Sabotage and hatred: what have people got against cyclists?

ShAnE

Johno100 wrote: »

So when a driver jumps on a bike does he/she go into some sort of zen like state where all the prejudices they exhibit as drivers behind the wheel disappear and they become serene beings?

As a new-ish cyclist I certainly have more respect and am more cautious when over taking cyclists now.

Before hand I used to hate the B******s but now i'm more courteous and only hate the lycra wearing groups of them.

Cornucopia

I think what might work is to have a voluntary registration scheme (for cyclists). This would allow "professional" cyclists, such as couriers, to have a scheme that their employers would probably want them to be a part of, whilst not acting as a barrier (of cost or admin) to people who want to cycle more casually.

It might be possible to develop this over time to a mandatory licence to cycle on heavily congested, city centre roads.

andrewf75

For me I think the reason there is so much hatred for cyclists is because due to the complete disregard for cycling as a viable method of transport in this country, the majority of people who cycle are minority groups which of course are easy targets.

eg the mamils (middle aged men in lycra) who hog the roads at weekends and the students who ride on pavements and through red lights

in Holland, these groups would be heavily outnumbered by the ordinary commuter who generally obeys the rules of the road, but in the UK the ordinary commuter doesn't cycle so the above groups make up a larger proportion of the total.

Until we make the conditions better so that the ordinary commuter DOES cycle, the animosity will continue.

Johno100

andrewf75 wrote: »

For me I think the reason there is so much hatred for cyclists is because due to the complete disregard for cycling as a viable method of transport in this country, The majority of people who cycle are minority groups which of course are easy targets.

Where are you getting that from and what minority group are you referring to?

Generali

Cornucopia wrote: »

I think what might work is to have a voluntary registration scheme (for cyclists). This would allow "professional" cyclists, such as couriers, to have a scheme that their employers would probably want them to be a part of, whilst not acting as a barrier (of cost or admin) to people who want to cycle more casually.

It might be possible to develop this over time to a mandatory licence to cycle on heavily congested, city centre roads.

AIUI, in China there is a bicycle registration scheme. The number plate comes in 2 parts so when you park up you take the top part with you.

If the police see a bike ridden with only half a registration plate they know it's stolen!! I'd sign up to a registration scheme like that with a small admin fee.

brat

!!!!!! wrote: »

Fred246's post indicates the arrogance of some of the cycling fraternity. Does he really think that that everybody is envious of him riding his bike.

I'll be envious of him when he can carry a 50lb load 30 miles in 45 minutes and do it multiple times in a day

Fred can speak for himself, I guess, but knowing him, my reading of his post is that he has loaded it with sarcasm.

I accept his primary point though.

Norman_Castle

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

I cant be bothered with arguing the toss here, I know they were in the wrong and not me.

Metaphorically shouting through the car window then driving off.

andrewf75

Johno100 wrote: »

Where are you getting that from and what minority group are you referring to?

I'm getting it from obvious everyday observations. Not many people cycle. I've given 2 minority groups - students and enthusiasts

brat

Cornucopia wrote: »

One thing I would say is that you need to think about who is doing the accusing. I don't have much time for car driver accusations against cyclists, because it is the driver who owes a duty of care to cyclists. However, when pedestrians are complaining about cyclists (as in the case of pavement-riding), then I take notice, because cyclists ought to owe a duty of care to pedestrians.

I agree with this bit of your post. The most vulnerable need the greatest consideration. Pavement warriors in town centres will always earn a ticket from me (if I can catch hold of them). Against that, in our area there are lots of pavements in the primary routes in and out of town that are unpopulated by pedestrians (and parked cars for that matter). If a cyclist carefully and considerately uses that pavement as a safer alternative to the road, I see little harm in that.

Regarding my use of fatalities as a statistical guide, It's what I'm used to using. I don't consider serious injury statistics to be reliable enough, despite their larger number, because they will have been 'manipulated' over the years for target attainment. As a very rough guide 1 fatality occurs for every 10 serious injury RTCs , for every 100 injury RTCs, and for every 1000 reported collisions.

brat

ShAnE wrote: »

As a new-ish cyclist I certainly have more respect and am more cautious when over taking cyclists now.

Before hand I used to hate the B******s but now i'm more courteous and only hate the lycra wearing groups of them.

You don't know me. Why do you hate me?