[Closed] Do cyclists belong on the road?

why are you surprised? plenty of ****s on the roads these days who believe no one else should be using "their" roads.

Not watched the videos, but the follow-up comments are shocking.

I don't think the website is really that serious

I think to debate it is fine. To have the opinion that cyclists should have a space not shared with cars, that's cool. But to so venomously have that seething anger towards a largely innocent and vulnerable group of people, you shouldn't be allowed a driving licence.

But to so venomously have that seething anger towards a largely innocent and vulnerable group of people, you shouldn't be allowed a driving licence.

Shouldn't be allowed a breathing licence.

the follow-up comments are shocking

****, as Mr Wiggins observed just the other day - the internet's full of 'em.

Not watched the videos, but the follow-up comments are [s]shocking[/s] from Australians.

FIFY!

I just struggle to understand some people's logic, I'm always surprised when I hear people talk about trying to find a cure for homosexuality, or when people are racist, maybe I'm just being naivé to think that people should be allowed to get on with their lives in anyway they want to.

Suspect there are elements in the Great British motoring public who feel the same. Was very nearly hit last weekend by someone in an X1. Wing mirror almost clipped my elbow. Loads of room. Suspect they were just showing me who's boss.

Times like this when I'm glad I don't own a gun.

the poster Ryan Hay on there needs a "bombers to face" interface and some soggy smelly shoes.

but the follow-up comments are shocking.

Wigginsisms aside, I've seem equally unseemly comments on some stw threads....

That site full of mouth breathers. Unfortunately there's no intelligence test for driving licences anywhere yet. Don't let it get to you.

well for starters you're taking the douchebags pictured in the banner at the top of the page seriously?

Also a fair and balanced debate on whether or not bicycles should be allowed on the road will never happen on a cycling website forum. There are a lot of arsehole drivers out there, but I've seen just as much dickhead behavior from cyclists.

And I believe that of course bicycles should have as much space on the road as everyone, but would you seriously cycle this in rush hour? (and it is perfectly legal)

[url= http://goo.gl/maps/3a7w ]Google maps link[/url]

Boba fatt, what leads you to the conclusion that the people in the banner at the top are douchbags? Just curious on that one.

But your bang on with your other comment there are some dickhead cyclists out there that give the majority a bad name just like there are with all groups.

Personally I don't see any reason why cyclists shouldn't be allowed on the roads, and if your riding your bike sensibly I don't see any reason you shouldn't ride on the pavement. My wife always hated cyclists on the pavement until she started riding about 18 months ago, now she sees how frightening it can be to ride on the road thanks to lack of respect from some road users, but then again she's also been forced off the trail by dickhead cyclists a few times as well, I find that one the most irritating.

London Olympics says no: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/jul/10/olympics-regulations-cyclists

Boba how else do you get from queensferry to north queensferry? is there a lovely cycle specific route just next to it or are you expecting cyclists to schlep all the way round the coast via kincardine?
(genuine question don't know the area)

fervoured see also olympic cycle routes getting closed
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/olympics-cycle-routes-to-be-closed-for-months-33649/

It's the Internet, people. 😯

I don't think these folks' issue with cyclists is likely to filter down to UK Government policy...

You are always going to get drivers who believe we do not have a place on the road, even with cycle lanes and a change in legislation to protect cyclists and other users we won't get any respect at all, there needs to be a fundamental change in attitudes that sadly are going to have to be bred out of society before we or anyone else ca feel safe on the roads........lets face it they hate each other (motorists) not just us.

I have a slightly different take on the original question. I think what they are saying is not 'should cyclists be on the road?' But 'is it safe for cyclists on the road?' which, quite often it is not.

I agree that the comments under the thread are pretty shocking and moronic, but as someone who covers over 35,000 business miles a year (which I have done for over 20 years), rides bikes and rides horses, they are nothing more than I would expect from people who seem to think they are hermetically sealed into some form assault vehicle when they use the roads. It's not just cyclists who they hate, it's everyone. The most worrying drivers I come across are not young, but old, some of the closest scrapes I have had on both bike and horse have been with impatient old men and older folk who's sight has deteriorated to the point where they cannot see you until they are within five yards of a collision.

Oh and my pet hate comment "you don't pay road tax, so you shouldn't be on the road".

My worry about these attitudes are that they degenerate into physical attacks on cyclists. Last year when me and Ms Bruce were riding peacfully along the road on Sunday afternoon a person in a Skoda Yeti deliberately drove at us. When I caught him up at the next set of lights he claimed it was because we were not riding in the glass strewn bike lane. These attitudes make it more dangerous to ride on the road as some idiots will do more than drive at me. I have a perfect right to be on the road but people feeling safe in their metal box become a lot braver than they would be face to face.

I've had so many cars "buzz" me on the road over the years I have been cycling for no other reason than I am there and they want to teach me a lesson. I've had various drinks thrown over me as well because passengers think it is highly amusing.

I am now actually considering carrying a large, round pebble in my back pocket on every ride so that I can hopefully smash their back window or at least put a dent in their nice shiny vehicle. Hopefully they will stop as well so that I can explain to them why I did it.

Boba how else do you get from queensferry to north queensferry? is there a lovely cycle specific route just next to it or are you expecting cyclists to schlep all the way round the coast via kincardine?
(genuine question don't know the area)

You can travel up the old South Queensferry road and join the bridge at the top, much more picturesque and a good bit safer (although fannies are everywhere) - there is also a path runs parallel up the side of the road further back which then goes towards south queensferry.

I used to travel home up that road to Dalgety Bay and would wince every time I saw a cyclist heading up the busy dual carriageway with cars and lorries pelting past at 60 miles an hour. Say what you like but that is pure deathwish territory.

We should all pay road tax, carry id and be insured just so the haters haven't got these points to argue about.

And we should stop jumping red lights - it doesn't do cyclist image any good and just leads to more haters.

James Whale on LBC the other day showed himself up as the arrogant pr1ck he really is when discussing cycling.

The government needs to bring in strict liability if cycling on roads is going to get anywhere.

There has, without a doubt, been a change in attitude from many drivers towards other road users over the last few years. There have always been bad, arrogant and downright dangerous drivers, but more recently I have noticed an increase in the competitive nature of many drivers. Just try overtaking a car (on the motorway) on cruise control, and see how many speed up as you are passing them.

As has been said, too many drivers feel far too safe in their tin boxes, add to that the fact they see cyclists, motorbikers, horse riders, walkers as somehow not human, but just an object. I have had people actively try to knock me off my motorbike, drive straight at me on my horse (a bad idea, as we are both too big to frighten that easily), try to block me on my bike, or worse charge straight at me in an attempt to get to a junction before I do.

These days I just shrug it off, and ride with a tiny video camera on my helmet at all times.

I am now actually considering carrying a large, round pebble in my back pocket on every ride so that I can hopefully smash their back window or at least put a dent in their nice shiny vehicle.

We should all pay road tax, carry id and be insured just so the haters haven't got these points to argue about.

No. There should be a strong campaign from government, roadpeace, CTC, BitishCycling etc to educate the haters about these topics.

I can't see any reason why I should pay [b]Car Tax[/b] for a bicycle when over 2 million [b]cars[/b] don't have to pay it.
(especially as I already pay it for my car, which I've left at home).

[img] [/img]

Bobafat - you are not allowed to cycle on that road now. You used to be be but no longernor for many years. Hence the cycle route which is in part on pavements.

http://goo.gl/maps/GfSu

No. There should be a strong campaign from government, roadpeace, CTC, BitishCycling etc to educate the haters about these topics.

yes - but it isn't working - VED could be nominal just to make the point - VED for low emission vehicles won't remain free for ever anyway.

a cycle proficiency license - again trivial to get and it will shut these people up.

Perhaps we could retake it every 5 years in return for drivers getting retested every 5 years - that will keep a lot of these idiots off the road or force a higher standard of driving.

car drivers who cause accidents should be sent on cycle awareness courses, where they simply have to commute or cycle through heavy traffic - they will soon change their tune like those Addison Lee taxis drivers that were linked to here and on lfgss recently.

yes - but it isn't working

I don't think anyone has really tried. Or did I miss the full-page newspaper adverts and TV campaign?

VED could be nominal just to make the point - VED for low emission vehicles won't remain free for ever anyway

The trouble is that charging a nominal VED would cost more to collect than it would make.
Plus it potentially leads to further legal problems: if cyclists have to pay VED to use the public road then what about horses and pedestrians?

car drivers who cause accidents should be sent on cycle awareness courses, where they simply have to commute or cycle through heavy traffic

That I approve of. In fact I think it should be part of the test (every five years).

if cyclists have to pay VED to use the public road then what about horses and pedestrians?

and why not - on the James Whale show they were complaining of cyclists coming out of nowhere, etc

[which is a fair criticism in London as they often do when RLJing - during times of injury I walk to work through London and you can't just cross a junction when the green man is shown because of jerk-off cyclists - one day I will take one of them down and put his head through his wheel...]

but as a cyclist in London you also have the danger of pedestrians suddenly deciding to step out into the road in a step out THEN look manoeuvre, so why shouldn't they be licensed and have to carry third-party insurance in the same way that they want cyclists to be?

Does seem to be a London issue more so than elsewhere tbh
no real issues with this where I live beyond irrate drivers who we have everywhere

Everyone knows some raod users are dangerous idiots whether on a bike or in a car. it is the later that kills and injures the most though.
Done see why i should single our cyclists [ or ignore the bad driving from them] or car drivers for my loud tutting