Cyclists - The Worring Burden

[kirsun]

I am not against cycling at all, and believe that this is good for the evironment and for the health of the nation. However I feel that as a driver by trade, I feel totally afraid when driving, beacuse during the rush hour you have cyclists overtaking you in the cycle lanes (fine) and on the outside right off the traffic. Not only this they weave in front of you while you are moving and cut across you.

I have not mentioned the red light transgressions I have seen when a cyclist is weaving through pedestrians just to pass the red light to get ahead.

I have sat at light with a cycle lane too my left and had my indicators indicating that I was goin to turn left, but while I check my mirror all was clear, and I let the cyclists ahead off me go, but a cyclict who was on the outside lane weaved in behind me and went to my left and while turning tried to speed ahead. Luckily I saw him in time, but then it would have been me at fault.

I feel that there needs to be some regulation or training for cyclists or some sort of identification methods to monitor rogue cyclists. As they are road users and they request the same right as other road user, but many do not want to adere to basic traffic regulations.

Remember they are using the highways for free, yet we are paying for it's maintainance. I would love to hear your views.

[uncleglen]

I totally agree with you and I drive a small car. You try to keep them in view but because of the behaviour as indicated above, you can lose sight of them and then have 2 choices- get very anxious or think f them. Then, as long as you drive by the book, if there is an incident (I will not say 'accident' because it isn't) then hopefully the cyclist will observe your behaviour. Also, at night, there are a few of them who have no lights and wear dark clothing- these people must have a death wish.

[kirsun]

It is a fact that needs to be highlighted, especially the Boris bikes where you have tourists using roads that they are not used too, and my gosh in town it is even worse.

[LadyDeliah]

Pretty much all cycling arguments have already been done to death on EDF, so in order to save you and countless others valuable time, here are a few of the more recent threads :-)

Here:

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,1112651,page=1

and here:

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,1114924,1115814#msg-1115814

and here:

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1156373,1156373#msg-1156373

and another one here:

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1066246,page=1

There, lots to read so no need to repeat the arguments ad infinitum.

[Annette Curtain]

In other words

"On yer bike!"

[northlondoner]

It never gets old though. Every time a tosser charge through a red light, careens through an impossible space on the blind side of a bus , lorry or car , it infuriates anew .

Good luck trying to shut down the debate .

[Red01]

"Remember they are using the highways for free" - no they don't! Road maintenance is funded out of general taxation and believe it or not the majority of cyclists also own a car. So you could say that they are actually paying for roads that are more suited to your needs than theirs.

[kirsun]

Oh dear nearly hit a cyclist today while he was was riding without his hand on the handlebars, and would you believe texting on his phone. He swerved in front off me and I had to brake suddenly. Luckily a police car was behind me and saw this and flashed us both over.

I was questioned as to why I hit the brakes so suddenly, even though he saw what happened, and was told to be considerate to other orad users. What cheek.

I think he was more worried that he would have hit me in the back. Just goes to show.

[Townleygreen]

kirsun made this nonsense point by the way

"Remember they are using the highways for free, yet we are paying for it's maintainance. I would love to hear your views."

Cars which have low emissions ALSO PAY NO ROAD TAX. They are using the roads for free, as you put it.

Get your facts straight please.

[HonaloochieB]

Red01 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> "Remember they are using the highways for free" -

> no they don't! Road maintenance is funded out of

> general taxation and believe it or not the

> majority of cyclists also own a car. So you could

> say that they are actually paying for roads that

> are more suited to your needs than theirs.

"and believe it or not the majority of cyclists also own a car".

I'm indifferent to the arguments expressed at the moment, but I'm not having that!

51% plus of pushbikers own motors?

Do they drive them?

Bluff assertion? Wild opinion? Or will the bloke down the pub put me in my place with the facts?

[Jeremy]

I don't cycle (too chicken) but the old line about "cyclists don't pay tax" is pretty silly, especially when a) they do and b) the road infrastructure was designed with zero consideration for cyclists.

Cyclists are here to stay, so how about some constructive opinions on how we can cooperate rather than just 'us vs them' yet again...

[daya day]

Hi,

March 6th 2013 I was knocked off my bike, the driver was indicating to turn right then changed his mind and went into me.

I have been cycling since 1996 (showing my age) and that was the first accident I had. My right knee will never be the same and the funny thing is I can jog on it but cant bend it in one position for too long.

I see SOME cyclist and SOME drivers breaking the highway code (going down the wrong way of the one way street of Zenoria Street). One shouldn't label everyone with the same brush.

No matter what, you will always have good and bad cyclists and drivers. Can you imagine the discussion on the pizza delivery mopeds? Motor cyclists riding fast and doing wheelies, that's another story.

Funny when I wear tight leggings or a low cut dress or shorts or platform heels drivers slow down. My ride to and from work is a safe one. The things one has to do in order to survive. lol.

Seriously as a cyclist and a driver we need to find a solution on how we can both work together.

Shame we're not like Amsterdam.

[Dopamine1979]

http://www.thecoli.com/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/beatdeadhorse.gif

[maxxi]

'as a cyclist' 'as a motorist' 'as a pedestrian' 'as a mother' FFs enough already.

(speaking 'as an anti-miserablist' obv.)

[Red01]

HonaloochieB Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Red01 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > "Remember they are using the highways for free"

> -

> > no they don't! Road maintenance is funded out

> of

> > general taxation and believe it or not the

> > majority of cyclists also own a car. So you

> could

> > say that they are actually paying for roads

> that

> > are more suited to your needs than theirs.

>

> "and believe it or not the majority of cyclists

> also own a car".

>

> I'm indifferent to the arguments expressed at the

> moment, but I'm not having that!

> 51% plus of pushbikers own motors?

> Do they drive them?

>

> Bluff assertion? Wild opinion? Or will the bloke

> down the pub put me in my place with the facts?

The Bloke from the pub says ................ According to the National Travel Survey, 83 percent of cyclists own cars.

Also, in your haste to correct me you failed to realise that your own post contains wild opinions and assertions.

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/fiat-enlists-olympic-cyclists-to-front-a-share-the-road-campaign/012524

http://ipayroadtax.com/no-such-thing-as-road-tax/survey-claims-that-motorists-want-cyclists-to-wear-helmets-and-pay-to-use-roads/

[malumbu]

Its not car tax it is Vehicle Excise Duty.

This is not a tax to pay for roads it is a general tax (as are most if not all the HMRC raise).

I pay for roads in both my general tax (that provide grants to local authorities and the roads central government is responsible for, the latter generally not cyclist friendly) and my Council tax which pays for Lewisham Roads. Oh dear I can't use your potholed roads in Southwark.

So you may as well say - "ah you are on benefits, you can't use any of our local and national services as you don't pay for them".

Ever the one with an interesting story, I stopped at Lambeth Bridge roundabout, as a taxi was coming through. Was suprised that a yellow truck with a trailer went straight through and that the cab didn't toot it. I thought right I'll have you on the bus lane over the bridge, but the truck was hammering it through. So we get to the lights and I thought "I'll have you here" And as we took off for the first time I heard "warning this vehicle is turning left". Thought "wow - that is the latest advancement in warnings to cyclist not to cut through on the inside". Shame it didsn't say "warning, driven by an aggressive arsehole".

If you have seen my other posts, I usually add balance by saying most drivers, of all vehicles, ages, ethnicities, sexual preference, gender and those that work for LL Carpets or Hamptons International are pretty reasonable

[LadyDeliah]

On fine form this evening Malumbu! Lol

[malumbu]

Why thank you! Was in Berlin yesterday - a strange paradox, great public transport, better cycling infrastructure but boy to the Germans love their cars!