No wonder Cyclists are unpopular with motorists!

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GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
No, you don't. You pay Vehicle Excise Duty, car tax. 'Road tax', or the 'road fund licence', was scrapped in 1936.

REALLY!?! Wow.

Perhaps that's why I wear a one of these in the summer. :becool:

Seriously, arguing that point with car drivers during a row is a total and utter waste of time ime/imo only beaten by arguing the point with fellow cyclists in internet forums.:thumbsup:
 

Clandy

Well-Known Member
I think we all know there is no such thing as 'Road Tax' my comments were aimed at what the "cyclist hating motorists" think of us, and not paying road tax is often very high on their agenda along with the wearing of lycra, riding two abreast, not wearing helmets, going too slow, filtering past etc etc, its a very long list! If cyclists never RLJ'ed these motorist who still hate us. Thankfully these morons are in the minority or we would all be dead.

I just don't think RLJing cyclists is a big deal. Concentrate your complaining on those who endager us, mobile phone use, texting, speeding, close passing etc, aim your efforts at making it safer for cyclists not trying to appease those who don't agree with our existence.

How can we criticise bad and dangerous driving if we turn a blind eye to the morons on bicycles who also ignore the rules of the road? I am not a believer in 'do as I say, not as I do'. Obeying traffic law is not 'appeasement', it is setting the example.
 

John the Monkey

Frivolous Cyclist
Location
Crewe
How can we criticise bad and dangerous driving if we turn a blind eye to the morons on bicycles who also ignore the rules of the road? I am not a believer in 'do as I say, not as I do'. Obeying traffic law is not 'appeasement', it is setting the example.

Bad and dangerous driving is still that regardless of what other road users are doing. It is also a mistake to think that perfect behaviour by other road users has an effect on the behaviour of motorists (in my experience). This is not to say that poor behaviour by other road users should be encouraged, condoned, ignored; merely that correcting it would do relatively little to improve the safety (objectively and subjectively) of Britain's roads - the ability to do that lies largely in the hands of the heavier, faster, more numerous party.

Another cyclist has put me at risk precisely once in over three years of commuting into and from Manchester, and walking about the city centre. Motorists put me at risk every day, with stuff that is seriously worrying happenning around once a week. Whilst I dislike inattentive, inconsiderate law breaking cyclists, I'm not under the impression that they pose as great a risk as similar behaviours by the drivers of motor vehicles.
 

format

Über Member
Location
Glasgow.
What are people's opinions on the following -

I stop for every red light I see.
  • If it's a red like at a pedestrian crossing and after I've stopped I can clearly see that no one is around, I'll carry on cycling.
  • If it's a junction, and there is a green man on either my left or my right (meaning no traffic will cut across my path) and there are no pedestrians, I'll carry on cycling.
In the above scenarios, I'm not endangering anyone. Is it alright for me to do it?
 

Clandy

Well-Known Member
What are people's opinions on the following -

I stop for every red light I see.
  • If it's a red like at a pedestrian crossing and after I've stopped I can clearly see that no one is around, I'll carry on cycling.
  • If it's a junction, and there is a green man on either my left or my right (meaning no traffic will cut across my path) and there are no pedestrians, I'll carry on cycling.
In the above scenarios, I'm not endangering anyone. Is it alright for me to do it?



No.
 

John the Monkey

Frivolous Cyclist
Location
Crewe
What are people's opinions on the following -

I stop for every red light I see.
  • If it's a red like at a pedestrian crossing and after I've stopped I can clearly see that no one is around, I'll carry on cycling.
  • If it's a junction, and there is a green man on either my left or my right (meaning no traffic will cut across my path) and there are no pedestrians, I'll carry on cycling.
In the above scenarios, I'm not endangering anyone. Is it alright for me to do it?

I wouldn't do it.

I'd suggest you don't either. I don't want to ride on roads where folk take a pick and mix attitude to traffic law (see posts passim).
 

Dan B

Disengaged member
How can we criticise bad and dangerous driving if we turn a blind eye to the morons on bicycles who also ignore the rules of the road?
I can criticise bad and dangerous driving on the grounds that it is bad and/or dangerous without reference to whether or not it is illegal. There is no law against using a hands-free mobile phone while driving, for example, yet this is often bad or dangerous.
 

Dan B

Disengaged member
Would this be a satisfactory argument in a speed camara thread ?

If I thought the number was even vaguely accurate then yes. But I doubt the "I only exceed the limit on deserted motorways" crowd make up anywhere near 99% of speeders.
 

Dan B

Disengaged member
If you were in a car, would you consider getting out pushing across and then carrying on ?

No, for the same reason as if I were in a double decker bus I would not consider parking it in a multistorey, and if I saw an LGV driver go the wrong way round a roundabout I would be much more inclined to leniency than if he were in a Nissan micra. There are different tradeoffs involved in the use of different vehicles

Do you park your bike in a pay & display space?
 
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