Cyclists and Zebra Crossings

System

I think it more likely that there is a bike culture going back at least pre-war where the majority of people used bikes as the primary mode of transport as opposed to vehicles and that thinking has carried on.

In this country, cycling, apart from by kids up to about 15 died out effectively for a period and then had a resurgence with a totally different mind-set from both cyclists and others that still prevails in Spain and used to be the case in this country.

In this country, cycling owes its popularity now, and the mind-set of the participants, to competitive cycle racing and not a general transport system as it used to be hence the aggression that results and is fed on and nurtured by both sides of the fence.

custardy

!!!!!! wrote: »

I think it more likely that there is a bike culture going back at least pre-war where the majority of people used bikes as the primary mode of transport as opposed to vehicles and that thinking has carried on.

In this country, cycling, apart from by kids up to about 15 died out effectively for a period and then had a resurgence with a totally different mind-set from both cyclists and others that still prevails in Spain and used to be the case in this country.

In this country, cycling owes its popularity now, and the mind-set of the participants, to competitive cycle racing and not a general transport system as it used to be hence the aggression that results and is fed on and nurtured by both sides of the fence.

Totally disagree.
Yes many may have sparked an interest through the UKs success,however many (like myself) have little interest in competitive cycling.

Norman_Castle

!!!!!! wrote: »

I think it more likely that there is a bike culture going back at least pre-war where the majority of people used bikes as the primary mode of transport as opposed to vehicles and that thinking has carried on.

In this country, cycling, apart from by kids up to about 15 died out effectively for a period and then had a resurgence with a totally different mind-set from both cyclists and others that still prevails in Spain and used to be the case in this country.

In this country, cycling owes its popularity now, and the mind-set of the participants, to competitive cycle racing and not a general transport system as it used to be hence the aggression that results and is fed on and nurtured by both sides of the fence.

In the UK cycling was much more common. This ended due to the affordability of cars in the 60s or 70s. The recent resurgence is due to more useable bikes. Mountain bikes and hybrids are much more desirable than the average bike from 30 years ago. Its also increased due to a need for an alternative to public transport or motoring.
There has always been interest in competitive road cycling. I don't think this affects the average cyclist at all.
Most of the conflict is simply due to a more crowded road network.

custardy

Norman_Castle wrote: »

In the UK cycling was much more common. This ended due to the affordability of cars in the 60s or 70s. The recent resurgence is due to more useable bikes. Mountain bikes and hybrids are much more desirable than the average bike from 30 years ago. Its also increased due to a need for an alternative to public transport or motoring.
There has always been interest in competitive road cycling. I don't think this affects the average cyclist at all.
Most of the conflict is simply due to a more crowded road network.

Do you think mountain bikes are a new thing?
I was riding my beloved Marin MTB in the early 90's

cornish123

Norman_Castle wrote: »

In the UK cycling was much more common. This ended due to the affordability of cars in the 60s or 70s. The recent resurgence is due to more useable bikes. Mountain bikes and hybrids are much more desirable than the average bike from 30 years ago. Its also increased due to a need for an alternative to public transport or motoring.
There has always been interest in competitive road cycling. I don't think this affects the average cyclist at all.
Most of the conflict is simply due to a more crowded road network.

oi, I had plenty of nice mountain bikes as a nipper, they had suspension and fat nobbly tyres and everything, mostly second hand ones that would have been 30+ years old at the time, im 30, so as a nipper about 25 years ago, plus a few years for the used bikes.

you make it sound like we were riding around on penny farthings, im not THAT old just yet

JP08

It should be noted that it is not illegal to cycle across a zebra crossing where there is a shared use path on either side. It is in contravention of rule 64 of the Highway Code, which says cyclists SHOULD dismount, not that they MUST.

So not recommended, but not necessarily illegal.

I seem to recall a recent case cropping up in the news, but can't find a reference, of someone being prosecuted for cycling across a zebra crossing and the judge throwing the case out ...

And, will admit to fairly regularly using a pelican crossing near my whilst riding my bike - if nobody else is crossing. Makes sense (for me from a safety point of view, and to the car drivers from an obstruction point of view), to cycle across and use the gap in the traffic to make progress away from the crossing rather than walk across, stand at the side of the road and be starting cycling just when the lights go amber ...

Norman_Castle

Do you think mountain bikes are a new thing?
I was riding my beloved Marin MTB in the early 90's

Ok. Maybe 40 years ago. My last bike as a teenager was an imitation racer. Steel frame, chrome rims and 3 speed sturmy archer. Originally sold with dropped bars mine had cowhorn bars. Proper racing bikes were available but they were for the rich kids. I knew one person who had a single knobbly tyre on their bike.
Todays average bikes are much better. Good tyres, gears, working brakes and suspension. They're the bikes I dreamed of as a kid. They may have been available but would be specialised and expensive. For the same price you could probably get a used scrambler which was much more desirable but even less likely:(.

basill

I was once told that a cyclist only counts as a pedestrian at a crossing if they pick up their bike so it is luggage.



B

Norman_Castle

cornish123 wrote: »

oi, I had plenty of nice mountain bikes as a nipper, they had suspension and fat nobbly tyres and everything, mostly second hand ones that would have been 30+ years old at the time, im 30, so as a nipper about 25 years ago, plus a few years for the used bikes.

you make it sound like we were riding around on penny farthings, im not THAT old just yet

30+ years old, 25 years ago. Thats 1960.

custardy

This is what I had as a kid