A cyclist's rant to incompetent road users...

sequence

sassy-one wrote: »

I'm annoyed the OP started a thread claiming it's drivers, when it is quite easy for someone to start one over cyclists!

I think you missed the incompetent part in the thread title! It doesn't say "all drivers are idiots and should be banished to Ireland"

I'm sure any rant against cyclist would have included some similar wording, instead lumping all cyclist together

Horseunderwater

Having been a bus driver in Cambridge - A city well reknown for bikes - This is what I have observed. Cyclists riding straight out of side roads without even looking to the right or left.
No lights or reflectors used in 99% of cases. Riding round a roundabout the wrong way. Riding on pavements not meant for them. No bells used to warn people. No brakes. Going down a one way street the wrong way (the I am going one way argument cuts no ice). Funniest one was the cyclist who met my bus head on and threw his bike at my bus (he was taking a short cut down a one way the wrong way). Even better as I let him get on with it and my passengers came up to front to watch - he jumped up and down on his bike bending the wheels and frame. Policeman duly arrived and took his statement. He assured the cop that I'd hit his bike and driven over it. The passengers who'd watched it all unfold heard him through the window and called the cop over to the bus and put the cop straight. They told him that I'd done nothing wrong and when the cop radioed into HQ, he then found out that this chap had done it before on several occasions, because he did not see why he should have to cycle 500 yards round the oneway system that all road users had to use, when going his way meant 50 yards. He wanted to get to Sainsbury. Of course he could have got off and walked the bike along the pavement...

custardy

sassy-one wrote: »

I see on a daily basis the way some cyclists use the roads, going through red lights thinking they can avoid the Highway code, along with this riding on pavements, undertaking buses and lorries and cutting in front of cars at the last minute as well as banging the cars mirror when they can't fit through a space!

On the other hand I have seen some stupid drivers do stupid speeds lately, jump Red lights and cut people up, as well as a number of Road rage incidents, all of which resulted in either verbal abuse or minor contact with the cars.

balanced that for you

esmerobbo

I was once an keen cyclist so have no axe to grind either way drivers and riders all make mistakes. The one thing I can not understand is how the law allows bikes to use the road/pavement/paths without having at least third party insurance.
Oh and lights should be a legal requirement! but that's 2 things!

Strider590

Horseunderwater wrote: »

Going down a one way street the wrong way (the I am going one way argument cuts no ice).

Maybe the fact that cyclists are allowed to ride the "wrong way" in Cambridge if the road is marked as such.

Take a look here

sequence

Because, as we covered before, the chances of a cyclist causing any meaning full damage is almost zero. Most cycle insurance companies spend their time chasing lying reckless drivers for compo, not paying out on no existent third party claims. The third party insurance is mainly for racing, where a cyclist could cause thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Gloomendoom

esmerobbo wrote: »

Oh and lights should be a legal requirement! but that's 2 things!

Lights are already a legal requirement. It is just a law that isn't often enforced... despite the serious safety implications.

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 (amended in 1994 and 2005) require pedal cycles to have various lights and reflectors fitted, clean and working properly, when being ridden on a public road between sunset and sunrise. Cyclists may also be required to light up in conditions of seriously reduced visibility during the day, but only if they have functional lights already fitted. Lights are not required when the cycle is stationary or being pushed along the roadside.

Source

esmerobbo

sequence wrote: »

Because, as we covered before, the chances of a cyclist causing any meaning full damage is almost zero. Most cycle insurance companies spend their time chasing lying reckless drivers for compo, not paying out on no existent third party claims. The third party insurance is mainly for racing, where a cyclist could cause thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Then my Mothers broken ankle requiring two operations to repair caused by a bike on the pavement not meaning full damage.

esmerobbo

Lights are already a legal requirement. It is just a law that isn't often enforced... despite the serious safety implications.


I stand corrected however they should be fitted by the manufacturer as standard.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

esmerobbo wrote: »

I stand corrected however they should be fitted by the manufacturer as standard.

Fitted by which manufacturer? The frame? The wheels? The handlebar stem? The seat stem? The bars? The fork?

Or maybe they should be fitted by the shop selling the bike, but oops, I already have about £250 of lighting, maybe I don't want to spend extra on !!!! lights that I'll throw in the bin.