Dangerous cyclists could get 14Years pokey.

janninew

I do feel cyclist's should have some road training. How do they know how to use a roundabout, what road signs mean etc? When we learn to drive we have to pass a theory test, I think there should be something for cyclist's as well. They say they have as much right as car drivers to be on the roads, lets give them some formal training like car drivers have!

no_more_cards_for_me

janninew wrote: »

I do feel cyclist's should have some road training. How do they know how to use a roundabout, what road signs mean etc? When we learn to drive we have to pass a theory test, I think there should be something for cyclist's as well. They say they have as much right as car drivers to be on the roads, lets give them some formal training like car drivers have!

Another assumption that cyclists are not drivers as well. The majority of cyclists are well versed on the highway code and the ramifications of which lane they need to be in on roundabouts, especially as their survival is likely to be dependent upon being seen and being in the right place. Its a shame that the vast majority of car drivers don't care which lane they are in, don't signal and are a liability to other road users.

Don't make assumptions that just because a cyclists chooses that form of transport that they aren't familiar with other methods of transport.

nellytheelephant

A lot aren't drivers though, it wouldn't hurt to have some sort of theory test if they are not already drivers (and therefore passed a theory test already), would it?

Gloomendoom

When l was a lad lots of children used to do cycling proficiency tests. It included all sorts of useful stuff including not riding on the pavement or cycling at night without lights.

Perhaps it should be resurrected.

no_more_cards_for_me

nellytheelephant wrote: »

A lot aren't drivers though, it wouldn't hurt to have some sort of theory test if they are not already drivers (and therefore passed a theory test already), would it?

Personally I'd rather see cycling proficiency made compulsory, teaching riders the rules of the road and ensuring that they are safe and knowledgeable about how to share the roads. That would incorporate both physical skill and theory.

Doesn't make a blind bit of difference to the drivers who consider themselves superior however.

asbokid

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

Reading that metro link above I cannot but wonder what the hell the cyclist thought he was doing.

Quite. The cyclist deliberately knocked down the young woman.

I don't understand why the cyclist was only prosecuted for a road traffic offence when the option of a manslaughter charge was available.

A friend of mine was deliberately knocked down by a car driven by her estranged husband. The police didn't waste time prosecuting him for motoring offences, they charged him with attempted murder and he was convicted and sentenced to 7 years jail.

None of the news articles are very clear but was the cyclist annoyed in some way? Not that it excuses his action, but were the pedestrians walking in the road?

Gloomendoom

asbokid wrote: »

None of the news articles are very clear but was the cyclist annoyed in some way? Not that it excuses his action, but were the pedestrians walking in the road?

"A cyclist approached the group at speed, jumping from the road to cut across the pavement and yelling, 'Move! I'm not stopping!"'

I assume from the snip above that they were on the pavement.

janninew

no_more_cards_for_me wrote: »

Another assumption that cyclists are not drivers as well. The majority of cyclists are well versed on the highway code and the ramifications of which lane they need to be in on roundabouts, especially as their survival is likely to be dependent upon being seen and being in the right place. Its a shame that the vast majority of car drivers don't care which lane they are in, don't signal and are a liability to other road users.

Don't make assumptions that just because a cyclists chooses that form of transport that they aren't familiar with other methods of transport.

My post wasn't making assumptions that all cyclists's aren't driver's, I'm sure plently are, but I'm also sure plently have never had any formal training on the roads and I personally think they should.

Your post seems to be the one making assumtions about car drivers, yes there are plently of idiots out there both in car's and on bikes, the cyclists are more vunerable though and surely some proper training should be a legal requirement and could only benefit cyclists so they actually know that red means stop!! (sorry couldn't resist!) :rotfl:

ventureuk

http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/ee0f7cf745aea722029abf420a79f868.png

Strider590

Hmmmmm, I have had on two occasions been riding on the Cannock mountain bike trails and had a 50-65 year old gentleman stand in the middle of the track with his arms spread out in protest of me riding there........ Where would I stand with this law, if I had actually hit said idiot?

Some walkers/pedestrians are so high on mint cake that they lose all sense of reality!