London cyclists: How many more have to die

[tommers]

well done urban, you lasted about 5 posts before somebody moaned about cyclists going through red lights.

have a biscuit.

 

[Badgers]

well done urban, you lasted about 5 posts before somebody moaned about cyclists going through red lights.

have a biscuit.

Cheers

 

[fredfelt]

The good news is that when cycling numbers increase cycling becomes safer. When a, excuse the term, critical mass of cyclists is reached drivers tend to expect cyclists and drive with more care for other road users.

But still, that does not excuse the serious accident / death statistics per head for pedestrians and cyclists in this country when next to Germany and Holland, for instance.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

I think cyclists need to accept a bit of responsibility for things that happen when they're on the roads.

The truth is - if you're a cyclist and you skip red lights etc you have no basis at all on which to get lairy with bad driving. You're driving your bike badly as many motorists do similarly...I've toned my cycling down a lot recently after all these fatal accidents but cyclists should realise and accept that we don't live in a bubble of purity and we should cycle responsibly whenever we can.

Speaking as cyclist, I would agree with that. I see cyclists often shouting at and acting aggressively towards drivers who actually haven't done anything wrong - some cyclists certainly do seem to think that they can do no wrong. People like that really do not help cyclist-driver relations.

What happened to the schools Cycling Proficiency Test anyway? That's how I learnt road safety on a bike. There should be some sort of free and easily accessible cycling training available. It doesn't have to be a test that allows you access to the road, just something that everyone is encouraged to do before taking to the streets. Wearing helmets has become normalised so we should also be able to normalise cycle training. I'm sure it would actually save far more lives than helmets!

I'm all for a campaign of public information films as well. We've got the motorbike ones - why not cycling ones?

 

[internetstalker]

All of my close calls on my bike have been entirely down to bad, dangerous or reckless drivers. And no, I don't jump red lights or hurtle down crowded pavements.

^^^^^I think any responsible road cyclist will have this same experiance, I know I have

 

[Badgers]

Speaking as cyclist

Not speaking as a mother

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Not speaking as a mother

do I get an award?

 

[tommers]

I see cyclists often shouting at and acting aggressively towards drivers who actually haven't done anything wrong

People often overreact when they're scared.

 

[kyser_soze]

What happened to the schools Cycling Proficiency Test anyway?

I've still got my badge from doing this.

Agreed with the safety training thing...

 

[Badgers]

I've still got my badge from doing this.

I failed mine!!
Massive fail in fact!!
Never met another person who fail this..

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Always the car driver(s) that suffer, the cyclist just carries on their merry way, oblivious to the destruction they have caused

My word!

What a fool you are.

 

[tarannau]

If AJ didn't exist, it would be necessary to make him up as a salutary example of pompous wrongness.

 

[ajdown]

My word!

What a fool you are.

Not at all. More fool you for failing to understand what I'm saying, in very simple terms.

 

[baldrick]

We do understand. You are completely wrong.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

People often overreact when they're scared.

They're not scared though these guys, they're full of misplaced righteous anger.

 

[tommers]

They're not scared though these guys, they're full of misplaced righteous anger.

Anger comes from fear.

Glasshopper.

Well, adrenaline, but that doesn't sound as wise.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

I failed mine!!
Massive fail in fact!!
Never met another person who fail this..

My entire class failed - apart form me - making me an outcast

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Anger comes from fear.

Glasshopper.

Well, adrenaline, but that doesn't sound as wise.

I understand what you're saying but I'm not talking about anger that comes from fear - like e.g. when I've shouted at bus drivers for cutting me up - I'm talking about the people who just shout at everyone on the road who dares to be "in their way". I work with someone like it. Every single other person on the road is a useless cunt. It's just not helpful

 

[kabbes]

Anger comes from fear.

Glasshopper.

Well, adrenaline, but that doesn't sound as wise.

It's true. And anger leads to hate. And we all know what hate leads to.

 

[tommers]

I understand what you're saying but I'm not talking about anger that comes from fear - like e.g. when I've shouted at bus drivers for cutting me up - I'm talking about the people who just shout at everyone on the road who dares to be "in their way". I work with someone like it. Every single other person on the road is a useless cunt. It's just not helpful

oh right.

they're just twats.

 

[tommers]

It's true. And anger leads to hate. And we all know what hate leads to.

seething resentment and an ulcer?

 

[Lemon Eddy]

I think the idea of a compulsory cycling proficiency test is a great idea. Make it compulsory for anyone who wants to use any road vehicle - car, motorbike, truck or bicycle. That way not only will cyclists have to know the basics of safe road use, but other vehicle drivers will have a bit more understanding of how cyclists may have to behave (steering around potholes, buffeted by winds, avoiding broken glass, etc) and why they need more than 1 foot of passing room.

 

[Crispy]

Indeed. Having driven a car and ridden a bike for extended periods of time, I can definitely say that both my riding and my driving are better for it.

 

[Roadkill]

Three years' commuting by bike certainly made me a more careful driver.

I don't know about making it compulsory, but I think it'd be a good idea for anyone wanting a driving licence to do a few months' cycling beforehand, because it certainly gives you a persepctive on the roads that you don't get behind the wheel.

 

[ajdown]

Most people do ride a bike before they get their driving license. Certainly until I was able to upgrade to a car, a bike was all I had to get around.

 

[tommers]

It should be done at school. Lose one term of football or whatever and do cycling proficiency....

 

[Santino]

It's true. And anger leads to hate. And we all know what hate leads to.

Swindon.

 

[kabbes]

seething resentment and an ulcer?

No, I think that hate leads to ajdown.

 

[Wolveryeti]

Why shouldn't he tell you off? You were riding down the WRONG side of the road.

You really are a monumental tool

 

[Wolveryeti]

Why do people think cyclists should get a free ride and have absolutely no test of competence, road safety or knowledge of the Highway Code before being let out on the road in probably the most dangerous form of transport there is?

Apart from the more obscure stuff (when to give way on roundabouts etc), I think most cyclists do have a good working knowledge of the highway code. I'd more be in favour of leafletting cycles with information related to the most common causes of cycle accident (undertaking lorries etc)