Discussion
Why aren't cyclists allowed to use common sense & use the paths when needed?
Not that I have anything (much) against cyclists but sometimes I just feel like should get off the road. Why does law say they can't cycle on paths when surely a cycle person clash is much better than a cycle car clash?
Many times I've seen people are overtaking a cyclist on a single carriageway at 60mph almost causing a horrific accident with oncoming traffic & not to mention the dangers of the cyclist being clipped/ran over. Surely they should recognise these type of roads and get their arses on the path... even if the path isn't as smooth as the road.
A couple of years ago me, the wife & the 2 kids (aged 8 & 10) was cycling on a path because there was a stretch of national speed limit single carriage road. Even on the path you could feel the drag coming from the cars. Eventually we got to a couple who quite simply would not budge because we should have been on the road. He was expecting me to put my kids in unnecessary danger on a road like that, crazy. After asking politely many many times to simply let us past eventually I lost my rag and almost kicked the sh!t out of him... so his wife begged him to move & he did. OK, the law says he's right but common sense says he's a moron & I would be a terrible parent if I'd put my youngsters on the road.
Why should it come to this? Surely there are times and places when it's best to be or not to be on the road.
Not that I have anything (much) against cyclists but sometimes I just feel like should get off the road. Why does law say they can't cycle on paths when surely a cycle person clash is much better than a cycle car clash?
Many times I've seen people are overtaking a cyclist on a single carriageway at 60mph almost causing a horrific accident with oncoming traffic & not to mention the dangers of the cyclist being clipped/ran over. Surely they should recognise these type of roads and get their arses on the path... even if the path isn't as smooth as the road.
A couple of years ago me, the wife & the 2 kids (aged 8 & 10) was cycling on a path because there was a stretch of national speed limit single carriage road. Even on the path you could feel the drag coming from the cars. Eventually we got to a couple who quite simply would not budge because we should have been on the road. He was expecting me to put my kids in unnecessary danger on a road like that, crazy. After asking politely many many times to simply let us past eventually I lost my rag and almost kicked the sh!t out of him... so his wife begged him to move & he did. OK, the law says he's right but common sense says he's a moron & I would be a terrible parent if I'd put my youngsters on the road.
Why should it come to this? Surely there are times and places when it's best to be or not to be on the road.
Surely people should learn to drive properly.
someone who can't overtake a cyclist on an nsl road without almost causing a crash should not have a license.
Notwithstanding your particular story, in the vast, vast majority of cases bikes and cars can happily coexist providing people use a little bit of commonsense. ALL people.
Eta: and yes I have observed situations you describe.. perhaps .. 3 times on 25 years of driving
someone who can't overtake a cyclist on an nsl road without almost causing a crash should not have a license.
Notwithstanding your particular story, in the vast, vast majority of cases bikes and cars can happily coexist providing people use a little bit of commonsense. ALL people.
Eta: and yes I have observed situations you describe.. perhaps .. 3 times on 25 years of driving
Edited by DrTre on Tuesday 1st May 11:56
DrTre said:
Surely people should learn to drive properly.
someone who can't overtake a cyclist on a nsl road without almost causing a crash should not have a license.
someone who can't overtake a cyclist on a nsl road without almost causing a crash should not have a license.
Cyclists on the pavement are extremely dangerous because there is no formal protocol on pavements for rights of way and because people don't expect fast-moving things on the pavement. Cyclists on the road are not a problem unless either the cyclist or the driver is an idiot.
For what it's worth, I think children under a certain age are allowed to cycle on footpaths. So in that situation you should have been on the road with your kids on the pavement next to you. I'm not certain of that, though. It might be an urban myth.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 1st May 11:58
Sometimes, I read a new thread.
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And then i think to myself; 'I predict a future. I see all the replies possible and this will not end well'.
Just me?
Click on something else.
Go back to the new thread and read it again.
Click on something else.
Go back to the new thread and read it several more times.
And then i think to myself; 'I predict a future. I see all the replies possible and this will not end well'.
Just me?
Devil2575 said:
FellowPazzini said:
eventually I lost my rag and almost kicked the sh!t out of him...
I'm guessing that you're powerfully built 
http://www.youtube.com/FellowPazzini23
DrTre said:
Surely people should learn to drive properly.
someone who can't overtake a cyclist on an nsl road without almost causing a crash should not have a license.
I completely, 100% agree. However, we both know there are some exceptionally bad drivers out there.someone who can't overtake a cyclist on an nsl road without almost causing a crash should not have a license.
Only recently, I was out cycling on a saturday morning (on the road, no cycle paths in this bit) and a van tried to overtake me at this exact spot. He whacked me with his wing mirror but fortunately I stayed on.
If someone has the capability to do that, then simply saying "all drivers should drive better" really won't protect cyclists.
My point is that cyclists should do as much as they can to minimise their exposure to risks. In my case, I normally move across to cover overtakes around islands - but it was so narrow I didn't think it necessary! Lesson learnt.
hondafanatic said:
Sometimes, I read a new thread.
Click on something else.
Go back to the new thread and read it again.
Click on something else.
Go back to the new thread and read it several more times.
And then i think to myself; 'I predict a future. I see all the replies possible and this will not end well'.
Just me?
Agree with this tbh.Click on something else.
Go back to the new thread and read it again.
Click on something else.
Go back to the new thread and read it several more times.
And then i think to myself; 'I predict a future. I see all the replies possible and this will not end well'.
Just me?
I think you were certainly in the wrong squaring up to the guy. I wouldn't expect young kids to be on the road, but certainly the adults I would.
The pavement is no place for cyclists.
Completely with the OP on this one.
I'm often stuck in traffic going into work due to slow moving cyclists. Road islands and chevrons make it difficult to overtake and there is very often a clear pavement which could be used.
if I ruled the world I'd allow cyclists on paths with a max speed of 10mph. Very similar to Jogger's using pavements IMO.
I'm often stuck in traffic going into work due to slow moving cyclists. Road islands and chevrons make it difficult to overtake and there is very often a clear pavement which could be used.
if I ruled the world I'd allow cyclists on paths with a max speed of 10mph. Very similar to Jogger's using pavements IMO.
Edited by Torquey on Tuesday 1st May 12:11
How many cyclists want to do 10mph? You might as well walk!FellowPazzini said:
Devil2575 said:
FellowPazzini said:
eventually I lost my rag and almost kicked the sh!t out of him...
I'm guessing that you're powerfully built This is just the usual hierarchy of bullying isn't it? cars>bike>pedestrians.
D1bram said:
I think you were certainly in the wrong squaring up to the guy. I wouldn't expect young kids to be on the road, but certainly the adults I would.
The pavement is no place for cyclists.
I think we should be sensible about it - lycra clad 6ft adonis (and I include myself in that statement The pavement is no place for cyclists.
), their place is on the road. But a chap out with his young children? Path every time. They'll do no more than 10mph tops!The op's question is fair enough tbh, and while I daresay no copper would "do" you for riding on the pavement where its safer it is a bit ridiculous that in some situations the cyclist is put on the road.
Yeah TH, my advice wasn't of hugely practical help but the situation described is slightly endemic and indicative of road user standards and beliefs overall, in that its always the other road users fault (not suggesting the op thinks that).
There are bellend cyclists, bellend drivers, bellend pedestrians, bellend motorbikers...the common theme being that they're bellends, regardless of their mode of transport.
Yeah TH, my advice wasn't of hugely practical help but the situation described is slightly endemic and indicative of road user standards and beliefs overall, in that its always the other road users fault (not suggesting the op thinks that).
There are bellend cyclists, bellend drivers, bellend pedestrians, bellend motorbikers...the common theme being that they're bellends, regardless of their mode of transport.
Edited by DrTre on Tuesday 1st May 12:16
kambites said:
Cyclists on the pavement are extremely dangerous because there is no formal protocol on pavements for rights of way and because people don't expect fast-moving things on the pavement. Cyclists on the road are not a problem unless either the cyclist or the driver is an idiot.
For what it's worth, I think children under a certain age are allowed to cycle on footpaths. So in that situation you should have been on the road with your kids on the pavement next to you.
I remember as a tiny kid being b
ked by an old man for cycling on the pavement when going to the shops with my elder brother. I was still on stabilizers!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff