Lights and idiots on bikes

[supermono]

Two weeks ago. Turning right at a very large traffic light junction at night. Retard on bike with hood up and no lights (and no brain) came across in front of me from the central footpath/crossing bit without looking. I stopped hard, mid corner (glad I opted for the ABS on my van) just in time for him to skim past my front bumper not 12 inches away. Totally oblivious.

Last night approaching a roundabout after dusk. Good visibility of the road layout, nothing coming so I came off the brake ready to drive on. Suddenly noticed cyclist in the headlight periphery, no lights of course. Again emergency stop. Tooted my horn and he started mouthing something towards me as he cycled away into the darkness, now not even looking where he was going.

Presumably the anti-car lobby would have cited both these examples of why everybody should be slowed down to a snail's pace so that less cyclists are mown down.

Do any of you BIBs stop these maniac cyclists any more or is it not worth it for the amount of lip you probably get? Can you do anything about it in the courts since they are not using a licence?

Cheers
SM

[pdV6]

Its a major problem.

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&h=&t=21337

[Don]

As a cyclist who actually wants to survive I have twin halogen lights on the front of my bike and a red rear light. This winter I intend to opt for an additional rear winking red light and will cover my rucksack in reflective strips.

And even then some numpty drivers will drive within two inches of my rear, pass with six inches to spare and try to deliberately run me off the road.

You get numpties on all forms of transport bikes and cars.

Good on you for avoiding these suicidal nutters...

[Wasted Bullet]

Run em over and then send them a bill for the damage!!!

[icamm]

Don't forget that the government have also made noises about car drivers becoming legally responsible (ie so their insurance can cough up) for all accidents involving push bikes and pedestrians no matter where the fault lies.

[Plotloss]

icamm said:

Don't forget that the government have also made noises about car drivers becoming legally responsible (ie so their insurance can cough up) for all accidents involving push bikes and pedestrians no matter where the fault lies.

Astounding isnt it.

I see cyclists going through red lights every single day here in London. I often think if he gets twatted off that by a truck then its going to be the truck drivers fault.

Are all the policy makers of this country secretly necking acid like its going out of fashion?

[CVP]

Plotloss said:

Are all the policy makers of this country secretly necking acid like its going out of fashion?

Yes they probably are , or at the very least signing off on proposed bills while porking their reseachers so they don't actually read what is contained in them

On the bike I have always gone for halogen lights to front and rear, additional blinking light front and rear and reflective tape on rucksack. I've seen plently of these idiots riding without any lights, it's just asking to get killed.

I have also seen idiots driving without any lights in dark cars making them pretty difficult to spot

Automatically making this the fault of the driver of a car involved in the incident is woolly thinking in the extreme and doesn't do any favours to drivers or cyclists. We've each got to watch out for the other.

When on the bike I am aware of how vulnerable I am. If I overcook it on a bend and come off at 30mph or more then I may walk away with some damaged pride and some road rash, but getting smacked by a car when in traffic could be a lot worse. There's no point arguing you are right if you're a) nursing a broken leg or worse, or b) have a dented front wing or worse. Far better to let the numpty on the bike or in the car go if possible.

As Don so ably put it you get idiots in all forms of traffic.

Chris