Cyclists! Why do they ride in the middle of the road?
Discussion
will_ said:
Cycle paths are a tick box exercise for counsels. They're rarely done with proper consultation. It is indeed a waste of our money.
Even if done properly, they aren't going to be suitable for all riders.
A couple of years ago my local council put gravel down through the local woods that are popular with montain bikers, cleared some trees, put in a small gravel car park etc. the gates to said car park have remained chained up. The car park is now back to nature after never having any use and the gravel they put down all but gone. The mountain bikers continue to park up at the side of the road.Even if done properly, they aren't going to be suitable for all riders.
Some of the comments on here are both laughable and worrying.
Has it occurred to some people on here that you can actually drive/ ride a motorcycle and be a cyclist too FFS??
I have 3 cars and 2 motorcycles and drive 40-50k a year and are yet to find myself stuck behind push bikes. I also like to cycle as it keeps me fit and a ride out in the country is a nice way to unwind after work. Some of my regular route has cycle paths. If I'm on my mountain bike I will use it. If I'm on my road bike I won't. When I'm on the road bike I'm doing 30mph on that stretch anyway - too fast to be on a shared pavement oh, and the limit on the road anyway.
My regular route over the yeas has seen someone put their 4x4 into reverse and try to chase me down a lane, trying to back over me. Fortunately they couldn't reverse and went into the hedge. To this day I do not know why. I've had people cutting in so close or coming by so close that I have had to leave the road to avoid them (including a police car on one occasion that drove straight at me on a single track road whilst on the phone). I've been out with my wife on one occasion where she went left at a mini roundabout as a driver approached from the other direction to go right and took exception to this. I waited for him and then turned left after he exited the roundabout only to see him try to knock my wife off. I shouted and he stopped and had ago at me for pulling out infront of him on the roundabout - which I didn't, and how could I as I was behind him and he hadn't passed me? His s
t threatening driving went on for a while. On the fourth time he stopped, I got off the bike and put it to one side as I had had enough of him and had run out of patience. He jumped in and drove of at speed. He had just topped 3rd and changed into 4th (in a 20mph) when a post office transit nearly pulled all the way out in front of him..... Close call. On the flip side it has also seen plenty of normal drivers. I see it both ways though. Twice this week I've seen a couple of guys riding side by side on their road bikes and they stay like it even when traffic is behind them. We ride side by side on this road too when it's quiet but drop back to single when there are cars about. They're not even quick, I was catching them on my mountain bike before I turned off. Then there's the cars on narrow roads that despite you pulling right in to allow them to pass, they just sit there. I now do it a couple of times and if they are to stupid to be able to pass its their loss. No wonder some people can't pass tractors or slow lorries, they can't even cope with a push bike.
Edited by Gixer on Wednesday 16th April 15:51
will_ said:
73mark said:
I think a small amount but pay something.
Then you can have a say.
Other than Income tax, council tax, NI, VED and VAT you mean?Then you can have a say.
So if I pay more tax than you, do I have a bigger "say"?
In which case, how much in overall taxes did you pay last year for example?
Marvib said:
've seen this stated lots of times "You need to pass into the opposing lane to pass a single cyclist" or words to that effect.
The highway code actually says "give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car" now if I pass a car and leave 3 foot between myself and it why do I have to go into the opposing lane to give that same 3 foot margin when passing a cyclist?
It doesn't say "clearance", it says "room" (or "space" in the accompanying picture). The highway code actually says "give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car" now if I pass a car and leave 3 foot between myself and it why do I have to go into the opposing lane to give that same 3 foot margin when passing a cyclist?
Clearance:
Room:
will_ said:
I've only partially quoted you as I'm interested to understand that you meant by that particular phrase. That's not skewing your comments.
When I see someone complaining about cyclists not allowing them to easily overtake, I generally assume that what they actually mean is that the cyclist didn't allow the to dangerously overtake by squeezing past and not leaving sufficient room. Obviously a proper, safe overtake requires more thought, consideration and planning and is therefore less "easy" - and deliberately so, for the cyclists' safety.
Those who can only overtake cyclists when it's easy (i.e. dangerous) are probably very poor drivers generally.
My original post now edited. When I see someone complaining about cyclists not allowing them to easily overtake, I generally assume that what they actually mean is that the cyclist didn't allow the to dangerously overtake by squeezing past and not leaving sufficient room. Obviously a proper, safe overtake requires more thought, consideration and planning and is therefore less "easy" - and deliberately so, for the cyclists' safety.
Those who can only overtake cyclists when it's easy (i.e. dangerous) are probably very poor drivers generally.
73mark said:
Mr Will said:
So how much "road tax" should they pay, in your opinion? The same as a small car - say a Kia Picanto or similar?
I think a small amount but pay something.Then you can have a say.
So you're actually paying for my bike. Thanks.
Oh, I don't pay car tax for my car either, and it does around 18mpg. So f
k you.MiseryStreak said:
73mark said:
Mr Will said:
So how much "road tax" should they pay, in your opinion? The same as a small car - say a Kia Picanto or similar?
I think a small amount but pay something.Then you can have a say.
So you're actually paying for my bike. Thanks.
Oh, I don't pay car tax for my car either, and it does around 18mpg. So f
k you.k you ah ah.will_ said:
OpulentBob said:
will_ said:
OpulentBob said:
will_ said:
Mr SFJ said:
I know that not many riders do this but it fks me off when cyclists run red lights, yet complain when they get hit off?
When has that happened?ks me off when cyclists run red lights, yet complain when they get hit off?A study in London showed that only 5% of cycling fatalities involved a cyclist running a red light.
If they were better drivers, maybe it would be 0%?
Massive, unsupported presumption on your part.
Angry lycraman, indeed.
Irony.
You're SO desperate to be offended/insulted, aren't you?
I'm usually found defending cyclists. But not the angry militant types (which you, I'm afraid to say, appear to be).
Anyway, I'm 3 minutes from walking out the office, unlocking my bike, and riding several miles, away from roads, buses, and the nasty nasty drivers out to kill me at any opportunity.
73mark said:
Mr Will said:
So how much "road tax" should they pay, in your opinion? The same as a small car - say a Kia Picanto or similar?
I think a small amount but pay something.Then you can have a say.
I already tax 3 cars (at high rates) and 2 motorbikes thanks. Think I contribute more than enough. Anyway it's NOT road tax is it. As a fully paid up member of society, I can already have my say thanks
73mark said:
No just bored and rich
Couldn't have won much or you have a pretty st life if you did. Lovely sunny afternoon and you're sitting on the Internet bored. I'd be up flying about or out in one of my cars, on a road trip, or power kiting on the beach, or kayaking or, god forbid out for a nice cycle ride if I wasn't working. Gixer said:
73mark said:
No just bored and rich
Couldn't have won much or you have a pretty st life if you did. Lovely sunny afternoon and you're sitting on the Internet bored. I'd be up flying about or out in one of my cars, on a road trip, or power kiting on the beach, or kayaking or, god forbid out for a nice cycle ride if I wasn't working. Done everything else.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff