A plea from a cyclist...

[gentlegreen]

Surely there are more sensible ways to inflict revenge on wanker drivers than pk's suggestions- if only because you'd be commiting a crime if you go smashing windscreens, and nowadays you'd risk the driver producing a gun and shooting you in the back.

I have come close to being assaulted on two occaisons when I was dangerously cut up just through giving the "Agincourt salute". The other thing is I've cycled the same route at the same time for 18 years now so I can't get away with much .....

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[gentlegreen]

I would really love for there to be more cycle paths.

Cyclists just look so vulnerable and... crunchy. Knocking into a cyclist is one of my biggest fears when I'm driving. Mr. Poot cycles everywhere and I worry about him, too.

Around here (in Plymouth) the pavements are wide enough to put a lush pink cycle path like they have in Germany and still there would be plenty of room for pedestrians. It would make sense for everyone.

I know it's more difficult in central London where there's not as much space but I really think that town planners need to spend more time on cycle path networks. For cyclists, motorists and pedestrians.

But there really isn't room in most places (there are some criminally daft "cycle lanes" in Bristol ) - so we all have to live together.

You are worried about hitting a cyclist but you are highly unlikely to do so because of your approach to driving.
I drive a car on the weekends and I try to drive as unegotistically as possible (my cycling approach on the other hand is very assertive) . I have a lovely lazy old diesel Peugeot 405. I open the window and sunroof, have some nice soulful MP3s playing at a gentle volume and take it easy. I reckon I piss off as many motorists while driving my car as I do when cycling.

I avoid driving to and from work like the plague - can't understand other people half my age not realising the joy of "going to the gym" before and after work every day - and the older I get, the more important it becomes.

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[moose]

I'm so glad I don't live in London with all this hostility going in between road users. It's vile.

 

[AnMarie]

I'm so glad I don't live in London with all this hostility going in between road users. It's vile.

Indeed moose However its not limited to London, you should hear some of the rants a cyclist colleague of mine comes out with

I think the problem lies in education and awareness...people tend to be in the driver, biker or cyclist camps and see peeps in the other camps as enemies. IMO drivers, bikers and cyclists should be required to be educated about other modes of transport thus increasing empathy and awareness. My understanding of cyclist and biker issues increased greatly when I took up them up myself.

 

[gentlegreen]

Indeed moose However its not limited to London, you should hear some of the rants a cyclist colleague of mine comes out with

I think the problem lies in education and awareness...people tend to be in the driver, biker or cyclist camps and see peeps in the other camps as enemies. IMO drivers, bikers and cyclists should be required to be educated about other modes of transport thus increasing empathy and awareness. My understanding of cyclist and biker issues increased greatly when I took up them up myself.

I fully agree.

I have to attribute my survival on the roads largely to my experiences as motorcyclist, driver and cyclist.

Every day I see examples of road users of all kinds failing to understand the other person's perspective.

Some people of course are just plain stupid though

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[trashpony]

My understanding of cyclist and biker issues increased greatly when I took up them up myself.

I think all car drivers should be made to ride a bike/cycle for a bit before they're allowed to pass their test. Or at least do some computer simulation or something.

 

[moose]

And vice versa, of course

We don't get many cyclists here - the town is extremely hilly. For those who do have lungs of iron, the cycle paths are built as part of the footpaths, across fields, along the railway and the canal, rather than as part of the roads, so ne'er the twain shall meet.

 

[5T3R30TYP3]

Every day I see examples of road users of all kinds failing to understand the other person's perspective.

Me too. It really pisses me off. As a cyclist I don't often get problems with drivers, it's just the occasional prick who pulls out without looking, passes me too fast and closely, cuts me up by overtaking me then turning left, or impatiently beeps his horn when I'm in front of him. But almost every day I see a cyclist who goes through red lights, rides too far away from the curb making it harder for cars to pass, doesn't hand signal in busy traffic, etc.

Oh, and people who cross the road without looking, and old grannies who slowly cross the road when the red man's showing

 

[tommers]

But almost every day I see a cyclist who ... rides too far away from the curb making it harder for cars to pass,

but it's a good idea to be away from the kerb. obviously you pull over to let a car past if you can but you don't want to be riding in the gutter. it's dangerous.

have at look at this page

depends what you meant by "too far away". I guess

POGOFISH - my main point was that road tax isn't a tax on people that use roads. it's a tax on vehicles. is that not right? (cos I want to be sure next time I am having an argument with somebody who asserts that I shouldn't be on the road as I don't pay road tax.) cheers.

 

[richtea]

I would really love for there to be more cycle paths.

Cyclists just look so vulnerable and... crunchy. Knocking into a cyclist is one of my biggest fears when I'm driving. Mr. Poot cycles everywhere and I worry about him, too.

Around here (in Plymouth) the pavements are wide enough to put a lush pink cycle path like they have in Germany and still there would be plenty of room for pedestrians. It would make sense for everyone.

I know it's more difficult in central London where there's not as much space but I really think that town planners need to spend more time on cycle path networks. For cyclists, motorists and pedestrians.

There are 'cycle paths' everywhere, usually black tarmac with a white line down the middle

 

[The Pious Pawn]

this started as a rant but I thought it would do more good as a plea....

1. please, please, please stop it with the road tax comments. road tax is actually vehicle excise duty . it is largely determined by the amount of CO2 pumped out into the air by a vehicle. Apart from the occasional bout of flatulence my vehicle does not have any emissions. Which is why I don't pay it. Right? And secondly, just because I don't pay this "road tax" doesn't mean that I have less right than you to use the road. Do you really think that the government keeps all the "road tax" in a nice big pot and then spends it all on roads? do they fuck. they spend it on tornado fighter bombers.

2. If you are driving up a road with cars parked on either side and a lane of oncoming traffic, and there is a cyclist in front of you which means you don't have space to overtake then please don't try it. yes, you may be able to force yourself past and get to the next set of lights ten seconds earlier but you are risking the life of another human being in order to do it. is it worth it? just sit back, enjoy your cd, congratulate yourself on the fact that you are sat in your nice warm car and not freezing your cojones off like that poor sod toiling away in front of you.

and please, don't get frustrated with them. it's not their fault that you can't get past them. instead of looking at them look at the parked cars. look at the relative amounts of space being used here, the bike is the smallest. bit mean to blame them for the lack of it eh?

go on, that's the spirit.

do you think all road users should have insurance ?

 

[marty21]

i feel a bit like tobyjog posting this, but hell

is it safe to ride a bike with no lights at night whilst having a calor gas cannister balanced rather precariously on the back of the bike?

only i was driving behind a cyclist tonight doing that

are those calor gas cannisters a tad dangerous if there was a crash?

 

[dylanredefined]

No lights is stupid .The gas canister will survive a crash better than the cyclist by the time you hit it with sufficent force to ignite it cyclist will be long dead imho.

 

[marty21]

No lights is stupid .The gas canister will survive a crash better than the cyclist by the time you hit it with sufficent force to ignite it cyclist will be long dead imho.

luckily it was in the city, so fairly well lit,but he did come out of a side street not too far in front of me...

 

[gonetoosoon]

I cycle and drive.

I prefer cycling and think bus-drivers are the most dangerous and polluting ole pricks.

And why the hell do people suddenly step out on the road when I'm riding? Do you think a cycle is that slow?

Some cyclists piss me off too. Why can't you all get out of my way?

And when I'm walking - why are there cyclists on the pavement?

cyclists ride on the pavement because they want to annoy me!

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Whats the point of basing the price of tax on emmisions if our goverment does fuck all to try and reduce them.

 

[gentlegreen]

Whats the point of basing the price of tax on emmisions if our goverment does fuck all to try and reduce them.

But it isn't "our government" driving their kids to school, taking multiple foreign holidays, heating their whole house or buying Kenyan string beans ...
(well of course they are, as individuals - just like everyone else)

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Wish I could mate. If you only knew how far from the truth you are. I drive a £400 vauxhall cavalier, but if you can show me how to get four kayaks on the roof and 4 peoples camping gear for a weekend in a tiny car or even better public transport then I will be impressed. I go through absolute hell to keep that thing on the road with all the costs that come with a car. However I need to so that I can finish my qualifications so I can get a job when I leave uni.

You seem to have some sterotypes built up about car drivers, not everybody lives in London and has access to brilliant public transport.

 

[In Bloom]

Stop cycling on the pavements and I'll take your complaints seriously.

As it is your a bigger pain in the arse for me than car drivers.

Because cyclists, famously, all do the same thing and act in the same way.

 

[Pie 1]

Buy yourself a big D-Lock, and keep the key in the barrel attached to a chain.

The next time some cityboy cunt driving a BMW hoofs it past .......Casually reach for your chain and swing the steel barrel hard down on his windscreen..........chuckling to yourself as this prick hops out of the car and curses you loudly............Iit's easy to kick a wing-mirror off, and on most cars thats £50 to £100 to replace.

pk, I like a lot of your posts etc, they make me laugh & I've very breifly met you at a couple of do's and you seem like a decent bloke, but I'm sorry, this sort of macho posturing bullshit does you no favours.

 

[MikeMcc]

Perhaps those cycling around Oxford can use some of the money they save in not having to buy a road tax (or whatever you want to call it) to invest in some blooby light and reflective kit so that they can be seen at night! I've even seen some morons riding aound in the lanes in the pitch black with nothing to help them see or be seen!

To balance that (because there's prats riding / driving all sorts), drivers tearing around the country lanes at mach 1 while I'm out jogging really piss me off.

 

[pogofish]

POGOFISH - my main point was that road tax isn't a tax on people that use roads. it's a tax on vehicles. is that not right?

Yes, specifically motor vehicles. For the upgrading & maintenance of roads for all road users. Anyone disputing that has no argument at all.

 

[gentlegreen]

Perhaps those cycling around Oxford can use some of the money they save in not having to buy a road tax (or whatever you want to call it) to invest in some blooby light and reflective kit so that they can be seen at night!

Some of us are crazy enough to pay road tax and insurance on a car whilst still cycling to work during the week. (I'm not in Oxford though)

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Yes, specifically motor vehicles. For the upgrading & maintenance of roads for all road users.

Imagine how good our transport network would be if they were to spend all of it on the roads, public transport and encouraging cycle lanes. Don't think I'd mind paying it half as much. It's not like they don't make enough of fuel already.

 

[MikeMcc]

Some of us are crazy enough to pay road tax and insurance on a car whilst still cycling to work during the week. (I'm not in Oxford though)

mumble, mumble... bloody pedants... mumble, mumble...

I meant for the bike, not in general!!

 

[bi0boy]

Perhaps those cycling around Oxford can use some of the money they save in not having to buy a road tax (or whatever you want to call it) to invest in some blooby light and reflective kit so that they can be seen at night! I've even seen some morons riding aound in the lanes in the pitch black with nothing to help them see or be seen!

To balance that (because there's prats riding / driving all sorts), drivers tearing around the country lanes at mach 1 while I'm out jogging really piss me off.

if you can't see an unlit cyclist, how do you see unlit pedestrians?

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Because they don't walk on the fucking road!!!!

Had to serve to avoid some stupid twat tonight, no lights, all black clothing and I hit the kerb. Retard!!! I wish I'd hit the fucker now and taught him a lesson. Now I need a new tyre and probably my car retracking, great fucking xmas present as I'm brassic already. If I drove round without lights I'd be pulled by the police and rightly so.

It's a mircle more cyclists don't kill themselfs each on the roads.

 

[gentlegreen]

Because they don't walk on the fucking road!!!!

....

It's a mircle more cyclists don't kill themselfs each on the roads.

As a cyclist I do on occaision point at my own lights when an unlit cyclist comes the other way. In my more eccentric (and fitter) days I would call out as I overtook youngsters - hopefully rubbing their noses in it ..

When I've put my switchbox in a more convenient place I'll be able to flash my 20 watt light at them. Or maybe give em a blast of the horn ...

 

[bi0boy]

Because they don't walk on the fucking road!!!!

Had to serve to avoid some stupid twat tonight, no lights, all black clothing and I hit the kerb. Retard!!! I wish I'd hit the fucker now and taught him a lesson. Now I need a new tyre and probably my car retracking, great fucking xmas present as I'm brassic already. If I drove round without lights I'd be pulled by the police and rightly so.

It's a mircle more cyclists don't kill themselfs each on the roads.

Many pedestrians walk in the road, for example, when they are crossing it, or in the countryside where there are no pavements (or street lights). I quite frequently read stories about people being hit and killed while walking home at night along country roads. The fact is, if you can't stop in time to avoid hitting unlit things in the road in front of you, then you are driving too fast for the conditions and your ability to percieve hazards.

 

[Pingu]

maybe in the interests of their own survival they should carry some small yet convienient sort of light?

it may also come in handy for saving them from walking into a hedge or something.

i have seen said devices in ye local shoppe. they go by the name of a "torch" I do believe.