kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Just out of intrerest, aren't the numbers of dead cyclists going down, not up, despite more people riding?
London cyclists: How many more have to die
- Thread starter moon
- Start date
Lemon Eddy
Disliked by dwyer
They're reanimating previous fatalities?
I take it that means that you're not prepared to take any responsibility for any accidents that you may cause?
Clearly teh problem of casualties on the road is not going to be solved by training (someone can act like a moron as soon as they pas their training) byt by strict liability enforcement of the RTA.
You speed, you take the fine and points; you go through ar ed light, you pay the fine and (for repeat offenders) put up with having your vehicle confiscated.
Lemon Eddy
Disliked by dwyer
The problem with that scenario is if you're moving at the same speed or slower than the cars to your left - and considering the ebb and flow of traffic in towns, that's likely to happen on a regular basis.
So as that green vehicle currently alongside you moves forward, possibly before he's seen you, all sort of problems become possible. He indicates right. He moves out to avoid a parked car. Lots of things, all because you're behaving in a risky manner.
Sure, motorbikes do it - and they're being cockish too. Also they've got the advantage of speed, which means it's unlikely that cars are suddenly going to start moving at the same pace.
Yes, it's less of a problem if you're on a one way street or whatever, but honestly I'd say it's a pretty dumb practice and best avoided.
Lemon Eddy
Disliked by dwyer
Aye, but there's be a rise in gang related joustings.
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
You mean the cars actually move faster than a cyclist during the school run where you are ?
baldrick
hmmmmm
hurr hurr hurrr
fredfelt
Mostly unknown member
Yes, as a proportion of people cycling deaths are falling. As I said before, the more cyclists on the road the safer the streets are for cyclists (and everyone else I would expect)
In Australia they made helmet wearing compulsory recently. This resulted in fewer people cycling and made cycling less safe.
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Heh, I've had a couple of fun discussions about this...
I don't wear a helmet, can't stand the things, and my missus and best mates GF are both from Oz and get really arsey about me not wearing one, so I've used this and a couple of other arguments...
On the general subject of road safety, wasn't it recently that it was shown that less people die in road/traffic related accidents than 150 years ago or something? That's a pretty amazing achievement I reckon...
Lemon Eddy
Disliked by dwyer
You mean the cars actually move faster than a cyclist during the school run where you are ?
Yep. Traffic tends to move in fits and spurts, so it's not unusual for a line of stationary cars to suddenly start rolling along at 20+ mph.
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
blimey
- mind you, my city is particularly over-carred.(I never overtake static queues that have any real potential to move faster than me)
fredfelt
Mostly unknown member
Sure is. But you are still twice as likely to die on a bike in the UK then when cycling in Holland, Germany or Denmark.
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
There're any number of things I'm more likely to die in the UK than these three, but these three nations also have a hugely different approach to saftey from both an official and personal viewpoint - there was a thread on here recently where people were talking about Germans being scandalised by people walking across a perfectly clear street when the red man was showing at the lights.
It's growing but there is far less of a 'safety culture' in the UK than in the Germanic countries, a mixed blessing IMV...
fredfelt
Mostly unknown member
Don't think anyone does. It's licensing of cyclists that I would assume most have a problem with.
christonabike
Elm Park Bencher
Don't they do cycle proficiency tests in schools anymore?
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
With regards helmets, in the UK you would only have to wear some kind of hat in any case ... same applies to earmuffs in my case if I didn't wear headphones.
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Why some kind of hat gg?
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
On this I agree.
Lemon Eddy
Disliked by dwyer
+1
ajdown
Posting in this thread
But you approve of that no? you'd like to herd cyclists into a big warehouse and set fire to the lot of them, iirc
Any accidental death on the roads, regardless of the circumstances, is a tragedy.
However, rounding 'em up is not.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
Certainly is. 2 ENORMOUS continental coaches overtook me at speed last night on my way home leaving a gap of about half an inch between my handlebars and the bus side. If I hadn't heard them coming, I would probably have been under the wheels. I had to suddenly duck in betwen 2 parked cars.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
You drive in a sound insulating box with a stereo, don't be a twat. Besides, it's legal for deaf people to drive and ride bikes. If a deaf person is allowed to ride a bike, I can ride one with some tunage.
