Wiggo Militant

[steeeve66]

I've noticed a new breed of cycliste on the mean streets of Sarf Larndn (well, the South Circular at least) - Sky liveried, lycra clad, flash carbon racing bike heading down the 'filtering' gap in the middle of the road rather than on the left - and appearing to think they have priority even if straying on to the other side. Aggressive buggers too... Anyone else noticed them?

[fireblake]

I've not seen these idiots but I drive a truck and regularly have to overtake cyclists who then pull past at lights. Some of them are totally insane.  I know a few truckers who have had accidents with cyclists and not one of the cyclists survived and not one of the trucks was damaged. This is what I tell them when they squeeze by.

Mickey.

[Exupnut]

Not sure bout cyclists as most of em r mad in the smoke but I have seen a nutter on a cb500 thinks he owns the foccin road. I keep hearin this funny noise when i pass..... Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[steeeve66]

Not sure bout cyclists as most of em r mad in the smoke but I have seen a nutter on a cb500 thinks he owns the foccin road. I keep hearin this funny noise when i pass..... Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

..pretty sure he only owns the road when he's on his KTM - which you CAN'T have a go on!

[Farjo]

I used to cycle down the middle through New Cross. Used to piss me off when the motorbikes got stuck in my way and wouldn't let me past.

London cyclists are mad because London drivers are such cunts only the mad would cycle.

What London needs are segregated cycle lanes because the current situation, where motorists effectively say "get out of my way or I'll main you" is putting off 'normal' people from cycling.

[alan sherman]

You probably think I'm one of them!  I filter at about the same speed on a bicycle or motorbike (in all honestly I probably go a little too quick on the motorbike).  The bicycle can get through smaller gaps.  The motorbike has a higher top speed and acceleration from about 10 mph.  Playing chicken with oncoming traffic is foolish though.

For my commute the travel time is the same for both.  45 minute journey. 35 minutes moving. 10 minutes sat at red lights or in traffic.  The bicycle needs another 20 minutes to have a shower though!

[Slaninar]

You probably think I'm one of them!  I filter at about the same speed on a bicycle or motorbike (in all honestly I probably go a little too quick on the motorbike).  The bicycle can get through smaller gaps.  The motorbike has a higher top speed and acceleration from about 10 mph.  Playing chicken with oncoming traffic is foolish though.

For my commute the travel time is the same for both.  45 minute journey. 35 minutes moving. 10 minutes sat at red lights or in traffic.  The bicycle needs another 20 minutes to have a shower though!

+1

Prefer bicycle for city traffic. Shortcuts, runing red lights without worry, filtering along sidewalk as well as between cars (whichever is safer at certain situation) - quickest vehicle for rush hour.


Hit by cars 4 times so far - always when using separate bicyle lanes. So guess I'm safer on the road. Though when I do get hit on the road, it will probably be dead/crippled, but I somehow feel safer in places without separate bicycle lanes. Cars don't expect bicycles in those lanes in my city. 

[VNA - BMW Wank]

When I cycled I always filtered down the middle on the right, never on the left.

Filter down the left, and eventually you'll get squashed.

[steeeve66]

Maybe it's me then. I cycled the whole time I lived near Waterloo (12 years), as has been said here already, it's the best way to get around town (so long as there's a shower at the other end). But I rarely hurtled down the middle - preferring to filter down the left and take care at junctions. Disagree that down the middle is safer, just my opinion tho..

[chris.biker]

When I cycled I always filtered down the middle on the right, never on the left.

Filter down the left, and eventually you'll get squashed.

I agree with you.

[lew600fazer]

Were I live in Spain cyclists are a fecking nuisance they ride four abreast at times and think they are untouchable. The thing that really pisses me of about cyclists is they think a red light does not apply to them.
Also how many of them carry any kind of insurance, my mate got knocked of his bike , that Honda jazz engine thing 700 SC is it, £1900 damage plus he had to miss two days work. Cyclists fault he cut between two cars, sorry mate did not see you. Was advised if he took him to court he would win his case but to actually get anything out of the cyclist would prove to be very difficult.
Really is time they were forced to carry insurance and it should be like a tax disc , clearly displayed.

[midden]

Don't get me started

[midden]

What London needs are segregated cycle lanes because the current situation, where motorists effectively say "get out of my way or I'll main you" is putting off 'normal' people from cycling.

What's the point they don't tend to stay in the lanes they have now. I think soon pedestrians will be calling for segregated lanes.


This isn't me getting started either 

[Slaninar]

Were I live in Spain cyclists are a fecking nuisance they ride four abreast at times and think they are untouchable. The thing that really pisses me of about cyclists is they think a red light does not apply to them.

You are just envious. 

I make sure not to put other people in danger: when running red lights, I make absolutely sure no one is coming, so no one has to brake hard or even get excited about avoiding me. Doing it that way - no harm done.

Also how many of them carry any kind of insurance, my mate got knocked of his bike , that Honda jazz engine thing 700 SC is it, £1900 damage plus he had to miss two days work. Cyclists fault he cut between two cars, sorry mate did not see you. Was advised if he took him to court he would win his case but to actually get anything out of the cyclist would prove to be very difficult.
Really is time they were forced to carry insurance and it should be like a tax disc , clearly displayed.

Yup, I once hit a truck - put my arm to cushion the blow and this happened:



Still paying damages - 10c of every post I make on bike forums goes to the poor lady driving the truck.


Apart from that - bicycle is cheap, free almost and should remain such.

[midden]

Yes it should remain free for sensible and considerate people.  But unfortunately cycling isn't free from idiots and while the same can be said for cars and motorbikes the users of these vehicles are policed whereas it would seem the cyclist is being allowed to run amoc on the pavements off the pavements through redlights,  have no lights, pathetic lights, red on the front red on the back and or pointless and in most cases offensive and illegal flashing  lights. Some tests even only have lights on their helmets. 

There should be an aptitude test for people wishing to use a bike.

[midden]

Oh and there's the adult cyclist too scared to ride on the road or even a decent width cycle lane yet is happy to cycle on pavement no handed at speed while using mobile phone.

[Slaninar]

Yes it should remain free for sensible and considerate people. 

Most people where I live consider motorcyclists as rude and inconsiderate.

Most non-drivers consider all drivers rude and inconsiderate.

Most drivers consider pedestrians, bikers and cyclists to be rude and inconsiderate.

Most cyclists consider car drivers and bikers, as well as pedestrians taking bicycle lanes to be rude and inconsiderate.



The only person I put in danger when riding motorcycle, and definitely when riding bicycle is ME. If anything happens - no one else cares, so I see no point in being fined for not obaying the rules, when I will be the only one paying for the damages (in both finantial, moral terms and with my life).

When on a bicycle:

right of way sign = give way sign
give way sign = what it says
stop sign = give way sign

red light = stop sign (or a give way, depends)
green light = give way sign


That's the way it is. I don't like being hit and run of the road by bastards, but I like being allowed to not wait at the lights when I don't have to. Take a little bad with the good.

[midden]

Being a car driver, biker, cyclist and pedestrian I must be really confused. 
I see and in part agree with the point to not waiting at red lights when all is clear. Trouble is cyclists seem not see those  obstructions known as  as pedestrians. Also the theory may be ok when only practiced by the few, what will happen when all other road users adopt the same practice. 
I often consider what the cyclist speeding toward me would say if I suddenly mounted  the same pedestrian pavement

[VNA - BMW Wank]

Most people where I live consider motorcyclists as rude and inconsiderate.

Most non-drivers consider all drivers rude and inconsiderate.

Most drivers consider pedestrians, bikers and cyclists to be rude and inconsiderate.

Most cyclists consider car drivers and bikers, as well as pedestrians taking bicycle lanes to be rude and inconsiderate.

That about sums it up Slaninar.

A lot of it is envy, just as the car driver gets hot behind the collar with envy as he or she sees motorcyclists passing queues of traffic, nipping in and out of bus lanes etc, then in turn the motorcyclists, or the silly ones, get hot behind the collar with envy when stuck in tight traffic as they see cyclists squeeze through tiny gaps, bumping up on the pavement or jumping the odd red light to make progress.  Jealousy, pure and simple.

As for insurance and tax etc, don't be so silly.  And of course going into winter it probably won't be long before the same numpties start calling start calling for hill walkers and climbers to have insurance.  Oh what's the other dumb one, stop people from heading to the hills in winter.  I mean stop folks from going for a walk?

Cycling is also free, it's healthy, it does not pollute and is to be encouraged.  No tax, no insurance, no license no helmets and the freedom to roam - protect it.

[midden]

I'll remember to thank the cyclist next time one brushes against me when stepping out of my house on to pavement or nearly knocks me down at full pelt in a pedestrian only shopping centre

Though in fairness most including myself aren't against cyclists but the arseholes who rest on bicycles


 

[Exupnut]

Cycling is also free, it's healthy, it does not pollute and is to be encouraged.  No tax, no insurance, no license no helmets and the freedom to roam - protect it.

It's not free cos u gotta flippin buy one first then pay the repairs for all the idiotic off's u have and when it's nicked. It aint healthy bein squashed by a foccin lorry ridin as if ur eyes are shut or bein punched for doin a shit move. No tax (ya got me there) no insurance.. There foccin will be I'm sure. No licence .. Un enforceable Grrrrrrrr. Freedom to roam when goin thru foccin reds and on the pavements... Yeah right!  Protect it?  GET OF MY FUKIN ROAD is most motorist's opinion in london of pushbikes in out capital at the mo because u have a much greater percentage  of cunts givin u all a bad name by the way they ride.

[goldfazer]

Most people where I live consider motorcyclists as rude and inconsiderate.

Most non-drivers consider all drivers rude and inconsiderate.

Most drivers consider pedestrians, bikers and cyclists to be rude and inconsiderate.

Most cyclists consider car drivers and bikers, as well as pedestrians taking bicycle lanes to be rude and inconsiderate.

That about sums it up Slaninar.

A lot of it is envy, just as the car driver gets hot behind the collar with envy as he or she sees motorcyclists passing queues of traffic, nipping in and out of bus lanes etc, then in turn the motorcyclists, or the silly ones, get hot behind the collar with envy when stuck in tight traffic as they see cyclists squeeze through tiny gaps, bumping up on the pavement or jumping the odd red light to make progress.  Jealousy, pure and simple.

As for insurance and tax etc, don't be so silly.  And of course going into winter it probably won't be long before the same numpties start calling start calling for hill walkers and climbers to have insurance.  Oh what's the other dumb one, stop people from heading to the hills in winter.  I mean stop folks from going for a walk?

Cycling is also free, it's healthy, it does not pollute and is to be encouraged.  No tax, no insurance, no license no helmets and the freedom to roam - protect it.

Shit. I agree with VNA.

I'm off for a lie down....

[Slaninar]

Also the theory may be ok when only practiced by the few, what will happen when all other road users adopt the same practice. 

Belgrade traffic. 

Cyclists pay the ultimate price for mistakes. Just like motorcyclists. I've been hit 4 times by cars, but never when running red lights - just when going through green light, expecting the slowing down cars are in fact stopping (for their red) - WRONG!     


This is FUN, Charlie:     

NYC Bike Messenger Drag Race

[Farjo]

"Mayor unveils cycling future"

From: http://www.itv.com/news/london/story/2013-11-06/mayor-unveils-cycling-future/

Other images of segregated routes:


"What's the point they don't tend to stay in the lanes they have now." - that's because they're rubbish! They have no legal standing, give the cyclist an impression of priority where there is none, and if followed will often place cyclists in the path of danger. This is from a coroner investigating a recent cyclist's death.

In central London there has been a crackdown on red light jumping, and even so how many drivers drive above the speed limit? And which is more dangerous to innocent third parties?

[Slaninar]

That's the way you do it:

Junction design the Dutch - cycle friendly - way