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

[dreamingofsun]

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?

@Florissante - cyclists do pay to use the roads

No. You remove the vulnerability from system. The weak link in the chain is the cyclist NOT the motorist.

I didn't argue one way or the other; I wrote "the poster is saying that they should pay to use roads".

@onefinemess so what is your solution where people not in cars have to use or cross roads?

The village I grew up in had no pavements - 0 - according to your view no one should have ever left the house except in a car. Or my road in London where pedestrians are often forced to walk in the road by pavement parkers?

Or perhaps - seeing as most roads in the UK have been in existence longer than cars have been - perhaps we ban cars from using roads except for those designated for thier exclusive use - ie motorways?

You must be a troll as no one is this dumb.

I always tell the children when cycling the best place to be is the middle of the lane. Cars should overtake by pulling out to the other side same as you would a car. I live rurally and there’s loads of cyclists at the moment, if it’s not safe to overtake just wait till it is.

I do worry about the way motorbikes overtaking many a time I’ve had to brake to let them scoot in front as they are overtaking into oncoming traffic 🙈

Also tourists who look the wrong way on the A 9 before pulling out in front of people. I suppose my point is there are lots of dangerous drivers on the roads. I don’t really think cyclists are one of them.

Not all cars pay road tax.

I have a bike, and have a car for which I pay tax, and pay £3000 per annum council tax, and pay higher rate taxes on my income. I do contribute towards the roads!

Nope. You remove the cause of the danger, not the thing that the danger applies to.

Do we go around locking up stabbing victims, or the people doing the stabbing?

Your point was so fucking dumb I couldn't be arsed looking back at other dumb things you said. Sorry about that.

Victims of crime are not part of any "system". Cyclists literally use a transport system.

If we followed your logic then the wheel would never have been invented because the concept would have been classed as a danger.

This.

Removing all the pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists and non-car users would still leave thousands injured and killed every year - because the problem is the cars & drivers.

What a strange victim-blaming mentality OFM has.

Well if you had bothered to read the thread you would have understood my point better.

Ok, so we’ll remove all non cars from roads built for them - motorways and we’ll let you have bypasses, too.

But all cars and motorised vehicles are to be banned from any pathways and roads first used for horses and bikes.

Seems logical

Sure hun.

I notice that @onefinemess hasn't addressed the issue of lots of country lanes that have not pavements and no space to build them.

Do we ban cars, pedestrians or bikes from them?

If people didn't drive for every single short journey they make it would make everything a lot better! I know people who drive to absolutely everything and it is so unnecessary. People drive 5 minutes to the gym where I am to go on the treadmill! Way to reliant on their cars for everything.

Why do you think emissions are an issue apart from climate change? Why do you think reducing petrol and diesel car use is seen as important especially in city centres?

Don’t be ridiculous. They don’t think at all.

The average journey length by car is less than 10 miles, which just goes to show (as if we didn't already know) that there are a lot of completely unnecessary short journeys being done by car. If just a small % of those lazy fuckers got out and walked or cycled the roads would be far more pleasant for everyone.

Half of all car trips are under 3 miles. 20% of car trips are under 1 mile!

There are people in my neighbourhood who drive their kids to school about half a mile away.....and then drive straight back home!

Some people just automatically get into a car when they leave the house. It's a reflex action. They wouldn't stop to consider if it's walkable or cyclable. Next door neighbour (fully able) drives to the corner shop and back which is a 5min walk.

Once all the petrol and diesel cars are gone, they will start to tax the electric ones and say it to keep up with the road maintenance. So much for it being based on emissions then.
I'm with you OP.
Our council spent a ton of money of bike lanes to get cyclists safely around two big busy roundabouts,and they still weave in and out of cars, look irritated at traffic lights and cut off traffic.

The point being, that even if you don't own a car a % of your tax money goes towards the roads.

So everyone, regardless of whether they cycle, drive, walk or whatever pays and so twats going on about "my road tax pays for this road" are talking shite.

Our council also spent a lot of money building cycle lanes with physical bollards. Guess what? Drivers still park on them, no enforcement of parking laws, what's the point.

YABU. Why are so many people so unwilling to take a couple of minutes out of their day to keep another human being safe? Why so selfish and entitled? It makes me sad.