Cylists without lights - disproportionately annoys me!!

Mids_Costcutter

Harry_Flashman wrote: »

Ah - you're talking about the letter of the law.

However, often enough, the law is neither right or fair.

Size and weight clearly dictate that motors will have more entitlement on all roads

You're right, the law often isn't right or fair.

Your views (and those of some others) in this thread are certainly making the case for a strict liability law in the UK, whereby drivers have a greater duty of care for non-motorised users’ safety. As in a number of other European countries, that would mean that non-motorised road users would be able to claim injury damages from drivers who hit them, unless it can be proven that the non-motorised road user behaved recklessly. So the burden of proof would be reversed from the present situation.

Perhaps that might change some attitudes and driving behaviour?

Harry_Flashman

Of course law is law - I never said otherwise ('cos that would be silly )

However (in fact, not in law), is 2.5 tonnes of metal (in the case of my motor) going to lose an argument with a bicycle? I venture to suggest that the self preservation instinct of the cyclist is likely to dictate that they will get out of the way of the 2.5 tonnes

marleyboy

Only if you were adamant at driving directly at them, personally, would you try to run me off the road, I would let you hit my bike, ensuring me a nice healthy lump sum of your cash, along with at minimum a ban, leaving you with little option but to use a bicycle, or a well deserved prison sentence.

Harry_Flashman

No, I wouldn't directly try to run you off the road (I think you're forgetting the scenario - cyclist pulling out where the road narrows). I would certainly not allow you to slow me down though (there's always a way past ). If you pulled out into my motor, I think you'd be on a pretty sticky wicket (and you'd need the presence of mind to make a note of my reg number - if I ever clean the plate ).

adouglasmhor

Harry_Flashman wrote: »

No, I wouldn't directly try to run you off the road (I think you're forgetting the scenario - cyclist pulling out where the road narrows). I would certainly not allow you to slow me down though (there's always a way past ). If you pulled out into my motor, I think you'd be on a pretty sticky wicket (and you'd need the presence of mind to make a note of my reg number - if I ever clean the plate ).

I think with the scenario - cyclist pulling out where the road narrows, that's exactly where waving the motorist forward before the road really narrows works wonders, you as a cyclist are safer, driver is not held up and a little less stressed and goes about his/her business with the knowledge that perhaps not all cyclists are militant winkers(sp) with a sense of entitlement.

marleyboy

I cannot imagine a cyclist pulling out into the road when a vehicle is cruising directly behind them, those things just dont happen unless a cyclist is suicidal.

Harry_Flashman

rev_henry wrote: »

If someone's about to overtake you when there's a traffic island coming up thus not enough room. I don't mean just swerving out; signalling and then doing so safely. Ideally you should be already riding out into the road if such a hazard is coming up.

Contrary to popular belief amongst non cyclists primary road position is much safer and is explained in cyclecraft, which is basically a cyclist's highway code.

This was the point about a cyclist pulling out when the road is about to narrow - sounds suicidal to me.

Harry_Flashman

adouglasmhor wrote: »

I think with the scenario - cyclist pulling out where the road narrows, that's exactly where waving the motorist forward before the road really narrows works wonders, you as a cyclist are safer, driver is not held up and a little less stressed and goes about his/her business with the knowledge that perhaps not all cyclists are militant winkers(sp) with a sense of entitlement.

But that's pretty much opposite to what was being advised by Rev Henry.

adouglasmhor

If you are already in the narrow bit by all means pull right out till you are through, in case someone who is catching up on you from a considerable distance behind you thinks they can squeeze past, then pull back in ASAP and if safe to do so after you are through it.

I think that's fair enough.

Harry_Flashman

Ah - there we diagree then. I think the cyclist should be getting as far over as possible to allow the motor past.