Could we genuinely put a stop to this?

[Matthew_T]

From all of the near misses and "Get on the left" comments from motorists, is there any genuine way to put a stop to this?

Maybe introduce more vigorous training for drivers including lots of information on cycles? Make a government pledge to retest every driver?

Why is nothing trying to be done to stop this? Shouldnt it be the forefront of the governments concerns, to stop accidents involving cyclists? It isnt a matter of ignorance or impatience, just misunderstanding.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

The problem is that you are arguing a rational point of view in relation to a political system. The bottom line here is that supporting cyclists is not a vote winner, whilst criticizing or attacking the perceived rights of motorists is a vote loser. (IMHO, of course.)

 

[smokeysmoo]

 

[derrick]

The goverment could but they can't be bothered.

 

[MrJamie]

More people cycling should help with things like this, more awareness and more people having friends/family who cycle. I've even had the odd person I know mention that they're more careful with cyclists since I took up cycling, as if cyclists arent just random strangers anymore.

 

[slowmotion]

I have ridden in London for only four years and I don't frequent the busy routes into the City, where things may be different. I have been enormously impressed by the consideration shown by almost all other road users (except other cyclists, sadly). Of course you get the odd close pass, but naked aggression is extremely rare, in my experience.
It might be helpful to educate motorists about why cyclists ride away from parked cars, and seem to block lanes when coming to a gap, but that might be done by a few public education films etc. Maybe I have just been fortunate.

 

[Kies]

I commute a fair bit in and around London .... a few close passes, from drivers that have not been paying attention, or thinking about something else, but as above, I cannot remember a time when a driver has shown or said anything to me

 

[Boris Bajic]

I've been cycling in cities, the suburbs and the countryside for over forty years and have had few run-ins with motorists.

I've been driving for well over thirty years and cannot recall a run-in with a cyclist.

Of the rare untoward experiences I've had as a road user, as many have been down to me as have been down to others.

I am not the exception. There is no crisis.

Alternatively... I think the best step this (or any) government could take would be to encourage all cyclists at once to become helmet-camera vigilante paramilitaries and yell advice or instructions to passing motorists who exceed the speed limit by more than 3 mph, cut a corner or spin their wheels away from a junction. Airzounds and/or a Youtube channel may help here.

This would quickly result in a road environment where everyone loved everyone else even more than they do currently and nobody lost their temper.

Then I think we should send freight rockets to farm the cheese on the moon and teach dogs to work as lumberjacks.