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

Tilt

uk-tyler wrote: »

Many cyclists do that yes, but many car drivers drive too close, overtake badly, pull out on cyclists and are too busy using their phones to see us.

I would dispute the 'most' because all the cyclists I know do obey the rules of the roads.

I could tell you the near misses and indeed accidents caused by bad drivers, but its not worth it. Some drivers are bad, as are some cyclists.

But I don't tar all car drivers as bad because of the actions of some of them.

Yes but how many cyclists do you see getting pulled by the police compared to car drivers? Bad car drivers do get caught more often than bad cyclists.

thelawnet

Tilt wrote: »

Yes but how many cyclists do you see getting pulled by the police compared to car drivers? Bad car drivers do get caught more often than bad cyclists.

Nonsense, most car drivers break the law (speed limit, etc.) every time they go out. Fact is cars are dangerous to others, particularly bad drivers can kill many times over, but bicycles pose very little threat at all, so it makes sense to devote more resources to car drivers.

Tilt

thelawnet wrote: »

Nonsense, most car drivers break the law (speed limit, etc.) every time they go out. Fact is cars are dangerous to others, particularly bad drivers can kill many times over, but bicycles pose very little threat at all, so it makes sense to devote more resources to car drivers.

Oh so whats the point of having laws for them then? Me and my 7year old son nearly got hit by an idiot on a bike riding down a one way street the wrong way not long ago. Just a pity I didn't see him in time to... Ahem! 'educate him'. Had he of hit my son, there would of been 2 ambulances required. Bikes can do harm but it seems that they only become of interest to the police when they have injured someone.

uk-tyler

Tilt wrote: »

Oh so whats the point of having laws for them then? Me and my 7year old son nearly got hit by an idiot on a bike riding down a one way street the wrong way not long ago. Just a pity I didn't see him in time to... Ahem! 'educate him'. Had he of hit my son, there would of been 2 ambulances required. Bikes can do harm but it seems that they only become of interest to the police when they have injured someone.

If your son had hit by a car even the ambulance probably would of not been necessary, just a van from the morgue.

Cyclists can and do kill pedestrians. However while it does happen its infrequent compared to the number of cyclists or pedestrians that are killed by cars.

When was the last time you saw a car pulled over by the police, let alone a cyclist? The only time I see police now is at the scenes of accidents not on the roads stopping motorists or cyclists.

Tilt

uk-tyler wrote: »

If your son had hit by a car even the ambulance probably would of not been necessary, just a van from the morgue.

Its not as often you see a car diving the wrong way along a one way street as you do a cyclist.

uk-tyler wrote: »

Cyclists can and do kill pedestrians. However while it does happen its infrequent compared to the number of cyclists or pedestrians that are killed by cars.

I know.

uk-tyler wrote: »

When was the last time you saw a car pulled over by the police, let alone a cyclist? The only time I see police now is at the scenes of accidents not on the roads stopping motorists or cyclists.

Yesterday, but I can't remember the last time I saw a cyclist. In fact I have seen police cars pass cyclists at night without lights and not bat an eyelid.

esuhl

Tilt wrote: »

Maybe not, but some of you need to realise that the law applies to you also. Some of (in fact MOST) ride without lights, ride the wrong way down one way streets, ignore traffic lights and ride on pavements when it suits you. I live in a rural area and you wouldn't believe how many near misses I've had with 'shadows on 2 wheels'.

That's rich, assuming you're one of those annoying drivers that plague our roads! Some of you need to realise that passing a driving test or paying a pollution tax doesn't entitle you to break the speed limit, cut up other road users, swerve wildly from one road to another without indicating, or drive on pavements and cycle tracks when you want to park in a dangerous place but don't want your wing mirrors clipped by passing traffic.

In all my years I've seen many examples of dangerous driving, a few of which caused death... However I've seen relatively few examples of dangerous cycling, and none than resulted in anything more than a bruise or two.

I live in a suburban area and you wouldn't believe how many misses I've had with 'boy racers on 4 wheels'.

Tilt

esuhl wrote: »

That's rich, assuming you're one of those annoying drivers that plague our roads! Some of you need to realise that passing a driving test or paying a pollution tax doesn't entitle you to break the speed limit, cut up other road users, swerve wildly from one road to another without indicating, or drive on pavements and cycle tracks when you want to park in a dangerous place but don't want your wing mirrors clipped by passing traffic.

In all my years I've seen many examples of dangerous driving, a few of which caused death... However I've seen relatively few examples of dangerous cycling, and none than resulted in anything more than a bruise or two.

I live in a suburban area and you wouldn't believe how many misses I've had with 'boy racers on 4 wheels'.

You assume a lot considering you have no idea who I am! You rant on about poor drivers (and nobody is saying that there arn't any), respond to my comment without addressing what I was saying! So its OK that cyclists ride at night without lights then?

sootygull

It's nice to see everyone getting on so well in this discussion !

There must be quite a few cyclists who are also car drivers and pay road tax.

When car drivers use their bicycles it means there is one less car on the road, freeing up road and parking space for other car drivers.

I wonder how many injuries or deaths cyclists are responsible for each year and how many injuries or deaths drivers of motor vehicles are responsible for each year - according to official statistics ?

thelawnet

Tilt wrote: »

Oh so whats the point of having laws for them then? Me and my 7year old son nearly got hit by an idiot on a bike riding down a one way street the wrong way not long ago. Just a pity I didn't see him in time to... Ahem! 'educate him'. Had he of hit my son, there would of been 2 ambulances required. Bikes can do harm but it seems that they only become of interest to the police when they have injured someone.

'Nearly' eh? The fact is that people on bicycles have a very good view of what's going on, far, far better than car drivers (there are quite a few instances of car drivers reversing their 3-tonnes of metal over small children), and 'nearly' is 'nearly' for a reason. And if he had hit your son, chances are an ambulance would not be required, bicycles don't weigh much.

Incidentally I was riding my bike yesterday down a one-way street and some moron in a van decided to drive up it the wrong way towards me rather than going round and entering from the correct side. Perhaps I should have 'educated' him, or phoned the police?

thelawnet

Tilt wrote: »

Yesterday, but I can't remember the last time I saw a cyclist. In fact I have seen police cars pass cyclists at night without lights and not bat an eyelid.

I saw police who had stopped a cyclist last week. I think it depends on their resources in your particular area - little old ladies on bicycles riding on the pavement are not as high on society's list of priorities as say investigating murder, burglary or death by dangerous driving.