inadequately lit cyclists?

[MipMipMip]

Seriously, I'm getting fed up of people dressed in dark clothes. If they do have lights it's usually just a small one that can be easily hidden. The other day there was a woman dressed in black, no rear light and a dark child's seat (fortunately no child). Would it be so hard to wear a reflective top and put some reflectors on the back of the child seat?

If you get hit by a car even if you're badly dressed it will be the driver's fault. They should of course be looking out but you can make it easier for them. And you'll be the one in pain - surely people want to avoid that?!

Don't even get me started on the inability to use bells when someone is in front of cyclists on a path - pedestrians aren't psychic!

[IAmNotAMindReader]

When you can claim 0 deaths then you can get on your high horse. Till then 1 death of a pedestrian caused by a cyclist is 1 too many, particularly if they have your attitude that everyone else is to blame. The point of my links was to point out that you cannot continue to rant about cars always being to blame in a situation where no car was involved. In some cases, pedestrians will be just as at fault as cyclists. The difference is I as a pedestrian am willing to accept that can happen. That there are pedestrians out there who act like cocks and have a hand in their own undoing. You, however, are not willing in any way to do the same for cyclists.

[ivykaty44]

So 1.2 deaths every year at the hands of normal every day people driving, yet you want cyclist to keep protecting themselves and taking responsibility for drivers action. Cyclist can only do so much to safeguard themselves - but they can't prevent drivers stupid actions. Cyclist behaving within the law shouldn't be blamed.

Do you really think that a handful of links showing cyclist hurting pedestrians is in anyway comparable to the death toll of motorists?

[IAmNotAMindReader]

Do you really think deaths via whichever cause can be weighed on a scale? How little you value human life.

[FlissMumsnet]

Evening All, we're moving this thread over to cycling as feel it's placement in AIBU may inflame argument rather than debate.

Excuse the interruption

[ivykaty44]

Society doesn't seem to value human life, people have grown blasé about car deaths to the point they rarely make headline news, unless there is more than one death involved.
As to whether one human life can be weighed on a scale opposite a hundred thousand deaths I will answer after you tell me your answer

[MipMipMip]

Thank you Fliss Mumsnet, I Was going to ask you to delete it. I genuinely didn't want arguments but to get people thinking about being visible and keep themselves and their families safer.

For what it's worth I think some cyclists are idiots. I also think some drivers are. And pedestrians. And horseriding. And users of pretty much any for of transport except possibly astronauts. Though I'd guess even they can be (actually remember one woman who ended up wearing adult nappies so she wasn't slowed down while driving a cross America to stalk an ex, so I guess astronauts can be idiots too!)

The point is we all have a responsibility to look after ourselves and each other. Please do your best and stay safe people.

[whatsthecomingoverthehill]

"And those posters are the first to say cyclists are hated for no reason."

Cyclists are hated for no reason. You really don't have to go far to see it. And this affects how people drive. When people deliberately use their vehicle as a means to endanger and intimidate. This has just popped up on a local facebook group:

"f you're a cyclist and you choose to ride down the road and NOT on the 'cycle superhighway' which was conveniently placed at the side of every main road in Leeds for you.. then you deserve to be drove past aggressively whilst being beeped at and showered with foul language and finger pointing.. then the person driving past deserves to double back on themselves and restart the process again.. i don't care if it's icy, cold, inconvenient, or even a threat to your life and safety.. please use the goddamn lane that is put there for the purpose of what you need to use it for.. tbh even if you do use the lane you're still abit of a dick for cycling anyway but i respect your decision for the good of order".

This is not an uncommon attitude at all.