Food for Thought: Should Cyclists Pay Road Tax?

[alexakasloth]

As a cyclist I will say that there are plenty of motorists who don't give respect to cyclists on the road, probably as they think that because they're inside a car then they're going to be OK and so can cut infront of cyclists at corners (especially Van drivers!!). So to all the motorists out there ranting about cyclists, they're are just as many drivers who are ****'s as cyclists.

 

[D18241]

As a cyclist I will say that there are plenty of motorists who don't give respect to cyclists on the road, probably as they think that because they're inside a car then they're going to be OK and so can cut infront of cyclists at corners (especially Van drivers!!). So to all the motorists out there ranting about cyclists, they're are just as many drivers who are ****'s as cyclists.

agree with that.... had a guy pull out on me other day off of a road onto main road he gave me such a dirty look like i was in the wrong

 

[Duke]

Give cyclists a proper lane, they are a pain in the ass being on the road.

 

[scorza]

Give cyclists a proper lane, they are a pain in the ass being on the road.

They won't use them, their £2k carbon-fibre racing bikes with ultra-thin, near-slick tyres aren't suitable for cycle paths apparently, only the parts of the road that the cars have cleaned.

 

[willhub]

Stupid attitudes like the 2 numpties above.

Honestly, what is it with people that make comments like that?

Are they jealous that they can afford expensive bikes like that?
Are they jealous of their fitness?
Are they just impatient tw@ts?
Do people think it's "cool" to have a go at cyclists?

They won't use them, their £2k carbon-fibre racing bikes with ultra-thin, near-slick tyres aren't suitable for cycle paths apparently, only the parts of the road that the cars have cleaned.

That is a load of crap, if their is a proper cycle lane that is not falling apart and has not got pot holes all over it then people will use it. Why would you expect a cyclists to ride on a part of the road full of crap that has been kicked to the side? Thats not good for any bicycle.

 

[Edinho]

Give cyclists a proper lane, they are a pain in the ass being on the road.

I dont think any cyclist would disagree. We dont want to be anywhere near cars, buses, 50 tonne Artics, white van men. I'd happily pay into a decent system not the half-arsed abortion of a cycle system we have now.

"That road is wide"
"Yeah we can put some cycle lanes in on the side"
"Hang on the road is really narrow a bit futher up"
"**** it we'll take the cycle lane away where the road narrows"

Cycle lanes in this country are a comedy.

Do people think it's "cool" to have a go at cyclists?

Of course it is. We get in the way and are an inconvenience on thier journey while we hold them up for 5 nano seconds while they have to hover their right foot over the brake pedal and move the steering wheel half an inch its exhausting stuff driving.

 

[JBuk]

Cycle lanes in this country are a comedy.

Too right, there's one near my house that is about 3 metres long

They have also tried to squeeze one onto a busy road but have made it about a foot wide and goes over drains that are sunk into the ground a few inches, utterly pointless

 

[scorza]

That is a load of crap, if their is a proper cycle lane that is not falling apart and has not got pot holes all over it then people will use it. Why would you expect a cyclists to ride on a part of the road full of crap that has been kicked to the side? Thats not good for any bicycle.

Funny, my £200 Raleigh mountain bike that I bought 10 years ago seems to cope well enough with cycle lanes, drains and the odd pot-hole

I think people hate cyclists for three reasons:

1) The inconvenience they cause to motorists, e.g. driving down the centre of a carriageway when there's a perfectly good cycle lane, and then following that up with the "I'm cycling where I want, I didn't pay £3k for my bike to ride at sensible speeds in safe areas" attitude so wonderfully demonstrated in this thread.

2) The disrespect they show towards pedestrians - riding down pavements, telling me to "eff off" when I point out that they're cycling in a pedestrian only zone, ignoring red lights on pelican crossings etc.

3) Lycra - looks good on women. On guys, not so good ... in fact the word ridiculous would be more appropriate.

 

[oddjob62]

Cycle lanes in this country are a comedy.

Some funny ones here
http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/facility-of-the-month/

 

[Orcish-Horde]

Motorists pay road Tax to use the UK road network. Out of this road Tax I presume the cost to maintain the roads is taken out.
Cyclists use the roads and cycle lanes on the road. They too also contribute to the daily wear and tear of the roads.
Should cyclists contribute to the road Tax system?
Granted they will not use motorways as such so a more lenient amount perhaps?

If every road was to get a car free cycle lane then yes, until then no.

 

[Glaucus]

Problem is uk roads and footpaths are to narrow. Even on new build estates they are to small. The goverment needs to regulate on all new builds, there needs to be a dual footpath/cycle line and bus stops that are recessed out of the road. How are things ever going to improve in this area without government backing

 

[Duke]

Agree with Acidhell - the Govt need to put more effort in.

Stupid attitudes like the 2 numpties above.

Honestly, what is it with people that make comments like that?

Are they jealous that they can afford expensive bikes like that?
Are they jealous of their fitness?
Are they just impatient tw@ts?
Do people think it's "cool" to have a go at cyclists?

Err what? Get off that high horse. Imagine if pedestians wandered around slowly (wobbling) in your narrow cycle lane. You would want them on a separate path wouldn't you? Same principle.

 

[leaskovski]

Funny, my £200 Raleigh mountain bike that I bought 10 years ago seems to cope well enough with cycle lanes, drains and the odd pot-hole

I think people hate cyclists for three reasons:

1) The inconvenience they cause to motorists, e.g. driving down the centre of a carriageway when there's a perfectly good cycle lane, and then following that up with the "I'm cycling where I want, I didn't pay £3k for my bike to ride at sensible speeds in safe areas" attitude so wonderfully demonstrated in this thread.

2) The disrespect they show towards pedestrians - riding down pavements, telling me to "eff off" when I point out that they're cycling in a pedestrian only zone, ignoring red lights on pelican crossings etc.

3) Lycra - looks good on women. On guys, not so good ... in fact the word ridiculous would be more appropriate.

Errr, not all of us are like that. In fact I have turned round and had a go at a fellow cyclist whilst I was on my bike when I saw them skip a red light.

Get over yourself with your sweeping statements.

 

[JBuk]

Some funny ones here
http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/facility-of-the-month/

The Nov 2005 photo of the month is not far from me, to be fair it can be a very busy & dangerous place to cross so the railings force people to slow down at the least, they don't go too far round the corner where the path resumes

 

[rypt]

What kind of idiots designed some of those routes and paths?

 

[JBuk]

What kind of idiots designed some of those routes and paths?

Motorists

 

[Glaucus]

What kind of idiots designed some of those routes and paths?

Local councils, must be the same people who totally wreck perfectly fine road junctions. which cause huge tail backs.

 

[rypt]

Motorists

Doubt it, I've seen plenty of shocking road setups as well.

More likely it was politicians with an IQ of around 50 (as most of them seem to have)

 

[snowdog]

2) The disrespect they show towards pedestrians - riding down pavements, telling me to "eff off" when I point out that they're cycling in a pedestrian only zone, ignoring red lights on pelican crossings etc.

Tbh mind your own business, nothing is worse than people who think they're cops. What did you expect their response to be ? Thank you, I'll start walking immediately. I'd also tell someone to stick a finger up his *** if he started commenting about my cycling.

I have turned round and had a go at a fellow cyclist whilst I was on my bike when I saw them skip a red light.

And another one.

Damn dudes... You should come to Amsterdam. You'd have to ''have a go'' constantly because everybody does it here.


Tbh, when I was in London 2 years ago the cycling looked like a joke, cyclists even queued behind cars instead of blasting past , was quite funny to see. Also all of them were wearing helmets .

 

[willhub]

Funny, my £200 Raleigh mountain bike that I bought 10 years ago seems to cope well enough with cycle lanes, drains and the odd pot-hole

I think people hate cyclists for three reasons:

1) The inconvenience they cause to motorists, e.g. driving down the centre of a carriageway when there's a perfectly good cycle lane, and then following that up with the "I'm cycling where I want, I didn't pay £3k for my bike to ride at sensible speeds in safe areas" attitude so wonderfully demonstrated in this thread.

2) The disrespect they show towards pedestrians - riding down pavements, telling me to "eff off" when I point out that they're cycling in a pedestrian only zone, ignoring red lights on pelican crossings etc.

3) Lycra - looks good on women. On guys, not so good ... in fact the word ridiculous would be more appropriate.

I wear lycra. Does not look stupid on men if it's the right colour, the reason people think this is because everyone follows like sheep and then become scared to wear it, the reason people wear it is because over 100 miles it's very comfortable compared to jeans or baggy shorts. I don't care what people think, they can go **** themselves if they don't like me wearing my lycra shorts or can come and tell me up front cant they?

I don't show disrespect towards pedestrians because I ride on the road, where I should be riding, and tbh, it's touch **** really, 10 cars coming the opposite way, unless a driver can safely get by then he has to wait, it's not cyclists being a pain in the ass, it's you being inpatient and then more than likely speed off at 80mph nearly knocking people off their bikes.

So you think because you have a slow old MTB that can ride over pot holes and drains you think I should put MTB on my tyres so I'm riding at 2mph like you?

Drivers - Think they own the road
Pedestrians - Think they own the cycle paths

Cant win.

Funny, my £200 Raleigh mountain bike that I bought 10 years ago seems to cope well enough with cycle lanes, drains and the odd pot-hole

I think people hate cyclists for three reasons:

1) The inconvenience they cause to motorists, e.g. driving down the centre of a carriageway when there's a perfectly good cycle lane, and then following that up with the "I'm cycling where I want, I didn't pay £3k for my bike to ride at sensible speeds in safe areas" attitude so wonderfully demonstrated in this thread.

2) The disrespect they show towards pedestrians - riding down pavements, telling me to "eff off" when I point out that they're cycling in a pedestrian only zone, ignoring red lights on pelican crossings etc.

3) Lycra - looks good on women. On guys, not so good ... in fact the word ridiculous would be more appropriate.

Agree with Acidhell - the Govt need to put more effort in.




Err what? Get off that high horse. Imagine if pedestians wandered around slowly (wobbling) in your narrow cycle lane. You would want them on a separate path wouldn't you? Same principle.

Well pedestrians in a cycle lane would not be good, they'd get in trouble too, since you should not really be walking on the side of a busy road.
And if it's a cycle path such as the trans pennine trail, then as long as they move out of the way or make abit of space I'm happy, I don't moan at them like drivers moan thinking they own the road and nothing else should be on it.