To suggest cyclists need to be licensed

[savethebeesandthecees]

And also pay Road Tax and risk having their licence revoked for misuse.

I'm saying this as a pedestrian. Nearly hit again by a cyclist going through a red light. Others routinely mount the pavement to swerve red lights. I'm sick of it. If I film them as evidence, so what? What are the consequences?

Something needs to change.

You what? That doesn’t even make sense. You said it was easy to track and identify the users of Boris bikes and so would be easy to use on private cycles - so tell us how.

Oh! Do excuse me for having a slightly different take on it. I have been off site for a few days. Must have missed a rule change!

You what? That doesn’t even make sense. You said it was easy to track and identify the users of Boris bikes and so would be easy to use on private cycles - so tell us how.

if you have a system that could identify someone on a bike, but it’s never had to be used, then what is the point in having that system - that’s my point- hoped explained a bit better

Cycles are brilliant for environment, exercise etc. Sadly, where I live, the MAMILs are mostly selfish dangerous fuckwith. Last week a cyclist two came to blows because neither would give way to other om towpath

sorry, fuckwits, not fuckwith

@BishyBarnyBee
But I think there is a very targeted campaign from the tabloids at the moment which is whipping up anti cycling feeling. I don't see anything like that aimed at drivers. There was a video showing a cyclist riding on the road next to an empty cycle lane and headlines about how outrageous it was. That's one example of inconsiderate cycling - and not actually illegal. When will we see the videos of car drivers cutting up cyclists with the same level of tabloid indignation?

You won't.
Its just another handy little diversion, among many others, from the real issues facing the country, the Tory supporting press will try anything to stir up anger toward anyone but the Govt.

I agreed with the idea until I realised that the only other country in the world, at the moment, where a license is required was North Korea. I think that tells me enough.

I've been in a bad crash with a pedestrian and I just stayed until everything was sorted out.

Are people saying drivers don't flee the scene or do hit and runs?

Cycles are brilliant for environment, exercise etc. Sadly, where I live, the MAMILs are mostly selfish dangerous fuckwith. Last week a cyclist two came to blows because neither would give way to other om towpath

As i said earlier, 1800 people are killed by car drivers, inc approx 300 children.... not cyclists, so who are the fuckwits?

You don't really sound too bright if you tar all cyclists based on an isolated incident, if it even happened.

They don't pollute the air though do they ? Why should you pay to ride your bike it's a form of exercise! I think you'll find cars cause a lot more accidents than bikes

I don't agree that cyclists should pay tax or have insurance. But I do think these young adults riding no hands while scrolling through their phone should be banned and their bikes seized

But I do think these young adults riding no hands while scrolling through their phone should be banned and their bikes seized

Highway Code rules that both hands should be on the handlebars - just the same as drivers should have both hands should on the steering wheel. That’s regardless of age, it applies to young and old

Surely they ensure cars produce more pollution making us slow /stop /start? A condition of passing a driving test is to make progress. Hard to do that with 2 cyclists chatting side by side in front of you..

Personally I think cyclist should be identifiable either by a license or license plate etc. I also think they should have insurance and be required by law to wear hi vis.

In the ideal world I think we all should be wearing hi vis particularly with the nights drawing in.

That said I think we all need to take greater responsibility for being aware of what's going on around us. Last week I was witness to an accident between a pedestrian and a cyclist. The pedestrian (a delivery driver) didn't look up as he stepped out into the road and caused a cyclist to swerve and land on the bonnet of the car in front of me. Fortunately we were both stopped at the time. Fortunately the cyclist wasn't badly injured but that was purely down to luck as if the car had been moving it could have been a whole lot worse!

I’d agree that ANYTHING that uses the road should be insured. I was hit, whilst stationary, by a bike. It caused almost £600 of damage, which I had to pay. The guy got a bent front wheel, and some scrapes - luckily wasn’t badly injured - but paid nothing. I know accidents happen, and cyclists usually come off worst, but I felt pretty hard done by in that situation.

HollaHolla Why didn’t you take it to claims court?

Hard to do that with 2 cyclists chatting side by side in front of you..

I drive and have never had an issue overtaking cyclists riding two abreast. The only issue is oncoming traffic in the other Lane, but they have as much right to be driving as I do. So I wait till they’ve driven by and overtake

Does feel like the fossil fuel industry pay the daily mail to whip up anti-cycling hatred. We've all had difficult experiences with users of every mode of transport and yet the one that's free and doesn't generate pollution is the one being targeted.

Biggest change we could make to ensure roads are safer: mandatory repeat driving tests every ten years. It'd be amazing how many drivers on the road today would mail miserably.

*fail

You know what the solution to that is? Get out of your car and on your bike. Hey presto, no more pollution!

My daughter was involved in a hit and run. The driver smashed the back of her car and drove off. The police could'nt have been less helpful or interested.

Bikes have no chance of being held to anything unless the cyclist is decent enough to stick around.

Does feel like the fossil fuel industry pay the daily mail to whip up anti-cycling hatred. We've all had difficult experiences with users of every mode of transport and yet the one that's free and doesn't generate pollution is the one being targeted.

Quite. All the rhetoric about Lycra clad menaces doesn’t ring true…. the vast majority near me are pensioners on electric bikes.

I agree they need to be regulated and respect road rules, specially zebra crossings and traffic lights.
Also for the electric scouters.
And if they are going to use the pavement, somebody has to make it clear to them that they cannot zoom past pedestrians

Because I hadn’t realised I could, until it was too late. This is about 12 years ago. I understand that the limit was 6 years. My insurance company was spectacularly unhelpful, and the cyclist was a student, and had no cash to give.

If cyclists had to be regulated with licenses/ taxes/ regestration, I'd be driving mine and my family's bikes off to the dump (I doubt there'd be any second hand value left on our old bikes if such rules came into existance). I don't ride a large amount because it's a PITA to cycle safely out of my neighbourhood and only a couple of quiet off-road destinations are viable. It certainly would not be cost effective to play the game for about 10 journeys per year and I may as well free up the storage space in the shed.

Cycling needs encouraging with investment in safe routes, not penalising and pushing people further into the cars that they already pay for.