How will cyclists ever get the respect of road users?

[therams]

Yesterday I was crossing the road at a "Green Man" with my grandchildren, aged 2 and 4. I teach them to press the button, and wait for the Green Man, and even then to check to see that it's safe.

Just as well, because we were halfway across when a woman-on-a-bike came hurtling through. She had absolutely no consideration for the fact that there were young children and an OAP in front of her.

I was out pushing my son (9 months) in this pram today and had to wait for a cyclist when the green man was lit .

I think this bugs me because I have only been back into cycling for 6 months and think cyclists are nice people. But I guess there is a difference between cyclists and people who ride bikes.

 

[snorri]

I sometimes wonder if people who cycle on the pavement get annoyed by car drivers who block their progress by parking cars on the pavements.
Or perhaps they are so laid back they just cycle on the road for a bit without a care.

 

[HJ]

They are mostly riding on the pavement because they are too frightened to cycle on the road...

 

[bigjim]

Re original post. Can we all please get it into our heads? THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ROAD TAX! It does not exist! The local roads are maintained by the local council out of a general pot issued to them from central government. If you buy a newspaper, mars bar, television etc or pay council tax you pay for the roads! You are as entitled to your piece of road as any other user.

 

[diamondwhite]

I killed an RLJ

Ok,

I'm a former cyclist and a motorcyclist I am also a driver. I treat all road users the same but not all road users treat the highway code the same.

Because a cyclist for whatever reason I don't know (waiting for coroners report) went through a red light at speed he collided with the front of my vehicle. Very sadly he died. And no I am not at fault, cautioned or arrested.

This is distressing for me. I did nothing wrong yet I feel that I did. I can't work, and when I do I am affected by stress and lack of concentration. It is difficult to be motivated. I feel anger and shock.
I know cyclists are the more likely to get injured and therefore the topic of conversation revolves around their needs. However I didn't ask for this to occur but I am left dealing with it and who should I turn to?

I can't claim off his insurance he doesn't have any. I therefore face a financial penalty again not my fault. I face loss of earnings perhaps loss of career. I face therapy and time off to come to terms with it. I will claim against my insurance but why should I have to?

My friends and family suffer from my mood swings, it is difficult dealing with it. Naturally all the press is sympathy for the cyclist, but I am a victim too, I have to live with this.
Plus I face months dealing with the inquest so this doesn't go away short term either.

Next time you think about jumping a red light or breaking the highway code remember it's there for a reason and remember too there's more than one victim to your actions.

There is no argument for defending RLJ if you do it you should consider yourself heartless and moronic and you shouldn't be on the road period.

 

[captainhastings]

I have to admit that since starting cycling a few weeks ago I now show much more thought when I a see cyclist regards space distance etc and junctions.

It has given me a new perspective.

I also seem to have a good nose at theres bikes and kit

 

[bennytheegg]

RLJing aside, I think people are overlooking a fundamentel point when considering cyclo-moto (I think I just made that word up, feel free to use it) relations. Motorists don't think favourably towards cyclists because we're slow. They want to get from A to B as quickly as possible and we hold them up. That's all. You can't blame them for getting a bit annoyed at that, surely.

And it's not just bikes: I think at some point a lot of motorists also "hate" every other car/lorry/tractor/motorbike between themselves and their destination. If other road users weren't there, they'd be home sooner to; watch hollyoaks/put the kids to bed/have that poo they should have had before they left the office. fact.

ben
_______________________________________________________

By the way, sorry to hear about your ordeal diamondwhite.

 

[maddog.mark]

What a terrible terrible situation to be in diamondwhite, you have my heartfelt sympathy and I wholeheartedly agree with your post.

There is no excuse for not obeying the rules, I remember 2 years ago at the end of the Norwich 100 I was flying down a hill when the pedestrian crossing lights changed, some went straight through me and a couple of others slammed on the brakes and with our weary legs tried to unclip before landing in a heap, managed it but hell the legs hurt afterwards. But my point is I stopped, if I'd fallen off in a heap it would have been me that got hurt, I'd have deserved it for not paying enough attention to the road ahead, and not the poor individual that was trying to cross the road.

 

[maddog.mark]

RLJing aside, I think people are overlooking a fundamentel point when considering cyclo-moto (I think I just made that word up, feel free to use it) relations. Motorists don't think favourably towards cyclists because we're slow. They want to get from A to B as quickly as possible and we hold them up. That's all. You can't blame them for getting a bit annoyed at that, surely.

And it's not just bikes: I think at some point a lot of motorists also "hate" every other car/lorry/tractor/motorbike between themselves and their destination. If other road users weren't there, they'd be home sooner to; watch hollyoaks/put the kids to bed/have that poo they should have had before they left the office. fact.

ben
_______________________________________________________

By the way, sorry to hear about your ordeal diamondwhite.

Going out on a limb here, I have found most motorists here in rural North Norfolk do give cyclists space, the worst offenders for me are bus drivers, I've lost count at the times a bus has come past me with traffic coming the other way and left me no room, add to that the buffeting from the wind as they pass and it's a scary moment. Most lorry drivers though will wait, I can hear them and usually spot a place to stop and use it as a sprint, really crank the pedals round so that they can see you're making the effort and pull over when safe to do so to let them past. It's all about consideration for others

 

[captainhastings]

RLJing aside, I think people are overlooking a fundamentel point when considering cyclo-moto (I think I just made that word up, feel free to use it) relations. Motorists don't think favourably towards cyclists because we're slow. They want to get from A to B as quickly as possible and we hold them up. That's all. You can't blame them for getting a bit annoyed at that, surely.

And it's not just bikes: I think at some point a lot of motorists also "hate" every other car/lorry/tractor/motorbike between themselves and their destination. If other road users weren't there, they'd be home sooner to; watch hollyoaks/put the kids to bed/have that poo they should have had before they left the office. fact.

ben

I think your bang on there I don't enjoy driving and just want to get from a to b.
I hate being stuck behind a tractor especially when you pass a lay bye and dont pull in to let people past
But I would never jepodise any ones safety if I see some one on a horse I will never pass until I am a 100% sure its safe.

 

[wafflycat]

Going out on a limb here, I have found most motorists here in rural North Norfolk do give cyclists space, the worst offenders for me are bus drivers, I've lost count at the times a bus has come past me with traffic coming the other way and left me no room, add to that the buffeting from the wind as they pass and it's a scary moment. Most lorry drivers though will wait, I can hear them and usually spot a place to stop and use it as a sprint, really crank the pedals round so that they can see you're making the effort and pull over when safe to do so to let them past. It's all about consideration for others

Aye, Norfolk is a civilised place to cycle in most of the time

 

[hackbike 666]

What's lycra got to do with the price of kippers?

Do we have to buy into the same derogatory insults as our detractors?

And of course all road users should be held to the same standard.

Media generated crap.I dont wear lycra often.Im only jealous of lycra wearers because they are generally faster than me. :-S

 

[XmisterIS]

the majority of road users think cyclists are dangerous idiots who don't pay road tax.

I think that's a bit of a sweeping statement! It all depends on where you live. I live in the 'aamshrr cun'reesoide (that's "Hampshire Countryside" to you) and most drivers round here are perfectly agreeable, sensible people who take a relaxed and unhurried attitude to driving. They're more likely to let you out at a junction with a smile and a nod rather than trying to run you down!

 

[Twanger]

....

This is distressing for me. I did nothing wrong yet I feel that I did. I can't work, and when I do I am affected by stress and lack of concentration. It is difficult to be motivated. I feel anger and shock. .... However I didn't ask for this to occur but I am left dealing with it and who should I turn to?

Who indeed? Time heals. Unless you believe in God, the answer is that dealing with the world and what it throws at you is part of what it means to be a human being. No one ever said that being alive was meant to be easy. If you believe in God, direct the question thither. And I don't mean to be flippant. It's a dreadful thing to happen and you have my sympathy.

I can't claim off his insurance he doesn't have any. I therefore face a financial penalty again not my fault. I face loss of earnings perhaps loss of career. I face therapy and time off to come to terms with it. I will claim against my insurance but why should I have to?

Well, that's why sensible people get insurance, so that they have something when the terrible happens. OK, your no claims bonus goes, but that's actuarial, not a God given right.

Plus I face months dealing with the inquest so this doesn't go away short term either.

Again, much sympathy, but crap happens and it has to be dealt with. You got shat on, but there's no one else to pick it up for you.

Next time you think about jumping a red light or breaking the highway code remember it's there for a reason and remember too there's more than one victim to your actions.

There is no argument for defending RLJ if you do it you should consider yourself heartless and moronic and you shouldn't be on the road period.

Total, total agreement. In every respect. The contempt so many cyclists show for the rest of the world is completely despicable, and makes me livid. And its not an insignificant minority. Try stopping at a red light on the A23 between the Oval and Brixton. There will be jumpers at every light, and when the lights are at a crossing rather than a junction I am often the only cyclist who respects them.

I am ashamed when pedestrians wait for me, on a bike, to go first over a crossing even when I am slowing down and stopping for them. I am ashamed because they are not doing it out of courtesy, but merely through fear. I am ashamed to be such a cause of fear in other road users.

The answer to the OP is that cyclists will gain the respect of other road users when obeying the rules of the road becomes the norm rather than a surprising exception.

 

[theboytaylor]

RLJing aside, I think people are overlooking a fundamentel point when considering cyclo-moto (I think I just made that word up, feel free to use it) relations. Motorists don't think favourably towards cyclists because we're slow. They want to get from A to B as quickly as possible and we hold them up. That's all. You can't blame them for getting a bit annoyed at that, surely.

Sorry Ben but I can get very annoyed at them for that. Yes, bikes travel slower than cars, but they don't take up as much room and with the slightest degree of sense and patience FROM ALL PARTIES we could all get along fine. Just because someone fears they'd have to slow down for all of 50 yards doesn't mean it's OK for them to squeeze past me at a pinch point, for example. Just how much time are they likely to lose by waiting behind?

Without getting all Politics& Life on this thread, it is my half-arsed opinion that nowadays the majority of people are incredibly selfish and this manifests itself in their driving/ riding/ cycling behaviour and their rationalisations of why they act in the way they do - I've never heard a RLJer say "yeah, I guess I'm taking a chance doing this". It's always "well I only do it when I can see it's safe" as if they've got some innate risk assessment skill that the rest of us mere mortals do not possess. I'd be more inclined to believe that guff if I saw more RLJers take anything more than a cursory glance around before barrelling through the lights.