Drivers attitudes to cyclists

When i used to cycle i'd always use cycle paths, footpaths or if i had to, pavements. The road just is no safe place for a cyclist and to be honest, it's not safe for a driver for the most part when you see pensioners peering just above the steering wheel breaking the sound barrier..

Why oh why are people over 60 not required to at least redo some of their test when a lot of them 'passed' during national service in the army. Have you seen what that involved? My dad is 54, i think his test was to drive around the block..without an instructor with him..without crashing.
 
V3g3tto said:
Why oh why are people over 60 not required to at least redo some of their test when a lot of them 'passed' during national service in the army. Have you seen what that involved? My dad is 54, i think his test was to drive around the block..without an instructor with him..without crashing.
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You've got a point, the idiot who cut out in front of me thinking that I was a 35mph lampost was aged about 70 and so frail that even while leaning on his door to get out his car it looked as though his arm was going to break. He didn't even look strong enough to be able to turn the steering wheel, power steering or not. Couple that with the reactions of a mongoose, a dead mongoose, and I was the accident he was waiting to happen.

OAP's and van drivers are the bane of my life as I go hurtling through the streets attending fires. One group doesn't hear or see you coming and the other doesn't care.
 
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Labarum said:
Steady on - I am almost 60 and still a serving Officer in the Army.

I drive . . . and I cycle . . . never on the pavement . . . cos that's agin the law.
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But i trust you are at least tested somewhat on your abilities or know your eyesight is up to scratch.

It doesn't apply to all, but still those who learnt during the 40's,50's and even 60's - The rules and methods they had to follow then simply do not apply to the roads today, one reason is the roads are completely overcrowded.

Problem is, everyone picks up bad habits, as years pass, these habits are not seen, and i'd wager if people middle-aged and up (for example) were required to retake a test by todays standards, many would fail first time around (You may think you're a good driver, but i've seen many who don't even check their mirrors - instant fail)
 
So far everyone complains how cyclist are holding them up but what about people on horses...........a lot of drivers fly past cyclist with inches to spare so no hold up there, however when most drivers aproach someone on horse back they slow right down, give loads of space when they overtake and then drive off in a sensible manor (one horse fider would hold up traffic far more than one cyclist would). So who are they respecting here the horse or the rider, well the horse of course as they dont want to startle it and cause it to throw the rider off - why cant they show the same respect to cyclists ????

Also this gripe about cyclist going to the front at traffic lights, ok so why cant they ? after all most drivers think they should be resigned to riding in the gutter and that the car has a right to use the rest of the road - given that then the space between the cars and kerb belong to cyclist so why cant they use to go to the front. There is always someone who complains, a cyclist ques but then holds up traffic as the lights change, they go to the front then someone complains for jumping the que. I see motorcyclist que jumping all of the time but no one compains about that !
 
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teulk said:
So far everyone complains how cyclist are holding them up but what about people on horses...........a lot of drivers fly past cyclist with inches to spare so no hold up there, however when most drivers aproach someone on horse back they slow right down, give loads of space when they overtake and then drive off in a sensible manor (one horse fider would hold up traffic far more than one cyclist would). So who are they respecting here the horse or the rider, well the horse of course as they dont want to startle it and cause it to throw the rider off - why cant they show the same respect to cyclists ????
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Several reasons spring to mind. Cyclists don't startle as easily as horses, startled cyclists don't weigh half a ton and can't do substantial damage to cars, there aren't as many horses on the road, I have yet to see a horse during rush hour on my ride to work.

teulk said:
I see motorcyclist que jumping all of the time but no one compains about that !
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Really? I can assure you as a motorcyclist I reguarly get yelled at by motorists for queue jumping, the number of times cars move over in traffic to bloke you when filtering is also huge. Finally if you are on a real bike there are very few cars that you should hold up at lights as even a low powered bike will have a sub 7 second 0-60.
 
RDM said:
. Cyclists don't startle as easily as horses
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That may be so but a car driving 30mph inches from your handle bars is enough to startle anyone



RDM said:
Finally if you are on a real bike there are very few cars that you should hold up at lights as even a low powered bike will have a sub 7 second 0-60.
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but im talking about a pedal bike. :)
 
teulk said:
but im talking about a pedal bike. :)
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You were asking why no one complains about motorcyclists queue jumping (and they do), so I gave an example of the difference between a motorbike and a bike. If I get to the front on my bike, I am very unlikely to hold anyone up (high performance cars not withstanding of course).
 
15 mins of me driving to the nearest town in comfort vs a minimum of 45 mins for me cycling. Hmm... which should I choose... :D
 
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