Girl hits cyclist then jokes about it on Twitter.

[Raumarik]

I have no issues with cyclists, even large groups of them which I'm stuck behind, my big issue is with "bike users", those who jump on it and off they go . No lights, no reflectors, dark clothing and no knowledge or care about the rules of the road. I've noticed the number of these numpties has increased greatly in recent years.

Did we stop educating children in schools about how to make sure they were safe on their bicycle? So many of them fail to realise just how hard they are to see without adequate reflectors or lights and few seem to be getting guidance from parents.

Cyclists tend to know that they're doing - I'd personally rather have an arrogant cyclist on front of me than some idiot who's jump on his kids bike to go to the pub. At least I know where I stand with the cyclist.

 

[bitslice]

I'm well aware of what NSL means, but your point that there should be no rushing in rural areas makes no sense when that is the very area people are expected (and allowed) to drive faster.

Your statement was entirely counter-intuitive. It is built up areas and residential areas you shouldn't be rushing around.

In residential areas most people are aware of the dangers of roads, hence all the speed limits, traffic lights and crossing points. When did you last see a crossing point in the countryside?

My point was that rural roads have more unexpected dangers than most other areas, it may be a NSL but you can't guarantee there isn't a stray sheep around the corner. Kids in cities tend not to play on the road, you can't tell sheep not to do that.
You don't get red diesel spillages in cities, nor do you get overgrown verges or fallen trees, cow poo, dog walkers, clouds of lime blowing onto the road or groups of confused ramblers in the middle of the road because there is no such thing as pavements out here.

Every time the council diverts traffic through our village due to flooding of the A road, some city kid ends up in a tree because he's never seen mud before.

So yes you can whizz around at the NSL if you like, you'd just be unwise to do it on every NSL road.

 

[Pestilence]

I've only just noticed that the OP says "Girl his" rather than "Girl hits".

 

[-BA-]

Surely on a dual carriageway it's pretty easy to overtake the cyclist? Not sure why that's frustrating. The cyclist certainly isn't doing anything wrong and sounds like he was well lit etc for the time of day he was out.

Now personally, I avoid dual carriageways on the bike if at all possible as it's just generally not v pleasant, but i don't see what causes frustration if some choose to use them.

It's a frustration when perfectly good pathways are installed for them to use to take any risk of danger out of the equation yet a cyclist chooses to use the dual carriageway.

It introduces an element of danger that need not be there. It is a notoriously bad stretch of dual carriageway with right turns across it in both directions. Drivers have enough to concentrate on. It's why the cycle path is there.

 

[platypus]

Have to say this is disgraceful but I can certainly understand the frustrations of drivers. Coming home last night on the dual carriageway in dimming evening light and a cyclist merrily poodling along (ableit with hi-vis gear and lights) in the slow lane when not more than 3 yards to his left was a completely separate cycle path (separated by grass verge), running the entire length of the dual carriageway.

I know exactly the type of cycle path. Full of debris, cracks in the surface, roots of plants and trees making it even worse. Regularly interrupted by side roads/laybye's/etc. Yeah, I'd use the road as well.

 

[HummuH1]

What boils my **** is that anyone can jump on a bike and cycle on public highways from pretty much any age without any sort of test to prove they are of sufficient proficiency to do it.

I'm all for people cycling, no issue with that, but perhaps we'd be better spending money on educating people how to cycle safely and to ensure they use appropriate safety equipment like motor vehicle users have to.

As for for the OP, you'd have to be a new shade of stupid to put that out there on Twitter.

 

[fez]

I do love how motorists who don't cycle pretend that there is a lovely road and cycle network for us all to use and us cyclists just go on the roads to annoy the cars.

Half the roads around me are unfit for bikes to use because of potholes, ridges in the road and poorly conceived junctions. The only reason I haven't been knocked off my bike at least a dozen times is because I expect drivers to behave like ***** at every opportunity.

 

[Musty Pie]

I'm all for people cycling, no issue with that, but perhaps we'd be better spending money on educating people how to cycle safely and to ensure they use appropriate safety equipment like motor vehicle users have to.

.

How about the car/motor vehicle drivers stick to their tests and regulations and there shouldn't be any issues in the first place?

Ie safe overtakes etc?

Jus' sayin.

 

[olivier renault]

Road isn't just for cars, you know. Cyclist are no slower than tractors. If you gonna hit a bunch of them because you're driving too fast on a winding road, then you need to slow down.

 

[mattyg]

I know exactly the type of cycle path. Full of debris, cracks in the surface, roots of plants and trees making it even worse. Regularly interrupted by side roads/laybye's/etc. Yeah, I'd use the road as well.

We have a few in our area. I've asked a cyclist why he doesn't use the cycle path. And he said he could get a puncture. I asked him if that was better or worse than being hit by a HGV.

Stupid cyclist will always be stupid.

 

[Mr Jones]

Sky News also gave this news a mention...
http://news.sky.com/story/1093752/drivers-twitter-boast-about-hitting-cyclist

A spokesman for Norfolk police said: "Further to recent social media postings on a road traffic collision involving a cyclist on Sunday 19 May in the Norwich area, Norfolk Constabulary can confirm that we have had initial contact with both parties involved and enquiries continue."

At least she, by pressure or force, has gone to answer the police enquiry. Whatever happens, it's down to the justice system and evidence / eye witnesses.

 

[fez]

What boils my **** is that anyone can jump on a bike and cycle on public highways from pretty much any age without any sort of test to prove they are of sufficient proficiency to do it.

I'm all for people cycling, no issue with that, but perhaps we'd be better spending money on educating people how to cycle safely and to ensure they use appropriate safety equipment like motor vehicle users have to.

As for for the OP, you'd have to be a new shade of stupid to put that out there on Twitter.

Yeah because that system is working wonders with cars. It would be much more beneficial to make all drivers take a cycling proficiency course to let them see what its like to have to get around on a bike. The number of bad cyclists I see is tiny in comparison to the number of dangerous drivers. Add that to the fact that me and my bike weigh 100kg going at perhaps 30 miles an hour max compared to over a tonne in most cases going much faster and I would have thought its obvious where the real danger lies.

 

[Musty Pie]

Yeah because that system is working wonders with cars. It would be much more beneficial to make all drivers take a cycling proficiency course to let them see what its like to have to get around on a bike. The number of bad cyclists I see is tiny in comparison to the number of dangerous drivers. Add that to the fact that me and my bike weigh 100kg going at perhaps 30 miles an hour max compared to over a tonne in most cases going much faster and I would have thought its obvious where the real danger lies.

Agree with this 100%.

 

[londonbairn]

What boils my **** is that anyone can jump on a bike and cycle on public highways from pretty much any age without any sort of test to prove they are of sufficient proficiency to do it.

I'm all for people cycling, no issue with that, but perhaps we'd be better spending money on educating people how to cycle safely and to ensure they use appropriate safety equipment like motor vehicle users have to.

As for for the OP, you'd have to be a new shade of stupid to put that out there on Twitter.

I am not entirely convinced of education. Drivers get educuated yet there is a significant number (this girl is a great example with her videos/pictures) who don't practice anything they were taught.

I don't think a status quo exists to be honest. You either make somewhere completely bike friendly, at the cost of cars and other road users, or you make it car friendly, at the cost of bicycles etc.

We just have to grit our teeth and bear it. I think people need to relax more when they drive/cycle whatever, instead of being on edge and realising that in the grand scheme of things, you are losing a few seconds of your time to let someone pass safely?!?

 

[theleg]

Half the roads around me are unfit for bikes to use because of potholes, ridges in the road and poorly conceived junctions. The only reason I haven't been knocked off my bike at least a dozen times is because I expect drivers to behave like ***** at every opportunity.

its funny cos i can say the same as a driver

 

[Scougar]

I am not entirely convinced of education. Drivers get educuated yet there is a significant number (this girl is a great example with her videos/pictures) who don't practice anything they were taught.
....SNIP

Drivers are taught how to pass a test, they are not taught how to drive (IMO).

 

[Mr Jones]

We just have to grit our teeth and bear it. I think people need to relax more when they drive/cycle whatever, instead of being on edge and realising that in the grand scheme of things, you are losing a few seconds of your time to let someone pass safely?!?

Totally agree.

I get thrown abuses when I was in Hull, cycling on 'cycle path' but because there's island where the cars have to prioritise for cyclistto go over, I get called everything under the sun because they lost 5 seconds of their live driving safely.

Was shouted once to get a road tax by a chav, I said I did, my car (Toyota iQ) and my bike didn't need one. Bemused driver could only came back with No swearing - Gilly. (I'm Orient looking).

 

[tedmaul]

It's a frustration when perfectly good pathways are installed for them to use to take any risk of danger out of the equation yet a cyclist chooses to use the dual carriageway.

It introduces an element of danger that need not be there. It is a notoriously bad stretch of dual carriageway with right turns across it in both directions. Drivers have enough to concentrate on. It's why the cycle path is there.

Depends on the state of the cycle path really. If it's full of holes, or covered in glass, or stops suddenly and sends you out into the road again then it may well be the much safer option to just stick to the roads. Crossing points like that tend to make things more dangerous for the cyclist, not less - where you are forced to keep jumping from path to road and back again and car drivers are less likely to notice you as you are not coming from the road.

 

[-BA-]

I know exactly the type of cycle path. Full of debris, cracks in the surface, roots of plants and trees making it even worse. Regularly interrupted by side roads/laybye's/etc. Yeah, I'd use the road as well.

Sorry not acceptable if motorists have to put up with driving on motorways at 70mph with sodding great potholes in. Use the surface that is provided for you, end of...

And for the record, the pathway is in generally good condition and certainly no worse than the road.

 

[fez]

its funny cos i can say the same as a driver

I am sure you can. Its not the majority of drivers but if its even 2% of them, thats a huge number of dangerous drivers. On a 2 mile journey to work I might encounter 5 cyclists vs 100's of cars. Its also quite different driving a road to cycling it. When you come across a pothole at the side of the road as a car you are not going to hit it because you are in the middle of the lane, as a cyclist you have to swerve to avoid it. When some tit is overtaking you leaving 6 inches and swinging in and out, thats not a good place to be.

You might think someone is cycling like a pillock but cycling and driving the same strip of road is not the same.