Idiots on bikes

[ufkacbln]

[QUOTE 4042181, member: 9609"]If we are in agreement that there is a problem with inattentive drivers and inappropriate speed, and if we are also in agreement that there appears to be little to nothing being done about it; Would it not be wise to try and be a bit more conspicuous until the situation approves?[/QUOTE]

Except that the latter becomes seen as the solution, detracting any attempt to deal with the former

Hungerford Common illustrates this perfectly


Cows in road
Drivers fail to see cows in time and hit them
Farmers campaign for speed calming and speed restrictions to prevent these accidents
Official solution..... Cows wear HiViz and lights

 

[Tin Pot]

[QUOTE 4042181, member: 9609"]If we are in agreement that there is a problem with inattentive drivers and inappropriate speed, and if we are also in agreement that there appears to be little to nothing being done about it; Would it not be wise to try and be a bit more conspicuous until the situation approves?[/QUOTE]

Wouldn't it be even better to stop focussing on ineffectual controls?

 

[oldstrath]

it isn't pretty clear at all...who deems it dangerous?the police?...if they're there to witness it...the driver of the vehicle?...then you have the type of vehicle being driven and it's capabilities....will a sports car go round a bend quicker than a family saloon?.of course it will...will an audi quattro perform safer on a slippery road than a ford focus?of course it will...what's dangerous in one vehicle,won't be dangerous in another vehicle, competent drivers know their cars limitations and adjust their speed according.
The only thing that is clear here is that riding a bicycle without lights, when illumination would be a huge advantage to other road users is highly dangerous.

Sorry, but cobblers. The roadholding abilities of different varieties of death machine are utterly irrelevant if, just round a blind bend, is a cyclist, a tractor, a mother and baby, a cow, a deer, a fallen tree or any of the othrr things I have seen in 40 years of cycling. Whether these 'hazards' are lit or not is also irrelevant, given that light does not generally go round corners. All that matters is that the driver have enough sense to go slowly. A rare commodity, alas.

 

[ufkacbln]

[QUOTE 4042229, member: 9609"]and even worse than that, anything that isn't lit up like a christmas tree gets the blame - its a shite situation and I don't see it improving anytime soon.[/QUOTE]

One of my favourite experiences

I have a "legal" led backed up by a 720 lumen headlight

Approaching junction when taxi pulls out about 10 feet away, thanks to good brakes I stopped with the front chain ring about 8 inches from his door

Pointing out the fully illuminated taxi, I asked why he had not seen me



Driver then explained how it was my fault

Apparently he thought that I was a motorcycle, they always have good brakes and ten feet is more than enough for them to stop

Being on a bike (trike) with inferior brakes and the consequent problems stopping when he pulled out on me was my problem

He really could not understand that it was his best upping out that was the issue

Fortunately when they saw the video, the local licensing office did not agree with him and interviewed him, gave him points and a formal warning

 

[winjim]

Somebody report this post and get it deleted if it's a bit too macabre, but can anyone see the parallels to this debate?

http://www.businessinsider.com/bodyguard-bulletproof-blanket-for-kids-2014-6?IR=T

 

[Racing roadkill]

Somebody report this post and get it deleted if it's a bit too macabre, but can anyone see the parallels to this debate?

http://www.businessinsider.com/bodyguard-bulletproof-blanket-for-kids-2014-6?IR=T

Mass shootings are a weekly, yawn fest in the states. Anything that gives the potential victims a chance, has to be applauded. Monocles will be dropped, but get with the programme, these things happen.

 

[oldstrath]

[QUOTE 4042571, member: 9609"]nor you in improving cycling standards[/QUOTE]
Utter fecking irrelavance. This guy, for example was killed by a braindead moton, despite lights, shiny stuff, and so on.
http://road.cc/content/news/172593-driving-ban-and-curfew-driver-who-killed-cyclist

Nothing to do with cycling standards or lighting. Just with allowing braindeads to drive.

 

[Milkfloat]

23 pages in, maybe time to look st the first post again.

It's dark a cyclist wearing all black and has zero lights/reflectors. Conclusion - he can wear whatever he likes, but he should have lights. Can we close the thread now please?

 

[Justinslow]

No one is saying we don't need to make ourselves seen. What we have said is
1. In darkness hiviz is irrelevant.
2. Wearing huge amounts of reflective kit is irrelevant if you have adequate lights and low level reflectors.
3. Most importantly, worrying about how other cyclists, whom we do not know, light and dress themselves is utterly without purpose. They pose no harm to my welfare, or yours. If you must worry, campaign, protest, do so about the people who pose the objective danger. The motorists.

And what I said was - this particular chap was riding in gloomy conditions not darkness.
They pose a danger to my welfare if some other hapless driver takes evasive action and smashes into me however unlikely that might be.
And there we go - blame the motorist again, as it's never the cyclists fault is it?
Blinkered views you have.

 

[Justinslow]

So why, driving at the moderate speed of 25mph was this young driver not able to avoid the collision and death of the cyclist?

No idea I didn't hear the "ins and outs" of the story, but speculating - as the guy was stoned maybe he veered into the cars path?

 

[Tin Pot]

23 pages in, maybe time to look st the first post again.

It's dark a cyclist wearing all black and has zero lights/reflectors. Conclusion - he can wear whatever he likes, but he should have lights. Can we close the thread now please?

This thread is my gift for Christmas! Please don't spoil it

 

[Tin Pot]

[QUOTE 4042793, member: 9609"]so to your mind, there are no cyclists who would be safer by improving their own own standards. ?[/QUOTE]

Reducto ad absurdum

 

[Justinslow]

Maybe this, maybe that. It shows nothing of any use.

you asked the question dude..........

 

[Justinslow]

What question? I'm not seeing one.

So why, driving at the moderate speed of 25mph was this young driver not able to avoid the collision and death of the cyclist?

 

[ufkacbln]

And what I said was - this particular chap was riding in gloomy conditions not darkness.
They pose a danger to my welfare if some other hapless driver takes evasive action and smashes into me however unlikely that might be.
And there we go - blame the motorist again, as it's never the cyclists fault is it?
Blinkered views you have.

.. and where do you stand on the Hungerford Common Cows?

After all...

Cows / trees / chickens without HiViz and lights pose a danger to my welfare if some other hapless driver takes evasive action and smashes into me however unlikely that might be.
And there we go - blame the motorist again, as it's never the cow's / chicken's / tree's fault is it?

The only blinkered view is the denial of the responsibility of the motorist to drive responsibly