Why does the UK hate cyclists?

Status
Not open for further replies.
jpaul said:
as a road cyclist, I don't know either, unless they have the webcam too, so it's a movie.

The percentage of cyclists/commuters who invest in multiple/expensive rear lights as opposed to a hi-viz band/top surprises me;
imhop 50% of them, I assume none of them ever sit in the front seat of a car at night or day

I assume you cannot have stroboscopic/higher-frequency rear lights (like police use on the continent)
Click to expand...

Hi viz is great in the day
Reflective strips on hiviz helps, but it won't be as visible over distance like lights.

Lights are more visible than hi viz in the dark. But at night it's best to have hiviz/reflective and lights, and multiple rear lights
 
In other cycling news, I rode past a 1.8 mile long queue of cars this morning, utterly stationery. It probably took me about 7 minutes to get past it, but I’ll bet it took the drivers about half an hour to get through. Strangely there were no cyclists at the front of the queue. I’m absolutely at a loss to explain how it occurred.
 
hornetstinger said:
Hi viz is great in the day
Reflective strips on hiviz helps, but it won't be as visible over distance like lights.
Click to expand...

I should have qualified that with the word retroflectective .. but some details here
it is not a comparison between an additional light and a hi-viz though
Traffic risks to the cyclist are similar to those faced by motorcyclists (see SMIDSY), with the main differences being that bicycling speeds are typically lower, and the bicyclist wears less protective gear. In a 2009 study, most UK cyclists and almost all motorists believed that high-visibility clothing would increase cyclists' visibility. Almost all drivers agreed that cyclists need to wear reflective clothing in low lighting environments, whereas less than three-quarters of cyclists (72%) agreed, and less than half claimed that they always did so.[5]


A Cochrane Systematic Review of research evidence for the effectiveness of visibility aids (fluorescent and retroreflective clothing and equipment) was carried out by Kwan and Mapstone in 2006.[6] The authors found 42 studies which collectively suggested that fluorescent clothing could increase the distance at which drivers could detect and then recognise cyclists in daylight conditions.[6] The same review found evidence that retro-reflective materials worn by cyclists at night had a similar effect on driver perceptions. At that time there were no studies published that had actually demonstrated a reduction in collision crashes for bicyclists wearing fluorescent or retroreflective clothing whilst on public roads.


A 2009 Australian study of drivers trying to see stationary cyclists on a closed circuit found that fluorescent vests (without retro-reflective stripes) were not a significant improvement on black clothing at night, and that retro-reflective strips were more effective when attached to knees and ankles than on a more or less static jacket.[7] When cyclists wear fluorescent clothing, a driver’s perception distance (when the driver first spots something on the road) increases from 400 feet to 2,200 feet during the day.[8]


A 2012 British case-control study showed a non-significant increase in the odds of a crash for users of reflective conspicuity aids whilst cycling.[9] In 2014, a further case-control study conducted in Canada reported a decrease in the odds of a collision with a motor vehicle when wearing 'light' coloured (not specifically fluorescent) clothing in daylight but an increase in the odds of a collision for cyclists using fluorescent clothing (and lights) at night. The number of conspicuity aids used was positively associated with an increase in collision crash odds but a non-significant reduction in the likelihood of hospitalisation.[10]


A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Denmark between 2012 and 2013.[11] The study collected data from 6793 regular cyclists for a year.[11] The results suggest that conspicuity enhancing jackets can reduce by 47% the risk of collisions with other road users that cause injury and 55% for those collisions involving a motor vehicle.[11] The effect of the intervention was higher in winter compared to summer (56% vs 39%), in daylight (51% vs the overall effect 47%) and for those participants who reported 'high' use of the jackets vs 'low' use (60% vs 33%).[11] The study was based on participants self-reporting data, and there was evidence of response bias, which the authors attempt to correct for, reducing the 47% figure to 38%.[11]

Since April 2013, New York City regulations require commercial cyclists, such as restaurant delivery persons or bike messengers, to wear high visibility clothing while riding.[1
 
Vonhelmet said:
In other cycling news, I rode past a 1.8 mile long queue of cars this morning, utterly stationery. It probably took me about 7 minutes to get past it, but I’ll bet it took the drivers about half an hour to get through. Strangely there were no cyclists at the front of the queue. I’m absolutely at a loss to explain how it occurred.
Click to expand...

The bikes and cyclists were in ninja black mode, holding up the cars.;)
 
hornetstinger said:
Why use knobbly tyre on road, 2.1" is too wide for purely road as well
Click to expand...

For the reason I stated ref rolling resistance increase. I have an area through an unlit park to go through too which in winter the off road tyre will decrease my chances of binning it though my main reason is the extra resistance. For an extra burn I chuck weights into my panniers :D at minimum I've an extra 1.5kg in each pannier on top of my kit but this year I've been throwing in a 4kg dumbbell into each pannier on top of that. It makes going up hills hard work, especially if I single speed (just leave bike in a high gear) the whole journey. Keeps the legs in shape though! On the odd occasion when there is a tail wind allowing me to hold 30+ sprint all the way along weston shore you should hear the tires roar, It's that loud they turn heads :D Maybe I'm just a bit of a sadist though?!

koolpc said:
Why do some cyclist have helmet mounted lights? Are they expecting to go mining on their journey?
Click to expand...

Quite beneficial off road to be able to see what is further around a corner where the bars aren't pointing. Along my route I venture through two unlit areas where there are dog walkers and dogs and a head mounted light would make spotting them easier. The walkers are easy to spot but picking out dogs can be entertaining with only a bar mounted light. I just slow right down and waggle the bars left to right until i see the dog though, that works for me.
 
shauncr91 said:
Uninsured, often lack of hi-vis or lights, no helmets, jumping red lights and crossings, refusal to use cycle paths where applicable.

All things that annoy me about a lot of cyclists, most are often OK but unfortunately the fact that anyone can buy a bike and jump onto the public highway and exhibit the above points is what infuriates me the most.
Click to expand...

All of these, but the same applies to drivers also who for those who jump red lights etc. I don't understand the mentality of certain driver who feel like they rule the road and need to abuse the cyclists. I do think once you reach a certain age and use the road to ride your bike that the person riding the bike should have some sort licence plate on display so that they can be identified easier, this may help people obey the rules of the road. They also pay a small fee for this, maybe £10 a year? But even with this you will alway get that minority that choose not to comply, same as you do with drivers. Now coming for someone who has been knocked off a push bike, by a bad driver i do think that wearing a helmet should be made law!
 
Ref the high viz / reflective talk. I wear high viz coloured clothing more for contrast in daytime conditions. The reflective stuff is for night time. Nothing beats a decent light setup for night time riding though and being spotted. All this said if some vehicle users cannot even see other vehicles there is nothing you can do to help this type spot something as small as a bicycle. Just ride as though everyone is out to kill you and don't gamble in dodgy situations even if you do have right of way. I am well aware I will come off worse :(
 
inflames said:
All of these, but the same applies to drivers also on certain things. I don't understand the mentality of certain driver who feel like they rule the road and need to abuse the cyclists. I do think once you reach a certain age and use the road to ride your bike that the person riding the bike should have some sort licence plate on display so that they can be identified easier, this may help people obey the rules of the road. They also pay a small fee for this, maybe £10 a year? But even with this you will alway get that minority that choose not to comply, same as you do with drivers. Now coming for someone who has been knocked off a push bike, by a bad driver i do think that wearing a helmet should be made law!
Click to expand...

You cannot charge cyclists a tax to use the roads. Some motorised vehicles pay zero VED tax but make use of the roads. I choose to wear a helmet and maybe this law might save a few lives but it is debatable. A cycle helmet will help me out if I fall off and bounce down the road without hitting anything but I'm very aware if I hit anything hard and stationary it probably will not be of much use. The same goes for motorbike helmets as per the recent Moto GP accident where a UK rider sadly died :(
 
talking about bad driving.. lets look at all these drivers, skilled, licensed, insured and taxes, surely they're all perfect?


and now lets look at those bloody cyclists jumping reds..


*can of worms..*
 
Gixer said:
For the reason I stated ref rolling resistance increase. I have an area through an unlit park to go through too which in winter the off road tyre will decrease my chances of binning it though my main reason is the extra resistance. For an extra burn I chuck weights into my panniers :D at minimum I've an extra 1.5kg in each pannier on top of my kit but this year I've been throwing in a 4kg dumbbell into each pannier on top of that. It makes going up hills hard work, especially if I single speed (just leave bike in a high gear) the whole journey. Keeps the legs in shape though! On the odd occasion when there is a tail wind allowing me to hold 30+ sprint all the way along weston shore you should hear the tires roar, It's that loud they turn heads :D Maybe I'm just a bit of a sadist though?!



Quite beneficial off road to be able to see what is further around a corner where the bars aren't pointing. Along my route I venture through two unlit areas where there are dog walkers and dogs and a head mounted light would make spotting them easier. The walkers are easy to spot but picking out dogs can be entertaining with only a bar mounted light. I just slow right down and waggle the bars left to right until i see the dog though, that works for me.
Click to expand...

If you want rolling resitance why not drag a plow behind your bike? Or apply brakes hard throughout the ride? Or pull a steam engine?
 
I saw 2 cars steam through a red light this morning (one in each lane). When will the government enforce registration for these idiot drivers or make them take some kind of test. Do they even pay road tax? :mad:
 
Vonhelmet said:
Drivers can’t see cyclists because we’re not wearing hi vis. Nothing to do with their eyesight being below the required standard.
Click to expand...

I had a friend who admitted they hadn't overtaken anything for about 10 years because their eyesight was so bad they couldn't see far enough down the road to judge oncoming vehicles :eek:

When he told me that I made him get an eye test and new glasses...
 
Vonhelmet said:
In other cycling news, I rode past a 1.8 mile long queue of cars this morning, utterly stationery. It probably took me about 7 minutes to get past it, but I’ll bet it took the drivers about half an hour to get through. Strangely there were no cyclists at the front of the queue. I’m absolutely at a loss to explain how it occurred.
Click to expand...

Did you tell them all how selfish they were for slowing you down? ;)
 
Gixer said:
You cannot charge cyclists a tax to use the roads. Some motorised vehicles pay zero VED tax but make use of the roads. I choose to wear a helmet and maybe this law might save a few lives but it is debatable. A cycle helmet will help me out if I fall off and bounce down the road without hitting anything but I'm very aware if I hit anything hard and stationary it probably will not be of much use. The same goes for motorbike helmets as per the recent Moto GP accident where a UK rider sadly died :(
Click to expand...

I didn't use the word TAX. But if you want to call it that we can. A cyclist uses the road maybe they should pay a very small fee to use it. We all know that the government will change the Zero VED tax on certain cars in the future when they realise they are losing money.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom