NO...Cyclists don't ride on pavements or jump red lights at all.

samba

janninew wrote: »

I don't understand why people cycle on the roads at all?! There are so many threads on here about how dangerous it is and how there are so many dangerous drivers - why risk it? Yes its cheaper and greener (but who actually cares that much about being green?!) I've seen many on here comment that yes they are cyclist's, but they are also car owners as well. Why not use your car then if cycling is so dangerous?

Cycling for leisure I understand, cycling on the busy roads in rush hour I don't understand!

I don't use my car because petrol is expensive and I can't afford to spend £6/day to get to work and then have to spend more money on a gym membership because I didn't get any exercise sitting on my backside all day. Secondly, you can't let fear (or hatred) control your life - yes there are dangerous drivers out there, but you have to take it in your stride. The tone of your post seems to be that you believe us cyclists are whinging and making it up when we talk about dangerous drivers - if you went out on your bike just once, you would see very quickly what we are talking about.

MackemPunk

JQ. wrote: »

I totally agree with what you are saying, drives me mad. It's also reflective of the me, me, me, now, now, now culture we've developed.

However, it certainly does not apply to me when cycling - I'm on red alert at all times, it's the only way to stay safe. Although, I do see some cyclists in a world of their own, but they tend to be in the minority.

Classic example the morning. Happily cycling to work on my regular route, I know there's a danger ahead (pedestrian island in the middle of the road) where it's unsafe for a car to overtake me as there's not enough room, so I slowly start moving to the primary position on the road as I'm aware there is car approaching from the rear. Despite me now being in the middle of my carriageway he still tries the overtake, only to have to slam on when he realises he's heading for the island.

Anyway, the reason for my comment is the reaction of the driver - we catch each other up further down the road and he's seething with rage, literally bouncing off the roof of the car ranting and raving about bloody cyclists out of his open car window. He threatened to kill me several times. All of this because I delayed his journey by about 5 secs (for very good reason - my personal safety). I'm quite sure all the other cars on the road held him up for far more than that. However, it's far easier to bully someone when you're encassed in 1 ton of metal with airbags galore and the other party have a plastic helmet for safety.

It's incidents like this that make me consider using a helmet cam. Whilst I'm sure his threats were not genuine, it's still worrying that I share the road with people like this.

My mate has one of these



I borrowed it yesterday for a bit of an experiment, not one driver tried a silly overtake or intimidation. this tells me that a lot of drivesr bully cyclists just because they can, but when they thought I was an authority figure that changed.

rev_henry

MackemPunk wrote: »

My mate has one of these



I borrowed it yesterday for a bit of an experiment, not one driver tried a silly overtake or intimidation. this tells me that a lot of drivesr bully cyclists just because they can, but when they thought I was an authority figure that changed.

Where can I get one?!

JQ.

MackemPunk wrote: »

Interesting Stuff

That's fantastic, but unfortunately quite a sad reflection of driver's attitudes.

Although I must admit most drivers I encounter are great, it's that 1% that I encounter that worry me. And it's that 1% that could kill me or put me in a wheelchair.

ps - you should find out where your mate got that, I'd certainly be interested in one. Perhaps not for the daily commute, but one of my sons has just started cycling and it'd be good for when I'm out with him.

janninew

samba wrote: »

I don't use my car because petrol is expensive and I can't afford to spend £6/day to get to work and then have to spend more money on a gym membership because I didn't get any exercise sitting on my backside all day. Secondly, you can't let fear (or hatred) control your life - yes there are dangerous drivers out there, but you have to take it in your stride. The tone of your post seems to be that you believe us cyclists are whinging and making it up when we talk about dangerous drivers - if you went out on your bike just once, you would see very quickly what we are talking about.

I don't believe all cyclists are 'whinging' or 'making it up' some probably do, but not all. I wouldn't want to go on the public roads on my bike as all I get told is how dangerous it is. I don't mind paying to stay safe. I have dogs to walk for exercise, so no need to cycle. As a driver, I do look out for cyclists and try to be a considerate driver, that's what all road users shoud do, driver or cyclists.

MackemPunk

Ebay has those jackets for £18 from a horsey equipment place http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EQUISAFETY-POLITE-NOTICE-FLUORESCENT-WAISTCOAT-/220738168335?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Equestrian_Clothing_MJ&var=&hash=item7914405cfa

Flyboy152

samba wrote: »

It's not all about logic tho, otherwise we could just have computers doing all the driving (and law enforcement) as they as supremely logical. It requires something more - to be able to empathise and put yourself in other people's shoes and understand why they do the things they do, such as riding on the pavement. I generally don't myself (and if I do I cycle slowly and give any pedestrians right of way as a matter of course), but after cycling on the roads, I understand entirely why other cyclists do it - it's bloody dangerous on the road coz of the nutters who are late for work/showing off/stressed/whatever, and by cycling on the road you increase the chance that you won't be coming home to your loved ones later... I think perhaps the metal and glass container that surrounds drivers somehow cuts them off from the world around them, and they start to lose touch with their humanity - just the other day I had a young woman overtake me (in my car) on a blind bend, putting us both in danger if a car had been coming the other way at just that instant, yet when I indicated my displeasure at the way she gambled with my life, all I got was the v sign - !!!!!!? I'm not a perfect driver or cyclist, but I try to be courteous to others and do my best to avoid doing anything that would endanger the lives of other road/footpath users - that's the least I can do.

Whilst I empathise with your very real concerns and worries, but why don't you get off and walk, how much effort does it take?

Flyboy152

Bowling_4_Gold wrote: »

Yep, here it is.

it stands to reason that the cyclist needs to take responsibility for their own actions, as much a the motorist should for theirs.

Sorry, but I asked you to point out where I wrote:

Ah, so it's okay to knock a cyclist off, potentially killing them/giving them a serious injury, as long as you *think* you're in the right and they're in the wrong. I get it.

Perhaps you could have another look to find where I wrote it.

I inferred from this that if, for example, a cyclist was going the wrong way down a one way street, and you continued in your car going the correct way without braking or steering clear and struck the cyclist, it wouldn't be your fault as the cyclist was going the wrong way.

Regardless of what you think you may have inferred (which I doubt that is really reason for your remarks), I doubt you are blessed with that rare but special gift of clairvoyance.

Your argument implies you would say 'He needs to take responsibility for his own actions...', despite the cyclist being crushed under your wheels.

My argument therefore is that this is wrong - the cyclist's life could be in danger, just because a point was being proven.

Make it a bit clearer?

No it doesn't. What it does say is that it the onus is on all road users to behave in a responsible manner and to be courteous, attentive and civilised towards each other.

Flyboy152

MackemPunk wrote: »

My mate has one of these



I borrowed it yesterday for a bit of an experiment, not one driver tried a silly overtake or intimidation. this tells me that a lot of drivesr bully cyclists just because they can, but when they thought I was an authority figure that changed.

rev_henry wrote: »

Where can I get one?!

I wouldn't bother, they are illegal. We had several people wearing them around our way and they were confiscated; for obvious reasons.

Flyboy152

MackemPunk wrote: »

Ebay has those jackets for £18 from a horsey equipment place http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EQUISAFETY-POLITE-NOTICE-FLUORESCENT-WAISTCOAT-/220738168335?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Equestrian_Clothing_MJ&var=&hash=item7914405cfa

Despite the seller's insistence that:

THIS TABARD HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY PASSED BY THE POLICE

It's is complete bowlocks.