Cyclist vs Motorbike...... court case - interesting read

[oldmotherfoccer]

well, headphones have always been a danger

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Careless-cyclist-fined-in-rare-prosecution-17102011.htm

[Farjo]

“The cyclist was wearing iPod speakers which we think had a big part to play in the accident as he would not have been able to hear the traffic."

So does that mean that deaf people should not cycle?

The ipod is just the angle the journo has used to make the story more interesting and the real detail is:
“Without warning and without looking the cyclist then turned right into the path of the motorcyclist, colliding and causing them to lose control and be unseated from his machine. The witness suffered a broken collar bone which was broken in two places.”

i.e. the cyclist rode into the path of the motorcyclist without looking or indicating and was therefore guilty (which is not as interesting).

[Fazerider]

So does that mean that deaf people should not cycle?

The deaf are used to not being able to hear so will be much more inclined to look before manoeuvring rather than relying on auditory cues.

[bikerboys]

Just thought I'd highlight this part. "This is a rare charge. I have been in the police force for eight years and never come across it before". 
 
There are crap road users of every category, including us motorcyclists. Can any of honestly say they've not seen some REALLY poor riding by some motorcyclists, car drivers, lorry drivers ... etc.? 
 
This is a pet hate of mine, red lights, junctions, even level crossings. None of these are seen as applicable to cyclists. Yes, without doubt there are stupid car / bike riders out there. But it's the attitude of cyclists that annoys me the most. The "I'm on a pushbike so I can do what the f** I like" mentality. Really gets my goat.

[eddie]

 dont feed the trolls.........

[bikerboys]

not been one m8 ?

or trying to be one

 

[oldmotherfoccer]

Oi eddie, who you calling a troll - hoover face

[Grahamm]

well, headphones have always been a danger

I'm sorry, but what does this have to do with headphones? The cyclist made a manoeuvre without looking or indicating and it doesn't make a difference if he had headphones on or not, it was still bloody stupid.

[eddie]

oops 

[thecert]

They - jump red lights, ride on main roads in the dark without a rear light, ride side by side on narrow roads dangerously and without regard for other road users, disregard motorist's signals, put on the lycra and think they are pro,s and that is the better one's. Come on Goldfazer let's have your reaction to this one. lol.   joking aside unfortunatly there is a minority that fit this bill and as usual make it look bad for the rest of experienced cyclist's.
 

[Slaninar]

Just thought I'd highlight this part. "This is a rare charge. I have been in the police force for eight years and never come across it before". 
 
There are crap road users of every category, including us motorcyclists. Can any of honestly say they've not seen some REALLY poor riding by some motorcyclists, car drivers, lorry drivers ... etc.? 
 
This is a pet hate of mine, red lights, junctions, even level crossings. None of these are seen as applicable to cyclists. Yes, without doubt there are stupid car / bike riders out there. But it's the attitude of cyclists that annoys me the most. The "I'm on a pushbike so I can do what the f** I like" mentality. Really gets my goat.

This is exactly why I love cycling and do 90% of all commuting, even some traveling on a bicycle. I can do whatever I like, it is my ass on the line most of the time. Don't know about you, but I feel stupid sitting on a red light on a sunday morning when there is NO TRAFFIC. In a car, or even a motorcycle, I'd get caught by the bigBrother traffic camera, but on a bicycle I can just ride on!    Filtering, riding wrong way of one way streets, using sidewalk when appropriate, all sorts of shortcuts. It is just fun. Been hit 3 times buy a car so far, all three times when crossing on a green light with right of way (good old SMIDSY).

[phil on a fazer]

This is exactly why I love cycling and do 90% of all commuting, even some traveling on a bicycle. I can do whatever I like, it is my ass on the line most of the time. Don't know about you, but I feel stupid sitting on a red light on a sunday morning when there is NO TRAFFIC. In a car, or even a motorcycle, I'd get caught by the bigBrother traffic camera, but on a bicycle I can just ride on!    Filtering, riding wrong way of one way streets, using sidewalk when appropriate, all sorts of shortcuts. It is just fun. Been hit 3 times buy a car so far, all three times when crossing on a green light with right of way (good old SMIDSY).

 
yep...I'm the same  . Thing is though i don't pose a danger to no one...yes i use the path but only when safe to do so. Yes i jump a red light if its a tiny little junction with good visibility. (once you get going on a bike the last thing you want to do is stop)
 
Thing is the view people have of cyclists is the same view people have about motorbikes....."always bloomin riding down the middle, speeding, overtaking blah blah"....at work practically every one reckons motorbikes are bad/ dangerous.....its because they don't understand.

[Robbie8666]

The cyclist was lucky it was a motorbike not a car or van!
 
 

[goldfazer]

Oh go on then Bert - I have music in me ears when riding alone. At a 'sensible' volume. And guess what - I can hear more than without, as the 'plugin' earphones stop the wind noise which as motorcyclists we all know can be quite loud.

And I can certainly hear more than when I'm in me nice soundproofed Saab

Now if I spent 5k on a car stero and turned it up, would I hear a car, or even an ambulance' siren....

So not as obviously bad as you might think. He just didn't look.

[phil on a fazer]

And I can certainly hear more than when I'm in me nice soundproofed Saab

Now if I spent 5k on a car stero and turned it up, would I hear a car, or even an ambulance' siren....

So not as obviously bad as you might think. He just didn't look.

Bang on mate...totally agree. Its amazing how many car drivers at work all tell me off for having music on when cycling. I normally respond with "so, your saying deaf people should never leave the house then if hearing is everything.?!"

[Slaninar]

Bang on mate...totally agree. Its amazing how many car drivers at work all tell me off for having music on when cycling. I normally respond with "so, your saying deaf people should never leave the house then if hearing is everything.?!"

Can't agree with you completely. Deaf people are used to being deaf. Other senses become more sensitive when you loose one. If you aren't (used to being) deaf, then loosing hearing while cycling is not very cautious.

I like listening to music when cycling, but do so in places where there is no car traffic and no birds singing. Even then I don't think it is very smart and try not to do it (loud punk rock or forrest sounds does it for me).

[Skinbeatersam]

I kind of thing if you have all your senses working fine, you should use them to your full potential. I listen to music in the car, cos lets face it, I'm hardly vulnerable in a vehicle with an NCAP 5 rating, and, living in London, I spend most of the time 'parked' in the middle of the road, between 75,000 sets of temporary traffic lights.

On me motorbike and bicycle, I really like to be as alert as possible, and if hearing what is going on around me makes me safer and less likely to die, then great.

However, it is also down to personal choice. If you decide to listen to music, then your riding/cycling should be adjusted accordingly.

OH, and if I had my collarbone broken then I would be livid at having to miss months of work and thousands of pounds worth of income to only be compensated £515 (probably less)

 

[Grahamm]

I like listening to music when cycling, but do so in places where there is no car traffic

Many years ago I used to deliver newspapers and would listen to a personal stereo whilst doing so. I'd keep the volume at a level above the ambient background noise of traffic etc, but not so loud that I couldn't hear the sound of a car door opening ahead of me in time to avoid it.

[Farjo]

I cycled 30 miles a day through London for 6 years, always wearing earphones listening to the radio. The only accidents I had was a car driver pulling out of a side turn and clonking me and my hitting a pothole and coming off. Other than that were the daily pain of car drivers not noticing me, noticing me but mistakenly thinking they could make the gap, noticing me but not giving a shit, none of which were affected by my phones and entirely affected by bad driving.

[Chillum]

Just like to point out that not being able to hear is different to listening to something to the exclusion of all other things. It's distracting, whether in a car or on a bike. Low volume levels are just less distracting.

Just sayin'.

[Sunny Intervals]

Isn't one of the big selling points of cars the sound proofing and the low road noise levels in the cabin 

[edc]

I live in Cambridge.  And I can safely say that cyclists here are a f*cking nightmare!

Th combination of students, alcohol and a total disregard for the law are a fantastic combination!

[pitternator]

I have felt for some time now that as traffic gets heavier, cars faster , drivers less and less able, patient or caring ...that to cycle on any road  is highly risky. When you add in the "typical" cyclist mentality ( as amply illustrated by those here), of not giving a damn so long as they can keep going ...its no wonder there are accidents. I dont think any other road user  has such an arrogant single minded pomposity as the cyclist...spitting venom at all who offer any opinion ....
 
as a child we all took cycling proficiency tests, which may sound a bit parochial now, at least was some education on  how to be a responsible road user...I laugh at the notion that somehow being a cyclist is to be an outlaw, above all road regulations....then complain bitterly at how bad they get treated by other road users.

[Andy Clap]

ride on main roads in the dark without a rear light

I saw two a few weeks ago riding in the dark, twisty country road, no lights at all, dark clothes.... AND WEARING FOC'ING SUNGLASSES!!!  Luckily they were coming the other way.  Maybe the sunglasses meant they didn't know it had gone dark?  Or maybe they were just thick.

[Slaninar]

I dont think any other road user  has such an arrogant single minded pomposity as the cyclist...