Biggest Threats to Cyclists?

Avoriaz

SidP wrote: »

..When I was cycling along a shared cycle/pedestrian path, someone cycled past and shouted arrogantly, "Keep to the left!" ...

It was probably just Ed Miliband.

Big_G_RC

I'm sick of seeing people on bikes wearing only a hi-vis jacket with no lights! Just because you can see where you're going doesn't mean cars can see you!

Altarf

SidP wrote: »

Whilst having constant beam lights front and rear is a legal requirement for cyclists

No it isn't - http://www.ctc.org.uk/cyclists-library/regulations/lighting-regulations

SidP wrote: »

helmets are not

And a good job to. Cycle deaths are typically caused by a truck driving over someone's legs or body crushing them, not a cyclist falling off and hitting their head.

You are far more likely to hit your head and injure it in a car accident, so I hope you are petitioning for mandatory driving helmets.

Big_G_RC wrote: »

I'm sick of seeing people on bikes wearing only a hi-vis jacket with no lights! Just because you can see where you're going doesn't mean cars can see you!

I am sick of seeing people on bikes with a tiny glow worm for a light and no hi-vis jacket. A cyclist is far more visible when wearing hi-vis.

sdavies13

Altarf wrote: »

I am sick of seeing people on bikes with a tiny glow worm for a light and no hi-vis jacket. A cyclist is far more visible when wearing hi-vis.

I am sick of other cyclists blinding me with lights Stalag Luft 17 would be proud of!

Takes ages before the spots disappear and even longer for my night vision to return.

armyknife

Heycock wrote: »

Armyknife #100

That's what happened to me. Had no idea he was steaming up behind me, brushed me only lightly but my reflexes caused me to twitch slightly to the left and it put me in a patch of gravel in the gutter ....I couldn't straighten up and hit the kerb, going A over T. I'd have gone after him and put his lights out but I was too busy reinserting my shoulder into it's socket. I think he saw me... no helmet, ordinary clothes, battered old 70's Dawes... and thought he'd have some fun with an old school low-life. Suffice to say he was fully fitted out in all the gear on his state of the art £2000 Boardman. All the right gear apart from a brain.

Heycock, sorry to hear that, a nasty encounter all round with arrogant !!!!!!.

SidP

Originally Posted by SidP
Whilst having constant beam lights front and rear is a legal requirement for cyclists

Originally Posted by Altarf
No it isn't - http://www.ctc.org.uk/cyclists-libra...ng-regulations

I stand corrected. That's an excellent link. Thank you. Nice that they link to the actual regulations.
EDIT: Although I note that flashing lights only became legal in 2005.

Originally Posted by sdavies13
I am sick of other cyclists blinding me with lights Stalag Luft 17 would be proud of!

I agree. I have to turn my head to the side while they approach, and slow down too. It's similar to a car approaching with high beams on.

Given the increase in cyclists, maybe it is about time there were more regulations. Certainly the events related in this thread show that many are incapable of being good cyclists without it.

But the thing that causes me dismay is that the regulations would have no-one to enforce them - there's not enough manpower to cope with the laws and regulations already in place (and I'm talking generally, not just cycling).

Energize

The problems I mainly experience are drivers who drive past with headlights on full beam as though cyclists don't need to be able to see where they are going.

Also cars trying to overtake when it is unsafe to do, had a driver attempt to overtake me just before a sharp bend who then swerved sharply in front of me after nearly hitting a car which came round the bend, only for him to then hold me up by going 20mph around said bend, thus making the overtake completely pointless in the first place... Reported to police anyway for their dangerous driving.

Guesthouse

I'll go for the stereotypical response "car drivers" but also cyclists.

I'll qualify that : around these parts, lorries, buses & tractors all seem very aware that they are BIG and I'm small and pretty much without exception stay back and pass with plenty of room. If possible, these folks get a thumbs up or some sort of acknowledgement.
Car drivers on the other hand....pull out in front of you, pull in in front of you, squeeze past in the same lane.....etc, etc.

Cyclists. Well, there's the "sensible" ones - hi-viz, lights, helmets, following the rules of the road.
There's "well meaning" ones - hi-viz flapping about, lights at front or back but not both which are almost working...hey, at least they're sticking to the cycle lanes and generally following the rules of the road.
Then there's the hoodie or beanie wearing, dog walking menace that cycles on the pavements without any thought for other people.

Me? I use the roads including dual carriageways. I've got more lights than Blackpool illuminations, a hi-viz vest and rucksack cover and a well developed sense of self preservation.

Marco_Panettone

So, in conclusion - other people. All of them. All the time. Oh, and the weather.

solihullrose

Elsewhere wrote: »

I was discussing cyclists on a local forum just a couple of days ago.

I think that cyclists over the age of - say - fourteen should have to take a theory test on the Highway code and not be allowed on public highways unless they pass - the "license" to be displayed on whichever bike they are riding. Cyclists below this age would be permitted to ride - with care - on the pavement (obviously on the road as well if the pavement was very narrow or non-existant). Cyclists breaking the law would be fined or lose their license, just like car drivers. I feel that cyclists would thus get a lot more respect from other road users as vehicle drivers would be confident they knew the rules of the road and would behave predictably.

The test could be organised and taken at school - after all, some schools already do cycling proficiency, so it could be a formal extension of that. As a sweetener, if the theory test is passed and the person later wants to use a car or motorcycle they would not have to re-take the theory test.

nb. The biggest problem I have with cyclists as a pedestrian is that they are too quiet - I have to depend on seeing them and don't have the added backup of hearing them approach. And what happened to the bell? Cyclists come virtually silently up behind on bridleways, for instance, and seem to expect me to know via psychic communication that they need me to step aside.

I feel that I should just point out that it is still illegal to cycle on a footpath. A fact that many simply ignore these days as the police as too few and overstretched to enforce the law.
I have (years ago) been carrying a baby in a baby sling and had three youths on their bikes intentionally skid sideways stopping inches away from me. Very frightning while carrying a baby. I also had a friend who had a hip operation and while being advised to take short walks was hit by a cyclist riding on the pavement. People's security (bag snatches) is also compromised in most major citys by pavement cyclists who seem to think that pedestrians should step out of their way. I do not hate all bike riders and can ride myself - on the road.