Cyclists & Bike Owners

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Couldn't agree more.

I would expect to average about 22mph overall, and can easily reach 40mph going down some of the hills around here.
(The reaction of some drivers seeing a cyclist keeping up with them at 30-40mph is quite amusing sometimes ).

Regards,
Mike.

I had a cyclist overtake me a few days ago - what he did was stupid and dangerous but he was annoyed with me and decided that was the best way to show it - how I avoided knocking him off I'll never know and how I didn't get out and shake him till his teeth rattled I'll never know that either ......... I was going up a steep narrow bit of road in south lakes that does not allow a car coming towards you to pass so I was being careful in the knowledge I may have to stop, despite the hill and having right of way, if someone came tearing down the other way. The fool on the bike was not willing to take it that slowly having come down the hill behind me nigh on 30 plus mph - so the daft begger shot round and overtook me and cut me up (I had to swerve in)glaring as he did so - had a car appeared the opposite way at speed he would have been glaring up from underneath it somewhere ........

I used to ride a bycycle (and a motor bike) when I was younger so I'm not against this mode of transport at all - but its high time cyclists had insurance to share the road with other vehicles esp if like this idiot they are going to ride a bike in a beligerent manner. Car drivers esp if bikers are mindful of bikes but its rubbing salt in when a cyclist behaves like this just cos he's fit enough to get such speeds up and behave like a two-wheeled speed junkie!

Rant over ..........

Pauline

[KeenTeen17]

When we are talking about cycle lanes are we talking about the lined off sides of a wide road or a dual footpath / cycling pavement?

[agrumpycow]

I think there is a distinct difference it certain cyclists. The ones I feel most confident of when driving are those who are experienced, cycle with confidence & follow the basis rules of the road. I have no problem with these cyclists using the road rather than a cycle path.
The cyclists I have a problem with are the ones who cycle so slowly that they can't help but weave around, move without signalling and, as Pauline says, try and overtake you and ones who have bags hanging from both handlebars which they chat on their mobile while cycling !
When I get my bike out I'm no way near as fast as some of you have mentioned but I hope I cycle with confidence and with other road users in mind.
I'm sure it's probably very unworkable, I have no idea how it could work, but if only people had to have some kind of compulsory proficiency test.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by PMG

....I had a cyclist overtake me a few days ago....

I entirely agree with you - you can't legislate for fools (no matter what they are riding/driving).

Originally Posted by PMG

....its high time cyclists had insurance to share the road with other vehicles....

I do have insurance, with maximum liability of £10,000,000 (Ten Million), via the CTC. (And it was their legal team who successfully won my case against the driver whos stupid manouvre caused me to fly ungraciously across her car's bonnet).

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

....and ones who have bags hanging from both handlebars which they chat on their mobile while cycling....

I don't disagree with you, but have to say, I too have seen the above example of stupidity, and I don't care what anyone says, no-one, and I mean no-one, can properly control a bycycle with shopping bags dangling from the handlebars. Utter mindless stupidity.

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

....When I get my bike out I'm no way near as fast as some of you have mentioned but I hope I cycle with confidence and with other road users in mind....

Nothing wrong with being slow in my book. As long as a cyclist is obeying the rules of the road, and has good cognizance of what's going on around them, no problem. And if more drivers behaved with a little more consideration than they do, cycling would be a lot safer no matter what speed you were riding at. (It's quite strange that cyclists in general are only percieved as a problem, by those drivers who in reality are not very good drivers. ).

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

....I'm sure it's probably very unworkable, I have no idea how it could work, but if only people had to have some kind of compulsory proficiency test....

I agree, with respect to the teaching of children. I think there should be compulsory training via schools. I doubt whether it would work for adults though, as without some sort of legally required "bicycling licence", there would be so many loopholes it wouldn't be enforceable.

Regards,
Mike.

[foxy mars]

Talk about cyclist's behaving badly and riding with mobile-phones. The car-drivers who do speeds up to 60 mph on a 30 mph where I live in the early hours, is unbelievable. The car-drivers who still talk on their mobiles is total dangerous.

Why is this forum anti bike, can you tell me.

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Nothing wrong with being slow in my book. As long as a cyclist is obeying the rules of the road, and has good cognizance of what's going on around them, no problem. And if more drivers behaved with a little more consideration than they do, cycling would be a lot safer no matter what speed you were riding at. (It's quite strange that cyclists in general are only percieved as a problem, by those drivers who in reality are not very good drivers. ).

Regards,
Mike.

Maybe I wasn't clear, I have no problem with slow cyclists, as long as they cycle with confidence and with regard to the kind of road they're cycling on. That is, not those who pootle along as if they've got all the time in the world on major roads while being seemingly oblivious to other road users to the extent that they cause confusion to car drivers and encourage them to make silly moves.
As I've said, I admit I cycle slowly (mainly because I need to be fitter ).
I also think I'm a good driver (only one accident in 13 yrs which was in no way my fault, no points or tickets ) so I don't think I fit into your category for those who find cyclists a problem

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by foxy mars

Talk about cyclist's behaving badly and riding with mobile-phones. The car-drivers who do speeds up to 60 mph on a 30 mph where I live in the early hours, is unbelievable. The car-drivers who still talk on their mobiles is total dangerous.

Why is this forum anti bike, can you tell me.

For a minute there, I thought you must live on my road There is actually a speed camera in my local vicinity, (30mph zone) but it may as well not be there because they come through here at rediculous speeds late at night. (I'm sure that a lot of these people must know somehow when gatso cameras are and are not operational).

And the use of hand held mobiles by drivers is beyond a joke. A £60 fine is an insult to the law abiding driver. With hands free kits costing less than £10.00 there is absolutely no excuse for hand holding a phone these days. The fine should be multiplied tenfold, with 10 points on the licence, and the phone destroyed on the spot.

I don't think the forum is particularly anti-bike. So far people have only recounted things which, (apart from saying all cyclists should use cycle lanes ), I mostly agree with.

Though I do wish more people in general, (throughout the country let alone this forum), would actually read a current version of the Highway Code, and find out exactly what the do's and don'ts are, before decrying cyclists, or making comment here.

Regards,
Mike.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

....That is, not those who pootle along as if they've got all the time in the world on major roads while being seemingly oblivious to other road users to the extent that they cause confusion to car drivers and encourage them to make silly moves....

Sorry Claire, Yes I agree with you, all cyclists have a responsibility to behave properly on the roads, just as drivers do. Cycling very slowly, or being unable to balance properly (and giving that impression to passing drivers), and having no sense of respect for the drivers, is just as wrong as drivers intimidating cyclists by silly driving.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not pro-cycling and anti-car. There are nutters on both sides of the fence. I'm a driver too so I do see what goes on from both perspectives.

I just want to reinforce the fact that there are a lot more drivers on the roads than there are cyclists. That drivers are much better protected than cyclists. That cyclists are fully entitled to be on the roads. And that drivers could, with absolutely minimal effort, make the roads much safer - for cyclists and everyone else. (And perhaps they might even get some satisfaction of having consciously done something to increase someones safety, rather than getting all steamed up because they might have had to slow down for 10 seconds).

Regards,
Mike.

[foxy mars]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

I don't think the forum is particularly anti-bike. So far people have only recounted things which, (apart from saying all cyclists should use cycle lanes ), I mostly agree with.

Reflecting on this topic, it's a tit for tat affair. I really don't think both parties (cars & bikes) are gonna learn from each other. There will always be the good the bad & the ugly

Rant over

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

I just want to reinforce the fact that there are a lot more drivers on the roads than there are cyclists. That drivers are much better protected than cyclists. That cyclists are fully entitled to be on the roads. And that drivers could, with absolutely minimal effort, make the roads much safer - for cyclists and everyone else. (And perhaps they might even get some satisfaction of having consciously done something to increase someones safety, rather than getting all steamed up because they might have had to slow down for 10 seconds).

I am extremely careful when passing cyclists, giving them as much room as possible, and never trying to squeeze between them and oncoming vehicles as I've seen a fair few drivers do, I wait until I've a clear road, and don't mind the wait, even though it can be a lot longer than 10 seconds. Perhaps it's a reflection on my good driving and observational skills that I've always managed to avoid hitting even those cyclists who shoot out of side roads in front of me without looking.

Cylists, like pedestrians and horse-riders, are the most vulnerable users of our roads, which is why I can't understand why there are a minority who seem to ride in such a way that completely disregards their own safety. Yes they have the right to be on the road, but they also have a responsibility to other road users.

Although I've no experience of riding a bike on roads, (I've got the balance skills of a one-legged Giraffe), I do know that there are a lot of car-drivers who show no consideration at all for slower road users. However, I am not one of those, I try to be as considerate towards all other road users as I'd like them to be towards me.