Trout

iTrader: (1)

I work in London three days a week and am in various different client offices and so walk, tube and taxi my way around town. I cannot remember a single day when my health and well being has not been threatened by some numpty cyclist.

The classic waiting to cross the road - lights go red, green man comes on, I step out and WHOOOOOOOOSH a courier flies by, often in the opposite direction to the traffic weaving amongst the pedestrians.

The other day, in a taxi, West End, go around a corner turning into a narrow one way street. Thrown off my seat as the cabbie does an emergency stop as a cyclist is coming full pelt up the middle of the road in the wrong direction.

The best of course are usually studenty type girls who ride precariously on the pavement and you have to get out of the way as they are not actually in control of their bicycle. Or even better, they cross at pedestrian crossing and they take up the whole pedestrian island in the middle of the road.

Cars cannot go in cycle lanes, pedestrians cannot sensibly walk in the road and yet cyclists just go wherever the hell they like. And people say that drivers are selfish!

Grrrrrr.



....and relax

monkeysan

i have a general dislike for cyclists who take up the whole road.

where is their disc to show they have paid road tax? thats right - they dont

therefore i have £200 MORE reason to be there than them

*mini-rant over*

Dracoro

I cycle to work (not in central london, cyclists there are mad) and I have TWO cars. So, monkeysan you'll find most cyclist also have cars and pay road tax. In my case I pay 2 lots of road tax and do the road less damage as I cycle. In effect I am SUBSIDISING YOU to drive on the road In other words, I have £200 even more reason than YOU to be on the road!

I cycle sensibly, as do many on my commute, however there are nutters (like there are loads of crap drivers, mainly in chavcharriotscoobs

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Look I have three cars and a bike so I have the most reason to be on the road so you can all shut up and any cyclist that gets in my way will have his eyes poked out.

I am buying a cycling helmet so I can head butt them as they fly past.

Abdabz

That preposterous argument comes up every time. I ride a bike on the road and live in a 2 car house I pay my road tax
As do millions of other cyclists... Leave this arguement at the door

As for poor quality riding - there is no excuse for it and I despise fellow peddle people who ride "two a t1t" or on busy pavements etc. These numpties give decent thoughtful cyclists like me a bad name.

A week last Sunday I did a 54 mile bike ride for charity. 1900 cyclists took part... The amateur riders all (in the main) rode in single file, stopped at red lights and took correct road positions. The spandex clad racer teams all road 4+5 a t1t, ignored all road markings and were a general nuisance... Plebions!

Longjing

Cars drive and park in cycle lanes all the time!

I agree that some cyclists ride like pillocks.

Even so, I'd rather have a run-in with a bike than a taxi or a bus. Mad cyclists are annoying but mad drivers are very dangerous.

All vehicles are available to nutjobs and bicycles are no exception. Bikes don't really kill people though, some consolation.

matchmaker

Cyclists in Amsterdam are the worst - totally crazy and there are thousands of the buggers. Some of these friggin bikes don't even have brakes

ChefDude

Silent Death we call them

My g/f thinks all cyclist in london should have spokey dokeys - the little cards that clack on the spokes as the wheel goes round lol

Longjing

I nearly got run over by a G-Whizz the other day (with my careless pedestrian hat on).

SiPie

Echo the sentiments above

Cycle 20 miles a day round trip to and from work every day regardless of weather ......and choose to leave my Legacy in my garage.

There is Road tax on it

Understand ????

However, I totally agree that the standard of cycling (especially from students and occasional cyclists) is appaling.

The biggest danger I find on the roads in Edinburgh is other cyclists and especially motorcylists who like to use bus lanes too

We can all get along together .... believe it or not

what would scooby do

The amount who run red lights and ignore pedestrian crossings in London is incredible. I see at least one "icident" a week. I can't even say is a minority spoilning it for the good riders, they ALL seem intent on never stopping at lights etc

Seen at least 5 accidents in the last few months, 2 fatals. Bikes under busses, bikers riding into the sides of cars that are turning left. I could bike to work in London in 10 mins, but it's safer on the buses even with islamist terrorists with bombs around

ESH

I had to remind a cyclist who did not give me right of way on a roundabout that his bike did not afford him the luxury of crash protection. Nor would he have a swift getaway if he didn't stop his effing and blinding. They do seem not to be bothered of cars & pedestrians.

Shark Man

If your at a crossing, and see a cyclist on the road ignoring on the red light, kick him or push him as he cycles past....then run

They don't think twice about the damage they cause to mirrors or cars when they crash, as they don't have insurance...but a few cuts and brusies might

what would scooby do

There's another technique - if they are wearing a backpack just grab it and slam their wobbly ***** onto the road

Matteeboy

Wife and I cycle a lot yet when we did a year in London, our bikes weren't used at all - too risky.

We do a country road and track route most days and some drivers need culling. Trying to squeeze through gaps that aren't big enough so we have to stop/jump off being the most annoying.

One driver literally knocked me off my bike. Clocked his reg no and car, saw him two weeks later (I was driving this time), chased him a mile, blocked him into a car park and got a grovelling apology.

Tee hee...

I'd love you to try that "technique" on me WWSD...

what would scooby do

Kinky? or you saying you is a big boy

Matteeboy

Don't need to be big yer know.

what would scooby do

*runs away*

SiPie

Oh look... another classic sweeping generalisation ...

Some cyclists even have insurance, plenty firms offering it.

Leslie

If I was have problems with them riding on the pavement, I would find it extremely difficult not to accidentally find my arm crutch stuck in their front wheel!

Les

SiPie

Totally agree

No excuse for a cyclist to ever be on a pavement

Matteeboy

Yes there is and I've even asked the Police.

1) Try and negotiate a massive roundabout to cross a busy dual carriageway on a bike and you WILL get run over.
2)Do 100 yards on a footpath and go under the subway, cycling carefully to make sure everyone knows you are there. You stay alive.

Dumb motorists always make me mad.

SiPie

Pedant

You know what I was meaning though

Matteeboy

Si - I do indeed. Just a situation (in very cycle unfriendly Truro) where not mounting the pavement is more or less suicide.

But hammering along a pavement in a busy area is stupid.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I think when the police suggest you use the pavement for safety reasons you are expected to dismount and walk your bike to the next safe point.

There is no excuse for riding on the pavement unless there is a clearly marked cycle lane.

Sonic'

You house is made of two cars

Mind you, you did say you were getting a circa 1940's VW Camper Van

Nice work on the Charity ride though

Sonic'

Rannoch

The image of you doing that made me spit my coffee out

speedking

When using a pedestrian crossing I lead with the point of my umbrella. Both cars and cyclists tend to stop

Matteeboy

Actually no - You are much "wider" off your bike (except you clearly don't have one) and less stable so much more likely to cause problems.

I asked the Police if it was okay and they said it's fine, just be careful.

I find the anti cyclists are always a little bit porky...

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I do both, the lycra clad three abreast (usually chatting) ones however really get on my t1ts. Or the ones that come up the inside when you are turning right.