Reply to: About time too!

[SueEllen]

How many of you with a negative view on cycling have actually ridden a bike on the road recently or regularly?

Some of attitudes/opinions voiced on here would change if you actually tried it for yourself.

"The Highway Code is essential reading for everyone. The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, particularly children, older or disabled people, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. It is important that all road users are aware of The Highway Code and are considerate towards each other."

I would advise several of you actually take the time to sit down and read the highway code particularly the bit about vulnerable road users.

You also might want to look here - UK Road Cycling Laws and Rules Explained - you may not like it but it's the law unless you think dangerous driving is ok?

Oh p*ss off.

If you want car/van drivers to respect you lecturing them about reading the highway code won't work.

You have to get them on a bike or preferably get on of their kids on a bike. Then when they imagine every cyclist could be their kid they drive with more consideration.

HGV drivers get this as part of their further training.

Also some cyclists until they drive don't realise how bad visibility is in some cars and how stupid some of their actions are. For example you can't expect a driver to be looking out for you on the inside on an entrance to a roundabout so you should as a cyclist take primary position.

[original PM]

How many of you with a negative view on cycling have actually ridden a bike on the road recently or regularly?

Some of attitudes/opinions voiced on here would change if you actually tried it for yourself.

"The Highway Code is essential reading for everyone. The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, particularly children, older or disabled people, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. It is important that all road users are aware of The Highway Code and are considerate towards each other."

I would advise several of you actually take the time to sit down and read the highway code particularly the bit about vulnerable road users.

You also might want to look here - UK Road Cycling Laws and Rules Explained - you may not like it but it's the law unless you think dangerous driving is ok?

It is more about the fact that as a cyclist you are vulnerable and so need to take care not to put yourself in a position of peril.

Quoting the cycling laws wont help if you end up smeared across the road.

Accidents happen its why they are called accidents.

[AV101]

How many of you with a negative view on cycling have actually ridden a bike on the road recently or regularly?

Some of attitudes/opinions voiced on here would change if you actually tried it for yourself.

"The Highway Code is essential reading for everyone. The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, particularly children, older or disabled people, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. It is important that all road users are aware of The Highway Code and are considerate towards each other."

I would advise several of you actually take the time to sit down and read the highway code particularly the bit about vulnerable road users.

You also might want to look here - UK Road Cycling Laws and Rules Explained - you may not like it but it's the law unless you think dangerous driving is ok?

[Hobosapien]

As a temporary resident in Cambridge I find the sense of entitlement at owning and riding a bike there overrides any common sense to have lights, wear reflective/hi-vis clothing, or behave as if a car could actually kill you if you decide to weave into the road without looking to overtake another cyclist. I appreciate that they really don't like cars in cambridge (£16 to park for a day?) but that doesn't make cyclist immortal.

And as for undertaking lorries on a bike, only someone determined to win a Darwin award should even contemplate it!

They're used to taking a punt in Cambridge.

As for the lorry problem, maybe they should have a giant 'hold back' hand on a stick that comes out the side when the lorry is stopped. Then we can watch funny clips of cyclists getting whacked if they time it just wrong to be approaching the rear of the lorry when the hand comes out. Sometimes problems are so easy to fix.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

They are shared use paths.

If it is safe to cycle on the path you use it and if it isn't you use the road.

Yes but ostensibly they're still pavements. They haven't been widened or anything.

It would be all too easy to be wandering along with your headphones in and blunder into the path of a bike coming up behind you.

Fecking stupid idea.

[SueEllen]

They seem to be turning the pavements into cycle paths round here with the net result that pedestrians are getting p!ssed off with nearly getting mowed down by cyclists while motorists are still peed off by all the cyclists who refuse to go on the pavement.

They are shared use paths.

If it is safe to cycle on the path you use it and if it isn't you use the road.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

As a temporary resident in Cambridge I find the sense of entitlement at owning and riding a bike there overrides any common sense to have lights, wear reflective/hi-vis clothing, or behave as if a car could actually kill you if you decide to weave into the road without looking to overtake another cyclist. I appreciate that they really don't like cars in cambridge (£16 to park for a day?) but that doesn't make cyclist immortal.

And as for undertaking lorries on a bike, only someone determined to win a Darwin award should even contemplate it!

They seem to be turning the pavements into cycle paths round here with the net result that pedestrians are getting p!ssed off with nearly getting mowed down by cyclists while motorists are still peed off by all the cyclists who refuse to go on the pavement.

[Pherlopolus]

As a temporary resident in Cambridge I find the sense of entitlement at owning and riding a bike there overrides any common sense to have lights, wear reflective/hi-vis clothing, or behave as if a car could actually kill you if you decide to weave into the road without looking to overtake another cyclist. I appreciate that they really don't like cars in cambridge (£16 to park for a day?) but that doesn't make cyclist immortal.

And as for undertaking lorries on a bike, only someone determined to win a Darwin award should even contemplate it!

[The_Equalizer]

One thing I have noticed in North Wales is that about 25% of drivers ignore zebra crossings. In London it is much lower - maybe 1%.

In Northern Ireland they don't bother with indicators and are happy to skip red lights, neither seen much in London these days. I think it's something to do with the chances of getting caught in the latter are much greater.

[Pip in a Poke]

It doesn't do your bit for the environment if you make other peoples' clothes dirty so they have to wash them sooner than expected, and the train needs more chemicals and water to clean it due to your muddy bike being on it.

You've obviously never seen the state of ATW's rolling stock

[SueEllen]

Right. I wasn't going to mention it but seeing as you have then I will.

Item: First and foremost, I ride a cycle for the benefit of my health but, yes, I do also feel that cycling helps me do my bit for the environment so I sport my "One less car" sticker with pride.

Item: I do not ride a cycle to get stuck behind a line of traffic breathing in filthy fumes so I will cycle to the front - up the inside or round the outside of the queue - whether you like it or not and yes, it's my entitlement.

It doesn't do your bit for the environment if you make other peoples' clothes dirty so they have to wash them sooner than expected, and the train needs more chemicals and water to clean it due to your muddy bike being on it.

[SueEllen]

One thing I have noticed in North Wales is that about 25% of drivers ignore zebra crossings. In London it is much lower - maybe 1%.

In London due to the number of dumb walkers, while driving you are alert to pedestrians walking out on you at random times regardless if there is a crossing there or not. So to save time you stop for them even though if you run them over when it isn't a zebra crossing or the crossing light isn't green, you aren't liable as long as you stop.

[BrilloPad]

Only if they step on them.

Most people aren't that dumb due to the couple that have been killed.

One thing I have noticed in North Wales is that about 25% of drivers ignore zebra crossings. In London it is much lower - maybe 1%.

[Pip in a Poke]

Two choices here:
1 - buy a car for the whole journey, thus avoiding the train altogether.
2 - get a lift / taxi / bus or walk to the station.

And you know where you can stick your sense of moral entitlement.

Right. I wasn't going to mention it but seeing as you have then I will.

Item: First and foremost, I ride a cycle for the benefit of my health but, yes, I do also feel that cycling helps me do my bit for the environment so I sport my "One less car" sticker with pride.

Item: I do not ride a cycle to get stuck behind a line of traffic breathing in filthy fumes so I will cycle to the front - up the inside or round the outside of the queue - whether you like it or not and yes, it's my entitlement.

[SueEllen]

You should, pedestrians have priority on zebra crossings.

Only if they step on them.

Most people aren't that dumb due to the couple that have been killed.