Myths and Rebuttals

[marinyork]

Can we add RLJing as a myth. That it's an extremely rare event outside of London, that most cyclists don't condone it, that it's not comparing like for like and motor vehicle RLJing is far more common and dangerous. Oh and it's exaggerated by people with an excitable disposition for political points perhaps wanting to raise their blood pressure?

 

[GrahamG]

It's crazy common in Bristol too - easily ignored by more than 50%. Purely anecdotal like, but I see a great deal in and around the centre on a daily basis.

 

[Arch]

"I saw a cyclist the other day riding on the pavement and jumping a red light on the wrong side of the road with no helmet(!!) and no lights chatting on his mobile with no hands on the handlebars going the wrong way down a one-way street without looking or signalling, entering a box-junction without a clear exit while insulting the Queen (gawdbless'er!), impersonating a policeman, eating rustly sweets in the theatre and plotting to invade Poland...

Excellent, although I read it as 'rusty sweets' and was a bit confused.


Sadly, I'd say RLJing is fairly common here in York too. Not 50% by any means, but not 'extremely rare'...

 

[dondare]

Unfortunately it's becoming increasingly common in Birmingham. At certain junctions I'd estimate that at least 50% of bikes RLJ.

It's becoming more common as more motorists become cyclists.

 

[HJ]

Myth: "You don't pay tax so..."

Rebuttal: "How would you know, your not my accountant..."

 

[HJ]

Comment: "But I ride a bike"

Rebuttal: any ideas?

"That's no way to speak of your wife..."

 

[HJ]

Can we add RLJing as a myth. That it's an extremely rare event outside of London, that most cyclists don't condone it, that it's not comparing like for like and motor vehicle RLJing is far more common and dangerous. Oh and it's exaggerated by people with an excitable disposition for political points perhaps wanting to raise their blood pressure?

I see a fair bit of it in Edinburgh, it is not so rare, but it is stupid...

 

[sheddy]

Cager - 'insert nonsense'
Rebuttal - 'read the highway code !'

 

[LLB]

rlj'ing is about 40% in cheltenham but then most bikes around are clunkers, and used as convenient transport as opposed to enthusiasts.

vehicles at both the dirtiest end of the spectrum (pre 73) as well as the cleanest are ved exempt which demonstrates that the duty is a fund raising exercise aimed at the middle ground than a serious attempt to reduce pollution.

 

[Arch]

vehicles at both the dirtiest end of the spectrum (pre 73) as well as the cleanest are ved exempt which demonstrates that the duty is a fund raising exercise aimed at the middle ground than a serious attempt to reduce pollution.

Nooo, isn't it just that the pre-73 thing (which used to be a rolling 25 years old deal instead anyway) was in place ages before anyone started to think about taxing in terms of pollution, and has just stuck? It's not like someone at the Treasury sat down and said "I know, let's exempt the cleanest cars and the dirtiest ones..." in some random moment...

 

[LLB]

Nooo, isn't it just that the pre-73 thing (which used to be a rolling 25 years old deal instead anyway) was in place ages before anyone started to think about taxing in terms of pollution, and has just stuck? It's not like someone at the Treasury sat down and said "I know, let's exempt the cleanest cars and the dirtiest ones..." in some random moment...

It was established about 10 years ago as the vintage enthusiasts argued that they are preserving the motoring heritage with their hobby, and to penalise them by charging full screw for VED when the vehicles may only be brought out a handful of times a year is risking them falling into disrepair as the owners will just lay the vehicles up and sorn them.

The same precident is being argued by the owners of large vehicles which do very small mileage but still have to pay full screw regardless.

 

[Arch]

It was established about 10 years ago as the vintage enthusiasts argued that they are preserving the motoring heritage with their hobby, and to penalise them by charging full screw for VED when the vehicles may only be brought out a handful of times a year is risking them falling into disrepair as the owners will just lay the vehicles up and sorn them.

The same precident is being argued by the owners of large vehicles which do very small mileage but still have to pay full screw regardless.

Another reason to just whack a huge tax (huger than now) on fuel, and do away with confusing VED rules, I'd have thought.. Use the car less, pay less..

But we digress....

 

[User482]

Can we add RLJing as a myth. That it's an extremely rare event outside of London, that most cyclists don't condone it, that it's not comparing like for like and motor vehicle RLJing is far more common and dangerous. Oh and it's exaggerated by people with an excitable disposition for political points perhaps wanting to raise their blood pressure?

Here in Bristol, I'd say about 50% of cyclists RLJ. My usual response to a motorist pointing this out is "you're quite right about RLJing. Most motorists break the speed limit - which do you think is more dangerous?".

Or if they try and blame me personally: "is it your fault that other motorists drink and drive?".

 

[Arch]

I stood at a ped crossing (at a cross road junction) yesterday and watched a minicab go through a red light, a good 2-3 seconds after it changed (to red, having been amber for sometime of course), just following the car in front. I gave him a glare and a WTF! kind of shrug, but I doubt he noticed. Really ought to stand there for a while sometime and do a little survey.

 

[magnatom]

I stood at a ped crossing (at a cross road junction) yesterday and watched a minicab go through a red light, a good 2-3 seconds after it changed (to red, having been amber for sometime of course), just following the car in front. I gave him a glare and a WTF! kind of shrug, but I doubt he noticed. Really ought to stand there for a while sometime and do a little survey.

Take your camera and post the results!