Cyclists without lights

moses06

I cannot, for the life of me understand why cyclists insist on riding on unlit country roads with no lights, nor any hi viz or reflective gear come to think of it. They must be extremely selfish and lazy, not to mention STUPID people to do this. Personally I don't think the police do enough and penalties are not harsh enough. Maybe cyclists should carry compulsory 3rd party insurance, may make some of them think a bit more.
Also don' get me started on cyclists who refuse to use cycleways and insist on causing chaos on busy roads when there is a well surfaced cycleway right next to them.....Wish as a horse rider the council would provide us with such a luxury!!

rev_henry

moses06 wrote: »

I cannot, for the life of me understand why cyclists insist on riding on unlit country roads with no lights, nor any hi viz or reflective gear come to think of it. They must be extremely selfish and lazy, not to mention STUPID people to do this. Personally I don't think the police do enough and penalties are not harsh enough.
I agree!
Maybe cyclists should carry compulsory 3rd party insurance, may make some of them think a bit more.
Hmm, not sure about this, though I do have it myself.
Also don' get me started on cyclists who refuse to use cycleways and insist on causing chaos on busy roads when there is a well surfaced cycleway right next to them.....Wish as a horse rider the council would provide us with such a luxury!!

If you used the cycleway you'd probably understand why. Cars parked in it? Ends abruptly and dangerously? There are far more cyclists than riders, riders tend to ride for fun, cyclists are often going to work/somewhere useful, although they cycle for fun too. If many people started riding horses to work (which would be excellent!) then I'd agree with horseyways.

moses06

We have lovely cycleways in my area - I know I have cycled on them!! They are alongside a very busy road separated from the road by a grass verge, the paths are wide and clear with no parked cars on them, they are brand new surfaces to - just seems such a shame they are little used, yet unlit cyclists still menace the roads.

Idiophreak

moses06 wrote: »

We have lovely cycleways in my area - I know I have cycled on them!! They are alongside a very busy road separated from the road by a grass verge, the paths are wide and clear with no parked cars on them, they are brand new surfaces to - just seems such a shame they are little used, yet unlit cyclists still menace the roads.

Ah, I see...so they stop and give way at every side road, right?

I'm confused by motorists who think cyclists do these things just to spite them...Believe it or not, if cyclists could get from A-B as quickly without risking being hit by cars, they'd probably do it...

adouglasmhor

moses06 wrote: »

We have lovely cycleways in my area - I know I have cycled on them!! They are alongside a very busy road separated from the road by a grass verge, the paths are wide and clear with no parked cars on them, they are brand new surfaces to - just seems such a shame they are little used, yet unlit cyclists still menace the roads.

There is a lovely one out to the new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in the east end of Glasgow, the day after it opened I was treated to the spectacle of a ned on a BMX too small for him cyling along the pavement beside it.

Mids_Costcutter

So much antipathy, where does it get us?

In the Netherlands a cycle track adjacent to a main road would have priority at any side road junctions. The level of cycling which the country has achieved didn't happen by accident: it was planned.

I can honestly say I've never seen a cyclist riding without lights on country roads (without street lighting) but certainly have in towns and cities. Traffic laws apply equally to all road users, but traffic policing just isn't a priority. Tell your new police commissioner that you think it is important?

moses06

Idiophreak wrote: »

Ah, I see...so they stop and give way at every side road, right?

I'm confused by motorists who think cyclists do these things just to spite them...Believe it or not, if cyclists could get from A-B as quickly without risking being hit by cars, they'd probably do it...

There's no side roads - it's a mile of uninterupted safe cycling, which they chose to ignore and play chicken with the traffic instead, I really don't get it?

wolvoman

moses06 wrote: »

There's no side roads - it's a mile of uninterupted safe cycling, which they chose to ignore and play chicken with the traffic instead, I really don't get it?

But what's at the end of that mile? Can I seamlessly just merge with the road and continue as if I were on the main carriageway, or do I have to do the more common thing of having to get to a pedestrian-type crossing and wait for cars to pass?

These cycle paths are usually only good for either old ladies or kids doing 8mph.

Idiophreak

moses06 wrote: »

There's no side roads - it's a mile of uninterupted safe cycling, which they chose to ignore and play chicken with the traffic instead, I really don't get it?

A mile's really not that far. That's 3-4 minutes cycling. If you have to stop every three minutes, give way, then accelerate back up to speed again, it becomes tiresome very quickly....

sj999

One went by me when I was crossing on a green light in London yesterday. No lights, run a red light and wearing dark clothing. I didn't see him until he rode in front of me.

I find it so annoying.