Cyclist jailed for pavement death

[rf065]

I passed an idiot bike rider , lycra clad

Those ones are the worst, just look at their responses on here to their rubber & lycra fetish, no sense of humour at all.

Russ

 

[Druk]

Its blokes like you that i catch perving at my ar$e at the traffic lights that makes me scared :bannana:

Best enjoyed in the rain.

 

[mirras]

Those ones are the worst, just look at their responses on here to their rubber & lycra fetish, no sense of humour at all.

Russ

Me thinks you're taking this a bit too far... where did rubber get a mention ? The lad he doth protest too much.

 

[SilverSaloon]

i never realised you could get insurance for a cycle....

i wonder how many people actually do have it though....

well done for having it yourself. i totally agree there are plenty of good cyclists out there that i see everyday, but in my experience of edinburgh city centre, for every 3 cyclists who stop correctly at the red lights, 2 seconds later some idiot cycles past them and across the red light at speed....

another serious cycle incident i noticed the other day was a guy coming from across the pavement around St James shopping centre, down the hilly bit, across the wide pavement, straight into the road (in front of me and others + buses!) and across the road into the central crossing area and across the other side of the road and back onto the pavement. All at around 25+ mph. shocking

 

[Smatt]

Me thinks you're taking this a bit too far... where did rubber get a mention ? The lad he doth protest too much.

? rubber in the tyres maybe
Oh, no! Don't cars have tyres too?

 

[dougal74]

Good, except seven months is hardly commensurate.

But well done to the CPS to actually find a law to charge him under. Given they went back to an 1861 statute it can't have been easy.

 

[mirras]

? rubber in the tyres maybe
Oh, no! Don't cars have tyres too?

Oh heavens, you do have issues, now you're a tyre fetishist?

 

[Mr E]

i totally agree there are plenty of good cyclists out there that i see everyday, but in my experience of edinburgh city centre, for every 3 cyclists who stop correctly at the red lights, 2 seconds later some idiot cycles past them and across the red light at speed....

I had to do my infrequent drive to Waterloo this week - out of an uncounted (but at a minimum 50) cyclists met morning and evening, TWO stopped at red lights while everyone else just ploughed on through. On more than one occasion I thought I'd be reaching for the first aid pack in the back of the car.

The most mind-boggling was the cyclist ranting at the bus driver who had the audacity to drive down a one-way street and point at the sign the numpty on two wheels was ignoring (I was walking from the car park to the office at the time). Unbelievable.

But that was topped by the guy on a motorbike who, whilst I was overtaking in lane 3 at an indicated 75, overtook me as if I was stationary.

What is it about two wheels that makes person behave in such a way?

 

[Biscuit]

What is it about two wheels that makes person behave in such a way?

Oi.... I saw a chavved up corsa driving like a utter **** this morning, what is about four wheels that makes a person behave in such a way?

generalisations are pretty useless in my example too.



Biscuit
user of two feet, bus, two unmotorised wheels,three unmotorised wheels, motorbike and car.

 

[Carrotchomper]

i never realised you could get insurance for a cycle....

i wonder how many people actually do have it though....

Not many I suspect. Basically, because my road bike would be £800 to replace I have seperate insurance for theft anywhere- Since it's a specialist cycle insurer they also cover public liability for a small extra premium.

It's a really good addition to the policy- Covers any damage/injury caused by the bike (and me on it!). TBH it's peace of mind because I'm simply not the kind of person who would leg it if I inadvertantly caused either.

The insurance company also does "Breakdown" cover for bikes where you can be picked up if it breaks

 

[Stratman]

Can you give us a rough idea of the premium?

The reason that some cyclists (mostly the 'serious' types making good progress) use the road when a cycle lane is available is the relative conditions of the surfaces. Cycle lanes are poorly maintained, if at all, and tend to collect nappies, cans, bottles and the rest of the jetsam thrown from cars. They also have annoying breaks in them, which is a big no-no if you've got a good rhythm going in top gear.

Before someone screams "But who pays for all this?" the answer is "I do", as the owner of a taxed car. I consider that some of the tax that I have paid can be spent on cycle lanes because I don't use the car 24/7 and therefore there is some 'spare tax' going begging.

 

[219]

Can you give us a rough idea of the premium?

The reason that some cyclists (mostly the 'serious' types making good progress) use the road when a cycle lane is available is the relative conditions of the surfaces. Cycle lanes are poorly maintained, if at all, and tend to collect nappies, cans, bottles and the rest of the jetsam thrown from cars. They also have annoying breaks in them, which is a big no-no if you've got a good rhythm going in top gear.

Whilst I do appreciate that , the argument does not apply in the case of the Aberdeenshire lane I mentioned : the 1st phase of the lane he was ignoring is brand new , with a tarmac surface in better condition than the road he was cycling on (up a steepish gradient and at a much lower speed than the motorised traffic on the dual carriageway) although there are a few junctions and access roads that the lane crosses all are perfectly levelled off , nor is litter or debris an issue ; a further phase a couple of miles further on is yet to be completed .

The lane on the west side of Edinburgh which I mentioned is older , with a few 'bumps' here and there , but still a decent enough surface - I have used it many times myself , and I maintained decent enough progress on my mountain bike fitted with road tyres . One would think the 'anti-car' local government in Edinburgh would gladly maintain it better but , just the same , it is unquestionably safer to cycle in a separate lane , with a metre or more of grass separating you from traffic whizzing by at 70mph , than mixing it with cars , vans , buses and HGV's all travelling at speed inches away , some only seeing you when the vehicle in front passes .

The compelling reason for these lanes being provided is surely SAFETY - separating cyclists from other traffic , firstly and foremost is for their own protection : in the event of a collision the car driver might suffer a dented wing , but the cyclist could very well end up DEAD . I'd also take the view that , in the event of such a collision , no matter the circumstances , a cyclist who deliberately ignores a cycle lane provided for his/her safety and rides on the road is 110% at fault since the collision would otherwise not have happened . In my view , use of cycle lanes , where available , should be MANDATORY , just like seat belts .

Although I don't cycle as much as I used to - partly due to a combination of needing a vehicle for work most days and being further from work now , I still use a combination of bike/train a couple of times a month when I can . I also cycle recreationally in the summer months , just recently bought a 'trail buggy' for our 1 year old so we can take him out with us ( away from traffic ) .

I'm one of the majority who don't have insurance for the bike , but would consider it if the cost is modest ?

I do feel that the reason disobedience of traffic rules is so prevalent amongst so many bike riders is anonymity . Again I would be happy to pay a reasonable 'road tax' as a cyclist which would cover the cost of registration and wear a reflective tabard with a 'registration mark' on the back . Making this compulsory would effectively wipe out the majority of bad cycling overnight since the culprits would be 'caught on camera' in most cities and fined since they could be identified and held accountable . The 'registration number' to be displayed could be as simple as the rider's postcode and house number .

I know that some might argue that the costs associated with such a scheme would be a disincentive against cycling , but cyclists would still reap the health benefits , be able to avoid parking charges and , in many cases , enjoy a shorter journey time .

 

[rf065]

The reason that some cyclists (mostly the 'serious' types making good progress) use the road when a cycle lane is available is the relative conditions of the surfaces. Cycle lanes are poorly maintained, if at all,

Sorry, that is no excuse.
If the roads are full of pot holes, should cars use the footpaths?
Some cyclists are without doubt the most selfish people on the roads today.

Russ

 

[wemorgan]

Cyclist are allowed to use the roads too, despite cycle lanes being on offer.

It may seem crass for a cyclist to use the road where a cycle lane is on offer. But there may be a host of reasons why that's the case, selfishness may be one of them, but not often I suspect.

Upsetting motorists is not often at the front of a cyclist's mind.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

It also annoys me when cycle lanes are provided at great taxpayers' expense and moron bike riders refuse to use them

THIS!

I have cycled virtually every day of my life, I like my bikes but the total ****'s who stay on the road because they think its there right is one of my biggest , that and cyclists swinging their arms out without looking and moving into the centre of the road without looking.

Here in Cambridge there is somthing like 10,000 bikes during the summer aswell.

 

[219]

Cyclist are allowed to use the roads too, despite cycle lanes being on offer.

It may seem crass for a cyclist to use the road where a cycle lane is on offer. But there may be a host of reasons why that's the case, selfishness may be one of them, but not often I suspect.

Upsetting motorists is not often at the front of a cyclist's mind.

Hmmm ,

it is also not actually illegal for a pedestrian to walk down a busy road , even though there might be a footpath at the side - but few do as it would be suicidal ! Besides that , there is advice in the Highway Code , right at the beginning " Where there is a footpath : USE IT " .

Although cyclists are not legally obliged to use cycle lanes where they are provided - THEY OUGHT TO BE . I have no problem with my taxes being used to provide facilities for cycling ( even if I didn't cycle , I still wouldn't ) , BUT , when bike riders choose to ignore facilities , both putting themselves in danger and impeding traffic flow , one tends to reconsider that opinion and so will elected members who allocate funding for such schemes .

I've never started one before , but I can feel a pettition to 'No 10' coming on : something along the lines of " Regulation of cyclists on the highways " . The government just might be receptive to an untapped source of revenue .

 

[mirras]

I've never started one before , but I can feel a pettition to 'No 10' coming on : something along the lines of " Regulation of cyclists on the highways " . The government just might be receptive to an untapped source of revenue .

They can't even get folk in cars to pay insurance before they run into the side of folk's property how would they enforce regulation on us cyclists?

 

[Biscuit]

I tried using the A4 out of london the other day on the pedal bike and the cycle lane was ridiculously dangerous.

they'd put it up on the pavement (where i thought cycles weren't supposed to be?) so that you had to contend with pedestrians - didnt seem to be a clear line or demarkation of what went where.

but worse by far was every time you met a minor road intersecting with the A4 at right angles the cycle lane just ended a few feet away from the live lane of the A4 and seemed to spit you out into traffic turning right off the A4 and then into the path of traffic about to join it.

needless to say it was a hideous experience, i almost got knocked off twice and got some helpful hand gestures from drivers rolleyes and so gave up and came home. complete waste of money on Hounlow/Brentfords part.

 

[mirras]

It's a pity not all areas are as well seved with seperate cycle path as we are in Ayrshire. Thanks to Sustrans, there are many well kept paths for miles around. It makes cycling a pleasure. There are still some areas where pedestrians and cyclists have to compete for space and some of the pedestrians could do with a lesson on passing safely. The occasional times I am on road are always heart in mouth stuff as I have already been hit by a passing driver who didn't even stop long enough to see if I was ok. If the government / councils / everyone else wants safe walking and cycling then lots more seperate cycle / foot paths should be a priority.

 

[219]

Yes , we are very lucky to have a few disused railways that have been turned into cycle paths , and designated cycle routes on certain back roads which link up with them - great !

Some of the esplanades on the seaside resorts are also marked out with cycle lanes , but there you do have to watch out for pedestrians who walk anywhere .

I sometimes cycle on parts of the A737 which goes past my house - only when the road is relatively quiet - but it is scary , even just for a couple of miles - the alternative is a back road detour which is much longer and involves some steep hills .