Stupid Cyclist!

[Orion21]

To be honest I think cyclists should be allowed to cycle on the pavement, obviously you need to take care of pedestrians if you do.

But given the way a lot of people drive I wouldn't want to be a cyclist on the roads either. Never mind the condition of the road / drains etc on the left side where most cyclists would be.

That said it would be better if we had a proper cycle-lane network. I would probably favour the type that is raised like a footpath (basically a double width footpath but one part marked for cyclists). Too many people drive in cycle lanes or park in them if they're those ones that are at road height, first seems to be careless and lazy driving (perhaps people that can't manage to drive in a perfectly decent sized lane without veering into a cycle lane shouldn't be driving at all).

I actually would quite like to cycle again, would help get fitter but I wouldn't feel comfortable cycling on most roads.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Not to mention the plethora and majority of drivers that don't bother to indicate..

For that reason I take it that they may be turning left and don't make my move until they have gone past the junction.
Like another poster said above, when cycling I treat all drivers as idiots and don't take anything for granted.
When I'm driving I treat all cyclists as idiots.

I hate cycling on the road, i don't feel safe so i am forced to pedal on the roads now am i? That's stupid...

Apologies but you sound like some 14 year old on a generic £100 MTB. It has always been against the law to ride on the pavement unless otherwise stated or marked out with a cycle lane.
I do empathise with you though and try to keep off roads as much as I can.
Two weeks ago I was nearly at the top of a bank riding on the pavement when a cop car turned the corner and he stopped and asked me why I was riding on the pavement.
I said "Tell you what, remove your uniform and get on my bike, now I want you to ride up this road 10 times and I'll wager before you reach 10 that you'll be on the pavement for safety reasons".
He smirked and said 'be careful and stay on the road if you can'.

 

[Conscript]

Bicycles are in law carriages (in case law due to Taylor v Goodwin [1879] QB 43 JP 653, and in legislation thanks to s85 Local Government Act 1886), and all carriages are forbidden from using the footway (s72 Highways Act 1835). This is punishable by a fixed penalty notice under s51 and Sch. 3 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, and theoretically by prosecution with a maximum £500 fine.

Quite archaic, but still relevant, and still referenced. And for what it's worth, bad cyclists annoy me more than bad drivers but aren't likely to injure me or kill me...

To be honest I think cyclists should be allowed to cycle on the pavement, obviously you need to take care of pedestrians if you do.

But given the way a lot of people drive I wouldn't want to be a cyclist on the roads either. Never mind the condition of the road / drains etc on the left side where most cyclists would be.

That said it would be better if we had a proper cycle-lane network. I would probably favour the type that is raised like a footpath (basically a double width footpath but one part marked for cyclists). Too many people drive in cycle lanes or park in them if they're those ones that are at road height, first seems to be careless and lazy driving (perhaps people that can't manage to drive in a perfectly decent sized lane without veering into a cycle lane shouldn't be driving at all).

I actually would quite like to cycle again, would help get fitter but I wouldn't feel comfortable cycling on most roads.

I ride with no problems on most roads. I'll stay away from busy roads as much as I can, but as I said, I cycle for pleasure, not to commute.

Not being the fittest of people, I apply common sense. I ride on the road as much as I can. However, if I'm on a busy road and coming up to a steep hill, then quite often I will switch to the pavement - knowing I will probably have to stop for a breather, I'd rather be on the pavement than chugging away holding other drivers up.

I've ridden on the path plenty of times in full view of police officers and not once been so much as glanced at. Yes, technically it's against the rules, but as long as you use your common sense of when to use the pavement and be aware of/courteous to pedestrians, it's really not a problem. I'm sure the police would hold the same view.

EDIT:

Two weeks ago I was nearly at the top of a bank riding on the pavement when a cop car turned the corner and he stopped and asked me why I was riding on the pavement.
I said "Tell you what, remove your uniform and get on my bike, now I want you to ride up this road 10 times and I'll wager before you reach 10 that you'll be on the pavement for safety reasons".
He smirked and said 'be careful and stay on the road if you can'.

Point proven. The police are more likely to appreciate the common sense than slavishly uphold the letter of the law.

 

[mufc802]

Unless you ride less than 10mph then it would be too dangerous to ride on the pavement. Its for pedestrians, and they have a tendency to have no awareness of their surroundings so will most likely walk sideways into a passing bike and get knocked over. I feel perfectly safe riding on the roads as there is much more space, just make sure you anticipate other road users not like the bike rider in the OP. Unfortunately a lot of drivers don't bother to indicate making it much harder to anticipate what drivers are planning on doing.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I will also give another bit of advice for cyclists and some will laugh at me but a few months ago I bought a Blackburn cycle mirror that fits in the end of the handlebars and I can't ride without it now. This has given me virtually 360 degree vision all around by just having a casual glance downwards and not having to turn around all the time (I also have arthritis in my back). Just like when I'm driving I know when a vehicle is approaching from behind and I can make adjustments if needed to aid drivers to get past me.

 

[Judgeneo]

I will also give another bit of advice for cyclists and some will laugh at me but a few months ago I bought a Blackburn cycle mirror that fits in the end of the handlebars and I can't ride without it now. This has given me virtually 360 degree vision all around by just having a casual glance downwards and not having to turn around all the time (I also have arthritis in my back). Just like when I'm driving I know when a vehicle is approaching from behind and I can make adjustments if needed to aid drivers to get past me.

I've been considering this for a while, I can never get a good enough look around when I'm going at speed.
How much?

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I've been considering this for a while, I can never get a good enough look around when I'm going at speed.
How much?

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/184/cp7500/blackburn-multi-mirror---bar-end.html

I've got one on each bike.
I actually bought an helmet one which is next to useless and one that fits to the frame and you look through the gap between your right leg and the frame which was also useless especially if I'd got my pannier down.
I then tried the Blackburn and it's just the job, takes a little getting used to like wearing cleats but you'll soon miss it if it's not there.

 

[Third Opinion]

As a car driver you have to let cyclists do what they want and think for them. They openly jump red lights and ride through groups of pedestrians in front of the police without worry of prosecution.

Even if a policeman pulled them over what can they realistically do, a fine?

I have see appalling driving from motorist towards cyclist but equally poor riding against cyclist towards motorists and pedestrians.

You may as well ignore the highway code and just give them a very wide birth regardless of right of way. If you knock one off a bike YOU will be the one investigated and they will probably nail your insurance regardless of blame.

I don't hate cyclists but the law favours them at this time.

 

[Jonny ///M]

Cyclists are ***** and it seems to be a way of life.

For me I cycle how I drive and basically give cars the right of way if I'm unsure. I wouldn't go charging up the inside of cars that are indicating. I may however take up the middle of my lane and go round him at speed which may look bad to some drivers.

 

[Sagalout]

It would be nice to know when you reply if you are also a cyclist.

I am a cyclist and I blame the cyclist in this incident, I wouldn't blame the driver at all and in fact I would apologise.

Pretty much agree with this. If I was the cyclist I'd hold my hands up and say it was my fault. Never ever undertake a vehicle with a left indicator on.

However, if I was the car driver I'd be annoyed with myself for not checking my mirrors.

If I was on the motorbike I'd have already been home having a nice cup of tea

 

[Squid]

Cyclist / biker / driver here, I would say both at fault, but cyclist needs to learn pretty quickly not to do stuff like that. I probably would have done the same as the OP before I started cycling and biking in London, now I check blind spots like a madman.

Same car drivers who have never had to ride a bike for long period of time in urban areas just don't get it and cyclist's that don't drive cars don't understand too.
The only ones who do are people that done both. In this case both party's are in the wrong.

My person favorite is the dumb idea that is traffic lights on large roundabouts that time out. Just because light went green doesn't mean cars get right of way.

 

[Showboat]

If you had your indicators on, it's entirely the cyclists fault.
You will naturally feel like taking some of the blame as all good drivers will want to know everything around them at all times, so they can pre-empt any accidents before they happen

 

[Howard]

Both on the wrong, but, IMO you more than the cyclist.

I say this as you are a licensed vehicle driver and have been trained to a standard to obtain said license.

The cyclist is unlikely to have had any degree of training, may not be a driver themselves (hence the bike) and may not have even noticed the indicator (however unlikely).

As a driver of a vehicle with huge blind spots that are lethal to cyclists, I'm all too aware of checking my mirrors and, where possible, blind spots prior to turning, especially left. IMO, you should be no different especially in a built up area.

Cyclists will come up the inside of vehicles in the main, and we all know they often take needless & downright dangerous risks.


You feel bad, I'm sure. You'd feel a damn sight worse had you injured or killed the silly sod!

Live & learn, check those mirrors and blind spots next time!!

I agree with all of this.

 

[_lecro_]

Anyone retarded enough to undertake an indicating vehicle on the left shouldn't be allowed on the road.
There are rules ! Obey or walk ..
WTF makes some cyclists think they can break the rules all the time without consequence ?

BTW i have competitively cycled off road for years and hold all road vehicle .. standard and advanced licenses

 

[Pestilence]

I agree with all of this.

Indeed. ALWAYS check mirrors and blind spot before turning. Cyclists will more often than one would assume just head up into the left without a care in the world. Should be something that's always on your mind, especially in city areas.

 

[Infidelus]

Anyone retarded enough to undertake an indicating vehicle on the left shouldn't be allowed on the road.

Maybe not the same wording I'd used, but totally agree with the sentiment.

If you're a road user and you ignore such obvious signs, any damage to you that occurs is entirely your own fault.

 

[Pestilence]

Maybe not the same wording I'd used, but totally agree with the sentiment.

If you're a road user and you ignore such obvious signs, any damage to you that occurs is entirely your own fault.

The problem there is, in the eyes of your insurance company (and possibly the law) it wouldn't be. The motorist has mirrors and trained behaviours that they're expected to use. Sure, the cyclist would be acting like a complete Darwin Award inductee, but you'd still get the blame for not looking out like you should have been.

 

[_lecro_]

The problem there is, in the eyes of your insurance company (and possibly the law) it wouldn't be. The motorist has mirrors and trained behaviours that they're expected to use. Sure, the cyclist would be acting like a complete Darwin Award inductee, but you'd still get the blame for not looking out like you should have been.

Precisely why they shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a road..
its a no brainer to me..learn the rules and abide by them.. all goes well .
if you cant / wont play by the rules then be gone !!

 

[muon]

edit: wrong thread

 

[Cupra]

I commute on my bike now and have done for a little while and it is the cyclists fault for undertaking.