I don't know whether any of you saw the programme last night regarding cycling on Britain's roads. Cycling has now taken over from angling and running as the activity with the most participants. As a keen cyclist, off road mainly but a short trip to work each day, and remembering how cycling was reasonably well received and encouraged in Norwich, I was wondering how you guys view cyclists, and conversely drivers, in general.
Well, It largely depends on your perspective I suppose. I saw some appauling behaviour on that documentary lastnight from drivers and cyclists. I personally think it can be hard to spot a cyclist if he/she is travelling at speed in your blind spot, that's not to say it's ok to just say "oh well" and move on. That guy who goes around filming people whilst on his bike is a nut case and one day he will get filled in or worse. The cyclists at the end were shocking and action needs to be taken to prevent that however I am not sure how? Maybe make them register their bikes like cars and sport a number plate etc, this way the things they do are traceable and this would stop the reckless nature of the riding. Vehicle user's on the other hand are a tougher nut to crack, it's so easy to not see cyclists if they are travelling at speed and I'm not sure how you would go about rectifying this. The proximity sensors seem like a good idea on HGV's but I'm not sure that the technology could be transposed to cars and then there is the cost involved. There is no summary really, as long as you have cyclists and cars etc mixing on the busy roads they will come together and people will get hurt. I think registering the bikes would help though, this would cut down on the stupid behaviour at the end of that documentary.
i saw it, some shocking behaviour by both sides. what is it with some drivers who get behind the wheel and get incredible aggresive. do you not think though that most of the footage was on London's streets? bit of a timebomb really for the goverment in terms of improving road safety with more cars on the roads each year.
Road safety figures, for cars, has never been better. But for cyclists and motor cyclists it is worse than ever.
Cycles are a bloody nightmare in Cambridge. They think they rule the road and the pavements I've seen plenty of collisions with pedestrians, but, fortunately, I haven't seen any with cars. It constantly annoys me how cyclists go charging down pavements expecting the pedestrians to move out of the way. The cyclists are also almost always going through red lights. So despite all the efforts to make Cambridge a cycle friendly city where cars and cyclists get on there are still big problems.
Like I said as long as you have busy roads, pedestrians and people travelling at speed cutting in and out of traffic and undertaking this will happen, people will get hurt and worse. I used to live in Essex and a friend of mine hit a cyclist that had tried to cross a junction without stopping. The cyclist survived but was badly injured and suffered life changing injuries. This still effects my friend 10 years later he struggles with guilty feelings and remorse for what happened and it wasn't even his fault. That's not right.
Sorry Redruth but to me cyclists are a bloody nuisance. I live in the country and the main road to Norwich is busy, fairly narrow and full of bends - get behind a cyclist and you crawl along for ages with a growing queue of traffic behind you - how much petrol does that waste? Cyclists might save fuel but how much fuel is wasted behind them? Green - my arse!!! As well as the points already made what about the cycle lanes? Constructed at huge expense and what happens? Go along Bluebell Road and you get stuck behind a cyclist refusing to use the cycle lane and then you get to a pedestrian crossing and the lights change to red to let across a cyclist using pavements as a shortcut!! Been to the Green Republic of Brighton lately? Cycles and cyclists rule ok!! Walk on the pavement and you get flattened by a cycle. The bit I was visiting had a cycle lane on the the promenade and another one on the pavement running alongside the promenade. What with cycle lanes, bus lanes, horse and cart lanes and lanes for old ladies riding elephants there was no room for cars!!! Ban cycles and let cyclists use buses if they don't want to use cars - rant over!!
redruth, you neatly side-stepped the point of the post there! I have to say, I'm with midway on this one!
I have to say, I lived in london and drove to work and HATED cyclists, I thought they were the devil incarnate and came close to killing at least 2 a day on a daily basis. That said I own a bike. A bit of an old school racer that I am using as a project and regularly cycle around as it's an easier way to get around the town (Leicester) even in this dreadful weather, I appreciate every driver's frustrations with cyclists and often pull over (similar to how I did when I used to drive about in a tractor back home! fitting in with the tractor boy stereotype) just to allow the build up of traffic to pass But there are some morons on the road, particularly those cyclists who don't ride particularly fast, but insist on riding on busy roads, also I don't think pavements are the place for bikes and every city or even borough has different problems with traffic so what is a major problem in Thorpe may not even be an issue in Old Catton so it really is dependent on who and where..
When I was a lad the village copper used to give people grief for riding a cycle on the pavement, or cycling after dark with no lights. Walking doen Prince of wales rd from Tombland to the Rail station yesterday, I nearly got hit three (3) times by cyclists with no lights, all of whom were riding on the pavement. What ****s me off most is that they looked at ME as if I had no right to be in their way
love cycling but its too dangerous on the lanes around me just not enough room, so its the excercise bike in the conservatory watching life in the garden with headphones on! warm, safe, enjoyable and fit
Cyclists on the pavement really annoy me! It's illegal and they get in the way and they think they own the pavement! Use the bloody road! When I was in America, on the odd occasion there was not an obese American, they were on the the sidewalk in the way! It's not illegal there as well! I remember on Brooklyn bridge in New York where the bridge is split in half between cyclists and pedestrians. When I briefly walked round some slow pedestrians onto the cyclist part of the bridge I got yelled at by a cyclist despite it being clear I was walking around some people! Nice!
i'm not excusing reckless cycling, but maybe the reason you get cyclists on pavements is because the roads are too fecking dangerous and there aren't enough safe cycle lanes (the ones just marked out on the edge of the roads are not really safe)?? in belgium and holland there is often a grass verge or similar seperating a road and a cycle path
And what joy it is to cycle under those conditions. The verge/hedge is far enough away to keep a great deal of the noise and fumes to a minimum, and you can stop and look around at the scenery without risking anyone's life and limb Any idea why there's always a strong head wind wherever you cycle in Holland?
Having lived in Cambridge for over 20 years I don't have any problems with cyclists apart from the foreign students who flocked to the City every summer! Riding more than 2 a breast around the centre and if any one knows Mill Road it is an absolute bloody nightmare. I have seen a few near misses and a fatal accident due to cyclist error. Cyclists have every right to use the public highways and car drivers should be a little more patient and understanding of them.
Here in North Carolina cycling on the roads is a rarity, and normally reserved for very serious cyclists. There are no roadside cycle paths, and generally few pavements (sidewalks) outside of housing estates. The absence of payments and roadside cycle paths is really poor because its not practical for kids to cycle to school even if its less than a mile (no wonder the obesity rate is so high). Hence we have loads of school buses clogging up the roads, slowing down traffic, and even more kids in cars on the school run, or kids driving themselves to school (scary). We do however have lots of Greenways (cycling and walking routes between urban areas) which some families (mine included) use for recreational purposes. So overall, its better to have cycling (to work or school) than not. If they can put a two lane highway everywhere, why not tack on a cycle path. You either get slowed down by the cyclists or the school buses or school run mayhem, so get over it.
I just love Mill Road! The Bohemian heart of Cambridge It has some brilliant pubs and it is soooo chilled out! Great parties great times and one of the best places to be in Cambridge.
