Gosh we have a long way to go still.

[shunter]

Cars and speeding degrade the total quality of life. Why does society accept as reasonable that I can be killed simply by making a mistake by not looking properly crossing the road outside my front door on the way to visiting the neighbours across the road. At least if the residential limits were enforced at 20mph a mistake need not always be fatal.

It is not acceptable for motorists to speed in residential areas - no matter what the speed limit is. Sometimes 20mph will be too fast. If I was crossing the road and got hit by a car would I be happy that a reduced speed limit just paralysed me for life, ruining the lives of my family as well having to care for me, or would I prefer to be killed outright. Not sure on that one!

Estates that were built 30 years ago were not designed for households with 2 or more cars each. There were not that many cars about. Not only are there more about now but they are getting bigger and bigger each year. Even tractors are faster than some cars from years ago. Why???? Car drivers demand to push into lanes in front of you but won't yield to let you merge in. Their knowledge of the highway code is based on their own interpretation that gives them all the rights and everyone else none.

When you filter on bicycle or motorcycle they are quick enough to see you in advance so they can move subtly to the left or right to make it difficult for you to get pass putting you in more danger at the same time. Do they really believe we don't notice them doing it. They don't see you however when you have a right of way or they don't have an equal right to progress.

You can attach as many lights to your bike as you like and cover yourself in dayglo orange but the only thing that will guarantee you will get noticed and given some respect will be a machine gun on the handlebars !

If you accept that the roads are for cars and not to be shared equally then you can't go far wrong. B)

 

[jonny jeez]

It is not acceptable for motorists to speed in residential areas - no matter what the speed limit is. Sometimes 20mph will be too fast. If I was crossing the road and got hit by a car would I be happy that a reduced speed limit just paralysed me for life, ruining the lives of my family as well having to care for me, or would I prefer to be killed outright. Not sure on that one!

Estates that were built 30 years ago were not designed for households with 2 or more cars each. There were not that many cars about. Not only are there more about now but they are getting bigger and bigger each year. Even tractors are faster than some cars from years ago. Why???? Car drivers demand to push into lanes in front of you but won't yield to let you merge in. Their knowledge of the highway code is based on their own interpretation that gives them all the rights and everyone else none.

When you filter on bicycle or motorcycle they are quick enough to see you in advance so they can move subtly to the left or right to make it difficult for you to get pass putting you in more danger at the same time. Do they really believe we don't notice them doing it. They don't see you however when you have a right of way or they don't have an equal right to progress.

You can attach as many lights to your bike as you like and cover yourself in dayglo orange but the only thing that will guarantee you will get noticed and given some respect will be a machine gun on the handlebars !

If you accept that the roads are for cars and not to be shared equally then you can't go far wrong. B)

+1, well said.

I would add that, it's in our nature to be "territorial" about our modes of transport.

Whatever people ride...car, bike, bus, train, space-hopper...I generally find that we have less patience for "other" road sharers. So when in a car we hate all cyclists, when on a bike we hate all drivers.etc......etc......ad-nauseam

 

[trsleigh]

jonny & shunter, have you read Murder Most Foul by the President of the Pedestrians' Association, JS Dean? Although dating from 1947 it is still as relevant as ever. It's interesting that even then that the dominance of motorists/motor industry and society's deference to the motor lobby was under question.

You can get a copy here, it's not very long.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/wiki/Murder_Most_Foul