cyclist rant
- Thread starter 8866nk
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I am a cyclist, so I will have to disagree with you.. :wink:
Have been riding for 30 years, raced in competitions as an elite A grade rider and for the past 10 years have ridden in training some 180,000km (112,000 miles). I have had a computer on my bikes over that time, so I know how far I have ridden.
A bicycle is the most efficient form of transport that there is in terms of energy expenditure, leaves no carbon footprint and keeps the rider healthy and provided they enjoy a low fat diet, lean and athletic.
I feel sure that if it were possible for all people to ride a bicycle for at least 5 years in all forms of traffic prior to receiving a driver's license, then the attitude towards cyclists would be totally different.
Cycling as a sport is the world's second largest, only soccer is more popular. The world's largest annual sporting event is the Tour De France, and only World cup soccer and the Olympic games have a larger viewing audience.
To top it all off, the 2009 World Professional Road champion is fellow Australian Cadel Evans, who will have the honour of wearing the rainbow jersey of World Champion for the next 12 months, when the world champions will come to Australia and the Victorian city of Geelong will be the host.
Ron.
Have been riding for 30 years, raced in competitions as an elite A grade rider and for the past 10 years have ridden in training some 180,000km (112,000 miles). I have had a computer on my bikes over that time, so I know how far I have ridden.
A bicycle is the most efficient form of transport that there is in terms of energy expenditure, leaves no carbon footprint and keeps the rider healthy and provided they enjoy a low fat diet, lean and athletic.
I feel sure that if it were possible for all people to ride a bicycle for at least 5 years in all forms of traffic prior to receiving a driver's license, then the attitude towards cyclists would be totally different.
Cycling as a sport is the world's second largest, only soccer is more popular. The world's largest annual sporting event is the Tour De France, and only World cup soccer and the Olympic games have a larger viewing audience.
To top it all off, the 2009 World Professional Road champion is fellow Australian Cadel Evans, who will have the honour of wearing the rainbow jersey of World Champion for the next 12 months, when the world champions will come to Australia and the Victorian city of Geelong will be the host.
Ron.
Pilkie
Active Member
I agree there are some total nutters out there! and more nutters than sensible riders.
I was waiting at the lights last week in my 7.5t truck,a bus waiting on the opposite side,with a fuel tanker artic turning from my left to go right,all of a sudden,two adults whizzed passed on the inside of the bus,straight through the red light and almost, " god knows how they missed " ended up under the wheels of the artic.
They then swore at and gestured to the driver that he was a W###ER as if they were in the right to do that.
The artic driver spotted them in the nick of time,even as slow as he was going he almost lost it under braking,you could see the load surge and push the tractor unit!
He was clearly in shock!!
I am of the opinion that all transport operating road users,be it car,truck,bike,horse, should have a license to use the highway,and show they know how!
How do you ban a cyclist or horse rider for being a total twat!
I believe that before you take your car test,you should have a compulsory 1 yr experience as a qualified rider on a motorbike!!
Dave
I was waiting at the lights last week in my 7.5t truck,a bus waiting on the opposite side,with a fuel tanker artic turning from my left to go right,all of a sudden,two adults whizzed passed on the inside of the bus,straight through the red light and almost, " god knows how they missed " ended up under the wheels of the artic.
They then swore at and gestured to the driver that he was a W###ER as if they were in the right to do that.
The artic driver spotted them in the nick of time,even as slow as he was going he almost lost it under braking,you could see the load surge and push the tractor unit!
He was clearly in shock!!
I am of the opinion that all transport operating road users,be it car,truck,bike,horse, should have a license to use the highway,and show they know how!
How do you ban a cyclist or horse rider for being a total twat!
I believe that before you take your car test,you should have a compulsory 1 yr experience as a qualified rider on a motorbike!!
Dave
Well said Ron.
I'm sure we could all come up with tales of dangerous cyclists, motorcyclists, car/truck/van/bus drivers but that should not give us justification to class them all the same.
All sections of society have a percentage of nutters, some of them make sweeping statements like ' I hate ................'
Robert
I'm sure we could all come up with tales of dangerous cyclists, motorcyclists, car/truck/van/bus drivers but that should not give us justification to class them all the same.
All sections of society have a percentage of nutters, some of them make sweeping statements like ' I hate ................'
Robert
thank you robert
what your comment was supposed to mean is lost on a nutter mind!
bad one Ron,
you live in Austrailia mate!.
i've never been but i think the roads are a little different to the New Forest where i live!
i think in the uk the biggest participant sport is angling?
bikes may not have a carbon footprint (??) but mine gets worse every time i get stuck behind a posse of bikes and have to drop 3-4 gears!
obviously i rode a bike before i got a car!about 10 years worth as a kid when i did a cycle proficiency course in which your bike was checked for tyres with tread , lights bell etc
around here my main bug bear are grown men in lycra (god only knows )pedalling around with no regard for fellow road users or the laws of the land.
the highway code says you cycle no more than 2 abreast and on narrow roads in single file leaving a gap between each for other road users.
so why, when i come up behind a posse of them riding 3-4-5 abreast in a bunch and i toot my horn to let them know i'm there do i get dogs abuse!
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
what your comment was supposed to mean is lost on a nutter mind!
bad one Ron,
you live in Austrailia mate!.
i've never been but i think the roads are a little different to the New Forest where i live!
i think in the uk the biggest participant sport is angling?
bikes may not have a carbon footprint (??) but mine gets worse every time i get stuck behind a posse of bikes and have to drop 3-4 gears!
obviously i rode a bike before i got a car!about 10 years worth as a kid when i did a cycle proficiency course in which your bike was checked for tyres with tread , lights bell etc
around here my main bug bear are grown men in lycra (god only knows )pedalling around with no regard for fellow road users or the laws of the land.
the highway code says you cycle no more than 2 abreast and on narrow roads in single file leaving a gap between each for other road users.
so why, when i come up behind a posse of them riding 3-4-5 abreast in a bunch and i toot my horn to let them know i'm there do i get dogs abuse!
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
i think i may get my own back on them!
i've been offered an austin a35 traveller which i could take the dog out in every day.
i'm not sure but i think they are slower than a bicycle aren't they so i can give 'em some of they're own medicine!
does an a35 traveller qualify as a mobility scooter?
i've been offered an austin a35 traveller which i could take the dog out in every day.
i'm not sure but i think they are slower than a bicycle aren't they so i can give 'em some of they're own medicine!
does an a35 traveller qualify as a mobility scooter?
webmaster
New Member
I spent my late teens, early 20's in Lycra, cycling all over, never really had much trouble with motorists, and only ever had one accident when a lady driver turned right in front of me.
However, I always stopped for red lights, didn't filter through traffic, didn't ride on the pavement. As mentioned above, we did a cycling proficiency test and were taught to ride safely.
I'm not sure when it became acceptable for cyclists to ride like idiots, ignoring the highway code, but it's not on. I do see some cyclists behaving correctly, usually the older guys that are obviously serious riders, it's the numpties "commuting" on their bikes that are the problem.
Maybe they need to have number plates and insurance.
However, I always stopped for red lights, didn't filter through traffic, didn't ride on the pavement. As mentioned above, we did a cycling proficiency test and were taught to ride safely.
I'm not sure when it became acceptable for cyclists to ride like idiots, ignoring the highway code, but it's not on. I do see some cyclists behaving correctly, usually the older guys that are obviously serious riders, it's the numpties "commuting" on their bikes that are the problem.
Maybe they need to have number plates and insurance.
They should certainly have insurance, cyclist gets knocked off his bike by a car damaging his bike he claims off the car driver's insurance, same cyclist scrapes down the side of your car with his brake lever, good luck trying to get anything out of his (non existant) insurance. Still forthcoming proposals will make it that in accidents between cars and cycles it's always the car drivers fault, so why would they ever need insurance then anyway...............
DaveHerns said:
From the Daily Mail
Motorists should be made legally responsible for all accidents involving cyclists, even if they are not at fault, say Government advisers.
Cycling England, an agency funded by the Transport Department, wants the civil law to be changed so drivers or their insurers would automatically be liable for compensation claims.
The proposal will infuriate drivers, many of whom are angered by the antics of 'Lycra louts' - cyclists who sail through red lights, go the wrong way up one-way streets and intimidate pedestrians on pavements and zebra crossings.
Road wars: The Cycling England agency wants the most powerful vehicle involved in a crash automatically liable for compensation or insurance claims
It comes after ministers suggested allowing cyclists to ride the wrong way down one-way streets in an attempt to encourage more people to switch to two wheels.
The proposal by Cycling England is modelled on regulations in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, which are heavily skewed in favour of cyclists.
Even in cases where a crash results from illegal or dangerous manoeuvres by the cyclist, the motorist is usually blamed.
The motorist is always legally responsible for any crash involving a child or elderly cyclist, even if they are cycling in the wrong direction, ignoring traffic signals, or otherwise flouting traffic regulations. Now cyclists' groups want similar measures included in the Government's forthcoming National Cycling Plan and Active Transport Strategy.
As well as cyclists, pedestrians would also be assumed not to be at fault in civil law if hit by a car. The 'most powerful vehicle' involved in a crash would automatically be liable.
Where a cyclist was hit by a car, the presumption of blame would fall on the driver. Cyclists would automatically be blamed if they hit a pedestrian. The proposals would not apply to the criminal law. Cyclists' groups say the reforms would encourage people to get out of their cars and make more journeys by bicycle or on foot.
A report being prepared by officials for ministers is expected to recommend that councils should introduce 20mph zones in residential streets where there are high numbers of cyclists or pedestrians.
Phillip Darnton, chief executive of Cycling England, said: 'I would like to see the legal onus placed on motorists when there are accidents; speed limits reduced to 20mph on suburban and residential roads; cycling taught to all schoolchildren; and cycling provision included in major planning applications.'
Ministers have already suggested allowing cyclists to ride the wrong way down one-way streets.
A pilot project is being launched in Kensington and Chelsea that will permit cyclists to ignore 'No entry' signs. A plaque will be attached to the signs saying 'Except cycles'.
The Cycling England proposals could fuel tensions between motorists and cyclists.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: 'Many cyclists are motorists and many motorists are cyclists. Simple changes in the law that assume one party is in the wrong because of what they drive will not help harmony on the roads.'
A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'This is something that gets raised by pressure groups from time to time.
'Cycling England has proposed it, but it is not something that is being considered by ministers.'
darth sidious
New Member
When I was in Reading some 8.5 years ago, my main annoyance was that cyclists were using the pavement and footpaths! (anyone here know if they still do?)
If I had a pound for every time I was nearly hit by a bike on the pavement/footpath, I would be able to pay off the UK's credit deficit!
It happened once when I was walking by the riverside (Kennet, I think... I can't remember exactly!), a cyclist came and very nearly caused me to fall into the river! :-S
If I had a pound for every time I was nearly hit by a bike on the pavement/footpath, I would be able to pay off the UK's credit deficit!
It happened once when I was walking by the riverside (Kennet, I think... I can't remember exactly!), a cyclist came and very nearly caused me to fall into the river! :-S
mrtask
Well-Known Member
Nice reply there Ron.
I'm also a keen cyclist, and worked as a cycle messenger in central London for many years. I mostly obeyed the Highway Code, if I didn't it was in order to save my own skin, for example mounting the pavement to avoid being crushed by a motorist in a speeding vehicle. My personal pet hate as an experienced cyclist who is considerate of other road users; the idiots who try to impress me by attempting to 'track stand' on their bicycles while waiting at a junction, invariably wobbling to and fro and almost always slowly creeping beyond the traffic light, often into the path of the traffic crossing the junction. Not only is it really stupid, it doesn't look cool! I have had altercations with motorists who were out of their mind with incadescent road rage, but have rarely seen a cyclist flare up into a similarly inappropriate 'cyclists rage'. Mostly if I'm on my bike and a motorist honks and gesticulates angrily at me for daring to share thesame stretch of tarmac, I wave happily back and smile. This tends to disarm angry drivers, and thus helps avoid embarassing fisticuffs. On occasion I have had differences of opinion with licensed cab drivers, sometimes they've stepped out of their cab and put up their dukes. Fighting with cycling shoes (which have 'cleats' on the sole with which to 'clip in' to the pedals) isn't easy, but brandishing a 'D-lock' often calms these aggressive types down. A Kryptonite lock can also swiftly remove a car or taxi mirror, in a single swipe, if the driver has already proven that they don't use and therefore don't need their mirror.
The moronic and psycopathic driver of the fully-laden tipper truck who lost his rag and followed a working colleague of mine, chasing him along a pavement and in doing so destroying a handful of parked cars and shiop facades, before hospitalising my bike courier chum for many months after damn nearly killing him on the spot, escaped with a mild fine and a few points on his license, and was allowed to continue working as a driver. Don't get me started on the subject of drivers using their vehicles as deadly weapons. Stick up for the underdog. What harm can a cyclist do to you really? Not all that much. Look up the statistics concerning deaths caused by motor vehicles, and those caused by cyclists. Enough said!
Happy Rovering, give cyclists a wide berth, take your own bike out more often, they might look silly in lycra but motorists look equally silly stuck in traffic jams.
I'm also a keen cyclist, and worked as a cycle messenger in central London for many years. I mostly obeyed the Highway Code, if I didn't it was in order to save my own skin, for example mounting the pavement to avoid being crushed by a motorist in a speeding vehicle. My personal pet hate as an experienced cyclist who is considerate of other road users; the idiots who try to impress me by attempting to 'track stand' on their bicycles while waiting at a junction, invariably wobbling to and fro and almost always slowly creeping beyond the traffic light, often into the path of the traffic crossing the junction. Not only is it really stupid, it doesn't look cool! I have had altercations with motorists who were out of their mind with incadescent road rage, but have rarely seen a cyclist flare up into a similarly inappropriate 'cyclists rage'. Mostly if I'm on my bike and a motorist honks and gesticulates angrily at me for daring to share thesame stretch of tarmac, I wave happily back and smile. This tends to disarm angry drivers, and thus helps avoid embarassing fisticuffs. On occasion I have had differences of opinion with licensed cab drivers, sometimes they've stepped out of their cab and put up their dukes. Fighting with cycling shoes (which have 'cleats' on the sole with which to 'clip in' to the pedals) isn't easy, but brandishing a 'D-lock' often calms these aggressive types down. A Kryptonite lock can also swiftly remove a car or taxi mirror, in a single swipe, if the driver has already proven that they don't use and therefore don't need their mirror.
The moronic and psycopathic driver of the fully-laden tipper truck who lost his rag and followed a working colleague of mine, chasing him along a pavement and in doing so destroying a handful of parked cars and shiop facades, before hospitalising my bike courier chum for many months after damn nearly killing him on the spot, escaped with a mild fine and a few points on his license, and was allowed to continue working as a driver. Don't get me started on the subject of drivers using their vehicles as deadly weapons. Stick up for the underdog. What harm can a cyclist do to you really? Not all that much. Look up the statistics concerning deaths caused by motor vehicles, and those caused by cyclists. Enough said!
Happy Rovering, give cyclists a wide berth, take your own bike out more often, they might look silly in lycra but motorists look equally silly stuck in traffic jams.