CS3 & The Dreaded Hire bikes

[The Horse's Mouth]

Last night whilst using CS3 along Cable Street for my commute home I overtook 3 barclay hire bikes. When I got to the Mermaid & Dolphin pub lights, I waited behind a long queue of traffic only to watch all 3 bikes go past the queue and then through the red light.

Once the lights when green I re overtook one of the bikes within a number of yards,as did most of the rest of the queue (they were going that slow). The other two bikes I had caught by Shadwell station only to see both of them go through a zebra crossing narrowing missing a child in a pram.

Is it me but are the average users of these bikes all terrible or do people suddenly feel they are allowed to go through lights and jump queues because they are riding them.

Finally, I know these bikes have numbers. Can the rider be traced by the number on the bike? Just wondering so if this person had hit the pram and cycled off.

 

[wiggydiggy]

..........
Finally, I know these bikes have numbers. Can the rider be traced by the number on the bike? Just wondering so if this person had hit the pram and cycled off.

I think so? Last time I used them I paid by debit card and then had to enter the unique number I was given on a bike.

 

[musa]

Barclays bike are for anyone. Surprised that a majority have not had accidents. Many seem unaware it's more a fun aspect

 

[The Horse's Mouth]

Dont want to sound like a killjoy. I love seeing more people on bikes, it just seems very few of them know the rules of the road.

Also I know some people who ride normal bikes cant ride properly either.

 

[BentMikey]

I love 'em. The worse they ride the better they train drivers to give us all the time and space that they should be doing anyway.

 

[ianrauk]

I love 'em. The worse they ride the better they train drivers to give us all the time and space that they should be doing anyway.

Indeed....

 

[snorri]

Is it me but are the average users of these bikes all terrible or do people suddenly feel they are allowed to go through lights and jump queues because they are riding them..

Yes, I think it's you. As an occasional visitor to the capital I have not noticed any pattern developing regarding observation of the law by those on hire bikes and other cyclists.

 

[freewheelwilly]

Sundays are the worst when the commuter rider is replaced by the leisure cyclist in swathes as they pootle around London. The sheer look of joy and realization that they are cycling around the city, taking in the sites, parks and canals is indeed a great thing. Watching them tackle traffic, junctions, pavements and pedestrians leaves me cringing. Especially when i hear a rider scream 'this is scary' as they weave in and out of pedestrians at break neck boris bike speed on the canal tow path.

 

[The Horse's Mouth]

I love 'em. The worse they ride the better they train drivers to give us all the time and space that they should be doing anyway.

So are you comparing these people to cannon fodder? Or am i just reading too much into your comment.

 

[defy-one]

I see lots of "suits" riding them into the city. Usually looking at there phone or being on the phone. I do cringe that they appear so relaxed about there safety.
On Friday i saw a leisure user simply turn onto the road,it was only the vision and the anticipation of the BMW next to me that a rta did not occur

 

[freewheelwilly]

I see lots of "suits" riding them into the city. Usually looking at there phone or being on the phone. I do cringe that they appear so relaxed about there safety.
On Friday i saw a leisure user simply turn onto the road,it was only the vision and the anticipation of the BMW next to me that a rta did not occur

Indeed, its like watching people who are on a death wish. The other day i was in the car when a young lady, earphones on, just decided that she wanted to change lanes right in front of me. No look, no signal she just sailed out without a care in the world. Fortunatley i knew she was about to do something stupid soon or later so i pretty much anticipated her actions but i was still left staggered by it. I felt like winding my car window down and shouting at her but thought it would make me look like a typical bloody car driver

 

[Gretzky's Office]

Doesn't all this just prove how safe cycling is? If there are lots of examples of this and still no-one has been killed and very few have been seriously injured on a BB that's good isn't it?

 

[The Horse's Mouth]

Doesn't all this just prove how safe cycling is? If there are lots of examples of this and still no-one has been killed and very few have been seriously injured on a BB that's good isn't it?

I suppose there is some logic there.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Don't really mind the Boris Bikers that much.

 

[freewheelwilly]

Doesn't all this just prove how safe cycling is? If there are lots of examples of this and still no-one has been killed and very few have been seriously injured on a BB that's good isn't it?

It does, but for the life of me I dont know how. And this is not just confined to BB there are plenty of folk out there that have not a clue about what is going on around them or have scant regard for anyone else that they are sharing the road with. When i see or read about accidents with cyclists i immediately think of these type of riders.