Originally posted by Captain_Scarlet
EDIT: Nice photograph restauration work btw, never had a look until just now.
Heh thanks :) Ok, apologies if I was a leeetle extreme in my views - I interpreted what you had said as "if you don't get out of my way I'll drive dangerously".

I always find it difficult to tread the line between defending cyclists and motorists. I usually weigh on the side of cyclists as I'm all too aware of how a car can easily do serious injury or kill, and I think a lot of people forget that and treat driving as a game. But I'm also equally incensed by people who cycle badly, for reasons I mentioned in my previous post.

I am slightly perturbed by your "I'll try and get you off the road so my driving experience is that little more enjoyable" comment though!

On a slightly different note, how many of you reading this know for a fact that all the lights work on your car? I'm always shocked how many bulbs are blown when I'm out and about - is this actually illegal, or just "a bit naughty"?

I generally don't mind cyclists so long as they make themselves VISIBLE and wear ADEQUATE protective clothing. I find it unfair how drivers are expected to look out for some cyclists who I have seen who wear dark colours, no lights or helmets and its raining.

I especially dislike them when they bob inbetween cars and clip wing mirrors. Unfortunately, some car wing mirrors cost £300+ each side to replace, especially when the cogs inside get broken after a cyclists knocks them.

Originally posted by rich951
Heh thanks :) Ok, apologies if I was a leeetle extreme in my views - I interpreted what you had said as "if you don't get out of my way I'll drive dangerously".That's fair enough. Think of a car against a bicycle, physically the bike will loose. You cannot keep cyclists safe in the present situation, walls, physically moving bicycles off the road onto cycle lanes (I mean proper cycle lanes, not that dash of red paint).Originally posted by rich951
I am slightly perturbed by your "I'll try and get you off the road so my driving experience is that little more enjoyable" comment though!Think of it in the same context as above. Kinda like: "OMG a damn cyclist, I'm going to have wait." Off course people are ok to cycle, but this mode of transportation is, well, inadequate for highway use, flashy lights or still lights.Originally posted by rich951
On a slightly different note, how many of you reading this know for a fact that all the lights work on your car? I'm always shocked how many bulbs are blown when I'm out and about - is this actually illegal, or just "a bit naughty"?Having had a, say, continental education, every morning, I switch all the lights and check them. As far as I've been informed, us Brits do not have to carry a spare set of bulbs with us in the car. A tad silly if you ask me as you can't ask someone to have functioning lights and not ask him/her to carry them with them at all times.

I cycle very carefully and slowly on the pavement on certain occasions - usually when the road is just too dangerous (crossing the Uni roundabout in the rush hour, for instance).

But if cycling on the pavement is wrong, is parking on the pavement (blocking it and risking those wing mirrors) wrong too? Seems there's an excuse for one and not the other.

Originally posted by Phased
I cycle very carefully and slowly on the pavement on certain occasions - usually when the road is just too dangerous (crossing the Uni roundabout in the rush hour, for instance).

Get off and push then.

But if cycling on the pavement is wrong, is parking on the pavement (blocking it and risking those wing mirrors) wrong too?

Yes it is.

I do like to see a healthy debate on issues such as this.

I ride a mountain bike for a living on the streets of sheffield every day and come across both good and bad cyclists!

I also come across good and bad motorists!

Surprisingly when I wear my high visibilty jacket with the word "POLICE" I find the sheffield road users extremly courteous and patient and cycling is a joy. However when I ride without those words on my back I find a minor number of road users become somewhat less courteous and seem to be auditioning for an episode of "Wacky Racers "

Police mountainbikers utilise two rear lights- one flashing the other steady. In addition the wearing of reflective strips on trousers and the marking up of the bikes assist with visibility.

As for breaches of cycling law since Sheffield South introduced cops on bikes we have started taking a more proactive line on enforcing cycle legislation aimed at keeping people alive and in particular educating young people on whats required when they ride on the streets of sheffield

Keep Smiling

Originally posted by t020
I've seen countless cyclists run red lights in the last few weeks, often without helmets and a complete disregard for the rules of the road and safety of pedestrians trying to cross. If I see one do it and then get knocked off, I will happily drive straight past them. They'll get what's coming to them in the end.

yep me too, so if u know a cyclist who is currently asking for overtime @ work, he's the idiot who ran into my car.
cyclist in bad weather,poor visibility & ran a red light str8 into my bonnet.private compo claim now on its way through,.

Originally posted by Johnnywarren
I'm amazed at how many incredibly stupid/ignorant cyclists there are about these days?

I have no problem with cyclists being on the road, good on them - provided they go about it properly. But how many cyclists do you see riding about with no lights on??? They must be crackers!

Another thing - what is it with the pavements??? Especially down Ecclesall Road, the amount of youths riding their bikes on the path, again rarely with lights is ridiculous - something needs to be done.

Anyone else noticed this?

Cyclists..... pass a test........get some insurance.........pay some road tax..........get your cycle officially tested for roadworthyness once a year....untill then.....????

Originally posted by rich951
[B]Oh goodie, another anti-cyclist thread :)

It wasn't intended to be an anti-cyclist thread, just an anti-idiot thread.

If you think SHeffield is full of dangerous cyclists with death wish ambition, take a drive round YORK or CAMBRIDGE.......my God, do they really not value their lives in any way shape or form......excessive numbers of them bombard you from all directions with no signals, no lights, on pavements, roads, up the sides of buildings, across your bonnet......you name it.....

I lived in cambridge for a couple of years. Some of the biggest cycling culprits were international students from private colleges etc who never seemed too sure about highway code. That said I'm not sure many pedestrians/ motorists/ other cyclists did either!
Taxi drivers and cyclists used to hate each other with a vengeance.

Cyclists..... pass a test........get some insurance.........pay some road tax..........get your cycle officially tested for roadworthyness once a year....untill then.....????


Yes i passed my cycling profiency, i am insured through the ctc and my own private insurance, i do not need to pay road tax ( or a vehicle excise duty) because i pay my council tax for the upkeep and usage of the road and i do not have an engine to warrant any excise duty, and my bike is serviced every 6 months.

NEXT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by playman
Cyclists..... pass a test........get some insurance.........pay some road tax..........get your cycle officially tested for roadworthyness once a year....untill then.....????


Yes i passed my cycling profiency, i am insured through the ctc and my own private insurance, i do not need to pay road tax ( or a vehicle excise duty) because i pay my council tax for the upkeep and usage of the road and i do not have an engine to warrant any excise duty, and my bike is serviced every 6 months.

NEXT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's hope a few more follow your lead Playman!!!

Originally posted by playman
Cyclists..... pass a test........get some insurance.........pay some road tax..........get your cycle officially tested for roadworthyness once a year....untill then.....????


Yes i passed my cycling profiency, i am insured through the ctc and my own private insurance, i do not need to pay road tax ( or a vehicle excise duty) because i pay my council tax for the upkeep and usage of the road and i do not have an engine to warrant any excise duty, and my bike is serviced every 6 months.

NEXT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So you are the one who follows the highway code I knew there must be one somewhere!

I was travelling down Glossop Road the other day and as I got down to the junction with Upper Hanover Street, the lights were on red so I held back and kept both the boxed junction clear and the red cycle area at the stop line, just outside the Harley Hotel.

Down comes the cyclist from the left out of the side road and proceeds to travel onto the junction, completely past the obligatory stop line and about 5 yards past that and sits in the middle of the road waiting for the lights to change.

We travel on down towards the junction with Regent Street and yet again he does exactly the same again and stops well past the stop line and well clear of the space created for cyclists to give them room. Another cyclist by this time had joined us and looked a little amazed at his fellow cyclists actions.
I then start to wonder to myself why I actually bothered to stop outside the cycle zone at the stop line as this guy had no intention of using it at all.

As we got to opposite the Varsity bar, he just pulled into the centre of the road and wandered off across to the offside pavement without so much as a signal or anything.

The amount of cyclists I have watched over the last few months who completely ignore blatant red traffic lights absolutely amazes me. These are people who are not simply amber gamblers but straight on red lights they contravene.

When they get knocked off the bike there will no doubt be hell to pay as the driver will be seen to be the bad guy, but I for one shall be giving the statement against the cyclist.

Originally posted by playman
Cyclists..... pass a test........get some insurance.........pay some road tax..........get your cycle officially tested for roadworthyness once a year....untill then.....????


Yes i passed my cycling profiency, i am insured through the ctc and my own private insurance, i do not need to pay road tax ( or a vehicle excise duty) because i pay my council tax for the upkeep and usage of the road and i do not have an engine to warrant any excise duty, and my bike is serviced every 6 months.

NEXT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, that makes two of us - though I only have my bikes serviced once a year or whenever something drops off or seizes up!

I had a brief encounter with a pavement cyclist last night as I was walking down Park Lane.

He was weaving back and forth across the pavement. Dark clothing. No lights. As he came closer to me I discovered the reason for his erratic movements - he was using his b****y mobile!

Originally posted by playman
Cyclists..... pass a test........get some insurance.........pay some road tax..........get your cycle officially tested for roadworthyness once a year....untill then.....????


Yes i passed my cycling profiency, i am insured through the ctc and my own private insurance, i do not need to pay road tax ( or a vehicle excise duty) because i pay my council tax for the upkeep and usage of the road and i do not have an engine to warrant any excise duty, and my bike is serviced every 6 months.

NEXT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well done now get the rest of the bunch to follow your lead.

sure, when you get all the drivers to pass a test, insure their vehicle, and pay their excise, then drive with the due care and attention warranted when aiming something that weighs a lot more than a bike, and can do a lot more damage, also how many cyclists do you see using a phone while negotiating traffic islands etc...

Originally posted by playman
sure, when you get all the drivers to pass a test, insure their vehicle, and pay their excise, then drive with the due care and attention warranted when aiming something that weighs a lot more than a bike, and can do a lot more damage, also how many cyclists do you see using a phone while negotiating traffic islands etc...

We know there are awful drivers out there Playman - but that's for another thread, another day.

I hate driving when cyclists are about they always make me really nervous all it takes is a gust of wind n they'll fall into middle of the road. STRESS ME OUT!!!!!

Originally posted by playman
sure, when you get all the drivers to pass a test, insure their vehicle, and pay their excise, then drive with the due care and attention warranted when aiming something that weighs a lot more than a bike, and can do a lot more damage, also how many cyclists do you see using a phone while negotiating traffic islands etc...

the difference is that all the things u say are illegal, so if they are ever caught they have to pay the price. if a cyclist scratches or damages a car you get off scott free & usually dont give a damn.

Reflective bands a quid in Poundland at the moment!

yes you hit the nail when you said IF they are ever caught.
you will see more bad driving incidents in one hour on the main routes than you will see bad cyclists in a week, just remember a cyclist is very vulnerable and does not have the metal cage surrounding them for protection, if everyone did as they should it would be great but until that happens we should all have more awareness of our surroundings and be prepared to offer a little forgiveness for our misgivings. After all we have a freedom to choose our mode of transport and by being cyclists at least we are making a little space on our ever overcrowding roads.

Driving up Bamford village on Sunday a whole load of drivers, myself included pulled in for an ambulence to pass on setting back off a cyclist raced down the inside of me and cut straight in front as I was pulling out for a parked car, I was already moving and yet the cyclist swore at me and kicked the car. This insensed me and I stopped a little further up the road to ask this gentleman for his name and address for insurence purposes. He sped off round me and when I pulled up a little further up the road he ducked into someones garden. I suppose I can understand as I was a little on the annoyed side and I am 6foot 2 and built like a brick outbuilding.
I have nothing against considerate cyclists but if you intend to use the roads you must obey the highway code not undertake as it pleases, ride two, three or even four abreast, go though traffic lights on red on the road or pavement and should have proper lights. I also think anyone who wears the full set up of cycling shorts and advertising top when not part of a competive organised cycling club must be off their heads but thats up to them!
In short if you were riding though Bamford on Sunday and kicked a green family car with two small children in the back I shouldn't expect a christmas card off me this year.:evil:

At around 5:50pm 3 cyclists came down Eccy road towards Hunterbar from the south. These guys looked pro; all had lycra, helmets and dayglo but had only one light between them.

They continued down Eccy road where one of them turned off by Nonna's (the one with the light, natch) whilst the other two continued quickly on towards town.

Considering how dark it is and how many people's side windows are covered in road salt and assorted slime, these chaps were pretty lucky not to have been pulled out on. I very nearly did myself coming from Rustlings road and I probably would have done had I not got the window down at the time.

Anyway, I'm writing this in the hope one of them lurks on the forum and reads it.

Not bright, chaps, in every sense of the word.

I dont know what the heck is in the minds of cyclists these days. I see them all the time without lights at night and it is plain crazy. When I was a kid, if you were seen on your bike without lights by a passing police car, they would stop and tell you how dangerous it was, and you would be walking home. Now it seems like its totally accepted behaviour. Same thing applies to riding on the footpaths and not stopping for traffic lights. I ride myself, and can see how dangerous they are being to themselves and to other road users.

Bet they would be the first to complain if they did get knocked off by one of the evil, enemy car drivers.

Yesterday morning I was driving between Thorpe Salvin and Shireoaks. It was dark and as I went through the bit that becomes single track, I met a cyclist coming the other way with no lights and dark clothing. He was so lucky that I tend to drive towards the left and not down the centre. Tut.

It is a country lane with no street lights whatsoever.

in that case if you knock them off then its there fault- im certainly not going to cause a head on collision with another car by swerving to avoid a cycleist with no lights on!

Originally posted by ADC_28
At around 5:50pm 3 cyclists came down Eccy road towards Hunterbar from the south. These guys looked pro; all had lycra, helmets and dayglo but had only one light between them.

They continued down Eccy road where one of them turned off by Nonna's (the one with the light, natch) whilst the other two continued quickly on towards town.

Considering how dark it is and how many people's side windows are covered in road salt and assorted slime, these chaps were pretty lucky not to have been pulled out on. I very nearly did myself coming from Rustlings road and I probably would have done had I not got the window down at the time.

Anyway, I'm writing this in the hope one of them lurks on the forum and reads it.

Not bright, chaps, in every sense of the word.

See my previous posts on the manace that are cyclists
pass a test ...........get some insurance .........pay some road tax.........have you vehicle professionally inspected regularly ............and follow the highway code.

And before you lycra clad treehuggers get on my case about how wonderful you are I'm not talking about you just the vast majority of cyclist who don't follow the rules.

Not being funny, but most Cyclist's tend to be a danger to themselves?

Coppers usually stop little kids for playing on their bikes at night with no lights on, then go and have a word with parents (make out their unfit to be parents).

It's a joke! How much does a pair of lights cost??? £5-£10

Matt

Originally posted by matt1889
Not being funny, but most Cyclist's tend to be a danger to themselves?

Coppers usually stop little kids for playing on their bikes at night with no lights on, then go and have a word with parents (make out their unfit to be parents).

It's a joke! How much does a pair of lights cost??? £5-£10

Matt Not quite.
I have £120 worth of lights on my bike, 2 on front and 2 on the back.
You can however go cheaper to about £20.
Lights are the most important item on a bike as they could save your life.
I am about to put an extra light to my helmet to and the motorist can see me coming for quite a distance.
No excuses though as they still seem to get to near when overtaking.

Originally posted by Cycleracer
Not quite.
I have £120 worth of lights on my bike, 2 on front and 2 on the back.
You can however go cheaper to about £20.
Lights are the most important item on a bike as they could save your life.
I am about to put an extra light to my helmet to and the motorist can see me coming for quite a distance.
No excuses though as they still seem to get to near when overtaking.

Fair play though, better safe than sorry!

I saw a cyclist get knocked of his bike this morning near Heeley retail park, looked quite nasty as he wasn't able to get up again.
The car that hit him appeared to have clear windows and good visibility.

However the number of idiots I've seen this morning trying to drive and pear out of a 2 inch square hole in the middle of the windscreen, it's a wonder this doesn't happen more often!!

I try to knock cyclists off their dam bikes every day just because they don't pay tax or have to pay insurance.

So far I have taken out 6 this month alone. I can't stand it how they stop me from going to where I need to get to and they do not even pay for anything.

Sometimes when I am in a traffic jam and one cycles past all cocky and that I open my door so they fly past my window, ha.

Cyclists never follow the rules like me in my totally safe, would never hurt anyone car. I never drive faster than the speed limit as I know it is there to make everyone's journey safer. I always am polite and nice to other users of the road and I never try to go through lights when they are orange.

OK. Point taken, but don't tarnish us all with the same brush. I am a cyclist. I also drive a car. So, I do pay road tax.
Because I do alot of cycling, some of it abroad, most of it off-road I also have insurance specifically for cycling, and yes it does have third party liability cover. Also regulary go off road riding at night and have very good lights, also used on roads. In addition, always carry backup led lights in case I'm caught out with flat batteries in my main lights.

Maybe the police would like to know about gd-1. Safe my friend, very safe.....

Originally posted by Dear_Ladies
Sorry to shout but as I pointed out earlier in the thread FLASHING LIGHTS ARE NOW LEGAL! The law changed last month.

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4071

As for whether you can see them or not, that depends on the brightness of the lights, not whether they're flashing or not. I agree with you that some cyclists are riding about with totally inadequate lights. Personally I have a flashing light and a non-flashing light both ends, and they're both bright enough.

I was bored enough to finally read that whole link properly just now, and noticed this phrase at the bottom:

"Any flashing lamp that is also capable of emitting a steady light however, will be approved only if it conforms with the more complex requirements of BS6102/3 when in steady mode."

So by my interpretation, you can have flashing lights, but the majority of them don't count as approved lights as they are also capable of being used as solid lights, and aren't already BS approved. I guess if you wanted to be strictly legal and also nice and safe, you'd have an approved solid one and a nice bright flashing one... (I've never seen an approved one anything like as bright as some of the best flashing ones!)

Ive nearly been knocked down twice by cyclists riding on the pavement.They know its illegal,so why do they do it ?If I tell them off,they just swear at me,or ignore me.:mad:

I cycle to uni sometimes and it can be difficult on the roads where motorists have no respect for cyclists. To avoid this some do cycle on the pavement. When I do, I always treat pedestrians with respect and give them right of way.

More cycle paths may solve the problem

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pattricia
Ive nearly been knocked down twice by cyclists riding on the pavement.They know its illegal,so why do they do it ?If I tell them off,they just swear at me,or ignore me.:mad: [/QUOTE

just do what i do stick your foot out and knock them off the bike that should teach them ] :)

I'll admit I use the pavements on tough parts of my trip to uni, if it's windy (though I'm down on the coast, sea wind + portsmouth drivers = fearing for my life!) BUT if I do I always give way to pedestrians, never ask them to move for me, and will wait unti lthey've actually let me pass to do it. There's no need for rudeness from cyclists, they should accept that they're in the wrong.

That said, there's the small minority of people who are nazi's about it. I got shouted at for using the pavement by one woman. I was crawling along, well behind her, cos she had dogs and didn't want to squeeze past and risk running them over lol. After a while she stepped to the side, assuming she was letting me past I went and thanked her, and got a mouthful in response.

If everyone was more polite and considerate, it'd be so much less of an issue!

Originally posted by panda79
just do what i do stick your foot out and knock them off the bike that should teach them :)

Until one day you get your leg or foot broken in the process

Originally posted by mega_monty
Until one day you get your leg or foot broken in the process

i only stick my leg out quick:)

Simple solution - walk on the road, then you will only hvae cars to avoid and the cyclists can get on with cycling on the FOOTpaths.

Then again why do car drivers ect jump red lights, speed, drink drive and so on they know its illegal so why do they do it, and before anyone comes back with the anti cyclist rant about how they cut in and out of traffic and jump red lights yes i know they do and they give me and the other good cyclist a bad name.

Only yesterday afternoon i was cycling to work going up Walkley Rd when at the junction with South Rd i wait at the lights when some guy on a bike just cycled right pass me when the lights where on red and neally got taken out by a car, anyway i wizzed along caught him up and asked him why, only to be met by a torrant of abuse from him.

im wondering as ive seen a few threads regarding cyclists lately i dont drive maybe this is why i do not understand why people seem to have a bee in their bonnets about them.


P.S they should stick to the roads to avoid any uncessasery accidents.

Originally posted by averageman
Simple solution - walk on the road, then you will only hvae cars to avoid and the cyclists can get on with cycling on the FOOTpaths.
it would be safer on roads with the gridlocks were getting lately

When I lived in Bristol I had to cycle a very short distance on the path inbetween roads because the it was too busy and dangerous for cyclists and I always took care to go extra slow around pedestrians.

However one day I was on my pavement short cut going safely and slowly and this middle aged pompous git who clearly felt he had to make his point shouldered into me and then accused me of knocking into him! I was a bit shocked and all I could say was "Who are you, a copper or something?" and he says in his overly posh voice "No, but I'm a citizen and I can arrest you if I want to!"

I agree that pavements aren't for cyclists and we should stick to the roads at all times wherever possible but everyone bends the rules a little occasionally and if we're going extra slowly and keeping an eye out for people then surely a small shortcut isn't a major problem...is it? :roll:

Cyclists, pass a test, pay some road tax, get some insurance and follow the highway code.
You are a menace on the roads and now it seems on the footpath too.
Lycra clad tree huggers form a nice orderly queue over here I'm just in the mood for you lot this morning.

I came to a narrow stretch of pavement the other day partly blocked by some fencing around a building site. It was just wide enough for me to get past. I heard a bell pinging behind me and turned to be faced by a cyclist motioning for me to get out of his way. I was on the PEDESTRIAN FOOTpath!

Originally posted by pete_jim
I came to a narrow stretch of pavement the other day partly blocked by some fencing around a building site. It was just wide enough for me to get past. I heard a bell pinging behind me and turned to be faced by a cyclist motioning for me to get out of his way. I was on the PEDESTRIAN FOOTpath!
You were lucky a) he had a bell b) he used it c) he didn't just run you over. d) didn't accuse you of raping the planet. Because I bet you've been in a car at least once in your life.

Originally posted by waldershelf
Cyclists, pass a test, pay some road tax, get some insurance and follow the highway code.
You are a menace on the roads and now it seems on the footpath too.
Lycra clad tree huggers form a nice orderly queue over here I'm just in the mood for you lot this morning.


It would be intresting to compare the number of uninsured, untaxed and drivers not having a license, to the number of cyclist on the roads of Sheffield.

the issue I have is that if you are listening to music you cannot here them coming along. plain dangerous

You can find cyclists riding on the pavement on Langsett Road every morning between Burnaby Street and Shalesmoor. They creep up behind you quietly and scare you to bits as they fly past you. There is going to be a nasty accident one day. It is usually grown men wearing full cycling kit. Why ride on the pavements???

I think you should be allowed to cycle at low sensible speeds on pavements where the road are dangerous.
Modern brakes on bikes are very effective that you should be able to quickly brake if a pedestrian gets in the way.

I would also recommend any cyclist to have continuous and flashing lights fixed to the rear and front of their bikes. I've noticed that motorists give you a wider berth.

Also if you can get kitted out in fluorescent gear akin to what might be worn by a copper or ambulanceman it is very effective at spooking and keeping motorists away

Yoh cyclists stay safe

Originally posted by timboy
I think you should be allowed to cycle at low sensible speeds on pavements where the road are dangerous.
Modern brakes on bikes are very effective that you should be able to quickly brake if a pedestrian gets in the way.

I would also recommend any cyclist to have continuous and flashing lights fixed to the rear and front of their bikes. I've noticed that motorists give you a wider berth.

Also if you can get kitted out in fluorescent gear akin to what might be worn by a copper or ambulanceman it is very effective at spooking and keeping motorists away

Yoh cyclists stay safe


We got off and pushed in my day.

I once saw a lad on a BMX-type bike coming down the wide pavement on Eccy Road before the precinct, totally not looking where he ws going and run straight into some old dear walking along minding her own. She didn't know what had hit her.

I have no objection to cyclists so long as they don't weave in and out around my car, have lights (there are enough idiots driving cars with no/faulty lights) stick to their lanes (if we have to put up with them making roads narrower), don't lean against my car at traffic lights, observe traffic lights i.e., red applies to everyone on the road and its not an excuse to cut across a pavement or use a pelican crossing to keep going, or preferably just keep the hell out of my way ;)

I've the utmost respect for cyclists. Drivers forget just how dangerours cycling can be. You're utterly exposed and completely at the mercy of other road users. Far too many drivers treat road safety with utter contempt - after all, most accidents are no worse than a bit of bent metal and insurance hastle. But a minor bump will seriously injure a cyclist.

Yeah, we should all obey the rules of the road, but cycling in traffic requires a more realistic and pragmatic approach. Each cyclist has their own strategy for staying out of trouble. I like to move with the traffic as best I can, hoping that I'm treated more like a car and not overtaken and cut-up constantly. Some cyclists stay away from traffic by using footpaths and using their own judgement rather than waiting for lights to change etc.

Whether you like their riding or not, drivers have to remember that it's a person and not just some mobile obstacle.

i'm married to a cyclist, and the amount of times i get peed off with him is spectacular - he's a mountain biker/bmx/trials sort of guy, he's got really good control and balance, and i love him very much, but i've seen the way he weaves between the traffic. often this is because people are parked in bike lanes or because people try to kill him because they simply don't expect to see a bike, but just as often it's because he thinks that because he can see he has space to do something means that the drivers won't get freaked out, annoyed, or have to slam their brakes on.

in short - i'm really sorry to whoever bikers do this to, but people in cars do much more dangerous things to people on bikes, and possibly more regularly, too.

that said, whenever i see cyclists inadequately lit, i do wind the car window down and yell 'get some lights' at them. sometimes i even add that they should wear a helmet.

go on, cyclists, wear helmets, particularly those of you who aren't exactly proficient. would you go climbing without ropes?

Originally posted by Speedy_Jim
I've the utmost respect for cyclists. Drivers forget just how dangerours cycling can be. You're utterly exposed and completely at the mercy of other road users. Far too many drivers treat road safety with utter contempt - after all, most accidents are no worse than a bit of bent metal and insurance hastle. But a minor bump will seriously injure a cyclist.

Yeah, we should all obey the rules of the road, but cycling in traffic requires a more realistic and pragmatic approach. Each cyclist has their own strategy for staying out of trouble. I like to move with the traffic as best I can, hoping that I'm treated more like a car and not overtaken and cut-up constantly. Some cyclists stay away from traffic by using footpaths and using their own judgement rather than waiting for lights to change etc.

Whether you like their riding or not, drivers have to remember that it's a person and not just some mobile obstacle.


too right.

I personally stick with the flow of traffic till it stops, goes slow, then will move to the middle of the road or centre of 2 lanes. I know this sounds dangerous, but makes me as a cyclist much more visible and so long as keep an eye out for people changing lanes/overtaking without indicating relatively safe.

often cars will turn left without indicating, and not checking their mirrors. Its wise never to be on the outside of a car while passing a side road, I tend to hand onto their rear corner, just in case ;)

Unfortunately for bobsgirl, I do also nip around stationary and slow moving cars, often this isn't through choice though, but more that drivers don't leave ample space for cyclists or more importantly don't see us! ;)

Every day I see a SHOCKING bit of driving in one way or another (usually lack of lane control or indicators). cyclists have to avoid this with only our bones to take the brunt of any impact! :(

as for the tw** that nearly took me off at the university island last night, I was in the correct lane, YOU WEREN'T so go stick your horn up your backside!! ha ha :D

If I had a quid for each time a car driver has not stopped while I was waiting to cross the road at a zebra crossin.....in my considered opinion car drivers are mostly ****az:headbang:

Anyone who thinks Sheffield cyclists are bad should have a look at this:

http://www.digave.com/videos/

(Click the top picture - 50 meg download)

This is a good thread! I couldn't resist adding my two pence:

1. Cyclists: going on the pavement? Get off and push. Cheers. (I've been hit by a cyclist on a pavement. I think he was stoned. He was a dick)

2. Cyclists: Red lights *do* apply to you.

3. Cyclists: No lights at night? You should be fined. If a driver kills you and gets sent down for manslaughter it's hardly fair is it?

But also:

1. Drivers: Do not assume cyclists are basically stationary objects. I regularly get cars trying to overtake me on Montgomery Road seemingly as a kind of primal instinct, only to find that they have to back off because I'm going much faster than they thought and they run out of road!

2. Drivers: I know we make you "nervous", but please remember we're there at junctions! I've had some extremely hairy moments with people just cutting right accross me turning onto Ecclesall Road. Mostly 4x4s for some reason.

I try and give as much room as I can when approaching cyclists as I'd rather do that than have to explain to them/their family or police why they ended up under my car. However, this is not always welcomed by cyclists.

I was once travelling down West Street, towards town, after dropping off my wife at work. I had the day to myself so was in no rush.

There was no traffic travelling in the opposite direction. Seeing this, a cyclist came out of a junction on the right and took up position accross the other lane waiting for traffic in my lane to let him through.

As no one was I took pity on him and stopped to wait for him to join my flow of traffic............and waited..........and waited.

By this time I was getting (or he was, not sure), beeped by others behind me so I set off again. And what did I get as a thankyou?

Well I was stationary at some traffic lights when I notice in my left mirror ( yes, some of us do use them) that the cyclist was travelling down the side of cars with his right arm hanging down by his side. As he passed my car he hit my mirror. Although he did not break it he moved making it impossible to see if any other cyclists were coming down until I was able to pull over to re-adjust it.

There, that's got your attention.

Just, I'm getting fed up of cyclists (the pedal variety). I've given up completely on the motor variety.:loopy:

They don't give a flying **** for the law. :) :) They go through red lights like they don't apply to them, go on the pavement when they can't get through on the road, cycle the wrong way down one-way streets - down the middle of the road not even down the side.

As for the mountain biker tearing up the tram track from off the bridge over Park Square roundabout, how he didn't mow a pedestrian down in Commercial Street the other day, is a mystery.

Sooner or later, a cyclist is going to be turned into mincemeat. :gag: :o :mad:

Easy to manouver, cheap on tax/insurance, is it any wonder they're all too excited to get home and watch the weakest link? :loopy:

There, that's got your attention.

I'm getting fed up of cyclists (the pedal variety)


Is there any other type of cyclists? :huh:

I think a cyclist nearly was turned in to mincemeat the other day!!. Did he get hit by a tram or something? There is a thread about it on the forum (somewhere) about him being stuck under the tram?

I saw one go through a red light the other morning on Brightside Lane, when we got to the next set of lights he stopped. I asked him why had he stopped at this light and not the last one? His reply was "what red light?" :huh:

yeh every day i see motorists breaking the speed limit so i guess we should ban cars too.

So what about the "rules of the road" you cant apply the same rules for a car and a bike. If you are riding a bike you are the most fuel efficient vehicle ever, you are getting fit and you don't have to delay your self weighting in traffic or red lights for that matter. It's not very save as you always get some Tit in a Vovo that can't grasp the consept of rear view mirrors or Windscreen or even eyes!!!! It's not the cyclists fault it's the lack of cycle track and lanes in Sheffield and very very doggy drivers.

It's not the cyclists fault it's the lack of cycle track and lanes in Sheffield and very very doggy drivers.

what a load of tosh.

cyclists know the rules of the road & should comply.
you dont tax 'em you dont insure them for the benefit of others & you dont have to keep them roadworthy.
car drivers have to stop @ pelican crossings and traffic lights etc,so why not the great ignorants ,sorry cyclists.
unfortunately with car drivers some like me do speed,99.9% of cyclists break the law.

yeh every day i see motorists breaking the speed limit so i guess we should ban cars too.


if caught cars will be banned for speeding. even when caught cyclists just put the finger up at society 'cos unless you want to prosecute privately the police dont do anything.
why 'cos you don't have anything to loose.

So what about the "rules of the road" you cant apply the same rules for a car and a bike. If you are riding a bike you are the most fuel efficient vehicle ever, you are getting fit and you don't have to delay your self weighting in traffic or red lights for that matter. It's not very save as you always get some Tit in a Vovo that can't grasp the consept of rear view mirrors or Windscreen or even eyes!!!! It's not the cyclists fault it's the lack of cycle track and lanes in Sheffield and very very doggy drivers.
Pass a test! Get some insurance! Pay some road tax! Follow the highway code. Then you are entitled to have a say, freeloading on other road users and ignoring the rules cannot be excused by waving your little green flag.

I've been fed up with them for years. Not all of them, just the ones who insist on riding on the pavement because the roads are full of all those big dangerous things with 4 wheels. If you can't hack it on the road and want to use the pavement, then WALK. Or run. Or push your bike - they ARE called pushbikes, aren't they? :) Cyclists? Psychlists? Pavement rats!

Pass a test! Get some insurance! Pay some road tax! Follow the highway code. Then you are entitled to have a say, freeloading on other road users and ignoring the rules cannot be excused by waving your little green flag.

Pffft! I have no intention of getting a car, I will continue to ride my pushbike, untill I get a motorbike!! :D

Get over it, there's no reason for bike riders to have to pay tax, there's no need for insurance and they aren't freeloading. Plus, unless they are twelve, most of them have some form of motor transport and so are paying road tax.
That said, they should stop at red lights, it annoys the hell out of me when i see them sail blithely through. I never do that when i'm riding my bike.

you cant apply the same rules for a car and a bike

Red means danger, stop, green means it's safe, go. It's quite simple, there's a book about it, it's called The Highway Code, most cyclists need to read it.

Is there a need for insurance if they hit a pedestrian as they take a short cut on the pavement? Or damage a car? Just wondered.

Is there any other type of cyclists? :huh:
MotorCyclist and PedalCyclist ;)

Is there a need for insurance if they hit a pedestrian as they take a short cut on the pavement? Or damage a car? Just wondered.


well as a cyclist wrote my puma off after cycling str8 through a red light, i would say yes they need insurance.
the buy even offered to settle the excess, as soon as i rang him after the incident he threatened me with harrassment.
lying scum.

swings and roundabouts I'm afraid. For every idiot on a bike there's an equally sized idiot behind the wheel of a car. Doesn't mean we should judge them all on the stupidity of a few (but please please please stop coming out to the countryside thinking its ok to take up the whole road - ride in single file, SINGLE FILE!!)

However, I have felt a bit sorry for cyclists recently, as the council has marked them out cycle lanes to use, yet they always seem to be full of soppy students, slowly wending their merry way home - who generally refuse to move out of the way for the cyclists to get past, leading to cyclists on the pavements, in the paths of cars, everywhere they shouldnt be! Perhaps we should just kill all the students - then road users of the world can rejoice!!

Get over it, there's no reason for bike riders to have to pay tax, there's no need for insurance and they aren't freeloading. Plus, unless they are twelve, most of them have some form of motor transport and so are paying road tax.
That said, they should stop at red lights, it annoys the hell out of me when i see them sail blithely through. I never do that when i'm riding my bike.


i disagree totally with the no insurance bit.
if a cars is involved in any accident the insurance can be used to claim for damage to street signs etc and victims.cyclists walk away scott free.
how would that feel when one has gone down the side of your parked car with a brake lever or pedal?

Pass a test! Get some insurance! Pay some road tax! Follow the highway code. Then you are entitled to have a say, freeloading on other road users and ignoring the rules cannot be excused by waving your little green flag.

I have passed a test, got some insurance, do pay some road tax and follow the highway code - I choose to cycle.

Doesn't it say ride in single file in The Highway Code? Or is that under Red Light in the "Ignore" section?

Many cyclists do have insurance, just like many are quite capable of using roads properly.

Now... back to those drivers who think it's fun to point a 37mph ton and a half of metal at a cyclist. I sense we have a few of them on this thread. :suspect:

How pathetically boring - another "boo hoo cyclist's get in my way and add a few seconds onto my journey - lets ban them" thread.

MODS - can all the hundreds of boring and pathetic anti cyclist threads be merged please?

It's aleady on my list of things to do later today :)

Once you've merged 'em, why not lock 'em!?

Cylists don't get in the way, I pass them, giving them plenty of room. I am an ex cyclist, but once I got a car I realised it was easier to drive home after work and chose to drive instead.

I think point here is the basic rules of the road that many cyclists seem to think don't apply to them.

i disagree totally with the no insurance bit.
if a cars is involved in any accident the insurance can be used to claim for damage to street signs etc and victims.cyclists walk away scott free.
how would that feel when one has gone down the side of your parked car with a brake lever or pedal?


No they don't. They are liable just the same, but it's personal liability instead of being deferred to the insurance company.
I'd feel like getting their details and instructing a solicitor. If they refused to pay up (my insurance would) take them to small claims court to get the money.

No, the highway code specifically says that cyclists can ride 2 abreast. Guess you need to go and read it a little closer like all those nasty cyclists.

[QUOTE=Cyclone]No they don't. They are liable just the same, but it's personal liability instead of being deferred to the insurance company.
I'd feel like getting their details and instructing a solicitor. If they refused to pay up (my insurance would) take them to small claims court to get the money.

QUOTE]
well perhaps you might like to try.just like i did.
then when they deny any responsibility you get diddly squat.
dont forget it all comes out of your pocket if you go for private prosecution.
your car unsurance company aren't usually bothered, you pay the excess they write off the car.
who looses -the insured car driver.from experience i assure you this is true.

and when was the last time you heard of the council bringing private prosecution against a cyclist for causing damage to a street sign after causing an accident?

Red means danger, stop, green means it's safe, go. It's quite simple, there's a book about it, it's called The Highway Code, most cyclists need to read it.

The Highway Code is also applicable to pedestrians too.

http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/03.htm

Rule 51, it does say single file on narrow or busy roads. All the roads are busy, it's those evil polluting cars! :hihi:

[QUOTE=Cyclone]No they don't. They are liable just the same, but it's personal liability instead of being deferred to the insurance company.
I'd feel like getting their details and instructing a solicitor. If they refused to pay up (my insurance would) take them to small claims court to get the money.

QUOTE]
well perhaps you might like to try.just like i did.
then when they deny any responsibility you get diddly squat.
dont forget it all comes out of your pocket if you go for private prosecution.
your car unsurance company aren't usually bothered, you pay the excess they write off the car.
who looses -the insured car driver.from experience i assure you this is true.

and when was the last time you heard of the council bringing private prosecution against a cyclist for causing damage to a street sign after causing an accident?


when was the last time you saw a cyclist knock a street sign down?

when was the last time you saw a cyclist knock a street sign down?

Ouch! That would hurt! :o

cyclists..excellent...anyone who can get up the hills round here on a bike deserve a round of applause! however the few (and I think they are probably a minority) who go through red lights, pedestrian crossings and make dangerous manouvers when wanting to turn right across oncoming traffic rather than wait a minute for it to be safe give the rest a bad name. As do the ones cycling with no lights after dark wearing only black clothes!
If everyone who cycles thought carefully about being seen, and followed the same rules the rest of the road users (allegedly) follow there wouldnt be a problem. I have had an idiot cyclist belt through a pedestrian crossing on brook hill while the cars were stationary, nearly knocking over a pedestrian and then proceeding to cycle across in front of an oncoming bus, (causing him to have to perform an emergency stop) whilst turning up crookes rather than wait for a gap in the traffic to make a safe turn. thats the behaviour that riles me...but like I say, the majority dont seem to be quite so stupid/foolhardy. I agree that there are just as many bad car drivers around....the ones who drive up the chevrons to overtake a whole 2 cars where roads merge to one lane rather than joining the queue at the legitimate merging point, the ones who dont know how to use their indicators, or assume that you will read their minds and know that they want to pull out in front of you despite there not actually being a space for them to do so without you stamping on the brakes....I could go on (and on).
Perhaps better policing of trouble areas....stopping drivers and cyclists who are breaking the law and fining them would probably go a long way to improving their behaviour!!

[QUOTE=willman]


when was the last time you saw a cyclist knock a street sign down?


i said damaging a street sign after causing an accident.i never referred to a cyclist hitting a sign.
if its there fault they should be liable.

Ok as a cyclist who rides to work every day. I'd like to point out that I go through red lights on a regular basis. As a car driver, I stop at these red lights (pelican crossings) and wait for nothing as the pedestrian has already crossed the road.

As a cyclist, i think sod it. I'll go. The reason i do this. THey cannot give me points on my licence. Thats the reason car drivers do not cross red lights. Its simple fear for their licences.

As for insurance, should pedestrians have insurance too? Or maybe wild animals? One of those caused me an accident and a brothers friend a life.

I have passed a test, got some insurance, do pay some road tax and follow the highway code - I choose to cycle.
car test?
Car insurance?
Road tax for the car?
I have a car and a motorcycle I had to pass a test for both need insurance for both and pay road tax for both, So should cyclists. As for following the highway code it is a requirement for all road users no exceptions.

pedestrians may have insurance within their home insurance,usually a million or two.
i dont know if it counts,but it is shown as being for personal injury to third parties.

car test?
Car insurance?
Road tax for the car?
I have a car and a motorcycle I had to pass a test for both need insurance for both and pay road tax for both, So should cyclists. As for following the highway code it is a requirement for all road users no exceptions.

Lets face it. If you drive a car and a motorbike. Do you really think you would fail a push bike test?

Get over it, there's no reason for bike riders to have to pay tax, there's no need for insurance and they aren't freeloading. Plus, unless they are twelve, most of them have some form of motor transport and so are paying road tax.
That said, they should stop at red lights, it annoys the hell out of me when i see them sail blithely through. I never do that when I'm riding my bike.
Of course there is a reason bike riders should pay road tax they are using an expensive facility that has to be funded i.e. the road system. It is a general principle of our sociopolitical system that if you use a facility you pay for it. Car drivers, motorcyclists, lorry drivers etc all pay so why should cyclists be exempt? they use the facility but don't pay for it, hence freeloaders.
There are plenty of examples in this and other threads that suggest that cyclists do need insurance, people getting their cars/property/person damaged by cyclists and finding its impossible to get recompense.
So cyclists pay road tax on their cars, I pay road tax on my car but still have to pay road tax for my motorcycle.

Get off your high horses, sure some cyclists are idiots as are motorists who can't stay out of bus lanes when restrictions apply and won't go in them when they don't. I wish that I had a fiver for every time I have been shown the rods by car drivers for using Hunters Bar bus lane at weekends.

And what about the standard of driving of bus drivers? I saw one the other day attempting to set a new land speed record on Pinstone Street. The 'thumb up' sign on the back of buses only applies to them, when has one ever let you in?

Anyway I won't be joining the bike brigade as I don't fancy growing a beard and wearing a back pack. The ones with infants in little death trap trailers amuse me!

Ok as a cyclist who rides to work every day. I'd like to point out that I go through red lights on a regular basis. As a car driver, I stop at these red lights (pelican crossings) and wait for nothing as the pedestrian has already crossed the road.

As a cyclist, i think sod it. I'll go. The reason i do this. THey cannot give me points on my licence. Thats the reason car drivers do not cross red lights. Its simple fear for their licences.

As for insurance, should pedestrians have insurance too? Or maybe wild animals? One of those caused me an accident and a brothers friend a life.
Unfortunately you are still allowed to ride your bicycle on the road. This is the crux of this and other threads about cyclists, you are unaccountable, unregulated and make no contribution to the transport system you admittedly abuse and therefore feel no obligation or responsibility for your actions to everyone else's detriment.

some people are idiots
Lets set the scene

Its tim's 5th birthday and his daddy bougth him a new bike....
Hes so excited he rushed outside to have a play
5 minutes later he is arrested for not having insurance and locked up!

lol

no riding for tim that would be illegal.

Running a car on a road at 40mph weighing near a tun causes road ware and damage hence the roads need to be resurfaced etc.
Cyclists dont, For every cyclists thats one car off the road so in effect less roadware in total,less poloution

Get over it. 100% of car drivers have gone over the speed limit at somepoint. and if they were not going to get punished for it then they all would do it all the time. AKA cyclists and red lights.

some people are idiots
Lets set the scene

Its tim's 5th birthday and his daddy bougth him a new bike....
Hes so excited he rushed outside to have a play
5 minutes later he is arrested for not having insurance and locked up!

lol

no riding for tim that would be illegal.

Running a car on a road at 40mph weighing near a tun causes road ware and damage hence the roads need to be resurfaced etc.
Cyclists dont, For every cyclists thats one car off the road so in effect less roadware in total,less poloution

Get over it. 100% of car drivers have gone over the speed limit at somepoint. and if they were not going to get punished for it then they all would do it all the time. AKA cyclists and red lights.
Little Tim probably wouldn't live long enough to get nicked, another cycling topic that has not been addressed we tell our children to be careful when out and learn the green cross code or whatever it's called now but we then buy little Tim a bicycle and let him out on the road. Its madness !!

the road system that we have in place needed to be of a certain quality and size to accomodate cars and lorries - they caused the roads to be this way. without 'proper' roads cyclists could still get by, but i wouldnt like to bet on 90% of cars making it cross country, day in day out!

therefore in my opinion the need for these roads only relates to cars/automated transport, and the taxation of these vehicles is justifiable -

but it is not justifiable to tax pedal-power in this way.

secondly, i ride a bicycle to work and consider myself a relatively safe and aware cyclist - occasionally, when it looks completely safe (i.e when no cars are lurking) i will jump red lights, or go up onto the pavement to get round a situation. I will use my judgement in these situations, and feel that it is acceptable to behave in this manner.

i have been a cyclist, off and on, for almost 2 decades, since i was a wee nipper.

i have never been knocked off.

car drivers, sat in thier 'metal coffins', waiting for the lights to change, are simply jealous of the freedom granted to a cyclist.

And before you accuse me of wearing sandals and having a beard check this out:

1. i hate sandals

2. i have shaved the beard off.

i like cars, and want to get one sorted out, but in the meantime, i may as well burn a few calories up, eh. And irritate some sweaty divs while im at it.

99.9% of cyclists break the law.

Interesting statistic. What's your source for it?

Ok as a cyclist who rides to work every day. I'd like to point out that I go through red lights on a regular basis. As a car driver, I stop at these red lights (pelican crossings) and wait for nothing as the pedestrian has already crossed the road.

As a cyclist, i think sod it. I'll go. The reason i do this. THey cannot give me points on my licence. Thats the reason car drivers do not cross red lights. Its simple fear for their licences.

As for insurance, should pedestrians have insurance too? Or maybe wild animals? One of those caused me an accident and a brothers friend a life.

Then you should be ashamed of yourself for your arrogant, selfish and inconsiderate behaviour. You're one of the significant minority that gives responsible cyclists a bad name, and fuels some of the ignorant ranting here.

Of course there is a reason bike riders should pay road tax they are using an expensive facility that has to be funded i.e. the road system. It is a general principle of our sociopolitical system that if you use a facility you pay for it. Car drivers, motorcyclists, lorry drivers etc all pay so why should cyclists be exempt? they use the facility but don't pay for it, hence freeloaders.
There are plenty of examples in this and other threads that suggest that cyclists do need insurance, people getting their cars/property/person damaged by cyclists and finding its impossible to get recompense.
So cyclists pay road tax on their cars, I pay road tax on my car but still have to pay road tax for my motorcycle.

So how exactly are pedestrians charged for footpaths? You must be really angry about all those freeloading walkers wandering about with no pavement tax and no pavement insurance.

The road network needs maintenance because motor vehicles wear it out. Bikes don't because they weigh a fraction of the amount a car weighs.
Do you think that a 3 year old just learning to ride should be required by law to have taxed his bike (does he get charged extra for having stabilisers?) and to have insured it against the damage they could do?
It sounds preposterous.

Little Tim probably wouldn't live long enough to get nicked, another cycling topic that has not been addressed we tell our children to be careful when out and learn the green cross code or whatever it's called now but we then buy little Tim a bicycle and let him out on the road. Its madness !!

Obviously a constant problem, as I see little toddlers riding down penistone road all the time, not. :loopy:

Children are generally allowed to learn to ride on quiet side streets.
I wasn't allowed to the 'main road' until I was about 10, and the 'main road' is a single carriagway A road with a 30 limit on it.
I didn't ride on a road with a 60 limit until I was about 16.

the road system is funded for cars and lorries, almost exclusively. I haven't seen much evidence of the billions of pounds being spent on bicycle motorways, dual carriageways, roundabouts and resurfacing. Hilarious :hihi: :loopy:
Reading this thread just reminds me how seemingly perfectly normal people turn into to irate monsters the minute they get behind a wheel of a car, and passionately detesting every thing that might make your journey just half a minute longer..

yep, I drive to work and stop for every red light. When I cycle I treat every red light as 'proceed with caution'

the road system that we have in place needed to be of a certain quality and size to accomodate cars and lorries - they caused the roads to be this way. without 'proper' roads cyclists could still get by, but i wouldnt like to bet on 90% of cars making it cross country, day in day out!

therefore in my opinion the need for these roads only relates to cars/automated transport, and the taxation of these vehicles is justifiable -

but it is not justifiable to tax pedal-power in this way.

secondly, i ride a bicycle to work and consider myself a relatively safe and aware cyclist - occasionally, when it looks completely safe (i.e when no cars are lurking) i will jump red lights, or go up onto the pavement to get round a situation. I will use my judgement in these situations, and feel that it is acceptable to behave in this manner.

i have been a cyclist, off and on, for almost 2 decades, since i was a wee nipper.

i have never been knocked off.

car drivers, sat in thier 'metal coffins', waiting for the lights to change, are simply jealous of the freedom granted to a cyclist.

And before you accuse me of wearing sandals and having a beard check this out:

1. i hate sandals

2. i have shaved the beard off.

i like cars, and want to get one sorted out, but in the meantime, i may as well burn a few calories up, eh. And irritate some sweaty divs while im at it.

you should also wear a helmet, but otherwise i agree with you completely

Is there any other type of cyclists? :huh:

circus cyclist
nude cyclist

uni, bi, tri, quad...

....

circus cyclist
nude cyclist

uni, bi, tri, quad...

....


...but havent they all got pedals?

[QUOTE=johnbradley]
car drivers, sat in thier 'metal coffins', waiting for the lights to change, are simply jealous of the freedom granted to a cyclist.
[QUOTE]

same here.. I probably appear like a complete loony weaving between stationary rush-hour traffic down brocco bank, when the cars two-abreast down a single lane road (is that in the highway code??) are clogged up back to the botanical gardens.. but always being safe, never scraping any cars, only riding on the wrong side of the road when its clear, and stopping/going very slow on the pavement when meeting pedestians. I honestly don't see any problem in that..

Get over it, there's no reason for bike riders to have to pay tax, there's no need for insurance and they aren't freeloading. Plus, unless they are twelve, most of them have some form of motor transport and so are paying road tax.
That said, they should stop at red lights, it annoys the hell out of me when i see them sail blithely through. I never do that when i'm riding my bike.
There IS need for insurance because cyclists can and do cause accidents.
There IS need for tax because ALL road users use the road facilities - it's not just wear on the tarmac, but the cost of installing and maintaining all the controls and signs that the cyclists use as much as cars do.
I have to pay tax on 7 different bikes and cars - I can't ride or drive them all at the same time, and the Chancellor robs me blind, but I don['t think i can argue that I pay tax on one and therefore don't need to pay tax on the others.

It would be simply to introduce a simple, and cheap, combined bicycle tax and Government 3rd party insurance ticket annually from Post Offices - and probably cost a couple of tenners.

If it's being used on the road, it should contribute to the cost of the road. Otherwise, we could argue that cars and motorcycles that aren't driven often should be excused tax and insurance (like some of mine), or very small motorcycles shouldn't pay tax . . . it goes on.

There IS need for insurance because cyclists can and do cause accidents.
There IS need for tax because ALL road users use the road facilities - it's not just wear on the tarmac, but the cost of installing and maintaining all the controls and signs that the cyclists use as much as cars do.
I have to pay tax on 7 different bikes and cars - I can't ride or drive them all at the same time, and the Chancellor robs me blind, but I don['t think i can argue that I pay tax on one and therefore don't need to pay tax on the others.

It would be simply to introduce a simple, and cheap, combined bicycle tax and Government 3rd party insurance ticket annually from Post Offices - and probably cost a couple of tenners.

If it's being used on the road, it should contribute to the cost of the road. Otherwise, we could argue that cars and motorcycles that aren't driven often should be excused tax and insurance (like some of mine), or very small motorcycles shouldn't pay tax . . . it goes on.

bugger it destroy the roads and i'll still be happy on my bike, might have to ditch the racer but my mtb will do just fine. insurance for bikes is proberly a good idea but road tax is just a silly one

I have to pay tax on 7 different bikes and cars - I can't ride or drive them all at the same time,

I used to think road tax was an unfair flat rate tax before reading that post :)

Little Tim probably wouldn't live long enough to get nicked, another cycling topic that has not been addressed we tell our children to be careful when out and learn the green cross code or whatever it's called now but we then buy little Tim a bicycle and let him out on the road. Its madness !!

Your right, bring on the bubble wrap containment chambers, i agree it can be dangerous but come on cuts and scrapes are a part of being a kid, Nearly all of us had bikes as a kid.

Cant stand normans

same here.. I probably appear like a complete loony weaving between stationary rush-hour traffic down brocco bank, when the cars two-abreast down a single lane road (is that in the highway code??) are clogged up back to the botanical gardens..

I used to be like that - I'd ride like a complete idiot, ignoring red lights, crossings and junctions. I used to be able to cycle from Crosspool to the train station in 9 minutes and never gave a thought to the angry motiorists and pedestrians I left in my slipstream.

Then one day, while trying to overtake a car on Glossop Road (!) I hit a pedestrian, came off the bike, hit my head on the road and was knocked unconscious. Has there been a car coming the other way I'd almost certainly have been killed.

Although I still cycle, I'm now much more cautious. I always stop at red lights, keep off the pavement and when confronted by right turns or major roundabouts I'll get off and walk with the bike. These days, when I see a bike in traffic, I'm always struck by how vulnerable they look....

Boring... "you get out of my way", "no you get out of my way"...

Just one thing though, can people please learn once and for all that there is no such thing as "road tax". There is a "Vehicle Excise Duty" that you have to pay on motor vehicles, the money raised is not spent on roads, roads are paid for out of general taxation.

There is an excise duty on beer, wine and spirits also, none of the money raised as far as I know is spent on breweries.

bugger it destroy the roads and i'll still be happy on my bike, might have to ditch the racer but my mtb will do just fine. insurance for bikes is proberly a good idea but road tax is just a silly one

thats it, i dont cae for the roads, tear them up. You see barty, the roads are like that because the nature of automated transport REQUIRES IT.

my mountain bike doesnt require it, so why should i be held taxable for something i do not require?

thats it, i dont cae for the roads, tear them up. You see barty, the roads are like that because the nature of automated transport REQUIRES IT.

my mountain bike doesnt require it, so why should i be held taxable for something i do not require?
Clearly you shouldn't - if your mountain bike doesn't require roads, don't use them.
I think you'll probably find that people with other types of bicycle do need tarmac though.

We should be taxed not on what we require, but what we use.

what a joke - i cant believe people are suggesting bike tax, how impossible to enforce is that? right when the weight of a nation is rocketing and the atmosphere is being destroyed - good idea - lets have a bike tax too. i despair at you.

[Rant mode on]

I'm appalled at the arrogant behaviour of some of the cyclists here who think it's acceptable to jump red lights and cut onto the pavement all just to shave a few seconds off their journey. Why, for god's sake when you lambast motorists for doing the same? I'm also heartened by Basil's story although sorry he had to risk life and limb to gain enlightenment.

Cyclists: We all have to be whiter than white on this to avoid the silly calls for tax etc on bikes precisely because we are (almost) completely unregulated. We all also need to be paragons to be able to argue the case for more bike lanes, better planning for bike access, storage and safety in road planning. If a motorist in a car behaves appallingly towards you then report him or her. They have number plates on their cars, can be traced and held to account. It's actually quite easy to do if you don't mind spending the time giving a statement to PC Plod.

Conversely the freedom of having your own bike does come with responsibilities and you should ensure you abide by them - the Highway Code applies to you as well. It is not, and can never be, an acceptable excuse for your own shoddy behaviour to argue "well, motorists do this or that". If you can't grasp that then either get off your bike or go back to using training wheels on your bike again like when you were 4 so that when I cycle past you I know how much of an arrogant chain you really are.

Finally, why oh why do some fellow cyclists feel they have an automatic right of way over pedestrians? You don't. Live with it and be gracious about it or get off your bike.

[Rant mode off]

Feeling calmer now

CYCLISTS: They have no concept of space. They have no concept of time.

And to the thick, blind, stupid braindead student on Saturday who decided to cycle right up my tail pipe at the end Junction Road onto Hunters Bar Roundabout, and go flying into a very solid post with bent wheel hope the bruises are nice and big and purple!!! You will be pleased to know my bumper only suffered a slight indentation from your front wheel, but your bike is a write off. And next time, an apology will be in order and not " why did you stop so fast"....


.its because it was a junction onto the main roundabout you blind ****!!!!

[Rant mode on]

I'm appalled at the arrogant behaviour of some of the cyclists here who think it's acceptable to jump red lights and cut onto the pavement all just to shave a few seconds off their journey. Why, for god's sake when you lambast motorists for doing the same? I'm also heartened by Basil's story although sorry he had to risk life and limb to gain enlightenment.

Cyclists: We all have to be whiter than white on this to avoid the silly calls for tax etc on bikes precisely because we are (almost) completely unregulated. We all also need to be paragons to be able to argue the case for more bike lanes, better planning for bike access, storage and safety in road planning. If a motorist in a car behaves appallingly towards you then report him or her. They have number plates on their cars, can be traced and held to account. It's actually quite easy to do if you don't mind spending the time giving a statement to PC Plod.

Conversely the freedom of having your own bike does come with responsibilities and you should ensure you abide by them - the Highway Code applies to you as well. It is not, and can never be, an acceptable excuse for your own shoddy behaviour to argue "well, motorists do this or that". If you can't grasp that then either get off your bike or go back to using training wheels on your bike again like when you were 4 so that when I cycle past you I know how much of an arrogant chain you really are.

Finally, why oh why do some fellow cyclists feel they have an automatic right of way over pedestrians? You don't. Live with it and be gracious about it or get off your bike.

[Rant mode off]

Feeling calmer now

Excellent post, Weevil - I concur totally.

Doesn't it say ride in single file in The Highway Code? Or is that under Red Light in the "Ignore" section?

I know that really winds drivers up. Frequently in the countryside round sheffield there are long traffic jams caused by cyclists riding up hill 2 or 3 abeast preventing cars from overtaking. Since I am a cyclist and am actually considerate to other road users this annoys me even more because I suspect car drivers are more likely to hurl abuse at me (yes I have had abuse hurled at me, objects thrown out of windows towards me in sheffield) on a bike because of people like this causing problems for drivers.

So lets ban inconsiderate cyclists and bad drivers. Then we can all be happy :)

When I cycle I treat every red light as 'proceed with caution'

Don't expect any sympathy when you get squashed. Traffic lights are to be obeyed by all users. You're not doing yourself any favours with this kind of comment.


only riding on the wrong side of the road when its clear

Dangerous to other road users:rolleyes:


stopping/going very slow on the pavement when meeting pedestians.

Your not even supposed to be on the pavement on a cycle. Whatever happened to the cycling proficiency tests of days gone by....


I honestly don't see any problem in that..

May I suggest you ask a policeperson then, as they would be more than happy to educate you in the correct use of your cycle:P.


thats it, i dont cae for the roads

I'd suggest (if this is case) that you don't use them, but this would be pointless, as you've already admitted to riding on the pavement (both dangerous and stupid):(.

did anyone hear the radio 2 program either yesterday or day before aobut banning tractors from the roads? seems the debate is going that way. riding 2/3 abreast out in the peaks is silly and endagers you're self anyway

did anyone hear the radio 2 program either yesterday or day before aobut banning tractors from the roads? seems the debate is going that way. riding 2/3 abreast out in the peaks is silly and endagers you're self anyway

It certainly does not. Riding 2 abreast means that vehicles have to wait for a safe place to overtake rather than wizzing past millimetres from your elbow at 60 mph.

It certainly does not. Riding 2 abreast means that vehicles have to wait for a safe place to overtake rather than wizzing past millimetres from your elbow at 60 mph.
some cars will wizz past no matter how much room they have riding 2 abreast just makes it worse.
i cycle out along eccyroad south and ringinglow road often and always have cars passing me to closely, when i have cycled with friends and been 2 breast it's just been worse

Interesting statistic. What's your source for it?
its one i made up after driving into sheffield.
and seeing 49 out of 50 without a helmet
50 out of 50 with no lights attached to their cycles.
10 overtaking on the wrong side of the road after crossing solid white lines.
and amazingly at least 3 were speeding.

its one i made up after driving into sheffield.
and seeing 49 out of 50 without a helmet
50 out of 50 with no lights attached to their cycles.
10 overtaking on the wrong side of the road after crossing solid white lines.
and amazingly at least 3 were speeding.

Impressive! Hope your will writing is of a higher standard than your grasp of statistics!

How did you keep such an accurate tally of your sample quota whilst driving? Good example of driver multi-tasking! Was this at night? (otherwise the 50 with no lights weren't breaking any law).

dont need a grasp.
i made a clear statement. I MADE IT UP.
but based on item number 2 100% were breaking the law.this was on a journey from Glossop to Junction 31 vis the woodhead on saturday evening,i was driving with my lights on.

i'm even better at multitasking , i'm responding to this whilst driving an eating a sandwich.

Nobody seems to have mentioned the statistics of death and injury between motorists and cyclists. I strongly suspect their are a lot more dead cyclists than motorists, most of them caused, not by danferous riding , but by inattentive driving. Cycling is the last vestige of freedom left to the traveller. It is the responsibilty of the rider to keep it that way. Unfortunately some of us spoil it. But this argument for licensing and taxing cyclists is as old as the automobile and just as stupid. You owe your ability to drive and be flown to distant places to the humble bicycle. It remains the only vehicle capable of carrying someone five times what it weighs itself.

It remains the only vehicle capable of carrying someone five times what it weighs itself.

What about a spacehopper?

the road system that we have in place needed to be of a certain quality and size to accomodate cars and lorries - they caused the roads to be this way.
And they pay hansomly for it! you want to use these roads designed (and payed for) specifically for motor vehicles put your hand in your pocket and obey the rules you freeloading lycra wearing, beardy, oderous, oakly sunglasses.....aaaarrrrrrgggghhhh

I can't be bothered...

What about a spacehopper?

Or skateboards? Rollerboots?

Should we impose road tax on rollerboots?

And they pay hansomly for it! you want to use these roads designed (and payed for) specifically for motor vehicles put your hand in your pocket and obey the rules you freeloading lycra wearing, beardy, oderous, oakly sunglasses.....aaaarrrrrrgggghhhh

I think someone already pointed out that vehicle excise duty is not a road fund tax. The money is not spent on the roads, it's just a tax on the ownership of a motor vehicle.

. A bike skipping a red light endangers no one. Target your aggression wheres its worthwhile!


that i do disagree with. a cyclist running a red light wrote off my ford puma.
no insurance & no comeback.
the police even decided not to prosecute 'cos there was little they could do to him. he admitted it to them, then denied it when i contacted him.
then threatened me with harrassment when i demanded my excess costs repaying.

that i do disagree with. a cyclist running a red light wrote off my ford puma.
no insurance & no comeback.
the police even decided not to prosecute 'cos there was little they could do to him. he admitted it to them, then denied it when i contacted him.
then threatened me with harrassment when i demanded my excess costs repaying.

Sorry to hear about that, willman, but is a Ford Puma a particularly fragile car? No matter how big the cyclist or how fast he was going, I'm finding it hard to see how he could hit a car hard enough to write it off.

Did you consider the small claims court to try and recover your excess?

And they pay hansomly for it! you want to use these roads designed (and payed for) specifically for motor vehicles put your hand in your pocket and obey the rules you freeloading lycra wearing, beardy, oderous, oakly sunglasses.....aaaarrrrrrgggghhhh

Unfortunately, due to the selfishness of the people who pay (and not enough) for those roads, the quality of the air i breath is significantly reduced. I enjoy free use of the roads as a result of not contributing to this.

he came through a red light str8 into the front.
hit the bumper went for a wander up the bonnet, put the bike through the windscreen on the way to landing on the roof and denting that.
the damage outweighed the cost of repair.
1 x t reg ford puma cost £3800 , i had it 2 weeks and got paid out £3600, plus loss of no claims & excess.

he came through a red light str8 into the front.
hit the bumper went for a wander up the bonnet, put the bike through the windscreen on the way to landing on the roof and denting that.
the damage outweighed the cost of repair.
1 x t reg ford puma cost £3800 , i had it 2 weeks and got paid out £3600, plus loss of no claims & excess.

Strewth! He must have been a big booger! Not to mention very sore afterwards!

A bike skipping a red light endangers no one

Tell that to the cyclist the wrote off willmans Puma!

When I was at school a friend did something similar - and went in through the windscreen of an XJ6.

He then got out of the rear door, dusted himself off and attended to the woman driver who was shocked rigid.

Needless to say, her insurance suffered.

bearing in mind the gridlock state of sheffield roads and the fact it is getting worse not better do you not feel it is better to have people traveling to work/school/college by bike where they take up less space and clog up the roads far less than cars do? I know i do infact I think we should be encuraging them.