Cyclists

[herulach]

And finally, the issue shouldnt be road tax, it should be insurance!

Shock horror, i actually agree with teepee on that point, third party insurance should be compulsory for anyone who rides on the road (even little kids). I have personal injury cover too, but thrid party would have cost me about an extra fiver on my cycle insurance, so no one can argue over the cost (substantially less than a spare tire)

[KW1816]

Road tax is a tax collected to pay for roads, the fact that they only spend a fraction of it is irrelevant

errr No it isn't - Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) is part of the general taxation pool - the same way duty on spirits doesn't go to pay for AA meetings .

How the general taxation pool is allocated is up to the government in power, who are decided but us

[G4Z]

And where does all the funding for road improvement come from? Is it the treasury? I think it is.

Road tax does pay for road use, they just dont spend as much as they tax on it.

[DaBeeeenster]

Ok, so when we are all driving our fuel cell cars with zero emissions then we can have the roads we pay for back can we?

Road tax is a tax collected to pay for roads, the fact that they only spend a fraction of it is irrelevant. Vehicle owners pay for the use of those roads, cyclists do not therefore I submit that vehicle users deserve some priority. The situation we have now is that there are cycle lanes and bus lanes and no car lanes popping up all over in totally rubbish locations and this benefits neither party. I just think that roads should be designed with cars in mind rather than this mish mash of cycle lanes and bus lanes we have at the moment.

You are not listening to me. Read up on the oil crisis.

[G4Z]

Mate i am well aware of peak oil and the predicted impending doom.

I actualy feel that roads are deliberately made difficult to drive on now due to all the extra lights insane road markings and bus/cycle lanes. I just feel that people sitting around going nowehere is just as bad for the environment and usage of oil. I just want to see some common sense in town planning!!!

And I think that starts with prioritising traffic, and as vehicle owners pay the tax and are most numerous I feel they should be priority one in road design. That is not to say pedestrians and cyclists should be made unsafe or be unable to cross for traffic. I just want some common sense solutions!

[KW1816]

I actualy feel that roads are deliberately made difficult to drive on now due to all the extra lights insane road markings and bus/cycle lanes.

While I don't want to start sounding like a raving Liberal but you're coming from the point of view that cars are the sole users of roads. As an alternate thought, Buses,horses,bikes,tractors etc have just as much right to use the roads, and indeed need have roads/crossings designed for their saftey as well as convienience.

Personally I both drive a car (300+ miles a week) and cycle on the roads, getting back to the original thread, when I cycle I obey all traffic rules, don't wear lycra and have insurance - but I've lost count of the amount of drivers who think it's OK to pass at 60mph with 2 inches clearance.

The most under used part of a car now seems to be the middle pedal