Suicidal Cyclist

brat

jjlandlord wrote: »

And perhaps cyclists should ride minding cars (including avoiding blocking them as much as possible), and remember that in a collisions they are the ones who end up dead however right or righteous they might have been.


I live in an area with sinuous country roads (though they have good 2 lanes, one in each direction) where the speed limit is 50.
That speed limit fits cars, motorbikes, etc. and is safe.

However, some people think it is fine to cycle on these roads, in the middle of the lane, at night.
Let me tell you that no matter how high-viz their clothes might be, or how many lights they might install on their bike on quite a few portions of the road any car going at 45-50 will not see them in time.
So everyone should drive at 25 just in case there is a cyclist at some point... Not.
I's just not reasonable to expect that everyone has to bend over backward just because a very few have their mid-life crisis (at least they could buy a sports car instead).

I'm routinely out on roads such as this at night time on my bike - it's one of the safest times to be out.

to be honest, I'm appalled at the above attitude that wants to deny cyclists the use of a road that they are perfectly entitled to use for fear that driver incompetence and inconsideration (such as illustrated in the above post) may lead to cyclists being victims of that incompetence.

Shame on you.

brat

Altarf wrote: »

Are cyclists permitted to ride with no lights or reflectors at night. When did they repeal that law?

I presume you're taking comments of mine that are specific to daytime riding, and placing them in the night time context.

Otherwise you would have no reason to pose such a rhetorical question.

Retrogamer

Tilt wrote: »

If you read what I posted again, you will see that I said "an unlit cyclist " meaning a cyclist who was riding without lights.

If they were cycling without lights, you'd normally still see them easily with their rear reflector and pedal reflectors.

Altarf wrote: »

What is more of a worry is the number of cyclists who don't realise that they can't be seen when they wear dark clothing, no lights and no reflectors, but put their life on the line every day.

That is worrying, yes. Not as worrying as drivers who cannot see cyclists on bright days though.

Altarf wrote: »

Are cyclists permitted to ride with no lights or reflectors at night. When did they repeal that law?

Can you quote where someone said that please?

RichardD1970

jjlandlord wrote: »

And perhaps cyclists should ride minding cars (including avoiding blocking them as much as possible), and remember that in a collisions they are the ones who end up dead however right or righteous they might have been.


I live in an area with sinuous country roads (though they have good 2 lanes, one in each direction) where the speed limit is 50.
That speed limit fits cars, motorbikes, etc. and is safe.

However, some people think it is fine to cycle on these roads, in the middle of the lane, at night.
Let me tell you that no matter how high-viz their clothes might be, or how many lights they might install on their bike on quite a few portions of the road any car going at 45-50 will not see them in time.
So everyone should drive at 25 just in case there is a cyclist at some point... Not.
I's just not reasonable to expect that everyone has to bend over backward just because a very few have their mid-life crisis (at least they could buy a sports car instead).

If that is the case you are travelling too fast for the conditions.

By the same logic, you wouldn't see a broken down car, fallen tree, slow moving tractor or any other obstacle in the road and would crash into them as well.

robotrobo

Cloudydaze wrote: »

Seriously, if you can't see cyclists during the day AND there are lots of them, please stop driving.


How many motorists are driving without there glasses on, my elderly friend who calls on me occasionally is as blind as a bat.

Retrogamer

Funny enough, i've seen more motorists driving about at night without lights in the last few weeks, than i have with cyclists in the last year.

Norman_Castle

jjlandlord wrote: »

I live in an area with sinuous country roads (though they have good 2 lanes, one in each direction) where the speed limit is 50.
That speed limit fits cars, motorbikes, etc. and is safe.

However, some people think it is fine to cycle on these roads, in the middle of the lane, at night.
Let me tell you that no matter how high-viz their clothes might be, or how many lights they might install on their bike on quite a few portions of the road any car going at 45-50 will not see them in time.
So everyone should drive at 25 just in case there is a cyclist at some point... Not.
I's just not reasonable to expect that everyone has to bend over backward just because a very few have their mid-life crisis (at least they could buy a sports car instead).

Its not reasanable to expect everyone who uses the roads to use a car or motorcycle. If you are unwilling to drive at a speed which is safe for others then you should not be driving.

And perhaps cyclists should ride minding cars (including avoiding blocking them as much as possible),

Avoid blocking them or just cease to exist because you resent having to slow down?.
You own a car, you don't own the road.

jjlandlord

brat wrote: »

to be honest, I'm appalled at the above attitude that wants to deny cyclists the use of a road that they are perfectly entitled to use for fear that driver incompetence and inconsideration (such as illustrated in the above post) may lead to cyclists being victims of that incompetence.

This is the arrogance and righteousness that gives some cyclists a bad name.

No-one wants to deny cyclists the use of the road.

However, roads do not belong to cyclists and no-one (cyclists, cars, pedestrians) should be inconsiderate and hog roads because they are "entitled" to use them.

If you are slower than others, stay as much on the side as possible, and/or make it easy for others to overtake you.

When you are both slower and more vulnerable then you should be extra careful instead of repeating ad nauseam that you are "entitled" to be there (meaning everyone should stop and make way for your highness).
Consideration works both ways.

I notice that inconsiderate cyclists also think that the pavement belong to them and that pedestrians should make way.

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Its not reasanable to expect everyone who uses the roads to use a car or motorcycle. If you are unwilling to drive at a speed which is safe for others then you should not be driving.

Well I'm sorry but roads are indeed designed for motor vehicles.
A speed that is 'safe' for 'others' if 'others' may be anyone and anything is probably 15mph.

It is not reasonable for cyclists (or pedestrians) to be in the middle of the lane on a national speed limit road.

Tilt

Retrogamer wrote: »

If they were cycling without lights, you'd normally still see them easily with their rear reflector and pedal reflectors.

Clearly you didn't read my previous post.

I pointed out that most cars are fitted with fixed headlights (meaning they point straight ahead). So when you come to a bend and there is an un-lit cyclist ahead, you may not see him/her until they are illuminated by the beam of your head lights AFTER negotiating a bend in the road. That obviously means that their red reflector/pedal reflectors are quite useless on their own (that's if they have them fitted in the first place) unless perhaps they are riding on a road with no bends in it.

almillar

As soon as motorists expect all cyclists to be wearing super bright clothes, they'll stop looking for the ones that aren't.

Don't get tribal. No-one expects anything. The people that are going to knock you down, aren't looking anyway, and they're not taking an interest, and they're not here, talking about the finer points of road use. Do it for you, instead of NOT doing it because you think someone else WANTS you to!
I never mentioned reflectors :-)

Funny enough, i've seen more motorists driving about at night without lights in the last few weeks, than i have with cyclists in the last year.

Amen! Or just sidelights, or just DRLs, or one light missing!