To be sick of cyclists making pedestrians feel unsafe

[OptimismvsRealism]

Life is so much worse than it was ten years ago in cities precisely because of this

BringBackLilt

why do you think it is reckless not to wear a helmet? What research have you done to come to that conclusion?

In the Netherlands people cycling don't wear helmets, they have put in many other measures to make cycling safe, same in Denmark. `these countries have far greater numbers of cyclists but not far more head injuries from cycling.

My answer is in your response. Many other measures have been put in place in Denmark and the Netherlands make cycling safe. There are no such measures here.
Our road infrastructure is not built to keep cyclists safe. Road infrastructure in Denmark and the Netherlands is set up to ensure that cyclists are kept much safer and are separated from motor traffic. I can understand why they won't need to wear helmets as much there.
It's terrible that our road networks are crap for cyclists. I wish it was different. But as it stands it is crap. So I personally would never ride on the roads in the UK without a helmet.
I probably wouldn't feel the need to as much in Denmark or the Netherlands. It's much safer for cyclists for multiple reasons.

As I said, I've come to the conclusion that I shouldn't care what others choices are. I just know I wouldn't want to take that risk here in the UK.

I do hate the various food couriers who cycle in the city centre - in areas where cycling is supposed to be banned. Have zero road safety.

If people knew how dangerous most of these food couriers cycle, they would think twice about ordering through them

Was in Valencia 20 months ago and noticed that e-scooters can be ridden on cycle lanes and the users need cycle helmets. Much safer approach

Where I live they have turned most of the Covid pop up cycle lanes into permanent ones. I have never seen a cyclist using one at all.

Then some cycle lanes, they have put essentially what look like kerbstones to border the lane with car lane. With a 30cm or so gap between each one. They are the same colour as road. Can see people pulling over to let an emergency vehicle pass them and smack - damage their tyre or car.

so its drivers mixing with cyclists that you perceive as dangerous? Yet helmets tested to 12mph aren't going to save anyone against a driver that is crashing into a cyclist but you think its reckless to cycle without wearing a helmet. Its not the helmet keeping cyclists safe, because in Denmark and Netherlands they have put in place other measures which shows the helmet is a red herring in the safety of cyclists.

Being hit by a car travelling at speed is only one danger for cyclists.

They could hit a pothole, or a person, or a pram. They could get distracted or tired. Or slip in a patch of mud. Or get clipped by another cyclist, or an electric scooter…

Or a million other things which could result in them falling off their bike and hitting their head.

Quite why people are resistant to protecting their head from injury I don’t know- ‘it won’t help if I’m hit by a truck’ isn’t a reason… The real reason seems to basically be arrogance and vanity.

So why don't pedestrians wear helmets then?

Because they are not balancing on an unsteady two wheeled vehicle using infrastructure that isn’t designed for them.

Wheelchair users frequently wear seatbelts to avoid falls from their chairs, people who are unstable on their feet and are more likely to fall use aids to avoid it, and people who do fall do often wear head protection- you won’t necessarily notice because padded beanie hats etc which are designed to protect the head from blows are pretty discrete. Or they do wear helmets.

More people die falling down the stairs 700 each year whilst under 100 die from various cycling crashes

I hate those freaking electric bikes with a passion.

Wow, exciting.

You’re so right, we should never take any steps to protect ourselves from a risk if other risks exist!

Of course we should improve safety wherever we can. However, from the vitriol on here, you'd think cyclists on pavements was a primary national safety issue. Numbers like this prove that that's not true.

I have never said it’s the primary, or even a primary national safety issue. Clearly it isn’t.

But it is A safety issue, and can be very prevalent in some areas, and affects some demographics more than others- elderly, disabled people and children are more susceptible to injury from being hit by a bike, and they are less able to move to protect themselves.

It isn’t unreasonable for cyclists to accept this, and act accordingly. They are only being asked to behave in a responsible manner by following the rules of the road, as ALL vehicles should.

‘Other things are dangers too!’ is no more of a reasonable response from cyclists than ‘cars do it too!’

If cyclists don’t want to protect their heads from injury caused by falling off their bike, that is their right.

If cyclists don’t want to protect their heads from injury caused by falling off their bike, that is their right.
@HildaOgdensMurielle thank you for acknowledging that they are entitled to decide for themselves. The multitude of "they should wear helmets" posters over the last few pages need to follow suit.

I wear a helmet because I cycle on British roads which are full of distracted idiots. Maybe eventually we'll get to the stage where roads are safe enough that I don't need to.

That's an issue with your local council.

Where I live the temporary cycle lanes are onlyturned into permanent ones if enough people use them. There are older cycle lanes that no one uses as they are in the car door zone. If you cycle on one of them you risk being doored or a car pulling out on you. Cycle instructors make you cycle in the road as it's safer.

The councils have made other mistakes.
For example with floating bus stops. However in certain places they have done better and made the area shared. This means it is the cyclist responsibility to slow down and not cycle into pedestrians, but also pedestrians responsibility not to block the pavement. It works.

My walk from work to the tube home yesterday reminded me of this thread. I had to jump out of the way twice for cyclists coming up on the pavement at speed. Then an electric bike whizzing up behind me, Then a skateboarder 😂. It was a dicey journey.

Annoying does not equal dangerous. I roll my eyes at cyclists on the pavement, but they're merely a nuisance.

Dangerous and entitled drivers are the problem.

There's a very weird attitude to cyclists in this country.

It is a bit different in London - I think the difference is that a lot of people don't drive and so have zero understanding of the Highway Code (although that goes for the pedestrians as well). Kind of the opposite of the Dutch drivers empathising with cyclists - cyclists in London often don't drive and therefore have no road sense. I do think all school-kids should do bikeability and especially in London and other big cities where there may be no need to learn to drive.

you think it’s exciting 800 people died.

not a good look tbh

🙄

It might be annoying to you, but if I’m hit by a cyclist it’s dangerous to me. Would you like to be smashed in the face by handle bars travelling a miles an hour?

How injured do I have to be, and how much damage does my property have to take before it stops being just annoying?

What you’re failing to realise is that nobody is denying that this would be dangerous but what you and the anti bike brigade can’t seem to acknowledge is that statistically (proven year after year) you are more likely to be injured by someone driving a car. Both are dangerous, cars more so.

Go back and look at my posts- you will see I have acknowledged repeatedly that cars are far more dangerous.

But this isn’t a thread about cars and driving, it’s about cyclists.

My point the entire time is that bikes on pavements or ignoring crossings and riding at people are dangerous- especially to those with reduced mobility, hearing, or awareness.

Bikes on the road or cycle lanes, following the rules of road use and behaving responsibly are no bother to anyone.

Cyclists have a right to be on the road, and a responsibility to behave appropriately, just like drivers do.

Refusing to acknowledge the dangers cyclists can pose to pedestrians and meeting all requests to behave in a responsible manner with ‘cars are more dangerous, why are you picking on me!’ is just childish.

I actually witnessed a bicycle crash last night. Both bikes were on the road but one went flying round a corner on the wrong side of the road and straight into another bike who was also travelling at high speed. The noise was surprisingly loud for just bikes. It was central London so lots of people around to help thankfully as the one who travelling straight (so who I guess has right of way) was quite badly hurt and had an ambulance called. The other cyclist who had turned right at speed on the wrong side of the road was shouting for a while but then just walked off with his bike.
So this is the other issue of bikes ignoring road rules. They injure other cyclists as well.