Argh some cyclists

[Landof]

I want to start by saying this is not a bashing thread about cyclists and I am a cyclists myself and sometimes cycle to work but the majority of my cycling is for fun at the weekends etc...

What my annoyance is about is cyclists without lights on and wearing dark clothing. WHY?! please someone tell me if you do this why? And does it annoy anyone else?
It's honestly so hard to see them until much closer. It gets dark early these days so traffic is heavy during dark hours. If I knocked one over, it'd be my fault and I'd have to live with that on my conscious forever.

Please get some lights and reflective clothing.

I’m a cyclist and I totally agree!!

Cyclist here too and I agree as well. That said also a driver and got blinded last night by a car that insisted on keeping its high beams on. Some people are just idiots...

@Lasttraintolondon

Cyclist here too and I agree as well. That said also a driver and got blinded last night by a car that insisted on keeping its high beams on. Some people are just idiots...

Oh yes that too!!! But will save my annoyance of that for another time haha

I always think its someone who's stayed out longer than intended, dangerous yes but doesn't annoy me

As a cyclist (and driver) I split us into two groups 1) cyclists and 2) people who ride bikes.

1. cyclists wear hi viz, use lights, ride on the road or on off road trails, know how to fix a puncture and maintain their bike, and by and large keep the rules of the road
2. people who ride bikes - everyone else, from hoodies who mug people for iPhones, to builders cycling to a site with no lights, to parents who ride on the pavement with their kids because they won’t let them/are too young to ride on the road.

The second group are the ones who need educating really. It’s the occasional users who don’t understand that failing to do something - eg be traffic aware, use lights etc, could have life threatening consequences. And they are very much in a majority.

A parent who let's their youn kid cycle on the pavement 'needs educating', are you some kind of cycling fascist? I'm guessing you're in the superior gang, the first grouo

*group

Ooh it's been at least a week since we had an anti cycling thread

I cycle too. It's infuriating. I have started shouting out "lights?' when I'm going in the opposite direction. But i don't think they care.

Completely agree about dark clothing and no lights - utterly stupid.

But pedestrians do it too. All dark coats instead of something bright pink or yellow!

You will also be told that if you can't see someone with dark clothing on in the dark, you should not be driving.

@Momicrone

I always think its someone who's stayed out longer than intended, dangerous yes but doesn't annoy me

I give people the benefit of the doubt when the clocks go back but come on, it's January. you know when it gets dark.

@JuergenSchwarzwald

Completely agree about dark clothing and no lights - utterly stupid.

But pedestrians do it too. All dark coats instead of something bright pink or yellow!

You will also be told that if you can't see someone with dark clothing on in the dark, you should not be driving.

Yes, most school children here seem to wear black coats (as well as their uniform being black skirts/trousers). They are virtually invisible at dawn and dusk. It's so dangerous.

Agreed, but as a motorist you’re responsible for half a ton of metal, travelling fast. You should be frightened of hitting someone - a drunk, a child, a daft bugger cycling without lights. If you’re driving and you’re not terrified by the weight of the responsibility you’ve taken on then you’re doing it wrong.

I opened this thread thinking 'oh here we go, another entitled motorist that thinks they own the road'.

But I am 100% with you on this. Where I am, it's usually teenagers. I have to wonder why the parents aren't making sure their bikes have lights.

Yes!! Also a cyclist here and a driver.
It's cheap as chips to get a couple of bike lights and a reflective sash.

@Momicrone it's not an anti cycling thread, it's a safe cycling thread.

@WhatDidISayAlan

As a cyclist (and driver) I split us into two groups 1) cyclists and 2) people who ride bikes. 1) cyclists wear hi viz, use lights, ride on the road or on off road trails, know how to fix a puncture and maintain their bike, and by and large keep the rules of the road 2) people who ride bikes - everyone else, from hoodies who mug people for iPhones, to builders cycling to a site with no lights, to parents who ride on the pavement with their kids because they won’t let them/are too young to ride on the road.

The second group are the ones who need educating really. It’s the occasional users who don’t understand that failing to do something - eg be traffic aware, use lights etc, could have life threatening consequences. And they are very much in a majority.

This is a very good point.

And purely anecdotally... there's an elderly chap who cycles slowly down the A road between our village and town. The road is very bendy and goes between shady forest cover and fields with hedges for miles and miles. He wears no helmet. He has no lights. He usually wears brown and green clothing. I'm not making this up, I've got a photo (that my passenger took) of him cycling along in a camo jacket with brown cord trousers. I've nearly hit him once, when I went under a tree canopy from bright sunshine and he was literally invisible until I was about 6ft from him. Luckily, I had already slowed due to the sudden shade and did an emergency stop. He's an accident waiting to happen!

I don’t understand why bikes are sold without lights. We live in an area where a lot of adults and teenagers ride without lights, or any degree of road sense like cycling at high speed from pavement onto road, across roundabouts, going the wrong way on road etc, whilst wearing a black hoodie and mask, and sometimes all of the above whilst using no hands!

It’s only a matter of time before someone is killed round here - and in spite of the changes to the Highway Code, I don’t think the driver should be blamed if that happens.

@Momicrone

A parent who let's their youn kid cycle on the pavement 'needs educating', are you some kind of cycling fascist? I'm guessing you're in the superior gang, the first grouo

EVERYBODY needs educating. Some of us already do it - go on commuting courses, bikesafe courses, free maintenance courses. But most don't and they should - knowledge is a good thing.

A couple of decades ago when I was a kid, our paperboy was knocked off his bike outside our house and died in my mum's arms. A lad in the year below me and a lad in my swimming club were also knocked off their bikes and killed, so that's three I know personally.

A bike is a mode of transport - the same as a car, motorbike, motability scooter or horse. It really pays to understand the rules of the road, no matter what your age.

@Greenhillfaraway

I don’t understand why bikes are sold without lights. We live in an area where a lot of adults and teenagers ride without lights, or any degree of road sense like cycling at high speed from pavement onto road, across roundabouts, going the wrong way on road etc, whilst wearing a black hoodie and mask, and sometimes all of the above whilst using no hands!

It’s only a matter of time before someone is killed round here - and in spite of the changes to the Highway Code, I don’t think the driver should be blamed if that happens.

It's a good point, bike manufacturers could be forced to install built-in front and rear lights that are powered/charged by the rotation of the wheels. It could be a criminal offence to disable the lights or ride with them not working. Obviously people would be free to install additional lights for added visibility.

I dislike the idea that the driver is predominantly at fault if there's a crash with a cyclist. Generally most accidents involving cyclists are caused by them doing something unsafe - riding through red lights, riding on pavement, riding without due care and attention, not using cycle lanes when they are available, going the wrong way down a one way street, cycling side by side instead of single file, the list of "cyclist at fault" accidents is endless. But no, the poor car driver gets the blame, as always.

I know NACALT but the majority are.

I have known far too many children be killed by cars. Pedestrians and on bicycles. Of course, one is far too many. But this is why I put them in bright clothing/jackets, reflective gear for cycling.

I see far too many young men/older teens riding no hands/ear phones in/no lights/no helmet/dark clothing, it's a miracle more aren't hit!

I told a cyclist off the other week for no lights and dark clothes. He looked sensible so I assumed he'd forgotten to switch them on.
No, he said they'd been stolen.

Got a lecture from me about how he needs to buy some more or else a car will hit him. He did move on to the path though so at least he was safer.

I work on a site that is 95% male, so the full gamut of bike riders --> MAMILs is apparent. The route in has a well maintained cycle path alongside the pavement. The number of cyclists that just don't use it and continue to use the road is baffling to me. Why wouldn't you keep yourself safe and further away from exhaust fumes? Often they compound this by having no shiny/bright kit or lights. I have a road bike and cycle for enjoyment, but generally in the light, so maybe my perspective is skewed.

Drivers are at fault because they’ve chosen to be in charge of a machine that can easily (and frequently does) kill people. It’s vanishingly rare for someone to be seriously injured by a cyclist.

I agree absolutely that it’s sensible for cyclists to use lights and high vis - and I do. But the weight of responsibility is with drivers.