Now I'm a cyclist myself, but I want to see what your guys views are...
Cyclists should be on the pavement or on the road?
I do both... because it's just easier, when I'm on the pavement I'm careful and considerate, and whislt on the road obey the Highway code.
Now, when you are on the road... drivers complain, when your on the path, pedestrians complain, WHEN your in a cycle lane, PEOPLE (or cars if on the road) GO IN THEM!.
There's no win for cyclists at all
.
On the road. I cycle at a reonable speed (20mph ish), cant safely do that on pavement. Theres a cycle path but cars park in it, and then it moves onto the pavement and is filled up with padestrians. So always on the road.
Fair enough, when I'm travelling at fast speeds that's when I'm using the road. Anything under about 12mph and I'll be on the pavement though (although I suppose it depends).
I came across several old people servering all over the road today.This was then followed by a young person who decided to go into the middle of the road and turn right with no indication of any kind to myself. They then procededed to turn right in front of another car. I think all cyclists reguardless of ability should be on the pavement. By being on the road they are causing a danger to themselves and the cars behind them.
On the road. Although there's a huge problem with a lot of drivers ability to deal with cyclists correctly.
First things first, again? This just turns into a flame fest.
How? Bad cyclists cause a danger, just like bad drivers, or indeed, bad pedestrians. Have you ever tried cycling along a busy pavement? Hell even a moderately un busy one, they simply arent big enough. Also, when im going down a decent hill at 30+ mph, what exactly are all the pedestrians supposed to do? They certainly wont fit past.Originally Posted by digit
I came across several old people servering all over the road today.This was then followed by a young person who decided to go into the middle of the road and turn right with no indication of any kind to myself. They then procededed to turn right in front of another car
as has been said, it has to be on the road.
there is no way you can ride at 20-30 mph on the pavement, it's just crazy.
as for riding on the road, well... do it sensibly, you'd drive sensibly, why not ride sensibly. saying that ive met very few drivers with any respect for cyclists at all. eg looking in the miror when turning left without indicating, been hit like that a few times myself, or opening doors without checking mirrors when parked.
sometimes im not as fast as a car, but live with it. i do my best to let cars overtake but sometimes its too narrow. you wouldnt try to run an old lady in a metro off the road just because she was going at 20mph now would you?
I don't think anyone over the age of 12 should cycle on the pavement unless cycling on the road would be completely unsafe. If car drivers don't like it, tough titty- bicycles have been around far longer than they have.
Do cyclists pay road tax for the use of those roads though?
Personaly I would allways choose the safest option when Im on a bike, usualy thats on a pavement, in the end if you manage to hit a pedestrian on a bike its unlikely to result in any injury whereas if your on a bike and hit by a car its a diff story.
Also, cycle lanes are a total waste of time, would be better to simply have wider pavements. Near where I live there is a cycle lane the length of a bus stop (it in fact is part of a bus stop). What kind of use is that?
I might take a pic if its light when I drive past tomorrow.
HEXUS FOLDING TEAM It's EASY
No.
But neither do horses or sheep. Tractors hardly pay any and when they do go on the road they spread mud all over the place ruin verges and hold everyone up.
Cycle lanes are a real use when people don't park or drive in them.
Government should introduce a Cycling Licence! I can see it now!
Motorists pay road tax to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the road that motor vehicles damage. It also pays for the building of things that cyclists do not use such as motorways. Cyclists cause no damage to the road hence no upkeep cost. If the whole of Britain cycled then realistically the roads would only need laying once.
With a nice hefty fee attached to it.Then they could introduce a tax to go with it. You know this lot, never pass up a chance to squeeze a few extra quid out of the population
That could be 'to pay for cycle lanes' which of course would never be built.
Back on thread. I live in the countryside when I'm back home. Lots of cyclists out there but no pavements or cycle lanes. This, however doesn't stop cyclist from riding erratically or 2 abreast on what can be very busy roads. Generally the roads are national speed limit. So add fast moving and erratic car drivers to the mix and you get the picture. One reason that I don't cycle anywhere is that it simply isn't safe enough. I don't even go running on my old routes becuase it has got so busy and the hedges come right up to the edge of the roads as the local council only cut them back every 3 years now to save money.
I really don't know what the solution is. But the situation ouside of towns is far from ideal. In town there are those that use the streets and pavements as their own bmx track. swapping rapidly and without warning between road and pavement. These people are just accidents waiting to happen. I would disagree with G4Z about the likelihood of avoiding injury in a collision with a pedestrian. I recall seeing a French police officer hospitalized after being hit by a cyclist on the tour de France for example. Imagine the impact of say a 12 stone man hitting an 8 stone little old lady at a speed of between 15 and 20 miles an hour.
"You want loyalty? ......get a dog!"
I really dont see why everyone takes exception to people riding 2 abreast. If the other lane isnt clear then there isnt room to overtake safely anyway.
But there IS room to pass within an inch of the handlebars at 50mph.
I'm just waiting for TeePee to spot this thread. Then there'll be trouble...
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