Don't get too close.....

[basil]

Of course not. But the very fact cyclists are so vulnerable should make them even more cautious, should it not? After all, as your unfortunate friends have found to their cost, any collision between a vehicle and a soft warm body will seldom end well.

I'm very 'considerate, respectful and courteous of vulnerable cyclists' for the very valid reason that were I not, the inconsiderate, disrespectful, often-idiotic and discourteous behaviour displayed by a good proportion of them could potentially result in my vehicle being damaged, me being seriously inconvenienced, out-of-pocket financially, possibly subject to investigation, and to them being seriously injured or indeed killed. Despite this, many of them insist on riding two, sometimes three abreast, swerve unpredictably without thought to what's behind or alongside them, ride too far from the kerb, fail to use cycle lanes, etc, and generally make themselves a dangerous hazard to both themselves, and other road users.

I think a group of cyclists are advised to make the group the size of a car and not in single file. (I`m not a cyclist and nor do I want to be)
The time has got to come where every cyclist will have to have some kind of insurance and laws will come into effect that they have to follow.
My biggest gripe is that a cyclist can aimlessly travel along the road (or pavement) texting or talking on their phones totally oblivious to what is happening around them.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Personally I think people who can`t control their emotions whilst driving amongst other traffic (bicycles) should not be trusted with guns.

 

[Alantoo]

Of course not. But the very fact cyclists are so vulnerable should make them even more cautious, should it not? After all, as your unfortunate friends have found to their cost, any collision between a vehicle and a soft warm body will seldom end well.

I'm very 'considerate, respectful and courteous of vulnerable cyclists' for the very valid reason that were I not, the inconsiderate, disrespectful, often-idiotic and discourteous behaviour displayed by a good proportion of them could potentially result in my vehicle being damaged, me being seriously inconvenienced, out-of-pocket financially, possibly subject to investigation, and to them being seriously injured or indeed killed. Despite this, many of them insist on riding two, sometimes three abreast, swerve unpredictably without thought to what's behind or alongside them, ride too far from the kerb, fail to use cycle lanes, etc, and generally make themselves a dangerous hazard to both themselves, and other road users.

The point I am trying to make is that however cautious a cyclist may be, the odds are stacked entirely against them.

As you say, you would be inconvenienced by a few scratches to your vehicle and some time lost, hardly equates to death or injury does it?

The ranting and obvious irritation expressed in this thread does not bode well. If a few seconds delay to ones journey or other minor peeves can cause such annoyance perhaps it is unwise for FAC holders to be expressing that on an open forum.

You can't have it both ways...damned if the cyclist should travel too far from the kerb and damned if they swerve to avoid drains and potholes.

The highway code certainly puts the onus on both the driver and the cyclist regarding swerving to avoid potholes etc....the cyclist to look ahead for potholes and signal before moving out, and the driver to be aware that in heavy traffic that may not be possible so to allow for cyclists who may have to swerve.

If the driver follows the highway code and allows the same space to overtake as if the cyclist was a car, riding two or three feet from kerb can prevent the need for most swerves...

Alan

 

[Highlandsjohn]

Where is Tim, he started all this. Probably out shooting or repairing something while we are on here, re-cycling instead of reloading...

 

[rodp]

It's like everything in life some are pricks some aren't goes for cyclists and car drivers alike. As for paying road tax when my bike weighs as much as a car takes up as much room and chucks out as much pollution I'll pay road tax as I do on my Hilux sitting on the drive. However the wife pays as much for her Skoda as I do for my bike. So that argument for road use is dead isn't it.
I regularly get stuff thrown out of car windows at me as they pass but good things come to those that wait.
2 weeks ago car goes past kids front and rear hang out of windows and scream at me almost causing me to loose control. Woman driver laughing her head off. About a mile further on stopped in traffic lane 2 is said car near side windows still open so as I approach I lean across and shout BOO driver jumps slips clutch and runs up the chuff of car in front. He who laughs last Ha Ha
ILB

Sorry but it does. You slow down traffic to a crawl and cause a tail back of vehicles all in first or second gear and pumping out emissions like there's no tomorrow, We now have to give a cyclist over half a lane clearance meaning we have to cross the white line so may just as well be the width of a car. You hold up cars and hgv's that tend to close up the gap between them thereby imposing a far greater spot load on the road surface.
So there you are, a cycle causes just as much damage to a road as a car, so should pay tax and insurance, and have a registration number clearly displayed.

 

[Brimfire]

Where is Tim, he started all this. Probably out shooting or repairing something while we are on here, re-cycling instead of reloading...

He's probably looking for the next big issue to post and then let the mayhem commence, his last thread starter in off topic was Red Ken he started the thread then was never to be seen again!

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

Speaking of red,,,,its about this time in the proceedings that R/D comes freewheeling downhill legs akimbo with his middle finger in the air whistling raindrops are falling on my head!!

 

[Alantoo]

snip...We now have to give a cyclist over half a lane clearance meaning we have to cross the white line so may just as well be the width of a car.Snip... so should pay tax and insurance, and have a registration number clearly displayed.

That car width allowance clearance is not that new...the highway code I mugged up on when I took my test in 1969 said the same.

Cycling test and licence and MOT for adequate lights every year would be a great idea.

Alan

 

[Brimfire]

That car width allowance clearance is not that new...the highway code I mugged up on when I took my test in 1969 said the same.

Cycling test and licence and MOT for adequate lights every year would be a great idea.

Alan

Back in 1969 everyone worked locally there was not much commuting going on, the roads were far less congested and the odd cyclist on the road would not be causing a problem to the modern world commute. Perhaps these lazy parents of school children should cycle to school with their kids instead of clogging up local roads around schools parking in an obstructive way and blocking up roads at drop off and pick up time.... food for thought

 

[Tim.243]

Where is Tim, he started all this. Probably out shooting or repairing something while we are on here, re-cycling instead of reloading...

Quite right...........

After an early start welding on site yesterday I got back to take Olly out on our club marsh for his first Teal...

Shame most of the re-loaders never commented on the days shooting lol....

Tim.243

 

[ILoveBambi]

Sorry but it does. You slow down traffic to a crawl and cause a tail back of vehicles all in first or second gear and pumping out emissions like there's no tomorrow, We now have to give a cyclist over half a lane clearance meaning we have to cross the white line so may just as well be the width of a car. You hold up cars and hgv's that tend to close up the gap between them thereby imposing a far greater spot load on the road surface.
So there you are, a cycle causes just as much damage to a road as a car, so should pay tax and insurance, and have a registration number clearly displayed.

What a load of crap!
One thing I find really amuses me is the fact I'm frequently in the
20-30 MPH bracket but cars can't accept travelling along just behind a cyclist so at earliest opportunity foot down & overtake just to jump on the brakes for a Gatso or the car in front always makes me laugh unless it's the pulling out of a junction having not seen me or thought only a cyclist and not judging my speed.
Finishing work in rush hour I can cycle my 28 miles as quick as I can drive it sometimes
ILB

 

[rodp]

What a load of crap!
One thing I find really amuses me is the fact I'm frequently in the
20-30 MPH bracket but cars can't accept travelling along just behind a cyclist so at earliest opportunity foot down & overtake just to jump on the brakes for a Gatso or the car in front always makes me laugh unless it's the pulling out of a junction having not seen me or thought only a cyclist and not judging my speed.
Finishing work in rush hour I can cycle my 28 miles as quick as I can drive it sometimes
ILB

What a load of crap, round here you wouldn't do 300 yards at that speed. it's all either up or down hill and there's no way you'll do 30mph up these hills.

 

[Highlandsjohn]

Quite right...........

After an early start welding on site yesterday I got back to take Olly out on our club marsh for his first Teal...

Shame most of the re-loaders never commented on the days shooting lol....

Tim.243

I knew it. Well done Tim for helping the next generation grow into our sport. Looks like a great bit of water the club has..
My old boy Sam with three for the pot..

View attachment 74534

 

[scubadog]

Sorry but it does. You slow down traffic to a crawl and cause a tail back of vehicles all in first or second gear and pumping out emissions like there's no tomorrow, We now have to give a cyclist over half a lane clearance meaning we have to cross the white line so may just as well be the width of a car. You hold up cars and hgv's that tend to close up the gap between them thereby imposing a far greater spot load on the road surface.
So there you are, a cycle causes just as much damage to a road as a car, so should pay tax and insurance, and have a registration number clearly displayed.

No.....that's still YOUR vehicle causing the damage and pollution!


But at least we know that someone clearly can't keep their cool when driving a car! Wonder how you cope when you are trusted with a rifle?? Very disconcerting.

What I find completely odd about people like you, is that you should remember that as a stalker or any other participant in cou try activities you are hated by the majority of the population....you moan enough about the unjust hae....yet here you are....spouting hate for things that really shouldn't be effecting you!

All you have to do is slow down. Pass wide. It costs you what, at worst a few minutes a week??

Honestly.....the world intemperate behaviour springs to mind.

 

[scubadog]

What a load of crap, round here you wouldn't do 300 yards at that speed. it's all either up or down hill and there's no way you'll do 30mph up these hills.

Well if it's either up hill or down hill....then surley you missed the down hill part?

Why does it matter to you that you are delayed by a few minutes whilst driving your fossil fuel guzzling 100 horse power machine?

 

[Woodsmoke]

Why does it matter to you that you are delayed by a few minutes whilst driving your fossil fuel guzzling 100 horse power machine?

Why should some cyclists think it's perfectly acceptable to inconvenience other road users, no matter how slight they may perceive that inconvenience to be? That's the attitude that causes so much friction between motorists and cyclists. Pair that attitude with poor road sense and careless behaviour and it's hardly surprising cyclists are held in such poor regard by some

 

[sikamalc]

Ok the posting is getting a bit aggressive now. We all had push bikes when we were young, some prefer to still use them, that's fine its a personal choice.

But I will say this, since there has been an upsurge in people taking cycling up, I have seen more cyclists run through a red light without even thinking, or mounting the pavement because they couldn't be asked to wait along with all the other traffic. I know people driving a car can do the same thing, but I often wonder how many of these new cyclists have actually taken a test, and that the highway code still applies to them, the same as everyone else on the roads?

And yes I did take a cycling test when I was at school.................many years ago, and not on a penny farthing either before we get a smart arse response!

 

[scubadog]

Why should some cyclists think it's perfectly acceptable to inconvenience other road users, no matter how slight they may perceive that inconvenience to be? That's the attitude that causes so much friction between motorists and cyclists. Pair that attitude with poor road sense and careless behaviour and it's hardly surprising cyclists are held in such poor regard by some

Ever consider that you are the one causing the inconvenience??

Pair you attitude and aggressive nature with a firearm and you have a recipe for disaster.

 

[Woodsmoke]

posting is getting a bit aggressive now

Nothing wrong with spirited debate as long as it doesn't get personal. Discord between cyclists and motorists is now becoming a worldwide issue (I've just googled it) and for my part I think this is perhaps just as interesting a debate as anything else on the site . . . . .

 

[takbok]

Ever consider that you are the one causing the inconvenience??

Pair you attitude and aggressive nature with a firearm and you have a recipe for disaster.

I can see that you'd be a proper hazard to other road users with YOUR attitude.