The " war on the motorist"

[FiF]

mdavids said:

HertsBiiker said:

I get held up for a few seconds, it's still too much.

So you have completely unrealistic expectations of reality, no wonder you feel like there's a war against you and every traffic jam has a cyclist at the head of it. You massive fruit loop.

Perhaps it's an explanation why we sometimes see some road users put themselves in positions of danger simply for the sake of saving a few seconds

[v12Legs]

WinstonWolf said:

GPSHead said:

Devil2575 said:

v12Legs said:

Are some people seriously blaming congestion and traffic jams on cyclists?
That's some rather odd reasoning.

People frequently decide who is to blame first then simply try to find the evidence that proves it. This frequently results in what could be described as odd reasoning.

Ah, you're a cyclist. That explains a few things.

So am I. And when I'm cycling there are three fully taxed vehicles not using the road. You should be thankful

This is something I often struggle with.
Why can't people see that more people cycling is better for everyone - even people who will never, ever cycle.

Every person who chooses to cycle rather than drive is doing the remaining drivers a favour. They should thank us.

[irocfan]

v12Legs said:

Every person who chooses to cycle rather than drive is doing the remaining drivers a favour. They should thank us.

[v12Legs]

irocfan said:

v12Legs said:

Every person who chooses to cycle rather than drive is doing the remaining drivers a favour. They should thank us.

That's more like it.

[Horse Pop]

I <3 Cyclists. Except when they do a fake peloton at rush hour. Eejits.

[Foppo]

I don't think it's a war more of a necessity to change our transport habits.

We need far more and better public transport.The Center of any town should be for pedestrians.The way motorised travel is increasing none of us will be able to move soon .London is a good example of gridlock.Paris is going to ban Diesels in the future slowly but surely it will change.Back to horse and cart.>

[Devil2575]

HertsBiker said:

You wouldn't be troubled at all if no one went past you. It's all the other poor sods queueing behind the one who is too scared to overtake you. And as a cyclist, you don't cover the distance to see the problems that are behind you. I cycle, but I choose not to do it in rush hour. Reminds me, I have some replies to do in a mo to someone...

Not what I meant. I have never held up a queue because someone was scared to pass except when it genuinely wasn't safe to overtake.

[Devil2575]

aw51 121565 said:

How much CO2 does your cycling generate above and beyond the usual/normal "living" exhalations from your good self? Ditto your excess CO2 emissions when cycling versus those from your car when driving an identical journey?

Regards the latter - as an Environmental Scientist - I wouldn't worry (consider the pollution caused by the construction of your car!) ; but cycling isn't the silver bullet for CO2 emissions arising from personal transportation, I'd suggest .

Large organised events such as The London Marathon produce significant localised CO2 emissions... Yet I haven't seen anyone trying to regulate this particular source of plant feed recently!?!

Yes, I am being facetious! (and )

Is this post serious? If it is then you need to reconsider your job in science

[Devil2575]

mdavids said:

HertsBiker said:

I get held up for a few seconds, it's still too much.

So you have completely unrealistic expectations of reality, no wonder you feel like there's a war against you and every traffic jam has a cyclist at the head of it. You massive fruit loop.

Indeed. I mean seriously, who the fk do you think you are?

Get over yourself

[Batfink]

I have two cars and I choose to cycle to work whenever I can. Time wise its not much quicker by car. Its certainly not as convenient and I have to plan what I carry but I carry about 9kg of stuff everyday including a rather antique laptop.

I leave work clothing at work in a drawer

I get wet and I get cold through winter and i've had to buy specialist clothing to cycle all year round in relative comfort but it means I can own a car thats more a hobby. I do get hot in summer but I dont ride very slow. Mudguards are vital though as well as overshoes for winter.

It can never really match the convenience of a car but it can be a pleasant ride if you want it to be. Even in traffic.

As for the perceived danger. There are risks and you have to keep your wits about you but I dont feel unsafe. If you cycle while thinking about how car drivers will interact then you can avoid most dangerous situations.

I do laugh at comments about cyclists causing traffic jams. I've been on straight roads with no oncoming traffic and had people refusing to overtake, even with me slowing, moving as close to the curb as possible and waving them to go past. Some people cannot determine the width of their vehicle. Its their fault. They probably cause an issue everytime they are behind the wheel. Not to say there are not rude cyclists, just not a proportionately high number.

My issue with my car ownership is then the amount I pay for a car I hardly use. Its certainly more a waste of money paying for tax and insurance for a car not used daily. I did laugh at one insurance quote for my classic car of £800 a year. It worked out about £10 a mile. At least fuel cost is based on usage

Edited by Batfink on Tuesday 30th December 13:09

[HertsBiker]

Devil2575 said:

mdavids said:

HertsBiker said:

I get held up for a few seconds, it's still too much.

So you have completely unrealistic expectations of reality, no wonder you feel like there's a war against you and every traffic jam has a cyclist at the head of it. You massive fruit loop.

Indeed. I mean seriously, who the fk do you think you are?

Get over yourself

I think I've paid to use the road enough to be able to use it without being held up by people who don't pay tax at the same rate I have to pay it. It's a question of fairness. Pay more, should get more.

[WinstonWolf]

HertsBiker said:

Devil2575 said:

mdavids said:

HertsBiker said:

I get held up for a few seconds, it's still too much.

So you have completely unrealistic expectations of reality, no wonder you feel like there's a war against you and every traffic jam has a cyclist at the head of it. You massive fruit loop.

Indeed. I mean seriously, who the fk do you think you are?

Get over yourself

I think I've paid to use the road enough to be able to use it without being held up by people who don't pay tax at the same rate I have to pay it. It's a question of fairness. Pay more, should get more.

I tax three vehicles all year round, get off MY fking roads then.

[heebeegeetee]

HertsBiker said:

I think I've paid to use the road enough to be able to use it without being held up by people who don't pay tax at the same rate I have to pay it. It's a question of fairness. Pay more, should get more.

When I was a cyclist, I was paying £3,000 a year in vehicle tax. When I was cycling, not one of my vehicles would be on the road.

How much tax do you pay?

As I've said before, Mark Webber and Jenson Button are both keen cyclists. One lives in the UK, one is a tax exile. How much tax do they pay and what difference do the bicycles make?

When you see a cyclist, what makes you think you know how much tax they pay?

[heebeegeetee]

HertsBiker said:

How do you work that out? Check my user name. I ride proper bikes with engines. I get snarled up in heavy traffic because of cyclists holding up cars.

I think you're a liar. I don't think you've ever been "snarled up in heavy traffic because of cyclists holding up cars" to any great degree at all.

I can't see how you can be much different from me in our motoring, except I probably cause more congestion than you because I don't ride a motorcycle, but I've driven pretty much all over the UK in a variety of vehicles and I have *never* seen congestion - *never* seen heavy traffic due to cyclists, ever.

You're going to have to tell me where you get "snarled up in heavy traffic because of cyclists holding up cars" and if it's in the uk I promise you I will go there and see it for myself.

I see heavy traffic every time I go out in my car in the working week, and have done so for every working day of my 40 working years, but its *never, ever* been caused by cyclists.

You tell me where this snarled up heavy traffic forms behind cyclists and I promise you I'll check it out in 2015 and report back. I have one idea where you could mean, but lets see what you come up with, eh?

[WinstonWolf]

Actually I'm riding in this in June, 132KM of closed roads

http://www.tourofcambridgeshire.com/Tour_of_Cambri...

[Devil2575]

HertsBiker said:

Devil2575 said:

mdavids said:

HertsBiker said:

I get held up for a few seconds, it's still too much.

So you have completely unrealistic expectations of reality, no wonder you feel like there's a war against you and every traffic jam has a cyclist at the head of it. You massive fruit loop.

Indeed. I mean seriously, who the fk do you think you are?

Get over yourself

I think I've paid to use the road enough to be able to use it without being held up by people who don't pay tax at the same rate I have to pay it. It's a question of fairness. Pay more, should get more.

So do you object to being held up by a car that pays less ved?

I'd advise that you stop being a bellend and pull your head out of your arse.

[Devil2575]

heebeegeetee said:

HertsBiker said:

How do you work that out? Check my user name. I ride proper bikes with engines. I get snarled up in heavy traffic because of cyclists holding up cars.

I think you're a liar. I don't think you've ever been "snarled up in heavy traffic because of cyclists holding up cars" to any great degree at all.

I can't see how you can be much different from me in our motoring, except I probably cause more congestion than you because I don't ride a motorcycle, but I've driven pretty much all over the UK in a variety of vehicles and I have *never* seen congestion - *never* seen heavy traffic due to cyclists, ever.

You're going to have to tell me where you get "snarled up in heavy traffic because of cyclists holding up cars" and if it's in the uk I promise you I will go there and see it for myself.

I see heavy traffic every time I go out in my car in the working week, and have done so for every working day of my 40 working years, but its *never, ever* been caused by cyclists.

You tell me where this snarled up heavy traffic forms behind cyclists and I promise you I'll check it out in 2015 and report back. I have one idea where you could mean, but lets see what you come up with, eh?

This x 1000

HertsBiker is talking bks.

[iMiM]

stargazer30 said:

Relatively speaking fuel is cheap at the moment. But its still blinking expensive compared to the actual cost of the fuel. I remember when it was 70p a litre!

It always cracks me up when people make claims like this. As if fuel prices were supposed to be immune to inflation. Here's a break down of prices adjusted for inflation just to illustrate the situation. Compare that to how house prices changed over the years, somehow people are more than happy to accept that.

1999 70.6 108.5
2000 80.8 122.3
2001 76.8 112.9
2002 74.3 107.3
2003 76.6 108.8
2004 80.9 111.6

[v12Legs]

HertsBiker said:

I think I've paid to use the road enough to be able to use it without being held up by people who don't pay tax at the same rate I have to pay it. It's a question of fairness. Pay more, should get more.

I'm a higher rate taxpayer, so I presume by what you laughingly call an argument, that I can demand people who pay less income tax than me fk off out of my way.

You haven't paid to use the road. The roads are public infrastructure paid for out of all taxes. I know someone who doesn't drive, yet some of their taxes also pay for roads. Taxes, with the exception of the licence fee, are not hypothecated, so in no way have you paid to use the road. You have paid tax on fuel, and if your car emits more than 100g/km of co2 you also pay an additional VED tax. That confers no entitlement on you to demand priority on the road over someone who has happened to choose a vehicle that is liable for neither of those things. Do you also demand drivers of EVs get out of your way?

Furthermore, the traffic and congestion you encounter is caused by other motorists, and emphatically not caused by cyclists. Every person who cycles rather than drive is in fact reducing congestion and making your journey easier, you self important wker.

You might as well complain that teetotallers are allowed to sit in pubs while they have their OJ.

tt.

[irocfan]

v12Legs said:

Furthermore, the traffic and congestion you encounter is caused by other motorists, and emphatically not caused by cyclists.

actually not 100% the case, the more accurate thing to say is that 90(ish)% of traffic/congestion is caused by other motorists. I'll grant you that slow moving traffic caused by cyclists isn't usual but it does happen - is it worth complaining about? Normally no, but when it's a couple of cockwombles blocking the road on their ride then it does get people riled - in the same way that cyclists (rightly) get riled when cars block them in towns