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

johnfarquhar74

Flyboy152 wrote: »

No, what I wrote was that was the intention of the cyclist who wears them.

The 'intention'? It's a high viz vest with 'POLITE' written on it, whatever the intention, it's a modern day version of

as I mentioned earlier, it seems to have the desired effect, if it keeps cars clear of cyclists then it can only be a good thing, or do you disagree with that as well?

Strider590

I seriously don't think anyone would believe the cyclist was a Police officer, I personally think the effect is on a subconscious level.....
They see "Polite", their brain thinks "Police" and this little reminder makes them kurb their bad driving. It would be interesting to see if they continue to drive more considerately once they round the next bend. I actually think they will...... In just the same way that most people slow down for a good few minutes after they've gone past a speed camera.

Tilt

thelawnet wrote: »

Now ok I will admit:

my bike (second-hand!) and panniers cost me about £350
I have got £150 worth of lights on it
I've spent £50 servicing it in the last 9 months

Fair play to you. Lights should be fitted as a legal requirement IMO

thelawnet wrote: »

I have got an £85 hi-vis jacket (this is not really necessary, you can get one off ebay for about £5, but I wanted one that didn't make me look like a binman)

!!!!!! is wrong with looking like a binman? :cool:

ventureuk

Flyboy152 wrote: »

No, what I wrote was that was the intention of the cyclist who wears them.

I think you really need to move on now.

esuhl

Flyboy152 wrote: »

Judging by your post count, it seems you don't usually post very much at all.

I don't think so, it is the cyclists, on the Youtube channel "Silly Cyclists," who are the ones who are doing a very good job of that themselves.

That is not communictaing anything to you, that is bad driving.

How is that anything to with drivers?

Trouble is though, too many want to share the pavements as well. Have you not watched the Youtube channel?

And the attitudes of the Lycra-clad two-wheeled warriors don't help very much either. Take a look at the "Crazy bikerace through London" link earlier, does that promote much of a good perspective of cyclists?

We are continuously inundated with the rhetoric that cyclists don't do the things shown on that video and when it is proven that they do, we get told that is all the drivers' faults for pointing it out in the first place.

I think the problem that some cyclists have is the "holier than thou", "I own the road", "all cyclists are evil and all drivers benevolent" attitudes of drivers such as you. It's this kind of aggressive beligerance that tempts you to drive dangerously around cyclists. You should be wary of it.

Such clearly ridiculous "black and white" thinking will only raise your blood pressure and make you even more likely to cause an accident when you're flying around on the road and cursing the cyclists that delay you by a few seconds.

thelawnet

johnfarquhar74 wrote: »

I'll be honest here, I've been on a bike twice this year, I don't think that makes me a cyclist but I do sympathise with them and understand their vulnerability out there. Your last comment basically says that some drivers will give a cyclist a 'wide enough berth' if they think they are police, are you suggesting that the same driver would NOT give a cyclist a 'wide enough berth' if they didn't think they were the police?

If so, that stinks!

It happens mate.

I was riding my bike the other day, caught sight of a blue van, which I thought was police, so I relaxed a little, I was then surprised when I was overtaken dangerously by the vehicle behind me. Looked again and turns out the blue van was actually a Tesco delivery van!

Strider590

^^ Its already been proven that drivers give less space to cyclists wearing helmets.

Just one of many studies into the phenomenon http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/archive/overtaking110906.html

thelawnet

Tilt wrote: »

Fair play to you. Lights should be fitted as a legal requirement IMO

They do that in Germany, not a bad idea only problem is that if you don't like the standard not-terribly-bright dynamo lights it results in (which are good in the city, not so great on country lanes), you're lumbered with a dynamo hub and some lights you don't want.

I've got these as my headlights: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ssc-p7-2-xp-e-16w-3-mode-1400-lumen-led-bike-light-set-4-18650-included-36018

They are nice because the on-off switch changes colour as the battery runs down. I turned my lights on just before 7pm yesterday, didn't notice I had them on when I parked up, and they were still on when I came out at 9pm, but the battery indicator had gone red so I charged it when I got home.

Problem is most people just chuck the bike in the shed (well I do too), and don't really care about changing batteries or whatever.

Flyboy152

esuhl wrote: »

I think the problem that some cyclists have is the "holier than thou", "I own the road", "all cyclists are evil and all drivers benevolent" attitudes of drivers such as you. It's this kind of aggressive beligerance that tempts you to drive dangerously around cyclists. You should be wary of it.

Such clearly ridiculous "black and white" thinking will only raise your blood pressure and make you even more likely to cause an accident when you're flying around on the road and cursing the cyclists that delay you by a few seconds.

And we have another one blessed with the powers of clairvoyance. :wall:

And one that doesn't bother to read threads.

JQ.

thelawnet wrote: »

They do that in Germany, not a bad idea only problem is that if you don't like the standard not-terribly-bright dynamo lights it results in (which are good in the city, not so great on country lanes), you're lumbered with a dynamo hub and some lights you don't want.

I've got these as my headlights: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ssc-p7-2-xp-e-16w-3-mode-1400-lumen-led-bike-light-set-4-18650-included-36018

They are nice because the on-off switch changes colour as the battery runs down. I turned my lights on just before 7pm yesterday, didn't notice I had them on when I parked up, and they were still on when I came out at 9pm, but the battery indicator had gone red so I charged it when I got home.

Problem is most people just chuck the bike in the shed (well I do too), and don't really care about changing batteries or whatever.

I have 4 very powerfull lights on my bike 2 at the front 2 at the rear, one static, one pulsing. The lights are turned on day and night no matter what the conditions. Gives people less of an excuse to ignore you.

I change the batteries regularly, in fact I changed them last night. We do bulk buys of batteries at Costco, which make it a bit more cost effective.