How can we avoid cycling casualties?

[glenn forger]

OK, Roadrash. If you think my piece was waffle, then please offer something better (for cyclists in general not just me).

Tensing when overtaking cyclists is a good thing, not bad. It shows extra care is being taken. Talk to truck drivers and you may find they feel the same.

I take John the Monkey's point, but just scanning through the Cyclists Down forum I see the problem isn't going away.

We are starting to get somewhere I think. And thanks, Mugshot. What a super demonstration of part of the problem.

Over to you, again.

Are you just going to ignore questions? Where did that Rubbish about drop bars come from?

I'm pretty sure cruiser's one of the SPEEDOPHILES from pistonheads, the ones that blame children for their own deaths on the road, nobody could be this stupid without being a troll.

 

[HLaB]

Has there been a post from Mad Doug on this thread?

Spent more time looking for it than I did with the OP LOL :-D

 

[Pat "5mph"]

So, please, what do you suggest (constructively) we cyclists do right now?

We should all read Cyclecraft - textbook of Bikability, the UK's cycling standard.
We (as said in the book), should avoid the badly designed cycle lanes we have, and take to the road, mixing with motorized traffic, taking the lane when appropriate to avoid SMIDSY by drivers.
If all cyclist would follow Cyclecraft and refuse to be bullied off the roads by impatient drivers, incidents would drop, as having one or several cyclists in front of you would be common occurrence, not a matter of tension .... "omg, what alien is this, am I gonna run it over or let it live?"
Of course the bike should be suitable lit after dark, reflectives and light clothing desirable - Hi-vis not essential according to the book btw, helmet neither.
Now, I'm Pat 5mph, next time you're in your car and I take primary at pinch point, don't rev your engine impatiently, trying to pass me anyway, only to be stopped at the next set of red lights, and, please, don't tense up, you may steer into me

 

[youngoldbloke]

Cruiser - have you ever ridden a bike with drops? Do you seriously view Chris Froome' 'looking at stems' as a 'super demonstration of part of the problem'?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Why did you answer someone who hasn't posted?

It's because of your sig, the op thinks you are MDB

 

[Crackle]

I'm afraid that, despite some good replies, you seem to have missed the point. The good replies have stated what SHOULD BE done. Yes, I agree, but all that would take time. The point is what can we do NOW to cope with things as they are. So, please, what do you suggest (constructively) we cyclists do right now? So far the impression I get is 'nothing' but simply blame the motorist. It's a serious issue and one that so far few of you seem to have taken seriously. Mad Doug, this is the only cycling site I've posted this on, and why have I done this? Because I am concerned about cycling casualties, aren't you? Can you give advice (other than what I gave) to help prevent more cyclists being slaughtered on the roads?

We haven't missed the point because you haven't made one. You're trolling, simple as that.

 

[roadrash]

OK, Roadrash. If you think my piece was waffle, then please offer something better (for cyclists in general not just me).

Tensing when overtaking cyclists is a good thing, not bad. It shows extra care is being taken. Talk to truck drivers and you may find they feel the same.

I take John the Monkey's point, but just scanning through the Cyclists Down forum I see the problem isn't going away.

We are starting to get somewhere I think. And thanks, Mugshot. What a super demonstration of part of the problem.

Over to you, again.

A blank page would be better than your op, but you still have not pointed me to the "ADVICE" that you say you have posted.
AS for anything better, see @Pat "5mph" post above.
in fact try searching the forums you may be pleasantly suprised

 

[Cruiser]

Trolling? No. Motorhead? No. I prefer my bike. One of my prevous bikes had drops, so I know what I'm talking about. In any case, just watch them on the main roads, head down.

I know it's the nature of forums to have sport with one another, and this is no exception, with some rather pointless replies. However, we do have some people taking the issue seriously (and impersonally), and Pat being one of them. But she's talking urban. What about the rural main roads?

As for answering questions, I am doing this on computer not iphone, etc, so there are gaps when I can reply. Please allow for this.

 

[roadrash]

I am taking it seriously....
I seriously think that some one who says thay are FORCED to look down at the road in front of them when riding a road bike, along with,..... I tense up when driving behind a cyclist...., can only come from a person who should not be cycling or driving , especcialyy for the sake of safety of all other road users, YES I AM SERIOUS

 

[Crackle]

Trolling? No. Motorhead? No. I prefer my bike. One of my prevous bikes had drops, so I know what I'm talking about. In any case, just watch them on the main roads, head down.

I know it's the nature of forums to have sport with one another, and this is no exception, with some rather pointless replies. However, we do have some people taking the issue seriously (and impersonally), and Pat being one of them. But she's talking urban. What about the rural main roads?

As for answering questions, I am doing this on computer not iphone, etc, so there are gaps when I can reply. Please allow for this.

You say you're not trolling. Fair enough, let's take it at face value. You still won't get a sensible response because you've spent zero time applying any critical thought process to what you've posted. your post is simply victim blaming, there's nothing constructive to it or thought provoking or indeed, original. You can't possibly have read any cycling discussion on the issues or you wouldn't have come up with it.

 

[glenn forger]

Trolling? No. Motorhead? No. I prefer my bike. One of my prevous bikes had drops, so I know what I'm talking about. In any case, just watch them on the main roads, head down.

I know it's the nature of forums to have sport with one another, and this is no exception, with some rather pointless replies. However, we do have some people taking the issue seriously (and impersonally), and Pat being one of them. But she's talking urban. What about the rural main roads?

As for answering questions, I am doing this on computer not iphone, etc, so there are gaps when I can reply. Please allow for this.

Ok, I'll pay fifty quid to a charity you nominate if you can find a single verifiable source that cites drop bars as a significant, or even peripheral, cause of accidents.

So desperate are you to blame cyclists for their own injuries that you make up laughable claims that handlebars are to blame, you refuse to say where you were told this, you've offered zero evidence for it.

 

[Cruiser]

You're trying to shoot the messenger. Forget what you think of me, that doesn't matter. Until you focus on the issue without distorting it (I see that drops are only part of the problem anyway), you aren't, I'm afraid, contributing anything positive.

 

[glenn forger]

You're trying to shoot the messenger. Forget what you think of me, that doesn't matter. Until you focus on the issue without distorting it (I see that drops are only part of the problem anyway), you aren't, I'm afraid, contributing anything positive.

That's because your message is stuff you've made up in your sweaty imagination, that's why, for the fourth time, you've avoided giving a straight answer. You invent stuff to bolster your case, but you're also a coward because you refuse to defend it.

 

[classic33]

See Roadrash on page 3.

No, you answered a question from "Mad Doug", you were also the first to mention the name.
Question still stands as a valid question.

 

[roadrash]

You're trying to shoot the messenger. Forget what you think of me, that doesn't matter. Until you focus on the issue without distorting it (I see that drops are only part of the problem anyway), you aren't, I'm afraid, contributing anything positive.

And i suppose you think you are