Pavement cyclists crackdown?

[pk]

Well said. I agree whole-heartedly. Unfortunately I've found that shouting "Oi!" to other cyclists who flout this as they skim past you doesn't seem to do much. I wanted to get a cycling jersey that said something along the lines of "don't skip red lights, you c*nting psycho" but can't seem to find one!

Fuck that. Traffic lights are for cars, not bikes, I shoot straight through them if the way forward is clear, my need to get where I am going is greater than the need of other people to pull me up over it.

I've only been caught once, by the City police in Gresham Street, those stupid cops with the gold Battlestar Galactica helmets, they held me for 15 minutes whilst I gave them a bullshit name and address (the details of my old flatmate in fact) and they let me go.

If I die I die on my terms, if I twat a car it's their own fault for getting in my way.

Only way to survive in London village.

None of this pussy wobbly cycling, that shit will get you killed.

My way, they know who I am 20 yards before they've gotten close to me.

Even if they killed me I'd haunt their souls for all eternity.

They keep the fuck out of my way, I'm still here, ex courier with no brakes, fuck all the haters, I fought the law and I won.

 

[pk]

Well said. I agree whole-heartedly. Unfortunately I've found that shouting "Oi!" to other cyclists who flout this as they skim past you doesn't seem to do much. I wanted to get a cycling jersey that said something along the lines of "don't skip red lights, you c*nting psycho" but can't seem to find one!

Of course there's a swift way of bringing down a cyclist who insists on riding the pavement, and that's with a brick or a wooden pole to the front wheel, failing that, grab the seatpost with both hands and tear the bike back out from under his bollocks, followed up by an open handed choke-slam - and then if the cunt still hasn't got the message then take your elbow to his jawbone.

After that, the cunt won't want to know.

But cyclists have more rights than car drivers, remember that.

 

[pk]

Peace and love, car drivers in Central London.

 

[gentlegreen]

Are you still gonna do this. Don't forget to include cyclists who wear headphones.

In 20 years I have never set out without music to set the pace. I have open-backed headphones and never have it so loud I lose awareness of my surroundings - so there nea nea

Compare me to the average motorist in their air-conditioned boxes quite often talking on the phone FFS ..........


Personally I reckon you need to be more aware when driving.

 

[Nickster]

They're twats as well. But not too many of them!

This has been hit upon (excuse the pun!) in under separate cycling threads. Wearing headphones does not make cyclists more dangerous anymore than listening to the car radio. Noise from a vehicle are usually not very audible (unless they are revving their engine) when you are cycling due to the ambient boise from the air passing your ears. Better hearing won't increase the chances of avoiding suddenly stationary or turning traffic or pedestrians crossing roads - better sight and quicker reactions do that. I wear headphones all the time when I'm cycling but I always glance over my shoulder to sense traffic creaping up behind me.

I think you're having a go at cyclists who pull out without looking (i.e. not using their eyes - nothing to do with wearing headphones).

 

[scalyboy]

Fuck that. Traffic lights are for cars, not bikes, I shoot straight through them if the way forward is clear, my need to get where I am going is greater than the need of other people to pull me up over it.

Exactly - this is the problem; the idea that the lights don't apply to you. OK, so you say that you go forward if the way forward is clear, good - but as a pedestrian I have had many experiences of cyclists whose idea of 'clear' means 'no cars' - eg. fuck pedestrians, they can leap out of the way. Also by ignoring the lights it's irritating for those cars (and cyclists!) who do wait till they're green.

Looks to me like you consider yourself more important than anyone else - so fuck em. Which is exactly why some cyclists are giving others a bad rep.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Fuck that. Traffic lights are for cars, not bikes, I shoot straight through them if the way forward is clear, my need to get where I am going is greater than the need of other people to pull me up over it.

A dangerous lunatic.

 

[robotsimon]

My trusty D-Lock barrel makes me feel safe in the knowledge that windscreens are there purely for the cracking, and that I am faster and able to spin 360 degrees down a one way street if the need arises.

Just keep the yellow bit attached to the key on a strong, short length of chain, and if you're not in a hurry, it's great fun smacking some wanker's side panels and sprinting away whilst he's stuck behind the N68 shouting obscenities. They learn to respect cyclists the hard way.

Of course there's a swift way of bringing down a cyclist who insists on riding the pavement, and that's with a brick or a wooden pole to the front wheel, failing that, grab the seatpost with both hands and tear the bike back out from under his bollocks, followed up by an open handed choke-slam - and then if the cunt still hasn't got the message then take your elbow to his jawbone.

Fuck that. Traffic lights are for cars, not bikes, I shoot straight through them if the way forward is clear, my need to get where I am going is greater than the need of other people to pull me up over it.

If any of this is true, rather than internet macho fantasy, then you are a complete and utter wanker. Why does that fact that your sorry carcass happens to be riding a bike mean that you have to behave like a violent lunatic?

Personally, I couldn't give a toss if you end up hurt by riding and behaving like this. What I do give a toss about is that your attitude reflects on other cyclists, like me. If you have ever broken a windscreen with a d-lock and ridden off (which, to be frank, I doubt), I would not like to be the next cyclist the driver caught up with. Your idea that smashing up somebody's car would somehow make that person repsect cyclists is a joke. Grow up.

 

[Andy the Don]

If any of this is true, rather than internet macho fantasy, then you are a complete and utter wanker. Why does that fact that your sorry carcass happens to be riding a bike mean that you have to behave like a violent lunatic?

You'll get used to pk (used to be panda killer) & his "Travis Bickel" fantasies. I like to imagine pk standing infront of a mirror giving it "you talking to me..??". But let me let you into a little secret. pk is a loved up family man in real life..

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Travis Bickle didn't just fantasise.

 

[Crispy]

Fuck that. Traffic lights are for cars, not bikes, I shoot straight through them if the way forward is clear, my need to get where I am going is greater than the need of other people to pull me up over it.

I've only been caught once, by the City police in Gresham Street, those stupid cops with the gold Battlestar Galactica helmets, they held me for 15 minutes whilst I gave them a bullshit name and address (the details of my old flatmate in fact) and they let me go.

If I die I die on my terms, if I twat a car it's their own fault for getting in my way.

Only way to survive in London village.

None of this pussy wobbly cycling, that shit will get you killed.

My way, they know who I am 20 yards before they've gotten close to me.

Even if they killed me I'd haunt their souls for all eternity.

They keep the fuck out of my way, I'm still here, ex courier with no brakes, fuck all the haters, I fought the law and I won.

I'm not here to join in some sort of mass-stoning, but you fucking idiot. I hope a pedestrian manages to get an umbrella in your spokes one day. Have some fucking respect.
It is perfectly possible to cycle assertively and stop at red. Try it, it's not that hard.

 

[Andy the Don]

Travis Bickle didn't just fantasise.

Who says that pk just fantasises..

 

[Ol Nick]

Who says that pk just fantasises..

Why do you Oxbridge professors think you know everything?

 

[heartof gold]

get the ones without lights a night as well how on earth are you supposed to see them. its their life why dont they care.

 

[stylus]

I would encourage cyclists to cycle on the pavement, but to do it slowly and very carefully, and with the utmost respect for the pedestrian.
I don't cycle, but as a pedestrian I see many incidents of awful driving (cars) - either way too fast, plainly inconsiderate, or just people using the phone whilst in their cars.
Perhaps banning cars from the roads might encourage cyclists to get off the pavement ;-)

what do you reckon? would that be a vote winner? ban cars! I'm elected LOL


Oh, my point is, is that the roads are perhaps too dangerous for cyclists - if so, then have respect if cycling on the pavement.

 

[ramjamclub]

cyclists get fined twice

They have been cracking down on cyclists at our local shopping centre.
The problem is that you can get fined twice.
Once for cycling where pedestrians are allowed €50 fine and secondly for not having your ID card. No proper ID = €50 fine
Holland introduced the obligatory carrying of Identification in Jan 2006.
In Amsterdam centre over 50% don't have lights on their bike and only tourists bother wearing helmets.link

 

[jochem]

As someone who lived in Brixton for 4 years, i'm surprised it's even considered possible to cycle on the pavements, they're so rammed.

I do remember some little idiots cylcing on the pavements down by the Railton road /health food shop area. Little twats actually depended on me jumping out the way, as if I was totally invisible. This was more than once.

Makes me see red big style.

 

[jochem]

I have to admit, I cycled to work from Brixton to Queensway for three years and if I had stopped at every red light the journey would have taken twice as long (well, almost), and the occasional pavement-hop was definitely necessary.

If it's red and there are no cars, just fuckin go!! Red lights are for CARS. On a bike, you have to take responsibility for yourself. It does my head in to wait. I also consider it safer, cos then you're not all pulling off at the same time, surrounded by traffic.

I never got caught by a cop, never hit any padestrians, never got shouted at, beeped at, tutted at or anything. Am I lucky? I was always careful. Obviously, a padestrian has right of way on the pavement....

Bit of a tangent: I am increasingly resentful of how much space cars take up in our world. Dirty, polluting, noisy, ugly pieces of shit. My street (I live in Berlin) was recently cleared of cars for one day for a street festival. Before the festival was set up, I had a chance to see the place without all that metal shit filling it up for once. It was so WIDE, and there was so much room, it was beautiful. Imagine what you could do with that space - everywhere, not just Berlin!, instead of just parking cars in it.

 

[richtea]

Fuck that. Traffic lights are for cars, not bikes, I shoot straight through them if the way forward is clear, my need to get where I am going is greater than the need of other people to pull me up over it.

I've only been caught once, by the City police in Gresham Street, those stupid cops with the gold Battlestar Galactica helmets, they held me for 15 minutes whilst I gave them a bullshit name and address (the details of my old flatmate in fact) and they let me go.

If I die I die on my terms, if I twat a car it's their own fault for getting in my way.

Only way to survive in London village.

None of this pussy wobbly cycling, that shit will get you killed.

My way, they know who I am 20 yards before they've gotten close to me.

Even if they killed me I'd haunt their souls for all eternity.

They keep the fuck out of my way, I'm still here, ex courier with no brakes, fuck all the haters, I fought the law and I won.

Ooh, hark at you tough guy!

 

[richtea]

Red lights are for CARS.

No, red lights are for TRAFFIC. Learn to cycle more assertively and you shouldn't have to jump them in the first place.

 

[Radar]

They have been cracking down on cyclists at our local shopping centre.
The problem is that you can get fined twice.
Once for cycling where pedestrians are allowed €50 fine and secondly for not having your ID card. No proper ID = €50 fine

But its a bit shitty riding down a pedestrianised street when there's trams on the go and not a huge amount of space. I'm thinking the ped bits of Leidsestraat in particular.

Does the ID carry requirement only apply to locals ??

 

[jochem]

No, red lights are for TRAFFIC. Learn to cycle more assertively and you shouldn't have to jump them in the first place.

what? Sorry, that makes no sense to me.

If I'm on a road and there are NO CARS around and the light is red, it goes against my nature to just stay there - it really makes no sense to me as a free human being on this earth. For cars, it's obviously different. Big, hulking, heavy, clumsy. Bikes are just an evolutionary step up from padestrians. Do you wait for the padestrians' lights to turn green in the middle of the night (or day for that matter) when you're crossing the road and there are no cars about? I bet you don't. Same principle.

 

[richtea]

what? Sorry, that makes no sense to me.

If I'm on a road and there are NO CARS around and the light is red, it goes against my nature to just stay there - it really makes no sense to me as a free human being on this earth. For cars, it's obviously different. Big, hulking, heavy, clumsy. Bikes are just an evolutionary step up from padestrians. Do you wait for the padestrians' lights to turn green in the middle of the night (or day for that matter) when you're crossing the road and there are no cars about? I bet you don't. Same principle.

But my point is would you encourage motorists to do the same, jumping lights even if the roads are empty, for example? Are mopeds allowed to do that? They're not much bigger than a bike.

<hypocrite>Ped crossings - no I cross whenever I feel it's safe, but it's not quite the same issit, I'm not on the road in charge of something that can cause serious damage if I hit someone. </hypocrite>

 

[jochem]

But my point is would you encourage motorists to do the same, jumping lights even if the roads are empty, for example? Are mopeds allowed to do that? They're not much bigger than a bike.

<hypocrite>Ped crossings - no I cross whenever I feel it's safe, but it's not quite the same issit, I'm not on the road in charge of something that can cause serious damage if I hit someone. </hypocrite>

No I wouldn't encourage motorists to do the same. It's different. Mopeds are not the same as bikes either - faster, heavier, dumber...

I never had an accident in 4 years of serious cycling around London, 3 years of which were 90 min a day right through central London, which would have been 180 min a day if I hadn't jumped lights. Never so much as skimmed against the outer electron of a pedestrian, so I can't have been that unsafe.

 

[jochem]

To be fair, most of the time when you're running red lights there isn't a pedestrian around, or if there's a ped crossing, you give them right of way. I'm not a fan of wizzing through crowds of crossing peds and scaring them shitless.

Bikes are not cars and the same rules just do not apply. Shades of grey!! I'm not going to bow down to the anachronistic laws made for cars (also anachronistic) when I'm on my bike. Call me smug, but at least I'm not polluting the planet, using up resources, making noise and greatly affecting the immediate surroundings when I'm on my bike.

Rich tea, your hypocrisy is the exact same principle that I apply when running red lights. And if you're a generally considerate non-psycho-courier rider, then you just don't pose the danger to peds that you're suggesting.

Most of the time, bike riders are in more danger from peds who cross the road without looking. That happens to me every other day here in Berlin.

 

[Crispy]

No I wouldn't encourage motorists to do the same. It's different. Mopeds are not the same as bikes either - faster, heavier, dumber...

I never had an accident in 4 years of serious cycling around London, 3 years of which were 90 min a day right through central London, which would have been 180 min a day if I hadn't jumped lights. Never so much as skimmed against the outer electron of a pedestrian, so I can't have been that unsafe.

I've smoked cigarettes for 10 years and I don't have lung cancer!

It's a redundant argument. For every 10 "I'm alright" cyclists, there's another 1 whose luck ran out and found themselves hitting the car they didn't see.

The whole point of traffic lights, IMO, is to make traffic predictable. By stopping at red, by habit, that point is preserved.

 

[ramjamclub]

But its a bit shitty riding down a pedestrianised street when there's trams on the go and not a huge amount of space. I'm thinking the ped bits of Leidsestraat in particular.

Does the ID carry requirement only apply to locals ??

I know all residents have to have ID on them but I think tourists would be exempt. Not 100% sure on that,though the police could say why aren't you carrying your passport. As far as I know they banned cylists in the Leidesstraat, so its a fine for sure. groetjes Ramjam

 

[jochem]

I think I'm posting to myself here, but I want to add that there are some psychos out there who give all cyclists a bad name. running a red light does not mean absolutely razzing it through a light sending peds scattering and to hell with anyone else. It usually means pulling off early or at least slowing down first so that you *don't kill yourself or anyone else*. I ask you: How can the rules made for cars apply to bikes???

If we had a decent cyclepath system (too much to hope for in the UK) like the one here in Berlin, most of this thread would be redundant. In a sane world the use of bikes would be about 1000% more encouraged (i.e. with cycle paths etc) than it is at the moment....

 

[richtea]

To be fair, most of the time when you're running red lights there isn't a pedestrian around, or if there's a ped crossing, you give them right of way. I'm not a fan of wizzing through crowds of crossing peds and scaring them shitless.

Bikes are not cars and the same rules just do not apply. Shades of grey!! I'm not going to bow down to the anachronistic laws made for cars (also anachronistic) when I'm on my bike. Call me smug, but at least I'm not polluting the planet, using up resources, making noise and greatly affecting the immediate surroundings when I'm on my bike.

Rich tea, your hypocrisy is the exact same principle that I apply when running red lights. And if you're a generally considerate non-psycho-courier rider, then you just don't pose the danger to peds that you're suggesting.

Most of the time, bike riders are in more danger from peds who cross the road without looking. That happens to me every other day here in Berlin.

I agree that lights can be jumped "safely" in some circumstances, but it's still antagonistic towards other road users - it winds people up and therefore makes my commute more dangerous.

Got badly cut up on Bishopsgate:
Richtea: "Please could you indicate next time so I at least have some warning?"
Taxitwat: "I'll cut you up whenever I want mate"
Richtea: "Thanks for that. Are you having a bad day?"
Taxitwat: "Fuck off. You're all the same. Fuck off."
Richtea: "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Taxitwat: "You all jump red lights, you're all over the place"

etc etc etc

 

[jochem]

I've smoked cigarettes for 10 years and I don't have lung cancer!

It's a redundant argument. For every 10 "I'm alright" cyclists, there's another 1 whose luck ran out and found themselves hitting the car they didn't see.

The whole point of traffic lights, IMO, is to make traffic predictable. By stopping at red, by habit, that point is preserved.

Yes, but my time in London is over, and it all went smoothly.

I get your point, but there are shades of grey. I mean, look at ped crossings in London. Predictably, people ignore green or red signals. The same predictability applies here. And: you make your judgement based on not putting others in danger. Worked for me.

Anyway, I think all you enraged car drivers are picturing psycho courier types, which I'm not. But I ask you: what is the fucking point of standing and waiting for a light to turn green if there isn't a person or car anywhere in sight!!?? It's just bizzare to decide to wait. As an adult with a brain I can make a judgement about these things...