hogmaw Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Yes cyclists don't consume fossil fuels and it is good for exercise etc but FFS please learn to ride your bike properly before venturing out onto the busy London streets. I have no problem with the pros who cycle day in day out, they know what they are doing. It's when summer comes and all the noobs come out, taking up the whole road, swaying all over the place, one hand on the handle bars the other on their mobile/ipod, thinking they own the road, but are really a hazard to themselves and everyone else. Same thing for weekend drivers. They are another breed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juanchan Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I have to say, conversely, that I think you're mad for trying to drive on said busy London streets! I wouldn't if you paid me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogmaw Posted July 2, 2009 Author Share Posted July 2, 2009 Every day for many years now. You get used to it, and TBH it's a lot freeer flowing and more considerate than most cities I have driven in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 council tried for ages to get a cycle path here in sunny swansea , and at great cost they eventually got it , but what do the cyclists do ignore it and cause all sorts of problems riding in their Lycra two abreast on a busy road. but hey they've got Lycra on suppose it gives them the right , also they tend to ignore traffic signals , personally they should pay a tax the same as the rest of us , go someway to pay for the accidents they cause Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 They don't legally have to use cycle paths though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_p Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 My freind came over the brow of a hill and hit a cyclist that was cycling in the middle of the road..............and the police did the cyclist, he had to pay for repairs to the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martini Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 personally they should pay a tax the same as the rest of us I'd pay a tax on my bike if the government took the potholes out of the road. I hate hitting them in my car, but would destroy my wheels on the bike! I also like to go across roads with the pedestrian flow. One of the perks I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 yes not much being done on that front , but what im trying to say is if they are cycling on the road then dont you think they should abide by the rules /highway code , how many times do you see cyclists going through red lights , at the end of the day it doesnt get them any further down the road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I cycle into work from Docklands to City (about 8 miles) I know exactly what you are on about! The amount that just get on the road, wobbely everywhere and peddle so stupidly. I think they should all go on a cycle training course or have cycle licenses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martini Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 yes not much being done on that front , but what im trying to say is if they are cycling on the road then dont you think they should abide by the rules /highway code , how many times do you see cyclists going through red lights , at the end of the day it doesnt get them any further down the road My feet are locked into my pedals, so stopping is a bastard. Yes, I think they should adhere - but some cyclists are clearly tossers (like many motorists). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 yep agree there, but your not doing the tour de france either lol, stopping is unavoidable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden1989 Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Try living in the heart of the country, we have 'family bike rides' round here on the weekends..... So theres mummy, daddy and 2 toddlers on a dangerous country road and the parents are swaying all over the place trying to sort out the little ones, brilliant idea, wish i had come up with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 council tried for ages to get a cycle path here in sunny swansea , and at great cost they eventually got it , but what do the cyclists do ignore it and cause all sorts of problems riding in their Lycra two abreast on a busy road. but hey they've got Lycra on suppose it gives them the right , also they tend to ignore traffic signals , personally they should pay a tax the same as the rest of us , go someway to pay for the accidents they cause Lycra-ist! I'm a born-again cyclist, but I keep well off the roads as I know I'd be a danger to myself and others. When I'm more confident I'll try a bit of road-riding. I haven't looked into it yet, but I'd be interested in some kind of cycling proficiency course for adults. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 drivnig home yesterday, I came across a cyclist in the middle of the road, pushing his bike and completely dazed!! Saw a police car behind me, so did not stop.... Being a day-in-day-out cyclist, I am shocked when I see familys out for a leasurely ride with no helmets, madness!!! I would however like to have some people in cars re-tested, because they obviously have no clue WTF they are doing!!!! The amount of times I have had someone nearly take off my front wheel, rub the back wheel, hit me with a wing mirror, etc is unbelieveable!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multics Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I drive in London every day too and oh boy they wind me up too sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 When I cycle I try to avoid roads wherever possible, and being a driver more than anything I try to give drivers the easy ride when I am on the road. I can understand them going through red lights and stuff though, but only when they're experienced enough to not be a danger or get in the way of the cars coming through etc. Being a day-in-day-out cyclist, I am shocked when I see familys out for a leasurely ride with no helmets, madness!!! Maybe because cycle helmets are proven to be useless? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martini Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I think legally, cycling is meant for roads and not the pavement? Nothing worse* than walking and having someone with a bike try to force past. *There is much, much worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I would however like to have some people in cars re-tested, because they obviously have no clue Yes!! This is one of my personal crusades, just search on here for "retake driving test"! I might suggest this to the DVLA, although I imagine that'll fall on deaf ears/ an unchecked email box. Maybe because cycle helmets are proven to be useless? Are they? Surely something between skull and tarmac is better than nothing at all? If people ride carelessly just because they've got a helmet on though, that's stupid of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Black Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I work in the city and as a pedestrian i have to say i find a large % of cyclist a royal pain, they dont stop at red lights, pedestrian crossings, race the wrong way up one way streets then hurl abuse for you not looking that way, some use the pavements, they plonk their parambulators on any lamppost laying flat, so they're spread out at the bottom, and if they are'nt floor dwellers the handlebars will nab you. I think cyclists should have to pay some nominal fee say £100 a year to continue being a nuisance Oh and on a few occasions i have exited a bus to be greeted by some pleb coming up the inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Are they? Surely something between skull and tarmac is better than nothing at all? If people ride carelessly just because they've got a helmet on though, that's stupid of them. Well maybe not proven! But a lot of studies suggest that anything larger than a knock and the foam in a cycle helmet won't make a difference, you'll still have a pretty nasty (possibly fatal) injury. And of course for less severe scrashes you naturally put your hands out to protect your head anyway, meaning a good pair of gloves is FAR more important than a good helmet (IMO). I work in the city and as a pedestrian i have to say i find a large % of cyclist a royal pain, they dont stop at red lights, pedestrian crossings, race the wrong way up one way streets then hurl abuse for you not looking that way, some use the pavements, they plonk their parambulators on any lamppost laying flat, so they're spread out at the bottom, and if they are'nt floor dwellers the handlebars will nab you. I remember reading in a CTC mag ages ago that they wanted to make one way roads cycle accessible the wrong way, and if an accident occured to make it the car drivers fault!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Lycra-ist! I'm a born-again cyclist, but I keep well off the roads as I know I'd be a danger to myself and others. When I'm more confident I'll try a bit of road-riding. I haven't looked into it yet, but I'd be interested in some kind of cycling proficiency course for adults.lol at the lycra ist , your aproach to it sounds spot on tbh . im a bit anti cyclist due to a bad experience with some experienced cyclists a few years back , the local bike ride in the summer we had gone down to the gower for the day , on the way back got stuck behind two guys in the full kit two abreast and holding up a huge amount of traffic , and taking no notice of the comments being hurled at them by the motorists when they could eventually get passed. anyway my turn behind them and when passing said why dont you ride single file , only to be told to fxxx off and he spat at the car , i was going to stop further down the road and fill the fxxxxr in but wifey was going ape , looking back probably a good idea as there was two of them lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 lol at the lycra ist , your aproach to it sounds spot on tbh . im a bit anti cyclist due to a bad experience with some experienced cyclists a few years back , the local bike ride in the summer we had gone down to the gower for the day , on the way back got stuck behind two guys in the full kit two abreast and holding up a huge amount of traffic , and taking no notice of the comments being hurled at them by the motorists when they could eventually get passed. anyway my turn behind them and when passing said why dont you ride single file , only to be told to fxxx off and he spat at the car , i was going to stop further down the road and fill the fxxxxr in but wifey was going ape , looking back probably a good idea as there was two of them lol I noticed that cyclists do have a temper (I've always had a temper) but their is no need to spit or hurl abuse! They are in the wrong, you are not allowed to cycle double...only single file, even on public roads. I think I pay enough Tax for me to have at least one mode of transport which I am not taxed for! Next thing they will have us taxed for bloody walking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 When I cycle I try to avoid roads wherever possible, and being a driver more than anything I try to give drivers the easy ride when I am on the road. I can understand them going through red lights and stuff though, but only when they're experienced enough to not be a danger or get in the way of the cars coming through etc. Maybe because cycle helmets are proven to be useless? My uncle died because he did not wear a helmet, hit the back of his head on the pavement, after he got knocked off his bike. Doctors said it would have been a different story if he had have been wearing the helmet!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 They are in the wrong, you are not allowed to cycle double...only single file, even on public roads. Wrong, time to read the highway code They are quite within their rights to ride side by side (2 only) as long as the road is not busy or dangerous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Well i cycle everyday and i do agree with the op regarding the lesiure cyclists that really should cycle away from the citys. They are probably not everyday cyclists so don't have the knowledge or experience of cycling in heavy traffic or built up areas and are probably quite nervous about it It can be quite hard work and dangerous at times ! I have a few incidents a week where cars cut me up or deliberately move as close to the kerb as they can to block me making progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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