FAO Cyclists!

seven-day-weekend

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

My OH cycles in London a lot. He has a horrendous yellow shiny jacket with glow-in-the-dark white stripes on it. He looks a muppet, but he's safe, and that's what matters!

My son also cycles in a city. He has a reflective orange coat and a reflective orange backpack, lights and reflectors.

However, many car drivers stiill don't think he should be on the road.

Idiophreak

Caroline_a wrote: »

Isn't it just about courtesy, manners and common sense?

Actually, I thought this thread was just about trashing cyclists...

rachie_2011

My OH has the same issue as tanith has commented on... your doomed if you ring your bell, and doomed if you don't.

Enterprise_1701C

I have severe problems keeping everyone happy. If I am on the cycle path people tell me to get off the path and onto the road. If I am on the road I am told to get off the road and use the path. Cycle lanes are often blocked, I get things thrown at me, and I get sworn at. I wear hi-vis gear yet I still get people pull out on me aand police cars open their doors on me where there is not enough room to move over.

I really try to obey the rules if the road, but when there is two lanes of heavy traffic I get oout of the way and cycle very carefully on what is anearly empty path.

I just hate the idiots that give us a bad name.

neneromanova

Turn off those bloody flashing lights, after dark, THEY'RE ILLEGAL!! Plus it just hurts my eyes!

Idiophreak

neneromanova wrote: »

Turn off those bloody flashing lights, after dark, THEY'RE ILLEGAL!! Plus it just hurts my eyes!

Where does it say they're illegal?

AFAIK it's illegal to have *just* flashing lights, as the law mandates you have a constant light, but as long as you've a fixed light, too, the flashing ones are fine. And, TBH, if they hurt your eyes, at least you'll see me....which is more or less the point of lights...

Idiophreak

Idiophreak wrote: »

Where does it say they're illegal?

AFAIK it's illegal to have *just* flashing lights, as the law mandates you have a constant light, but as long as you've a fixed light, too, the flashing ones are fine. And, TBH, if they hurt your eyes, at least you'll see me....which is more or less the point of lights...

Actually, It seems we're both a little dated, I checked on the CTC website...

"Thanks to the 2005 RVLR amendment on 23rd October of that year it finally became legal to have a flashing light on a pedal cycle, provided it flashes between 60 and 240 times per minute (1 – 4Hz). Even better: it became possible for a flashing light to be approved, meaning no other light would be needed in that position."

Wickedkitten

I used to cycle but bloody hell it's dangerous to be on a bicycle in this country, I almost got smacked in the back of the head by a wing mirror on a lorry going through Cheltenham on the a40 and that was it for me. These days its either car, or motorcycle.

Person_one

Idiophreak wrote: »

Actually, I thought this thread was just about trashing cyclists...

Not at all, where did you get that idea? I started it to provide a helpful tip for cyclists like the one who nearly plowed into me yesterday, I'm sure they don't actually want to injure people.

I used to cycle myself but decided I liked having my spine and skull intact more, its about sharing space and realising that just because you're faster you don't have more rights than people walking.

There are lots of very polite cyclists out there, this was aimed at the impolite or clueless ones.

Person_one

rachie_2011 wrote: »

My OH has the same issue as tanith has commented on... your doomed if you ring your bell, and doomed if you don't.

Why would anyone complain about ringing a bell? If they hear it, they'll glance back and move to the side (but you still might have to slow down a bit) if they don't hear it, oh well, you'll just have to slow down/walk/go around, its not the end of the world!