involved in an RTC, you are more likely to be seriously injured than the person in the car, with just a helmet to protect you

the same applies to pedestrians. By that flawed logic, you would have ban anybody from the roads who is not driving.

Are you also demanding a ban on DIY stuff at home? After all most accidents happen at home.

You could also ban smoking as it's not good for the lungs, esp with corona, you know?

seriously, OP, you sound totally deranged.

I walked to work today as the buses have started running a turn up every hour and a half or so as they were so quiet last week. I was inadvertently involved in 3 gatherings all at traffic lights. Social distancing is very difficult at traffic lights if you want to actually get across the road and get to work on time. Probably would have been safer on a bike.

I bloody love cyclists.

They save the NHS money by being fitter.

They reduce air pollution, noise pollution and damage to the roads by not using cars.

They force the idiot drivers on my country road to drive slower.

Please have a ❤️ from me.

I don’t want to be breathed on at close quarters (pavement walking) by runners

It's not the running that's the problem. I suspect you wouldn't want to be breathed on by a walker either.

@catsarelifetome good point - beat ban walking in case someone has a fall. And walking up the stairs is also a danger - ban that too.