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Well said. I concur with every word....
Me too.
Although I'm more of a person who rides a bike rather than a cyclist!
Steve.
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and please use their services
Question for the cyclists....
- Thread starter Flash In The Pan
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Me too.
Although I'm more of a person who rides a bike rather than a cyclist!
Steve.
tarmac_chaser
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Diego Garcia
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I have Dura Ace wheels - what does that make me...? 
photon
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If laws are generally broken, it may be that they are inappropriate. In the case of urban cyclists, road layouts; traffic speed and density; lack of secure parking; design limitations of cycle lights and the two-wheeler itself; and the limited financial means of many riders may all contribute to behaviour that's annoying to others but may boil down to the desire to maintain momentum for the cyclist.
Completely disagree with everything there Photon, if you dont want to lose momentum and stop at the lights plan your speed beforehand. There is no excuse for jumping red lights on as a cyclist, i have never found i have had to break any law whilst out cycling.
Id support any driver that hits a cyclist who is breaking the law!
MackieStaggie
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As I cycle mainly in the highlands which invoves a lot of rural roads without any lighting I have always got some form of HighViz over my gear (which is mainly dark colours tbh, but thats personal choice) and have a solid red rear light and front lights. If you look around you can find HighViz straps that can be tied around the ankles and wrists (imprtant for signalling turns) that help to stand out, apart from that there is not much else I can do.
I have been cliped by cars twice this month, once during daylight. :shrug:
I have been cliped by cars twice this month, once during daylight. :shrug:
Actually I find it very useful to jump red lights. Often it means that I don't have drivers up my behind for the next mile as there is nowhere for them to overtake. Also sometimes there is no traffic coming and I can move out safely.
However I do it responsibly - pedestrians always get right of way, I never make anyone slow down / be surprised, and I never do it when I can't see.
I think it should be ok for cyclists to jump the lights as long as it is done carefully, it is similar to drivers in Australia being allowed to turn left on a red light as long as they give way to pedestrians.
I will always support a driver who hits a cyclist jumping lights though, it is 100% the cyclists responsibility.
AlexW
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The problem with doing this though, is that even if it is safer, it damages the reputation of cyclist in the eyes of other road users. Putting us in more danger.
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its not similar at all, one is written in law (if its similar to the rules in the USA and canada) and the other is breaking the road laws
I meant that the law should be similar to that of the turn left on red in Australia, not that the current action is similar.
@AlexW: I understand that, but I would have thought that people get more annoyed at cyclists that inconvenience them. They may see me go through the light but they will have probably forgotten it by the time they get to the end of the road. If I was making them slow down behind me for the length of the road they will probably hate me more!
I do sometimes wave drivers through, but hardly ever. The reason is that on most roads if it isn't wide enough for the car to easily pass me, then if another car comes from the other direction (which they often do) then I will get stuck behind the car and have to slow down and stop while they wait for oncoming traffic! However I will wave if I can.
I feel quite safe when signalling as I have heard drivers rev up to overtake and then back off when I signal which is pretty reassuring!
Often I can't signal though as the road surface is too bad for me to take my hands off the handlebars!
I feel quite safe when signalling as I have heard drivers rev up to overtake and then back off when I signal which is pretty reassuring!
Often I can't signal though as the road surface is too bad for me to take my hands off the handlebars!
Amp34
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Eh? I've never seen it that way, the flashy lights are to make you more visible, not make you seem like you are going faster, in just the same way police cars have blue flashy lights, movement attracts attention. However they really should only be used on the rear, anyone using then on the front is asking for trouble...
Motorists are the bane of cyclists (and motorcyclists) lives, with a large proportion of them having no idea how cyclists react or how vunerable they are to things like following 6 ft behind you, being overtaken with a gap of less than a foot etc that so many of them seem to do. I know it may make people angry but tbh most injuries/crashes involving cyclists and cars are caused by the car driver.
I hate riding on roads for any length of time, and I guess I'm quite lucky that the only roads I ever really ride on are slow, quiet streets before I can hit a decent cycle track and then a offroad in the countryside, however in the dark I always use a blinking 3LED rear light and a head torch and a powerful torch on the front (my newer one is 200 lumens), however that's more so I can see where I'm going in the pitch black at a reasonable speed (including up and down tracks on places like Dartmoor) than for being visible for car drivers.
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can anyone recommend me a cheap but decent front light? i just realised i left mine at my other house!
also do habadashers have reflective fabric tape? i need to add a few stripes to my clothing as its dark coloured and whilst it does have reflective bits on it, i want to add some more (and some on the arms for signalling)
also do habadashers have reflective fabric tape? i need to add a few stripes to my clothing as its dark coloured and whilst it does have reflective bits on it, i want to add some more (and some on the arms for signalling)
Amp34
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What's "cheap"? I could recommend a £40 torch that with a £10 mount would be bright enough to ride in almost any condition, and you would certainly be noticed, however there are also proper bike lights you may be able to get for cheaper.
boyfalldown
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That puts you in a minority in this part of the world, twice in the last month I've had to jump out of the way of cyclists going against the lights on pedestrian crossings, once carrying an 18 month old and once getting a mouthfull for daring to cross when the lights were with me.
TBH my sympathy levels for cyclists are really rather low now days, when I see that sort of poor behaviour regularly it makes it very hard to support the changes to the road law that are probably needed for them at junctions.
Hugh
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Sniffing1987
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I've had to slam my breaks on to avoid pedestrians stepping out in front of me, likewise with cars overtaking just before the junction they are turning down... that doesn't mean everyone does it though, does it?
boyfalldown
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no - you're right, but there is a big enough minority who behave in a very arrogant and inconsiderate way to tar the rest with the same brush, it may be unfortunate but its also true.
For your comment about drivers overtaking and then turning left, I've had cyclists ignore my left turn indicators while stopped at traffic lights, come up the inside and then wonder why they're not seen
Hugh
Amp34
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Mine is the TK10, brilliant for cycling along in the dark.
Having said that it's broken now it seems...
Amp34
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I've had to slam on the brakes a huge number of times to stop for pedestrians ambling along on a cycle track, when there is a perfectly good path next to it. Apparently it's my fault...
AlexW
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I'm seeing a pattern here. It seems there are arrogant and inconsiderate cyclist, drivers and pedestrians in equal measure. Who would have thunk it.
Its a good example of confirmation bias, where you only notice the things that confirm your prejudices. I.E. the driver who raves about a cyclist jumping a red light, but ignores the 13 others he has passed waiting at lights on his way to work.
I see cars jumping red lights most days. C'est la vie.
Its a good example of confirmation bias, where you only notice the things that confirm your prejudices. I.E. the driver who raves about a cyclist jumping a red light, but ignores the 13 others he has passed waiting at lights on his way to work.
I see cars jumping red lights most days. C'est la vie.
boyfalldown
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I know, strange that....
What I must say though is it's never cyclists that start these discussions, it's normally motorists (on this forum and others).:shrug:
I've never heard a cyclist admit they may be wrong sometimes ether (on this forum or others) - funnily its always pedestrians or motorists fault :shrug:
photon
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I'll admit I've been wrong, several times. Does that get us any further?
I'll also tell you I've been bullied on numerous occasions, plus hospitalised, by people who probably dismissed me as "a cyclist".
On the other hand, a different choice of vehicle gets me treated like Royalty, almost everywhere.
I'll also tell you I've been bullied on numerous occasions, plus hospitalised, by people who probably dismissed me as "a cyclist".
On the other hand, a different choice of vehicle gets me treated like Royalty, almost everywhere.
boyfalldown
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Sorry for letting my frustration out as well.
I agree with you about the different choice of vehicle, I've also felt dismissed as a 'pedestrian' and ignored often by cyclists.
Maybe some sensible rules, plus everybody obeying them, or just everybody obeying the ones that exist now may be the place to start
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I've had to slam on the brakes a huge number of times to stop for pedestrians ambling along on a cycle track, when there is a perfectly good path next to it. Apparently it's my fault...
And even today, next to a cycle path on a normal pedestrian path I had to jump out of the way from a cyclist not in good control of his bike on the pathway for us.
That annoys me too, and on many occasion I have had to shout at a cyclist who was acting like an idiot. Unfortunately there will always be idiots out there in all shapes and forms. You see the cyclists without lights, car without lights. Cyclists acting stupidly, motorists acting stupidly. The main difference is that motorists can kill many people but being irresponsible, I'm not saying that cyclists can't kill / injure people but cars are more dangerous.
There needs to be a change in the law that will make cyclists feel safer - only last week I was overtaken within a few inches of my handlebars while doing 25mph+ down a hill. Needless to say I gave the woman a good talking to, but from now on I will be riding in the middle of the road on that hill.
I would support cyclists having to get some form of insurance - perhaps an extension of house insurance. They can carry a card with them and would have to show it on demand etc. The premiums should be suitably low though - otherwise people will just ignore it. However the road laws also need to be changed / made more specific for cycles e.g. going on pedestrian green lights, turn left on reds etc.
The more people that cycle the less congestion for all
people will only start cycling when they feel safe.Also get rid of cycle lanes. They are useless and just make motorists think cyclists should be confined to the lane and makes them less aware of cyclists having to avoid things.
Daven
I generally stay put and brace myself for impact! If people want to cycle on the pavement I will make it has hard as possible to get around me - if they have to dismount then all the better
It is more difficult to cycle on the pavement and more dangerous - there is no reason to do it!
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That's what you need to do on a motorcycle to prevent cars overtaking you to fill up the safe space you have been maintaining between you and the car in front so if the speed is approporiate, it should work with a bicycle too.
Steve.
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The problem being that car drivers don't see it like that, because a bike can't go as fast as a car they "shouldn't be on the road" or "should be on the cycle path" (even though it's full of holes and completely unsuitable for a road bike).
I've had people sounding their horn at me when I've been moving the same speed as the car in front of me before :shrug:
+1, happened to me the other day. Needless to say I didn't move and they never overtook me as they got held up by traffic. I'd say a cyclists average speed (if they aren't dawdling around) is higher than a car in the city.
I generally ignore horns though, they are hardly ever constructive. I am beginning to ride more and more defensively as I have close encounters. Although unfortunately this can be seen as offensive riding to motorists!!
Ride safely guys
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I've had to slam on the brakes a huge number of times to stop for pedestrians ambling along on a cycle track, when there is a perfectly good path next to it. Apparently it's my fault...
I know the feeling,this happens to me all the time .I ring my bell and they just look at me as if I shouldn't be there,many a time I've had to cycle on grass verge to get past.
Hehe yeah that actually makes me laugh at times.
Best one had to be when some young driver sat behind me on a down hill section about for about 10 seconds on the top of a climb, (he had just come out of the turning) beeping his horn. I look around and i was actually pulling away from him.
I was very near the speed limit, atleast for him to overtake he would be well over as it was a steep 30mph downhill. So he just had to overtake being a car, then promtply slowed back down right in front of, just after the limit increase to 60mph but you could never do that in car. I was faced with either run up the back of him, as the brakes would never have stopped me in time, or do as i choose as the road was clear and re-over took him, by adding some more power. Which i did quite easily, do you think i liked that??? no. so he tried to re-over take at a speed that his car can not handle, by cutting into the other lane he simple went past me, and understeered into the bushes on the side of the road. I then re-overtook his mangled car and simply 
while I just dont think some people fully appriecate how much speed a club level racer on a decent bike can actually achieve particularly downhill.
photon
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You rule, you do.
Hehe yeah that actually makes me laugh at times.
Best one had to be when some young driver sat behind me on a down hill section about for about 10 seconds on the top of a climb, (he had just come out of the turning) beeping his horn. I look around and i was actually pulling away from him.
I just dont think some people fully appriecate how much speed a club level racer on a decent bike can actually achieve particularly downhill.
Coldean Lane in Brighton's like that - I was always overtaking cars there - you can easily reach 80-90Kmph down there. I also overtook a Police Car late at night in Burgess Hill once - they stopped me later on but only to find out what bike I was on...
The problem that a lot of non-cycling motorists fail to appreciate is that the reason many cyclists feel they have to ride 'like idiots' is due to painful experience - in any collision with another vehicle, the cyclist comes off worse - and being human we aren't simply going to be chased off the roads that we have every right to be on - we therefore ride more defensively, take up more room, 'filter' through traffic more aggressively so as to encourage motorists to acknowledge the fact that we're actually there...
I've lost count of the number of near-misses I had when I was a regular cyclist and the actual impacts were well into the teens (always causing damage to me and my bike) - usually caused by motorists not realising how fast I was going and pulling out in front of me, or simply not seeing me at all...
I tell you what though - when a motorist gets a £5,000 insurance claim for a busted race-bike, he soon realises that not all cyclists are the same...
If you cause a cyclist to be knocked off, damaging his bike and possibly injuring him/her into the bargain, it's your no-claims you lose, not the cyclists - the damage a cyclist causes is insignificant anyway, hence no legal requirement to have any.
Most of you know I'm into big, noisy cars, but those years on a bike made me a better driver, I think - I have a better appreciation of what it's like out there...I have no problem at all dawdling along at 10mph behind a bunch of touring cyclists (there's lots of them in Germany in the Summer and they're really, really crap at keeping a line), even if it does keep me from enjoying a particularly challenging set of hair-pins...
Learn some patience and slow down - we all get there safely that way.