Rude cyclists

[Ratz]

I cycle almost every day along a busy dual carriageway to work in the centre of Manchester and believe me cycle lanes are by no means a guarantee of safety - in fact more often than not they are seen as optional for motorists , whether I am there or not. I stop at all red lights, go on most of the available cycle lanes(the ones that aren't littered with broken glass) and try to ride as I would like cyclists to when I am driving my car.

I would make one rather large point though, if I am on my bike and I make a mistake I can at worst scratch/dent your car - if you make a mistake I can be dead. Perhaps remembering that inequity would be more useful than complaining about journey times being lengthened by a few seconds.

 

[Colin_b]

What's wrong with compulsory helmets for cyclists.?
The subject of safety has been taken out of the motorists hands with seat belts, child car seats, mobile phone bans and Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets .

Helmets would seem sensible. You have to have one for a moped, and that is a lot slower than a pushbike.

 

[masqueraid]

Rude cyclists who use the road poorly/rude motorists who use the road poorly. Both are out there, both are hopefully in the minority but do get used to stereotype their innocent colleagues.

Locally some of our cycle lanes seem to be an excuse to ignore the condition of the edge of the road. If you value your suspension you wouldn't want to drive in them, let alone cycle.

 

[Spinal]

Wait... helmets are NOT compulsory for cyclists?!?!

While I'm sure *** was not serious for a minute, there is a reason why cyclists were voted the most hated road users. Whilst they demand everyone yields to them, at the same time they show no consideration to anyone else on the road. Maybe if cyclists changed their behaviour, others would see them in a different light and in return show more courtesy towards them. The ball is in your court as they say.

Russ

It seems to me like you're saying it's fine to damage other people's property as long as you are sufficiently in danger... Cyclists CHOOSE to ride a bicycle in the middle of to road, no-one forces them to. Cyclists CHOOSE to demand cycle lanes, then whinge about the lanes being unsafe. If a car driver can be taxed into oblivion because he/she is driving a vehicle which uses more fuel/emits more CO2 - why is a cyclist allowed to do anything they please without any regard for other road users (or the law?)

 

[Ratz]

All the cyclists I know own a car and therefore pay their road tax as well as not using the road as much as they might. As one of their number I am subsidising those who drive their cars all the time, so let's not go down that road so to speak... I have no problem with anyone doing what they wish in terms of their travel arrangements, but I do get irritated by sweeping generalisations.

 

[Dieselman]

Wait... helmets are NOT compulsory for cyclists?!?!

And..??

It seems to me like you're saying it's fine to damage other people's property as long as you are sufficiently in danger... Cyclists CHOOSE to ride a bicycle in the middle of to road, no-one forces them to. Cyclists CHOOSE to demand cycle lanes, then whinge about the lanes being unsafe. If a car driver can be taxed into oblivion because he/she is driving a vehicle which uses more fuel/emits more CO2 - why is a cyclist allowed to do anything they please without any regard for other road users (or the law?)

You are wrong. Cyclists don't demand cycle lanes, it's the car drivers whinging about them being on the road forces councils to install patetically inadequate pathways, which are one step below usless. You cannot ride at any reasonable speed on a proper road bike on cycle lanes, they are useless.

Much to the disgust of SOME bigoted car drivers, cyclist have a greater right to the road that they do. It's an automatic right, unlike driving a car. There were cyclists a long time before there were car drivers.

The edges of roads are dangerous places to ride a bike due to all the sunken drains and cracks in the surface, so it's logical to move out just past these.

As a rider and driver I really can't understand the problem for car drivers, just give a little room as the law says you should.!

 

[Dieselman]

While I'm sure *** was not serious for a minute, there is a reason why cyclists were voted the most hated road users. Whilst they demand everyone yields to them, at the same time they show no consideration to anyone else on the road. Maybe if cyclists changed their behaviour, others would see them in a different light and in return show more courtesy towards them. The ball is in your court as they say.

Russ

I've never read such Guff in my life.
Voted the most hated by whom.? Cyclists.?

Once again a car driver demanding their right to act just how they want on the road 'Because I pay VED and drive my shiney car'.

As a cyclist you have no option but to give way to car drivers, even/especially when they cut you up, pull out from junctions on you, swerve into the kerb to block you, overtake then turn left, drive onto roundabouts you are already on, etc....the list goes on and on...

Try riding a bike and you will see all these actions within the first ten miles of your journey.

When I collected my new bike I only got 200 metres before nearly being collected head on by a car driver turning across me into a side street. She stopped and I swerved into the street she was turning into. It was close.

 

[rf065]

When I collected my new bike I only got 200 metres before nearly being collected head on by a car driver turning across me into a side street. She stopped and I swerved into the street she was turning into. It was close.

I'm sure her side of the story is very different to yours.
Another cyclist causing mayhem on the roads perhaps?

Russ

 

[Dieselman]

I'm sure her side of the story is very different to yours.
Another cyclist causing mayhem on the roads perhaps?

Russ

Crikey, you're worse than I thought . She may share exactly the same view as you do, but she'd be wrong, just as you are.

She turned across the carriageway to turn into a side road, crossing my carriageway. If she had indeed hit me and I was injured she would have been looking at a charge of driving without due care.

The law applies even if you only hit a cyclist.....they are protected in law, just like other road users.

 

[rf065]

Crikey, you're worse than I thought . She may share exactly the same view as you do, but she'd be wrong, just as you are.

She turned across the carriageway to turn into a side road, crossing my carriageway. If she had indeed hit me and I was injured she would have been looking at a charge of driving without due care.

The law applies even if you only hit a cyclist.....they are protected in law, just like other road users.

thats the other problem cyclists have.................

no sense of humour :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

Russ

 

[Dieselman]

thats the other problem cyclists have.................

no sense of humour :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

Russ

LOl..

 

[gina2201]

Being a vulnerable road user myself, especially when on my horse, I would like to think I was quite observant when driving a car, I always anticipate a pedestrian/horse/dog/cyclist around the corner, because where I live, they are bound to be there! I always wait behind and overtake as and when safe, and it doesn't bother me, I know when I'm on my horse a little bit of patience is much appreciated!

 

[Dieselman]

Ah, horses. Well they should be in fields or on racetracks..... Definately THE WORST place to be following a horse is in a horsebox.

Gee, do the drivers drive slowly then, but never give way or move over....

 

[gina2201]

Ah, horses. Well they should be in fields or on racetracks..... Definately THE WORST place to be following a horse is in a horsebox.

Gee, do the drivers drive slowly then, but never give way or move over....

Possibly because horses often think they have arrived when the trailer or box stops and start kicking the box and being fidgety, so that maybe a reason for them not pulling over. When Norman arrived he had ripped up this woman's rubber matting floor! Oops!

 

[oldcro]

Originally posted by Dieselman
Much to the disgust of SOME bigoted car drivers, cyclist have a greater right to the road that they do. It's an automatic right, unlike driving a car. There were cyclists a long time before there were car drivers.

So cyclists have a greater right to the road due them being around long before car drivers. This must mean that pedestrians have the greatest right to walk in the road than anyone as they have been walking for thousands of years not a couple of hundred.

Try cycling down a motorway and see where automatic rights get you.

If there are cycle tracks then use them. If the cycle tracks are not maintained in a safe condition then complain to the local council.

Rant over.

 

[Ratz]

If there are cycle tracks then use them. If the cycle tracks are not maintained in a safe condition then complain to the local council.

Rant over.

Complaining to councils achieves such a lot of course, and in the meantime should we clog the roads with our cars instead and increase the congestion you encounter?

Ride a bike for a few weeks in rush hour, on the cycle tracks etc. and then see if your opinion remains the same.

 

[xpc316e]

Take care of cyclists - with fuel & VED as expensive as they are, it might not be that long before you become one.

 

[gina2201]

I think horse and cart should make a comeback....

 

[Dieselman]

So cyclists have a greater right to the road due them being around long before car drivers.
Try cycling down a motorway and see where automatic rights get you.

If there are cycle tracks then use them. If the cycle tracks are not maintained in a safe condition then complain to the local council.

Yes cyclist do have an automatic right to use the roads, cars don't. Pretty simple really.
Pedestrians do as well, which is why you're meant to give way to them if you encounter one on the road, or maybe you just wipe them up with gay abandon...
Just to really rub it in animals also have greater rights on the road than cars or do you just plough through a herd of cows when you meet them.?

As has already been mentioned using cycle paths is not compulsory, nor even especially advised in the highway code.
Motorways are special roads and not all vehicles or drivers can use them. Not a good example to use.

 

[oldcro]

Yes cyclist do have an automatic right to use the roads, cars don't. Pretty simple really.
Pedestrians do as well, which is why you're meant to give way to them if you encounter one on the road, or maybe you just wipe them up with gay abandon...
Just to really rub it in animals also have greater rights on the road than cars or do you just plough through a herd of cows when you meet them.?

As has already been mentioned using cycle paths is not compulsory, nor even especially advised in the highway code.
Motorways are special roads and not all vehicles or drivers can use them. Not a good example to use.

Rule 47.