To think cyclists shouldn't think themselves above the law ?

[AmIWhatAndWhy]

DP has just called me, he left work and was crossing when a cyclist sailed through the lights and missed hitting him by inches.

The same has happened to me countless times, sometimes when with the DC. Why do they think it's okay to sail over pedestrian crossings?

I now a girl who was mown down by a motorist - it could easily have killed her, and I do think they have a responsibility like any road user. If they are on the road and they hit someone, frankly it's criminal.

There is plenty of evidence from surveys etc that shows many people do not cycle purely because they worry about safety. Getting more people on bikes especially in crowded polluted cities would bring about benefits, (reducing congestion and pollution for everyone as well as improving the health of the cyclists) but it won't happen until there are more well planned cycle paths in place. Ones that mean that cyclists are not risking life and limb competing with traffic that is often completely oblivious to your limitations (for example the problem with indicating and turning right when going down hill, or the fact that looking behind you can be very difficult to do at the same time as going in a straight line). An alternative would be bikes that are better designed for cities (why are there no indicators, mirrors etc that can be used on bikes?). I also think the shared pavement concept is a terrible idea. Cyclists and pedestrians should not mix, it really is not a safe way to manage things, and very poorly thought out.

I suspect that part of the problem with cyclists that break the law by jumping lights etc is that it is so obvious, whereas car drivers tend to break the law by speeding, drink driving and other less immediately obvious ways. I'd be surprised to find a cyclist that had always obeyed the law, but I'd apply that just as much to drivers (and to pedestrians with regard to walking across lights which are red, or occasionally crossing the road at stupid places, although I don't think there is that much you can do that is actually illegal).

manitfellslikeawoman

Why move to canada or holland for cycling when you say it is all a red herring anyhow and building cyle paths is a red herring.

Or is it because of your attitude you think it will not work and are pesimistic?

It is a sad attitude to be so negative about cycling in a safe and proper way and not breaking the law - the building of more cycle paths would create this enviroment. Yet you are against this.

Pedestrians though are fine - is that because you are one?

VerdeSociete,

Abuse against badly behaved cyclists still does not excuse that sort of language, two wrongs don't make a right but that's a different thread altogether.

That's the point, yes the policeman meant well but he would rather my dh break the law and cycle on a pavement that has no designated cycle path with the trailer than be on the road which manifeellikeawoman is adamant that that is where cyclists should be. Drivers think that cyclists should be on the pavement and pedestrians like manifeellikeawoman think that cyclists should be on the road.

Anyhow, since then, dh no longer cycles ds to nursery using the trailer.

I think all motorists should be forced to spend a week cycling on the road just so theycan get some perspective of how dangerous it can be!

nice one beanieb.!!

cyclists should be banned - ailing that - they should be either made to pay road tax, or cycle on the pavements. they should asl ohave to undergo a real test, not cycling proficiency when you are 9.

if you use the road you should have to undergo a test, and if one road user pays - you should all pay.

car/van drivers should be tested for any sign of brain activity that is in anyway connected to their eyes or spacial awareness.

they do - there is a quite rigourous test for car drivers, i understand that now its 100 questions or something, hazard perception and a driving test.

what do cyclists have to do exactly to prove that thay can use the road?

i will not buy into any argument suggesting that the majority or car crivers are loons and cyclists are not becuase cyclists have some false sense of superiority.

some car drivers are dangerous, but some bloody cylcists are too.

i fail to understand why one has to pass a test to ride a bloody scooter, yet cyclists can do what they please with no road traffic or pedestrian awareness

It is such a shame that drivers of motor vehicals, pedestrians and cyclist cannot in this country seem to get along and understand each other - then respect each of the three main users of the highways. (there are of course other users such as horses)

Far better than trying to ban one type of user.

Majority of motorists are careful, the same applies to cyclists and pedestrians. Most do not deliberatly try to kill themseves and stick to their areas of the highway. But it seems they do get agitated by each other and yet most will of course use two types of transport when using the highways and not only one.

no custardo, we don't think or do as we please. At all. Otherwise I'd be shoving a fist in the face of every car/van driver that jeapordises my life with their twatish behaviour. And this would mean just about every time I go out and come home from work biking.

yes, majotiy of drivers ARE polite and often considerate. But way too often you get the dozy and sometimes deliberate tossers who appear to think they are driving in a simulated game and real consequences don't extend to anyone beyond their windscreen. I am fairly tall, wear a high viz bike jacket, bike light up like a Christmas tree....and STILL drivers cut up and take what ever measely space I have made for myself twix them and the pavement.

Please God, just spare me the whinging driver.

yes pan,we don't think or do as we please either. At all. Otherwise I'd be shoving a fist in the face of every cyclist that jeapordises my life with their twatish behaviour. And this would mean just about every time I go out and come home from work driving.

yes, majority of cyclists ARE polite and often considerate. But way too often you get the dozy and sometimes deliberate tossers who appear to think they are cycling in a simulated game and real consequences don't extend to anyone beyond themselves. they rarely wear a high viz bike jacket with bike light up like a Christmas tree....and STILL cyclists continue to pull frankly stupid stunts.

Please God, just spare me the whinging cyclist.

custardo - when was the last time you rode a bike on the road in the uk?

can't speak for Custardo but I ride a bike on very busy roads quite often. I see plenty of shit cyclists and just as many shit motorists. DOn't tar all people with the same brush just because some of them are twats!

I am a regular cyclist, but earlier this week, I was driving along a main road(luckily very slowly, when a cyclist sailed across the road right in front of me. He saw me but just carrried on, I didn't hit him (obviously!) but he was so angry that I hadn't stopped, that he started shouting and screaming at me and banged my drivers side window so hard, I thought it was going to break. I was so angruy because it is this type of aggressive attitude that gives cyclist a bad name, and contributes to the unjustified abuse that drivers give us.

Oh do fuck off custy. Cyclist don't jeapordise your life twice per day. I refer to incidents that are real and at the time terrifying.
You can't possibly ride a bike. There simply isn't enough room for all the bullshit you carry round with you.

Motorbikes are the worst, it freaks me out the way they undertake me/overtake me like they're working around the cars then suddenly swerve in front of me and take the place of one, it's all so unpredictable.

The worst thing is always when I'm being careful to mind a cyclist on my left, and a motorbike comes round me on the right and I'm stuck in the middle desperately trying not to move towards either of them whilst monitoring both of their distances from me!!

Drives me feckin nuts.

I have a friend who cycled a long time ago, committed some minor infraction, and was thumped so hard by the driver he had a detached retina. What is it about the UK road system that makes people so incredibly angry that they think it is OK to swear, abuse and attack each other?

In New York City, where we lived recently there was plenty of really bad driving (tailgating, weaving, and refusing to merge properly being just a few local tactics). However it was also the safest place I have ever been as a pedestrian, because the roads were designed with cross walks at every junction (and in between) and because the rule is that as a driver you have to give way. The result is that in residential areas the cars go much much slower, and take a great deal more care. IT was a far more pleasant driving experience, and meant that I could happily let my kids walk to their friends houses and to and from school.

If you go on defensive driving courses you will find that the safest drivers (the ones that go slower and more steadily, and pay attention to their surroundings) often get to their destination as quickly or quicker than those who speed whenever they can, gun up to traffic lights, and live in permanent rage at anyone who dares to use the same roads as them.

This of course applies to cyclists and pedestrians as well as drivers, but there is one difference for cyclists, and that is maintaining momentum. The only light I have ever planned to jump is nearly at the top of a steep hill, with a merge to the left. It is little bother as a car driver to stop and start again, but as a cyclist it means losing all the hard worked for momentum, and kicking off again. As there is a bus turn left I always take it, I do feel bad about doing it, but hills are a factor for cyclists, which I always bear in mind both as a pedestrian and a driver.

i ride my bike to the station

pan, behave yourself, that that quite unecessary, i can assure you that if a cyclist comes from nowhere it is very frightening, either to think i have to swerve, kill/injure myself or my children. other road users - pedestrian, crash into a nother car, or a parked car or god forbid hurt the cyclist.

there are bad road users on both sides, where i live there are a high number of cyclists, most of the school children use cycles ( mine included) i feel you are being very sanctimonious about this pan, and your response was very unecessary.

when in 1928?

no ivykaty, that wasn't me i am considerably younger, perhaps it was someone else you saw at the time?

sppoky this reincarnation stuff