No wonder cyclists are hated

[Ming the Merciless]

comes down to the driver

Not when speed limiters are in use. We can steer them in the right direction and then have technology reign them in if they try and go off script.

 

[Binky]

Not when speed limiters are in use. We can steer them in the right direction and then have technology reign them in if they try and go off script.

You didn't answer my question earlier.
Do you own and or drive a car/van etc?
If not do you solely get about by public transport or on occasion get a lift in a car etc.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Do you own and or drive a car/van etc?
If not do you solely get about by public transport or on occasion get a lift in a car etc.

You didn’t ask me, but in answer.

1. Yes
2. I mostly get around by bike or public transport. I accept it may take longer and be less convenient for me on public transport. But that’s fine. Locally getting around on bike beats the car hands down.

 

[Binky]

You didn’t ask me, but in answer.

1. Yes
2. I mostly get around by bike or public transport. I accept it may take longer and be less convenient for me on public transport. But that’s fine. Locally getting around on bike beats the car hands down.

I certainly don’t drive 0.5 mile journeys like your good self.

Ah, you're another one who makes things up then. I certainly do not drive 0.5mile journeys nor have I stated I do.

Not quite sure why you say I do.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I certainly do not drive 0.5mile journeys nor have I stated I do.

Then how have you come up with these 0.5 mile journeys you mentioned earlier in the thread. Are you monitoring and following your neighbours when they drive and you are on bike?

 

[Binky]

Then how have you come up with these 0.5 mile journeys you mentioned earlier in the thread. Are you monitoring and following your neighbours when they drive and you are on bike?

Nope, it was a fairly arbitary very short amount that no doubt some drive. I believe you yourself mentioned the majority of journeys in cities are less than 1km on a different thread? I could easily have said 1mile, 0.9mile whatever. Purely a number as an example.

How you make the leap to saying I drive such distances is interesting though.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Nope, it was a fairly arbitary

Thought so. But seems we are in agreement that people are using cars inappropriately for short journeys. A major contributor to so many harms and issues.

 

[Pblakeney]

Bit like the suggestion to limit new cars speed and weight etc, ultimately it all comes down to the driver. By all means make every single road in UK 20mph limit. Enforcing it and ensuring drivers stick to it is the tricky bit.

Much like all laws these days, they are largely playing to the masses as there is no enforcement. That is a whole issue in itself.
From what I have observed while in relevant areas, 20mph is not adhered to but traffic stays below 30mph which is an improvement.

A small gain for little effort is better than nothing, and roaming cameras (or black boxes as suggested) may make for huge gains.

 

[Alex321]

Much like all laws these days, they are largely playing to the masses as there is no enforcement. That is a whole issue in itself.
From what I have observed while in relevant areas, 20mph is not adhered to but traffic stays below 30mph which is an improvement.

A small gain for little effort is better than nothing, and roaming cameras (or black boxes as suggested) may make for huge gains.

In the consultation papers for the 20 limits in Wales, they never even expected average speeds to fall to anything close to the limits.

Apparently average speeds on "free flowing" 30 limit roads in Wales previously was about 31mph. They expect it to fall to about 26mph on the new 20 limit roads. It seemed absolutely bonkers to me that they were going to introduce new speed limits in the expectation that average speeds would be 25% above them.

 

[Pblakeney]

In the consultation papers for the 20 limits in Wales, they never even expected average speeds to fall to anything close to the limits.

Apparently average speeds on "free flowing" 30 limit roads in Wales previously was about 31mph. They expect it to fall to about 26mph on the new 20 limit roads. It seemed absolutely bonkers to me that they were going to introduce new speed limits in the expectation that average speeds would be 25% above them.

That’s as maybe but the difference in damage done at 26mph and 31mph is significant. The speed isn’t the goal, reducing injury or death is.

 

[steveindenmark]

The reason cyclists are hated in the UK is very easy to see, when you do not live there. Cyclists and motorists have a continuous to and fro on the internet. Just like this post. Its like watching a Jack Russell with a rat. Its like cyclists have a knee Jerk reaction. They simple cannot stop themselves biting back at these posts. They find it impossible just to scroll past without having a go. I do not see this type of thing in Denmark. But that is also because Danes are very laid back and Brits have confrontation built into their DNA. In reality the vast majority of cyclists and motorists get along. But there are morons in both camps. You show me a clip of a cyclist being a dick. I will show you one of a motorist. Let it go and stop the circle.

 

[Pblakeney]

I do not see this type of thing in Denmark. But that is also because Danes are very laid back and Brits have confrontation built into their DNA.

That is quite funny as a lot of Brit's DNA is Danish. 😂

 

[Binky]

The reason cyclists are hated in the UK is very easy to see, when you do not live there. Cyclists and motorists have a continuous to and fro on the internet. Just like this post. Its like watching a Jack Russell with a rat. Its like cyclists have a knee Jerk reaction. They simple cannot stop themselves biting back at these posts. They find it impossible just to scroll past without having a go. I do not see this type of thing in Denmark. But that is also because Danes are very laid back and Brits have confrontation built into their DNA. In reality the vast majority of cyclists and motorists get along. But there are morons in both camps. You show me a clip of a cyclist being a dick. I will show you one of a motorist. Let it go and stop the circle.

Are the majority of motorists in UK on forums such as this? Seems unlikely. This forum is for cyclists so it's hardly surprising any posts which are complaining about motorists behaviour towards cyclists get a big reaction plus any which state some cyclists are also a danger to themselves and others tend to be pounced on.
Then of course get the Facebook/Youtube/Daily Mail type forums and all hell breaks out with very polarised views and again I don't think those are necessarily representative of the majority, just the few with an agenda.

You summed it up well with this sentence :

In reality the vast majority of cyclists and motorists get along. But there are morons in both camps

The old cliche of people are people is correct. Some people drive and cycle safely and within the law with care and attention for other road users. Others don't.
Unfortunately I can't see a lot changing any time soon.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

It seemed absolutely bonkers to me that they were going to introduce new speed limits in the expectation that average speeds would be 25% above them.

Why? The expectation was that it would get better, not become perfect.

It has become better.

 

[Time Waster]

I wonder if the confrontational aspect of minority in each camp online in the UK but not in Denmark is more down to separation of cyclists and motorists or cyclists and pedestrians?

We do not have infrastructure for cyclists so they have to "borrow" space on other user type's infrastructure in the UK