Rights and Responsibilities on the roads, what are yours?

[Carrot]

After seeing all the Cyclist vs Car and Truck vs everyone threads, it does intrigue me a little seeing all the different variations of what people perceive to be their rights and responsibilities.

A lot of events seem to be people shoving their rights everywhere without balancing their responsibility to others. I am wondering whether we have all become like this because of how society says we should act, or if I am slightly different because I am a complete fking pussy.

Here is where I stand -

I ride a motorcycle, drive a car, own a mountain bike (Frequently ride on and off road) and surprisingly fit in the time to be a pedestrian as well. All not at the same time obviously.

When on the mountain bike -

I keep well in to the left, give plenty of room, don't undertake lines of traffic at traffic lights to then pull off slowly. I have the [bold]right[/bold] to do this, but I have the [bold]responsibility[/bold] to not hold faster traffic up.

When I was in the slow van (struggled to do 65 up a slight hill when fully loaded)

Keep left at all times (as we should) on main carrageways, only overtake slower vehicles when there is plenty of room, otherwise wait for passing traffic. I had the [bold]right[/bold] to overtake and hold traffic up, but I have the [bold]responsibility[/bold] to not hold faster traffic up.

When on the motorcycle -

I ride at the speed limit wherever possible, and if I am in the twisties that I don't know well, I generally pull over regularly and (on the rare occasion), let the faster traffic past.

When in the car

I drive like a

(Not really).


By doing this, I rarely ever have any "incidents" or problems with other vehicles, and most of the problems I see occurring (especially from the cyclist side), is from those seemingly trying to cause a problem by becoming all me me me.

I dont want this to become a big fight thread about who is better than who - I am just curious as to where people think their rights stand with their responsibilities to each other.

To remind everyone, especially those that can't read - I am a cyclist, motorcyclist, car driver and pedestrian - so I have no axe to grind with any of them.

[VidalBaboon]

Everyone using the Queen's Highways has a duty of care to all other users.

I attented a speeding course a few months back and was informed that Pedestrians, Horses & Cyclists had priority over all motorised transport.