Cyclists - worst behaved and most hated of all road users

[gambatte]

No, just consider what you think is an insult:
link

 

[mickle]

A

Looks like I rustled some jimmies.

Do you know anyone with Down's brainiac?

 

[gambatte]

Last nights run. I saw plenty of bikes. I went out at about 6:15, so it was already dark. Over the next hour and a half I probably saw about 30. There were a couple on the road, although one had a front light so weak I had to double check it wasn't just a reflector.
The rest were all youths, pavement cyclists, predominantly BMX with a few hybrids. Not one with lights and the majority of the BMXs without brakes. You can kind of tell, with the strange way they've a foot near the floor as they approach a side road....
So with a quick calc, about 90% of cyclists riding illegally? and many of these will have car driving parents going on about 'cyclists' when they don't even ensure their own kids ride legally.

 

[Davidsw8]

Is it a legal requirement to have lights on a pushbike? and if so, to have front AND back ones?

I've noticed tons of bikes with no lights and some that do have only a back light. It's handy for me to see em coming as well as going....

 

[mickle]

Last night on a drive across town and back I passed many cyclists, all of whom had lights front and rear, and many of whom had additional reflectors. On the same journey I encountered several cars which had their fog lights on (it wasn't), one light off and even both lights off. I spotted two drivers on mobile phones and three red light jumpers along with several speeders.

Maybe we just have a better quality of cyclist in York.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Last night on a drive across town and back I passed many cyclists, all of whom had lights front and rear, and many of whom had additional reflectors. On the same journey I encountered several cars which had their fog lights on (it wasn't), one light off and even both lights off. I spotted two drivers on mobile phones and three red light jumpers along with several speeders.

Maybe we just have a better quality of cyclist in York.

And, it seems, in Sussex. Four cyclists seen on commute home, excluding myself, all riding legally and well lit, lost count of the cars with defective lights and other malfeasance when I had to take avoiding action when a car jumped a red light at some road works. After all, it was only a bike coming the other way.

 

[benb]

Is it a legal requirement to have lights on a pushbike? and if so, to have front AND back ones?

I've noticed tons of bikes with no lights and some that do have only a back light. It's handy for me to see em coming as well as going....

If cycling between dusk and dawn, you must have front and rear lights by law.

 

[Glow worm]

On the same journey I encountered several cars which had their fog lights on (it wasn't),

Fog's always a pain as you know that for days after the last whisp of fog has disappeared, you'll have loads of idiots driving about with their fog lights still on. The only fog still around is that which lies between the driver's ears!

 

[Davidsw8]

If cycling between dusk and dawn, you must have front and rear lights by law.

Thanks Benb, I didn't know that (though shoulda looked it up). It'd be a good idea for it to be compulsory for bike manufacturers to fix a set of lights to every bike they sell, much as all cars have to be fitted with seatbelts. If a cyclist wants more or better lights then they just fit them themselves...

 

[cd365]

Thanks Benb, I didn't know that (though shoulda looked it up). It'd be a good idea for it to be compulsory for bike manufacturers to fix a set of lights to every bike they sell, much as all cars have to be fitted with seatbelts. If a cyclist wants more or better lights then they just fit them themselves...

The problem with this is they would fit a cheap nasty poundland set which are no use at all but make everyone think they are safe cause they have lights on. Whilst driving the other night there was a bloke cycling, dressed darkly with a 2 led very dim light on that I couldn't see until I was only a few feet behind him but he probably thought he was visible!

 

[Davidsw8]

The problem with this is they would fit a cheap nasty poundland set which are no use at all but make everyone think they are safe cause they have lights on. Whilst driving the other night there was a bloke cycling, dressed darkly with a 2 led very dim light on that I couldn't see until I was only a few feet behind him but he probably thought he was visible!

That did occur to me but there could always be a minimum requirement in relation to quality.

I have seen some lights and thought 'what's the point of that?'. It's like when people ride with their helmet covering the back of the neck or worse still, hanging from the handlebar, why bother?

 

[DrLex]

If cycling between dusk and dawn, you must have front and rear lights by law.

Indeed; from the Gov website, a quick summary:

"At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.
Law RVLR regs 13, 18 & 24"

[RVLR = Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as amended]. There are also regs as to the permissable frequency that a front light may flash, the maximum height off the ground for the main light (such that only a helmet light could be a breach) and so on. Suffice to say, after this weekend, there will be a lot more ninja cyclists about in the early evening.

 

[trampyjoe]

Read the very sentence you quoted. I didn't say signalling I said proper signalling, two different things.

Anyway I've killed that post so as not to distract from the cyclist/driver bashing. Horses are pets. no one wants to have a go at them.

They (riders) are not incapable of proper signalling.

Nope, can't see what difference that made (other than my post count increasing).

 

[nigelnorris]

They (riders) are not incapable of proper signalling.

Nope, can't see what difference that made (other than my post count increasing).

RoSPA:

"Drivers should also be aware that horse riders behave differently from other traffic at roundabouts. Riders will not normally signal on approach, but will stay on the left within the roundabout until they reach their exit, and then signal left. They may signal right when approaching and passing exits they do not intend to take."

No signal on approach, [sometimes] signalling right when going straight on. All sounds a bit shambolic to me.

The crazy thing is that a horse is big enough to fit proper lights to, those things could tote a couple of car batteries around with them, so why not indicators as well?

 

[J.Primus]

RoSPA:

"Drivers should also be aware that horse riders behave differently from other traffic at roundabouts. Riders will not normally signal on approach, but will stay on the left within the roundabout until they reach their exit, and then signal left. They may signal right when approaching and passing exits they do not intend to take."

No signal on approach, [sometimes] signalling right when going straight on. All sounds a bit shambolic to me.

The crazy thing is that a horse is big enough to fit proper lights to, those things could tote a couple of car batteries around with them, so why not indicators as well?

And brakes...