Cycling Safety

Mark_Hewitt

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Bring back cycling proficiency courses,

You do wonder why this comes up so bloody often. Perhaps the name change to "Bikeability" is confusing for you.

WiggyDiggyPoo

I'm an avid cyclist but I can't support this.

Some solutions offered such as 'Segregated cycle lanes on all main roads within Manchester' are too much of a broad stroke, segregation is not a blanket approach to safety and from what I know of manchesters inner city areas simply not practical (not enough room).

Others are just dangerous 'Cycles should be permitted on tram route' - has the person who wrote this tried to cycle near to tram lines? You can very easily get a wheel trapped in the rails.

brat

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

You do wonder why this comes up so bloody often. Perhaps the name change to "Bikeability" is confusing for you.

Yet many schools in many areas haven't bought into Bikeability yet. Our local primary schools don't do Bikeability, so we've maintained our own "Cycling Proficiency", on the basis it's a lot better than nothing.

j0nathon2

I hadn't ridden on a road until 5.5 weeks ago, and I am 29. I must admit it was quite daunting, but it's all common sense.

I ride on a mix of roads with no segregation, roads with a bit of paint to segregate and off road altogether.

However, any kind of training at a school age on the rules of the road and how to cycle along with traffic will be beneficial as at least I am a driver. However, idiots will be idiots whether they've had training or not, whether they wear a helmet or not.

Tilt

AndyBSG wrote: »

The same could be said of pedestrians breaking the law.

Not many pedestrians do this though;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2526504/Hit-run-CYCLIST-ran-girl-30mph-ignoring-red-light-pedestrian-crossing-jailed-NINE-MONTHS.html?login#readerCommentsCommand-message-field

j0nathon2

Tilt wrote: »

Not many pedestrians do this though;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2526504/Hit-run-CYCLIST-ran-girl-30mph-ignoring-red-light-pedestrian-crossing-jailed-NINE-MONTHS.html?login#readerCommentsCommand-message-field

Plenty of pedestrians seem to ignore cyclists and cross the road in front of them, or perhaps it's just me! Seriously, they seem to think it's OK to walk out in front of me, despite the red man being on for them, just because I can stop quicker than a car. If I was to hit one of them it'd hurt us both. They may not be breaking the law but they are being incredibly stupid and could cause a serious incident, including my death if I swerve to avoid them.

Tilt

j0nathon2 wrote: »

Plenty of pedestrians seem to ignore cyclists and cross the road in front of them, or perhaps it's just me! Seriously, they seem to think it's OK to walk out in front of me, despite the red man being on for them, just because I can stop quicker than a car. If I was to hit one of them it'd hurt us both. They may not be breaking the law but they are being incredibly stupid and could cause a serious incident, including my death if I swerve to avoid them.

But in this case, the cyclist hit the girl after crossing the red light. Presumably then, the 'green man' was lit for the girl.

There are numerous clips on youtube which shows cyclists dodging pedestrians on crossings when the red light is against them (the cyclist).

j0nathon2

Oh I don't dispute that in that case it was the cyclist's fault. I have plenty of cyclists flying by me at red lights.

I was just adding that some pedestrians are incredibly stupid and known to cause problems themselves.

brat

Tilt wrote: »

But in this case, the cyclist hit the girl after crossing the red light. Presumably then, the 'green man' was lit for the girl.

There are numerous clips on youtube which shows cyclists dodging pedestrians on crossings when the red light is against them (the cyclist).

I'd suggest the motorist who doesn't reduce his speed all the way down to 30 until 200 metres inside the 30mph sign, or who tailgates (within 2 seconds) on the motorway or behind a cyclist, or who overtakes a cyclist without giving the same space as a car is a hypocrite if he thinks his driving is less reprehensible than a cyclist using red lights as give way line.

Tilt

brat wrote: »

I'd suggest the motorist who doesn't reduce his speed all the way down to 30 until 200 metres inside the 30mph sign, or who tailgates (within 2 seconds) on the motorway or behind a cyclist, or who overtakes a cyclist without giving the same space as a car is a hypocrite if he thinks his driving is less reprehensible than a cyclist using red lights as give way line.

And I suggest that your comment is totally irrelevant in response to my comment.

In this case the cyclist collided and seriously injured a young child while contravening a red light. Plus he left the scene without concern for the child despite knowing he collided with her. He subsequently was charged with GBH, something that he wouldn't of been charged with had he been driving a car. Had he had been driving a car, he would also have been charged with leaving the scene of an accident (or failing to stop), a charge which is not available for a cyclist (AFAIK) even though the intent is surely the same.