Letter in today's newspaper

[Glow worm]

OK here goes. In today's Eastern Daily Press, is a letter penned by someone I wouldn't hesitate to nominate for the 'most utterly clueless eejit' award. It's from a nitwit lorry driver from Postwick, near Norwich and the headline is 'Use of Cycle Lanes is Recommended'.

I was driving my articulated lorry along Newmarket Road towards Thickthorn at midday last week. There was a cyclist on the road.
When I indicated my presence to him, he made a rude gesture and just carried on. The road fund tax is £700 a year. I wonder how much of this went towards the cycle path that runs along this road. I am aslo a cyclist, motorcyclist and van driver.
Perhaps it would be good to see cyclists abiding by the rules of the road but it seems they have a right to do as they wish and -it seems to me- it is always the nasty truck/ van driver's fault when something happens.


It's such bo**ocks on just so many levels, it's hard to know where to begin by way of response. I don't know if I'm more annoyed at the nitwit, or the newspaper for publishing this tosh. And presumably by 'indicated my presence' our hero is referring to an illegal use of the horn or dangerously close overtake!

 

[turnout]

that was also in the Norwich Evening News, I looked for it online. Dreadfully irresponsible.

 

[DrSquirrel]

I hate this "I am also a cyclist"

Bullshit x100.

What he means is, "I am also a ninja-fullsus-bso-cycle-on-the-pavement-without-lights-ist"

 

[turnout]

it seems to me- it is always the nasty truck/ van driver's fault when something happens.

I was so sorry to learn of the recent death of the Polish student Milena Gott following a road traffic accident around 18 months ago.

She has been fighting for her life for such a long time, however, finally succumbed to her injuries after doctors had to amputate her legs following an infection that became too much for her to bear.

The accident occurred when Milena was knocked off her bicycle in Aberdeen in 2009, as a consequence of which crushed under a HGV Tanker. She was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary before being transferred to Glasgow Royal Infirmary for treatment for her injuries. The driver of the Tanker was fined £340 and had 5 penalty points added to his licence after admitting careless driving at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

http://www.thompsons-scotland.co.uk/blog/permalink/accident-compensation-claims-for-cyclists.aspx

Milena had been told she would never walk again, in the end she couldn't fight any more. And the full weight of the law came down and imposed a fine less than the cost of the bike.

 

[downfader]

I think this sign might explain three reasons why he might not have been cycling there.

1. pedestrians and narrow pavement
2. Signs covered in filth
3. Bus lane

The first is good enough reason if travelling at speed, the second kind of hides the fact its an offroad facility, and the 3rd could indicate that said cyclist has come out of the buslane to turn right (swing it around 100 degrees and you'll see a side road behind the old dear.

If you're going to write a reply then perhaps ask:
- is it acceptable to travel at 20mph plus around pedestrians on a narrow path?
- was the driver using the bus lane? If so he was in the wrong (I dont know which direction he was travelling in), and even would have been in the wrong for not allowing the cyclist the opportunity to turn right safely.
- sounding of one's horn is illegal unless there is immediate danger. Presuming he isnt deliberately endangering the cyclist, and knows how to drive appropriately why bother?

- lastly you could mention the fact that pedestrian refuge, away from the road, is being increasingly made less safe for the pedestrian due to councils and public services unwilling to work effectively on improving the roads, and thus may be putting pedestrians at risk from cyclists who are inexperienced or scared of busy roads.

- it is not the duty of the lorry driver to met out punishment for perceived wrongs. If he has a complaint he should contact the local constabulary and ask for advice.

 

[thomas]

OK here goes. In today's Eastern Daily Press, is a letter penned by someone I wouldn't hesitate to nominate for the 'most utterly clueless eejit' award. It's from a nitwit lorry driver from Postwick, near Norwich and the headline is 'Use of Cycle Lanes is Recommended'.

I was driving my articulated lorry along Newmarket Road towards Thickthorn at midday last week. There was a cyclist on the road.
When I indicated my presence to him, he made a rude gesture and just carried on. The road fund tax is £700 a year. I wonder how much of this went towards the cycle path that runs along this road. I am aslo a cyclist, motorcyclist and van driver.
Perhaps it would be good to see cyclists abiding by the rules of the road but it seems they have a right to do as they wish and -it seems to me- it is always the nasty truck/ van driver's fault when something happens.


It's such bo**ocks on just so many levels, it's hard to know where to begin by way of response. I don't know if I'm more annoyed at the nitwit, or the newspaper for publishing this tosh. And presumably by 'indicated my presence' our hero is referring to an illegal use of the horn or dangerously close overtake!

On the up side, that cyclist's parents probably weren't also brother and sister

 

[Glow worm]

I think this sign might explain three reasons why he might not have been cycling there.

1. pedestrians and narrow pavement
2. Signs covered in filth
3. Bus lane

The first is good enough reason if travelling at speed, the second kind of hides the fact its an offroad facility, and the 3rd could indicate that said cyclist has come out of the buslane to turn right (swing it around 100 degrees and you'll see a side road behind the old dear.

If you're going to write a reply then perhaps ask:
- is it acceptable to travel at 20mph plus around pedestrians on a narrow path?
- was the driver using the bus lane? If so he was in the wrong (I dont know which direction he was travelling in), and even would have been in the wrong for not allowing the cyclist the opportunity to turn right safely.
- sounding of one's horn is illegal unless there is immediate danger. Presuming he isnt deliberately endangering the cyclist, and knows how to drive appropriately why bother?

- lastly you could mention the fact that pedestrian refuge, away from the road, is being increasingly made less safe for the pedestrian due to councils and public services unwilling to work effectively on improving the roads, and thus may be putting pedestrians at risk from cyclists who are inexperienced or scared of busy roads.

- it is not the duty of the lorry driver to met out punishment for perceived wrongs. If he has a complaint he should contact the local constabulary and ask for advice.

Some excellent points DF. I'll probably draft something later on. I wrote to the EDP some years ago, again defending the cyclist's corner, but I wrote too much and they edited it down so badly, it barely made any sense. So if I do cobble something together, it will have to be painfully brief (less that 100 words) in order for them not to mess about with it too much!

I can only assume soft lad was driving his truck out of Norwich towards the P&R at Thickthorn. The cycle path alongside the road is one of those really crap ones - see attached pic in next post (shared use- give way at side roads and when numpties reverse out of their drives- you know the kind of thing). Even I would probably not use that one, even at my sedate 12 mph average!

 

[Glow worm]

Edit- Ooops pic didn't attach. Here it is...hopefully.

 

[addictfreak]

If I were on my road bike, I would not cycle on that cycle path as I would be travelling far too fast. Trees on one side and a hedge on the other, very limited visibility and certainly dangerous to peds.

Of course just because theres a cycle path, it doesnt mean we are compelled to use it.

 

[400bhp]

1. If I were on my road bike, I would not cycle on that cycle path as I would be travelling far too fast. Trees on one side and a hedge on the other, very limited visibility and certainly dangerous to peds.

2. Of course just because theres a cycle path, it doesnt mean we are compelled to use it.

1. Completely agree, and;

2. This, IMO is the greatest drawback of designated cycle lanes, i.e. the misconception by many drivers of the use of a cycle lane.

 

[400bhp]

I suppose the article has done its job.

It's got a reaction.

Not dissimilar to Mr C....

 

[Glow worm]

On the up side, that cyclist's parents probably weren't also brother and sister

 

[Rhythm Thief]

it seems to me- it is always the nasty truck/ van driver's fault when something happens.

I was so sorry to learn of the recent death of the Polish student Milena Gott following a road traffic accident around 18 months ago.

She has been fighting for her life for such a long time, however, finally succumbed to her injuries after doctors had to amputate her legs following an infection that became too much for her to bear.

The accident occurred when Milena was knocked off her bicycle in Aberdeen in 2009, as a consequence of which crushed under a HGV Tanker. She was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary before being transferred to Glasgow Royal Infirmary for treatment for her injuries. The driver of the Tanker was fined £340 and had 5 penalty points added to his licence after admitting careless driving at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

http://www.thompsons...r-cyclists.aspx

Milena had been told she would never walk again, in the end she couldn't fight any more. And the full weight of the law came down and imposed a fine less than the cost of the bike.

What's this got to do with this case, Spindrift?

 

[Glow worm]

I suppose the article has done its job.

It's got a reaction.

Not dissimilar to Mr C....

I got a bit lost with the Clarkson thread so didn't follow it after a bit. I couldn't work out what report everyone was banging on about. I was at work though, and obviously never have time to read CC in depth while working. Ahem!

Anyway, I've had a stab at a reply to Captain Lardarse's letter (below). See if they go with it. (Before you shoot me down, it has to be 100 or so words which I know is hopeless).

I refer to the letter from lorry driver Mr **** (February 7[sup]th[/sup]), and dread to think what ‘I indicated my presence’ to the cyclist meant. A dangerously close pass, or illegal use of the horn? Mr **** also seems somewhat confused about road taxation. ‘Road fund tax’ doesn’t exist. Vehicle Excise Duty (your tax disc) is an annual tax just on your vehicle, none of it goes towards cycle paths. All funding for roads (cycle paths, repairs etc) is raised through general taxation like Council Tax which we all pay, including cyclists. I am astonished that a lorry driver does not know this.

Finally, Mr*** should know that cycle paths are sometimes not used because of glass or thorns or possible risks to pedestrian safty. Racing cyclists need fast road practice for competition (some may one day become Olympic champions, so don’t bully them off the roads!) Cyclists have every right to use roads, and lorry drivers threatening vulnerable road users helps no one.

 

[thomas]

Edit- Ooops pic didn't attach. Here it is...hopefully.

ohh. I've been down that road plenty of times. I wouldn't use that off road cycle lane as I'd normally be going down there too fast (I overtook a learner once ). The side with the bus lane isn't too bad, but going the other way isn't as nice and have been squeezed once or twice.