The Bike Lane Debate

[TeePee]

As ive previously said, anyone who rides dangerously should be stopped, as should anyone in a car, that doesnt mean everyone should be stopped riding bikes.

What you previously said was that those breaking the rules of the road should be sbanned.. Then you admitted to breaking the rules yourself.

I'm sure you, and the hundreds of other cyclists, along with speeding drivers all believe they are safe.

Drivers who speed get points and eventually banned. The same should happen to cyclists who break the law.

[herulach]

What you previously said was that those breaking the rules of the road should be sbanned.. Then you admitted to breaking the rules yourself.

I'm sure you, and the hundreds of other cyclists, along with speeding drivers all believe they are safe.

Drivers who speed get points and eventually banned. The same should happen to cyclists who break the law.

The point being, that in using a pedestrian crossing i am safe, 90% of the time theres no one there, maybe 5% theres 1 person, and the rest i dismount. Name any situation you can think of where i arent safer doing that, than riding in the traffic.

Personally id love to have a bike licence, even if it were only to stop skids from riding round in the granny ring on their 50 quid halfords full sussers, and thinking their bike is better than mine, just because mines a hardtail, But it isnt something thats likely to happen. And probably if i did have one, id still behave exactly the same, and it wouldnt solve a single issue like cars turning across a cycle lane either from the opposite side of road or without indicating

[5lab]

the difference is, and this is a key difference, that a bike rarely causes death to anyone other than its rider. a speeding car is a lot more dangerous than a cyclist jumping a red - you should at least be able to admit that..

[schmunk]

Cyclists only pull away from the lights quicker because they jump them.

You fancy a 50ft race?

[TeePee]

The cyclist jumping the red is likely to cause death to the rider. This leads to 'how dangerous cycling is, we should lower the speed limit/add a speed camera'.

You believe you're safe cycling through the pesdestrian area, good for you.. I bet most motorists think they are safe at 40mph in a 30 limit.

I'll take that 50ft race anytime.

[shiato storm]

You fancy a 50ft race?

yup. bring it on!

[nichomach]

Having been hit by a cyclist on a pavement, been overtaken on the wrong side numerous times, been imperiously belled out of the way as a pedestrian on the pavement by cyclists who had no damn business being on the pavement in the first place, and stuck behind the local cycling club for bloody ages while they take up the entire road more times than I care to mention, my view is that I would like to see properly implemented cycle lanes, separated from other traffic. Anything that gets the sanctimonious ******s out of places where they endanger other people is fine by me. I don't go with the "90%" quoted above, but on the basis of observation of the traffic that I'm in, there's an extremely high proportion of cyclists who are either ignorant of the rules of the road or don't much give a damn for obeying the ones that they DO know about. You have to pass a test before you're allowed to use the roads in a car, but there's no compulsory tests for cyclists, who are free to abuse the roads and their fellow road users as much as they wish. I had to pass a test to use the public roads, and in the event of misuse I can have my license revoked, and be effectively removed from those roads. Where's the option to ban cyclists who endanger others?

Cyclists in pedestrian areas go much faster than the prevaling foot traffic, are silent, and can cause serious injury on impact. Personally, I'd say that a cyclist in a pedestrian area is a good candidate for an ASBO prohibiting them from driving or riding any sort of wheeled conveyance in a public place.

[herulach]

Having been hit by a cyclist on a pavement, been overtaken on the wrong side numerous times, been imperiously belled out of the way as a pedestrian on the pavement by cyclists who had no damn business being on the pavement in the first place, and stuck behind the local cycling club for bloody ages while they take up the entire road more times than I care to mention, my view is that I would like to see properly implemented cycle lanes, separated from other traffic. Anything that gets the sanctimonious ******s out of places where they endanger other people is fine by me. I don't go with the "90%" quoted above, but on the basis of observation of the traffic that I'm in, there's an extremely high proportion of cyclists who are either ignorant of the rules of the road or don't much give a damn for obeying the ones that they DO know about. You have to pass a test before you're allowed to use the roads in a car, but there's no compulsory tests for cyclists, who are free to abuse the roads and their fellow road users as much as they wish. I had to pass a test to use the public roads, and in the event of misuse I can have my license revoked, and be effectively removed from those roads. Where's the option to ban cyclists who endanger others?

Cyclists in pedestrian areas go much faster than the prevaling foot traffic, are silent, and can cause serious injury on impact. Personally, I'd say that a cyclist in a pedestrian area is a good candidate for an ASBO prohibiting them from driving or riding any sort of wheeled conveyance in a public place.

Whats wrong with cyclists taking up a lane of traffic? If there isnt space to pass them on the opposite side of the road then you shouldnt be thinking about passing them anyway.

[Matt1eD]

Back to the cycle lane topic, I am an absolute supporter, simply because anything which keeps cyclists away from traffic is a good thing. But they should be properly implimented to keep cyclists off the roads, and the 20 feet of cycle lane up to traffic lights doesn't do this. Cyclists only pull away from the lights quicker because they jump them.

There are so many poorly designed cycle lanes that they do more harm than good. There should be no need for segrigation if both drivers and cyclists obeyed the highway code.

I'm a fan of racing bikes and performance MBs & so forth - however for cities:

1. I'd use an a couple of hundred quid MB
2. I wouldn't wear fluorescent yellow jackets, but something bright (the amount of people who wear black !!!!!)
3. Have decent lights (you can easily pay hundreds - have a look at wiggles selection) and clip on lights
4. Get a large attention grabber like an Airzound.
5. & always have both hands available - don't carry something in one hand

^^^ just a couple of thoughts - most things have been mentioned in this thread already

[nichomach]

Whats wrong with cyclists taking up a lane of traffic? If there isnt space to pass them on the opposite side of the road then you shouldnt be thinking about passing them anyway.

Which part of the phrase "the entire road" was unclear? As in multiple cyclists weaving across both lanes like a drunken duck in a hurricane? As in not being able to pass in the opposite lane for fear of one of them drifting out across me? Because heaven forfend that any of them should actually pay any attention to little trivialities like that!

I try to give cyclists plenty of room when I overtake; indeed when overtaking a cyclist, I don't unless the opposite lane is clear and I use the same judgement as when overtaking a car. I'd consider myself relatively considerate toward cyclists; I'd say, however that a very high proportion of them appear to feel no obligation to be considerate of anyone else.
And the rest of my points still remain.

[herulach]

Which part of the phrase "the entire road" was unclear? As in multiple cyclists weaving across both lanes like a drunken duck in a hurricane? As in not being able to pass in the opposite lane for fear of one of them drifting out across me? Because heaven forfend that any of them should actually pay any attention to little trivialities like that!

I try to give cyclists plenty of room when I overtake; indeed when overtaking a cyclist, I don't unless the opposite lane is clear and I use the same judgement as when overtaking a car. I'd consider myself relatively considerate toward cyclists; I'd say, however that a very high proportion of them appear to feel no obligation to be considerate of anyone else.
And the rest of my points still remain.

Fair enough, that is rather inconsiderate, i thought you meant 1 lane.

[shiato storm]

Cyclists in pedestrian areas go much faster than the prevaling foot traffic, are silent, and can cause serious injury on impact. Personally, I'd say that a cyclist in a pedestrian area is a good candidate for an ASBO prohibiting them from driving or riding any sort of wheeled conveyance in a public place.

to be honest an ASBO is about as useful as a chocolate tea-pot.
really f-ing useless things they hand out like sweets. I mean honestly, what does an ASBO really mean? just another excuse for the police to had them out. I'm quite surprised more people don't actually have one!

[Splash]

Ok - just read this thread - some very interesting points...

I'm a cyclist, and it REALLY annoys the hell out of me to see ANYONE (be they cyclists, car drivers, bus drivers, bloody great wagons etc...) taking the mick on the road. Cyclists who edge out into a junction so traffic has to swerve around them (when their light is red), cars pulling refusing to stop at the lights until they're in the advanced area for bikes only, drivers of any vehicle who don't make it clear they're about to turn, vehicles (particularly buses in my experience) who will swerve in to splash pedestrians in big puddles - all of these things (and many more) get my goat.

I'm fairly lucky in York - the council have planned pretty well for cyclists (just think - more cyclists=less pollution in city centre areas=better air quality for people in the city) but people still take liberties. All these things annoy me.

What I don't get (sorry for going slightly off topic here) is the amount of people who live 20 mins walk from work who will drive in, drive around town looking for parking and pay for parking when they could just walk or cycle, lose a little weight and save some cash (York, I know is a small city, but this constantly amazes me anyway)

[5lab]

cars pulling refusing to stop at the lights until they're in the advanced area for bikes only,

ahh that gets on my tits too. i find the best solution is to sit in front of them (if space allows) then cycle off *really* slowly from the light. should learn 'em

[shiato storm]

this is also another thing that I find amuses me on the way to where ever I'm going.
another good one is coming up by the passenger side and lifting the windscreen wipers up and away from the window and leave them there. that utterly messes them, that have to stop now to put them back down

[herulach]

this is also another thing that I find amuses me on the way to where ever I'm going.
another good one is coming up by the passenger side and lifting the windscreen wipers up and away from the window and leave them there. that utterly messes them, that have to stop now to put them back down

If you did that to me while i was in a car, id be most tmepted to stop on top of your bike to put them down. Doesnt matter if youre on a bike or not, being a dickhead is still that. WHat if someone came up while you were sat at lights at pulled the quick release on your front wheel?