Page 17 | Cyclists who act like they own the road should pay towards it

WellPlaced · 13/08/2023 21:41

I pay vehicle excise duty on 2 cars
I mostly walk or cycle

Yesterday, I had 2 cars pull out of driveways in front of me. Another overtook me and then stopped 100m ahead waiting to turn right. Another pulled out of a parking space without looking. I’m held up far more by motorists when I’m cycling than by cyclists when I’m driving!

You should try it some time.

Car drivers are inconsiderate.
Cyclists need to cycle as they do to protect themselves.

@dreamingofsun WTF do you mean by cyclists have priority?

WellPlaced · 13/08/2023 21:48

Insurance would just put up barriers for cycling. The government is trying to encourage sustainable transport, not hinder it.

What about the 13 year old who cycles to football training once a week?
The elderly man who cycles to visit his friend once a month:

A pedestrian is just as likely to damage your car. Should they be insured too?

Brumbies · 13/08/2023 21:57

""Car drivers are inconsiderate.
Cyclists need to cycle as they do to protect themselves.""

Of course they are dear. Run along now.

WellPlaced · 13/08/2023 21:58

@Owlet64
Not everyone has the luxury of factoring in cyclists into their daily journeys.

You do realise that cyclists are part of the solution don’t you? Few cyclists would choose to cycle during busy commuter times unless they’re actually commuting themselves. Every cyclist on the road is once less car.

WellPlaced · 13/08/2023 22:00

Brumbies · 13/08/2023 21:57

""Car drivers are inconsiderate.
Cyclists need to cycle as they do to protect themselves.""

Of course they are dear. Run along now.

You obviously don’t have a mature or valid response.

DatumTarum · 13/08/2023 22:01

Brumbies · 13/08/2023 20:15

Oh do grow up!

Sorry but @DdraigGoch made a valid point.

Motorists worry about a dented bonnet, we worry about being killed

WellPlaced · 13/08/2023 22:09

Those of you insisting cyclists are insured.

Do your DC’s have bikes? Would you be prepared to pay out insurance for each one, regardless of how often they used their bike?

WellPlaced · 13/08/2023 22:10

Or would you choose to drive them in your car instead. Causing more pollution and congestion.

Brumbies · 14/08/2023 07:54

dreamingofsun · 10/08/2023 10:18

So cyclists get priority on the roads, and are happy to ride two abreast so they hold all the car traffic up. Shouldnt they at least pay towards the upkeep of the road?

They should at least carry insurance, wear a helmet by law, and obey the Highway Code. So many don't and so often I see them goi g through red lights, riding on a pavement which is not designated as a cycle path.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 14/08/2023 09:29

They should at least carry insurance, wear a helmet by law, and obey the Highway Code. So many don't and so often I see them goi g through red lights, riding on a pavement which is not designated as a cycle path

As many of us have already said - many of us ARE insured, there is zero need to wear a helmet to make drivers feel better - it makes no difference to a driver whether or not a cyclist wears a helmet (and they are useless if you get squashed by a car anyway), and many drivers do not obey the HC with much worse outcomes. Also, it would be nice if pedestrians and drivers would stay off cycle paths (and drivers off pavements).

WellPlaced · 14/08/2023 09:36

Insurance - Why?
Helmet - Why?
Highway Code - Shouldn’t we all?

DatumTarum · 14/08/2023 10:02

WellPlaced · 14/08/2023 09:36

Insurance - Why?
Helmet - Why?
Highway Code - Shouldn’t we all?

Why?

To make up for the trauma of having to wait behind a cyclist of 0.8 seconds, that's why.

That is literally, what this is about.

Brumbies · 14/08/2023 10:02

enchantedsquirrelwood · 14/08/2023 09:29

They should at least carry insurance, wear a helmet by law, and obey the Highway Code. So many don't and so often I see them goi g through red lights, riding on a pavement which is not designated as a cycle path

As many of us have already said - many of us ARE insured, there is zero need to wear a helmet to make drivers feel better - it makes no difference to a driver whether or not a cyclist wears a helmet (and they are useless if you get squashed by a car anyway), and many drivers do not obey the HC with much worse outcomes. Also, it would be nice if pedestrians and drivers would stay off cycle paths (and drivers off pavements).

Cyclist Wearing a helmet doesn't make me feel better. It might th tho were they to fall off and hit their head!

DdraigGoch · 14/08/2023 10:30

Brumbies · 14/08/2023 10:02

Cyclist Wearing a helmet doesn't make me feel better. It might th tho were they to fall off and hit their head!

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Then surely it's their business whether they wear one or not.

Brumbies · 14/08/2023 10:40

Why when they end up with a serious head injury and cost the NHS £££££

Brumbies · 14/08/2023 10:41

Equally you could say wearing a seat belt should be voluntary- despite statistics showing they save lives?

DatumTarum · 14/08/2023 10:47

Brumbies · 14/08/2023 10:40

Why when they end up with a serious head injury and cost the NHS £££££

Maybe the motorist responsible (that's nearly always the case) should foot the bill?

2o23 · 14/08/2023 10:50

Are you angry that electric cars don't pay vehicle excise licence either...or is it just cyclists you are annoyed at?

WellPlaced · 14/08/2023 10:56

Brumbies · 14/08/2023 10:41

Equally you could say wearing a seat belt should be voluntary- despite statistics showing they save lives?

Statistics do prove that.

There are no statistics that show wearing cycle helmets saves lives. Also, helmets are a barrier to cycling and statistics DO show that regular cyclists are healthier, therefore saving the NHS money

MrsAvocet · 14/08/2023 11:21

Brumbies · 14/08/2023 10:41

Equally you could say wearing a seat belt should be voluntary- despite statistics showing they save lives?

Not equally actually. The evidence for benefit from wearing bike helmet is nowhere near as strong as for seatbelts in cars.
If someone makes an informed decision not to wear a helmet, they are not breaking the law and it is a matter of personal choice. There are not actually many countries where helmet wearing is mandatory as the statistical evidence is not that strong. Personally I do always wear a helmet - I think that on balance the positives outweigh the negatives - but even as a committed helmet wearer I acknowledge that there are arguments to the contrary. When you look at the data it is not as convincing as you might imagine.
Same goes for hi vis clothing. Intuitively, you would think it should make a big difference. Actually data doesn't support that view. Again, for myself, I never wear all black when cycling. I wear a white helmet and light or bright tops and I put my lights on in the day in all but the very brightest of weather, because my personal opinion is that when I am driving I see cyclists earlier if they are dressed brightly and have lights on. So when I am cycling I wear the things I think I'd spot early when I am driving. But I know that's anecdote not data, and that the data does not currently support legislative change.

OneTC · 14/08/2023 11:23

DatumTarum · 14/08/2023 10:47

Maybe the motorist responsible (that's nearly always the case) should foot the bill?

Show quote history

Whilst I don't agree that people should have to wear helmets most bike crashes and injuries come about through people falling off. Not in collisions with vehicles

OneTC · 14/08/2023 11:23

DatumTarum · 14/08/2023 10:47

Maybe the motorist responsible (that's nearly always the case) should foot the bill?

Show quote history

Whilst I don't agree that people should have to wear helmets most bike crashes and injuries come about through people falling off. Not in collisions with vehicles

Castall · 14/08/2023 11:29

@dreamingofsun

as small 20 a year fee and helmets and insurance and a bills license/ registration fee

thats what is needed.

also get the e scooters sorted too!

OneTC · 14/08/2023 11:35

MrsAvocet · 14/08/2023 11:21

Not equally actually. The evidence for benefit from wearing bike helmet is nowhere near as strong as for seatbelts in cars.
If someone makes an informed decision not to wear a helmet, they are not breaking the law and it is a matter of personal choice. There are not actually many countries where helmet wearing is mandatory as the statistical evidence is not that strong. Personally I do always wear a helmet - I think that on balance the positives outweigh the negatives - but even as a committed helmet wearer I acknowledge that there are arguments to the contrary. When you look at the data it is not as convincing as you might imagine.
Same goes for hi vis clothing. Intuitively, you would think it should make a big difference. Actually data doesn't support that view. Again, for myself, I never wear all black when cycling. I wear a white helmet and light or bright tops and I put my lights on in the day in all but the very brightest of weather, because my personal opinion is that when I am driving I see cyclists earlier if they are dressed brightly and have lights on. So when I am cycling I wear the things I think I'd spot early when I am driving. But I know that's anecdote not data, and that the data does not currently support legislative change.

Show quote history

I don't wear a helmet for cycling on roads but I do wear one for single track mountain biking. When I'm riding on the road on my way to the single track with my helmet on my own personal experience is that the data checks out that people don't give you as much space and are more inclined to close pass. I find that the closer I am to ideal, ie brightly lit, wearing Hi Vis, helmet, the more drivers are willing to drive badly around you

The most conclusive evidence about the effect of helmets on cycling safety is that they encourage drivers to take the piss

MikeRafone · 14/08/2023 11:44

@Castall

It'll cost more than that to administer the registration - its why they got rid of dog licences, as the cost outweighed the need