Why does the UK hate cyclists?

[ecksmen]

Do I hate cyclists? No of course not, but I see so many of them on the roads who are so ill prepared, or incapable of suitable control of a bike I wish they would reconsider being on the road.

That being said there are far more drivers who, quite frankly should be not allowed to drive.

 

[Rroff]

**** me, I'd take the blue route as well! What a stupid layout.

There is zero thought put into cyclists using the system - if you know the road there are lots of dedicated lanes through the system - can see some of the arrows in the overhead - which completely don't work any other way but a cyclist trying to use them properly like indicated for vehicles would be putting themselves in a very vulnerable position.

However I don't think that excuses the approach some cyclists take to it IMO - I used to go around the longer route than marked because it was a ton safer.

 

[Energize]

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.

Some of these reasons are quite frankly ridiculous.

Cyclists (and pedestrians for that matter) aren't likely to cause multi million pound accidents like cars are, and how would you insure a 12 year old?

No helmet, how as a road user does this affect you?

And refusal to use cycle paths, cycle paths are generally unsafe to cycle down at any kind of speed.

 

[shauncr91]

Some of these reasons are quite frankly ridiculous.

Cyclists (and pedestrians for that matter) aren't likely to cause multi million pound accidents like cars are, and how would you insure a 12 year old?

No helmet, how as a road user does this affect you?

And refusal to use cycle paths, cycle paths are generally unsafe to cycle down at any kind of speed.

The cycle paths around here are mostly excellent. Care to explain to me why cyclists opt to ride down a stretch of NSL road which is over a mile long and populated heavily with HGV traffic when there's a flawless cycle path next to it?

Insurance should be there to cover the damage that they potentially cause to cars and/or other people through their own negligence which can easily run into the thousands to put right. Also, if a cyclist bounces off my car and bangs his head causing serious harm, it becomes my problem.

 

[grudas]

morons all over the place! cyclists, pedestrians, drivers, motorcyclists etc!

I'd say on my daily commute I have been annoyed by a cyclists around 0 times, put in danger by a cyclist around 0 too...


drivers on the other hand? tailgating, cutting up, silly over-takes.. main beams in my face, behind me.. etc etc.. I could go on and on.

but then again, I cycled for a few years in london did over 20k miles in that time on a bicycle and can tell you straight, drivers suck much more than cyclists!

this is now coming from someone who drives daily on A, B and city roads.

 

[hornetstinger]

The cycle paths around here are mostly excellent. Care to explain to me why cyclists opt to ride down a stretch of NSL road which is over a mile long and populated heavily with HGV traffic when there's a flawless cycle path next to it?

Insurance should be there to cover the damage that they potentially cause to cars and/or other people through their own negligence which can easily run into the thousands to put right. Also, if a cyclist bounces off my car and bangs his head causing serious harm, it becomes my problem.

wow a whole mile?

 

[Deleted member 66701]

The cycle paths around here are mostly excellent. Care to explain to me why cyclists opt to ride down a stretch of NSL road which is over a mile long and populated heavily with HGV traffic when there's a flawless cycle path next to it?

Show me an example on Google maps.

Insurance should be there to cover the damage that they potentially cause to cars and/or other people through their own negligence which can easily run into the thousands to put right. Also, if a cyclist bounces off my car and bangs his head causing serious harm, it becomes my problem.

A motorist can still seek redress against the cyclist through the civil courts - no need for insurance for such a low amount.

 

[Nasher]

Yea good luck if they don't stop. How do you identify them? Insurance and some kind of visible registration should be required.

The cycle paths around here are mostly excellent. Care to explain to me why cyclists opt to ride down a stretch of NSL road which is over a mile long and populated heavily with HGV traffic when there's a flawless cycle path next to it?

I see that a lot too. They would rather be a hazard and hold up traffic than use a cycle lane. But I guess you can't cry about people passing to close if your on the cycle lane...

 

[Dis86]

A motorist can still seek redress against the cyclist through the civil courts - no need for insurance for such a low amount.

And when they pedal off how do you identify them? At least with a car you have a chance through the reg.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Yea good luck if they don't stop. How do you identify them? Insurance and some kind of visible registration should be required.

Various government studies disagree.

I see that a lot too They would rather be a hazard and hold up traffic than use a cycle lane.

How is a cyclist riding along a road a hazard? I still don't get this argument.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

And when they pedal off how do you identify them? At least with a car you have a chance through the reg.

How would you catch a pedestrian that scratches your car? We should put number plates on all pedestrians.

Again, it all comes down to the cost-benefit ratio analysis. Various government studies have concluded that the cost to implement registration for cyclists is not worth it for the very little benefit such a scheme would provide. Registration for cyclists isn't happening.

 

[Vonhelmet]

wow a whole mile?

Show me an example on Google maps.

The A580 east lancs road from Liverpool to Manchester is a dual carriageway with fairly good cycle paths that are quite often segregated from the actual road, but of course you have to deal with losing priority at every side road, and with stupid or non existent pathing at every remotely challenging junction.

 

[Dis86]

How is a cyclist riding along a road a hazard? I still don't get this argument.

They're a vulnerable road user. It's why you need to identify them when doing the hazard perception segment of a driving test.

 

[Dis86]

How you you catch a pedestrian that scratches your car? We should put number plates on all pedestrians.

They're easier to catch. Also you haven't answered the question. You've deflected again which is something both you and vonhelmet have done throughout the thread.

 

[Nasher]

Various government studies disagree.



How is a cyclist riding along a road a hazard? I still don't get this argument.

Any obstacle on the road is a hazard. When taking the theory test, cyclists are considered a hazard.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

They're a vulnerable road user. It's why you need to identify them when doing the hazard perception segment of a driving test.

And that is the answer I was looking for.

Just as well motorists have training to control their 2 ton metal coffins isn't it

 

[Dis86]

And that is the answer I was looking for.

Just as well motorists have training to control their 2 ton metal coffins isn't it

Some. Many are still incompetent buffoons though!

 

[Nasher]

It's metal to protect the driver when cyclists crash in to you after jumping a red light

 

[Vonhelmet]

Yea good luck if they don't stop. How do you identify them? Insurance and some kind of visible registration should be required.

That barely works for cars, and now you want to extend it to bicycles? I’m sorry officer, I can’t confirn who was riding my bicycle at the time of that incident.

I see that a lot too. They would rather be a hazard and hold up traffic than use a cycle lane. But I guess you can't cry about people passing to close if your on the cycle lane...

Cycle lanes don’t stop close passes, far from it. Cycle paths are generally cut into existing roads, so they cut down on the actual space for cars, so then drivers have less space but expect cyclists to squeeze into a lane barely a meter wide. We’d all be safer if those sort of useless lanes didn’t exist and drivers just gave more room on the actual carriageways. Crap cycle lanes like that just give crap motorists a stick to beat cyclists with.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

They're easier to catch. Also you haven't answered the question. You've deflected again which is something both you and vonhelmet have done throughout the thread.

Ok then - the answer is you don't catch them.

But it doesn't matter because, as myself and vonhelmet have stated many times in this thread, the cost-benefit ratio analysis means that it doesn't make sense to implement registration for cyclists.