Time to take bicycles off the roads

[Conscript]

No amount of training would make me happy to share the road with cyclists, and that's part of the reason we're having this little chat. Training doesn't teach tolerance, and tolerance of cyclists is something I'll never learn. I put up with them because I have to, but that's as far as it will ever go.

That's your problem then. Calling for the removal of a vehicle from the roads because you can't deal with them is arrogant and stupid.

It's also symptomatic of a pathetic "us vs. them" attitude" which only serves to cause more harm.

I don't hate them. They do annoy me, because they're slow and routinely break the law and highway code...

You've summed up a huge proportion of car drivers there too. Shall we remove all cars from the road as well?

...but mostly I pity them. Some of them actually spend an amount of money on their kit that would be enough to put a roof over their heads to keep dry whilst on the road.

How very patronising. I suspect most cyclists enjoy what they do and are happy to spend the money on a form of transport they enjoy.

 

[Conscript]

Perhaps we spend millions putting cycle lanes everywhere as a kneejerk reaction without proper consultation and without working out whether its actually what cyclists want or would use?

This. It can also cause more harm than good, when poorly experienced cyclists think that being in a cycle lane gives them a guarantee of safety.

I'd suggest that better education of both drivers and cyclists would be more beneficial than slapping down some blue tarmac and calling it a cycle lane.

 

[tom_nieto]

Q F T

OP, have another:

 

[Yaayuh!]

INB4LOCK

 

[InvaderGIR]

 

[Stringy]

You passed driving test and studied your highway code with all road users in mind. If you are not skilled enough or happy to share the road with other road users. Please seek further training or leave the roads to the less ignorant. Thanks.

I don't mind cyclists per se, sometimes they are annoying, but then again so are some other motorised road users. However, I do take issue at your statement above - yes, I did my training and passed my test in order to tolerate other road users. So as a matter of principle it annoys me that cyclists don't have to do the same. I won't spout nonsense about insurance or road tax or anything else equally irrelevant, but cyclists are heavily unregulated and any tom, dick or harry can buy a "Apollo raleigh boardman XL3500 xtreme" from Halfords and muck about on the road....how does that make sense?

 

[SoliD]

any tom, dick or harry can buy a "Apollo raleigh boardman XL3500 xtreme" from Halfords and muck about on the road....how does that make sense?

Because generally the only one to get hurt by someone on a push bike is themselves.

I don't hate them. They do annoy me, because they're slow and routinely break the law and highway code, but mostly I pity them. Some of them actually spend an amount of money on their kit that would be enough to put a roof over their heads to keep dry whilst on the road.

And what do you drive out of interest?

Also what about horses, how do you feel about those considering they have a mind of their own.

 

[InvaderGIR]

He's also ignoring the fact that someone is perfectly allowed to walk/job/run down a road too, maybe you should have to take a test before you buy some running shoes...

 

[pitchfork]

To be fair I don't like the sweaty, smelly, lycra clad penises that call themselves cyclists but I just sort of put up with them.

Assuming they aren't cycling right out in the middle of the bloody road making it impossible to overtake. Might is right, unwritten rules of the road - it's why I don't annoy truck drivers.

The worst ones are the morons who don't have any kind of high vis, no lights, no reflectors and they go cycling at this time of year and wonder why so many people are nearly killing them.

 

[neil_g]

has anyone mentioned car tax yet..?

 

[Alienfish360]

would make me happy to share the road with cyclists, and that's part of the reason we're having this little chat.

Remember, cyclists use the road by right, cars use the road by license

 

[OspreyO]

Would you be happy rocking the sort of 50yr old rig that put man on the moon? No. They're antiquatech (TM - Me, today)...... Aren't you ashamed to be driving something older than your grandparents' teeth?

Are you?

The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the longest-running motoring event in the world. The first run was in 1896, and it has taken place most years since its initial revival in 1927.

On July 22,[5] 1894, the Parisian magazine Le Petit Journal organized what is considered to be the world's first motoring competition from Paris to Rouen

The Austral Wheel Race is the oldest track bicycle race in the world still existing, stretching back to 1887. It is owned and run by Cycling Victoria. The Austral race is Australia’s greatest track cycling event.

That said when did something become old make it undesirable?

http://www.ausmotive.com/images/Audi-UR-quattro-13.jpg

http://www.lanciaflavia.it/public_old_foto/img-1227975775.jpg

 

[MooMoo444]

They don't pay road tax, absolute scum

huehuehue

 

[Asprilla]

Perhaps we spend millions putting cycle lanes everywhere as a kneejerk reaction without proper consultation and without working out whether its actually what cyclists want or would use?

Nailed it.

 

[tom_e]

I don't mind cyclists per se, sometimes they are annoying, but then again so are some other motorised road users. However, I do take issue at your statement above - yes, I did my training and passed my test in order to tolerate other road users. So as a matter of principle it annoys me that cyclists don't have to do the same. I won't spout nonsense about insurance or road tax or anything else equally irrelevant, but cyclists are heavily unregulated and any tom, dick or harry can buy a "Apollo raleigh boardman XL3500 xtreme" from Halfords and muck about on the road....how does that make sense?

How do you feel about motorcyclists who only need to spend a couple of hours riding round a car park before they can get their CBT and jump on a bike on the roads?
That to me is mental even though I'm one of those people.

 

[Rybo89]

Cyclists get my respect.

I tried cycling on the road once, never again! "Lorry, lorry, LORRYYYY".... back onto the pavement i go....

I **** myself.

 

[Third Opinion]

This is going to end well....................

http://www.roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/



Same as the number you'd report any other traffic offence to - dial 101.

Your totally right, but in practice how do you trace a cyclist?

"Yes officer he had a bicycle that had two wheels, may have been black. He wore Lycra and had a rather camp voice as he shouted obscenities at me".

Unless caught in the act they are extremely unlikely to be found.

 

[hurfdurf]

Would you be happy rocking the sort of 50yr old rig that put man on the moon? No. They're antiquatech (TM - Me, today)

Well then, why are berks still driving motorless bikes from the turn of the century before last?

VHS had a good run, what twenty years? The old Athlon kept puffing for about a decade. These were GOOD products. They didn't result in you being rained on, eating flies, or being mowed down by a cement mixer.

Why do we still allow the ancient gear that is the bicycle on the public roads? Aren't you ashamed to be driving something older than your grandparents' teeth?

I get increasingly frustrated breathing antiquated oxygen, when will the sheeple wake up and realise we as a human race have to progress.

 

[touch]

Would you be happy rocking the sort of 50yr old rig that put man on the moon? No. They're antiquatech (TM - Me, today)

Well then, why are berks still driving motorless bikes from the turn of the century before last?

Bicycles are newer technology than internal combustion engines.

 

[Janesy B]

Awful thread.