Cycleists should have to take a test

Matteh said:
I didn't realise thats what you were getting at - fair point. But you can hardly say that drivers are always considerate. They cut into cycle lanes, stop in the areas at traffic lights that are meant for cyclists, they pass to close and too quickly. OK, thats a lot of examples that cause me a problem when I'm on my bike. So when I'm in my car, what about the person that sits a foot off my back bumper, pulls out in front of me etc. etc.

Lots of impolite and incosiderate things happen on our roads, and that isn't down to bikes, or cars, or buses. Have you ever considered that maybe you should show a bit of consideration for that cyclist who is a bit wobbly, or whatever. You don't own the road, regardless of whether you pay road tax or not, no matter how much you would like to think it.

However, I realise, especially in this forum, that this isn't an argument I'm going to win, so we should probably just both admit that cyclists and drivers both cause their fair share of problems on the roads :)
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I agree and wasn't saying that cyclists are the only item on our roads that is to blame. However, I do show the wobbly cyclists some consideration. I'm not a total git.

Anyway, I'm not talking about "urban" cyclists here, I don't drive in the cities enough to find any of their actions annoying, and I don't blame them anyway. I'd probably do the same if I lived in such an area. But I do have to put up with a considerable number of... shall we say "rural warrior" cyclists? The sort who, like I said earlier, decide suddenly that it's high time the whole family got healthy and that they should dig that old knackered racer out of the garage and go for a ride, and that, because they are being "green" and "healthy" they have priority over all other road users and can't do anything wrong and if they're holding the traffic up? So what, that's the car drivers problem.

The road using equivalent of those annoying breed of ramblers that traipse directly through a farmers crop simply because their map shows a foot path crosses the field. Yes, it may, but there's nothing wrong with walking around the edge of the field instead of trampling down the crop, now is there?

We seem to get quite a few of those type around these parts :(
 
If the pavement is clear and rarely used i use it but i have been using the road a lot recently. I do see the problem,i expect cars to not give me room so i stay a wee bit out from the kerb to allow me to move in and give them room when they want past. Had a woman in a 1 series indicate and move as i was int he opposite lane........thankfully i was looking and braked she waved to say sorry i wave back.

I wait at red lights and accelerate away fast,about as fast as most cars,and keep at a decent speed. Trouble is you get the nazzi drivers who think they own the road....and getting called a male body part and getting swore at for using traffic lights to cross a main road.....you cant win but can be as observant as possible on the pavement and road so not to get hit or hit anybody.

No riding on the road tonight though as i havent been in work to ride home in the dark so no lights.....need to get myself some.
 
Matteh said:
Some people are just liabilities.
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This is the main problem though, there's always a certain number of people who are arrogant and selfish and think that they are always in the right.

When they are cyclists they flaunt the road rules, ignore other drivers, jump red lights and so on.

When they are car drivers, they cut people up, tailgate, don't let people out and so on.

When they are motorcyclists they dress like power rangers and drive everywhere at stupid speeds in some kind of attempt to kill themselves and everyone else around and so on.

Sadly a small number of people tarnish the perception of their prefered method of transport in the eyes of everybody else. The result? a regular supply of these sort of threads saying "I hate BMW drivers" or "all bikers are..." or whatever.
 
Lopéz said:
Eh? All cars and motorcycles pay road tax - or are you talking about pedestrains - who don't really use roads....
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No, he's being pedantic about the fact that what is generally called "road tax" is technically known by the government as vehicle excise duty as it is not actually ring fenced for road spending.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_excise_duty
 
Lopéz said:
Eh? All cars and motorcycles pay road tax - or are you talking about pedestrains - who don't really use roads....
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No VED is payed based on CO2 emissions/engine size. It's quite possible now to run a car and pay zero VED.

So is it OK for them not to pay your "road tax"
 
I think it's understandable to ride a bike on a pavement if it's clear and there are young kids riding too as the roads are quite dangerious around mine.

I really wouldn't like to have to take a test to ride a freckin' bike ... unless my licence already covered that.
 
I've not got a problem with cyclists as I'm quite often one myself, however I do show other road users some respect.

The one thing that really peeves me off with some cyclists I come across is their complete inability to ride in a straight line and as far left as possible. Obviously I'm going to allow them to give themselves room so that they don't ride over pot holes, but swerving about all over the place... :mad:
 
'as far left as possible' - there is a problem.

I cycle everywhere, doing 250 miles per week on my bike with no gears and no free wheel. My biggest safety tip to anyone is DONT CYCLE AS FAR LEFT AS POSSIBLE. I like cars to overtake me when safe, not to squeeze me into the gutter.
 
And buses, well here is a story.
Every morning when going to the river to row the same bus drievr would deliberately try to p#ss me off, pinning me against the curb etc. So he got way to close once, tried to pin me so i banged the bus as hard as a could, ducked behind the bus so he couldnt see me.

He got out the bus, ran round genuinely thinking he ran over me. I looked at him and said 'Tw~t' and then cycles off.

strangley enough he never did it again!
 
I come across is their complete inability to ride in a straight line and as far left as possible.
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No where in the highway code does it say that. It's also dangerous, because you've left room to the right they'll try to overtake, even when there's just enough clearence with fast oncoming traffic. It's also dangerous, a HGV will suck in cyclists, so if I have 1M to my left I have space to go, if he's passing already close.

Many car drivers overtake at 70+mph with 1' gap between me and the car.
 
DampCat said:
I think cyclists should pay road tax.
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You don't even know what road tax is! The fact of the matter is that cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders have a right to use the roads enshrined in law. The use of motor vehicles on the public highway is only allowed under licence and is, in effect, a privilege that may be withdrawn. (For example if a driver does not insure their vehicle or their licence is suspended etc. etc.).

'Road tax is actually motor vehicle licence duty. Cycles are not motor vehicles and so can hardly be expected to have to contribute to such a duty!

Source

It is true that a lot of cyclists behave like idiots on the road but even as a fellow cyclist who travels 65 miles a week on the extremely busy roads of London, I don't condone them. Red lights are there for a reason and are as much a safety aid for us, as the cars using the junction.

I also don't condone drivers who have no respect for cyclists and treat them as nuisance to bully out of our rightful place on the highway. We have no protective layer of steel around us so any move a car makes toward is is potentially lethal. It aggravates me to no end when cars "creep" out of a junction I am approaching at high speed when I have the right of way, cars speed past within 1' of hitting me and generally believe that they have a right to get where they are going quicker than I.

The best drivers in London are by far and away bus drivers.

Did anyone do the London Freewheel last weekend? If only all the roads in London were traffic free!
 
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I usually ride to the left hand side (6" - 12" from kerb) to allow cars to overtake unless there is a right hand lane, then they can staddle the middle. Some people round here will purposely try to annoy cyclists by over rev'ing, beeping or getting close becuase they find it funny.

It annoys me too when cars overtake you and turn left (in front of you) and you have to brake to allow them to do so, seen some do this too it's stupid and dangerous.

We shouldn't have to pay any tax, mot or anything to ride a bike it should be free as thier is no pollution and we are getting exercise which is good for the well being of the UK. I'd like to see the arguement as to why we should pay tax.
 
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