Shouted at TWICE Damn Pedestrians

[smutchin]

I find it ridiculous to suggest that a cyclist trying to get to work as fast as he or she can will still abiding by the laws should be regarded as unsafe.

The two are mutually exclusive. A road is not a race track.

Edit: actually, thinking about it, what you're talking about is more akin to time-trialling than road racing, so is probably OK in the eyes of the law, but it's still antisocial.

d.

 

[simon.r]

The two are mutually exclusive. A road is not a race track.

Edit: actually, thinking about it, what you're talking about is more akin to time-trialling than road racing, so is probably OK in the eyes of the law, but it's still antisocial.

d.

Not necessarily (is it antisocial). I'd suggest that most of us try and get to wherever we're going as fast as possible most of the time*, be we walking, cycling or using an internal combustion engine. Most of us manage to do so without breaking the law or causing anyone any upset.

*The obvious exception is when we're just out for a Sunday afternoon pootle or similar.

 

[benb]

I find it ridiculous to suggest that a cyclist trying to get to work as fast as he or she can will still abiding by the laws should be regarded as unsafe. Half the reason i ride a road bike to work is to see if I can beat yesterdays time in. I do get that trackstanding at a ped crossing is like reving the engine aggressively.

Go as fast as you can while being aware of your situation, and don't trackstand at ped crossings.

If a driver drove as fast as possible, but within the speed limit all the time, regardless of the conditions, would they be driving safely?

 

[simon.r]

If a driver drove as fast as possible, but within the speed limit all the time, regardless of the conditions, would they be driving safely?

No, obviously not. There are numerous 60mph limit roads near where I live where it isn't safe to drive anywhere near 60mph, even in perfect conditions.

 

[benb]

No, obviously not. There are numerous 60mph limit roads near where I live where it isn't safe to drive anywhere near 60mph, even in perfect conditions.

Well then.

I find it ridiculous to suggest that a cyclist trying to get to work as fast as he or she can will still abiding by the laws should be regarded as unsafe. Half the reason i ride a road bike to work is to see if I can beat yesterdays time in. I do get that trackstanding at a ped crossing is like reving the engine aggressively.

Go as fast as you can while being aware of your situation, and don't trackstand at ped crossings.

Obviously not ridiculous.

 

[Hawk]

Pfft, what a confrontational thread.

If you must "trackstand" then maybe you could come to a stop two metres before the stop line or approach the stop line at a crawl.

If a pedestrian has to consider the possibility that you're about to jump a red light while they cross in accordance with their green pedestrian crossing signal, you are obviously perceived to be cycling somewhat antisocially.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

Pfft, what a confrontational thread.

If you must "trackstand" then maybe you could come to a stop two metres before the stop line or approach the stop line at a crawl.

If a pedestrian has to consider the possibility that you're about to jump a red light while they cross in accordance with their green pedestrian crossing signal, you are obviously perceived to be cycling somewhat antisocially.

tbh due to my developing ablity in trackstanding ( i used to downhill race and MTB time trail only so no real need for a trackstand only been road riding for 9mnths) i had slowed to around 4/5 mph and then stood still.
is it really that bad to practice and gain a new skill in your daily commute?
on the speed issue ofcourse you need to take into consideration the conditions etc but if the roads are safe to do top speed on a bike why would i not enjoy being able to do that rather than craw in traffic like the cars? surely thats the reason to cycle to avoid the daily grind?

didnt see this being a confrontational thread ..

 

[CopperCyclist]

tbh due to my developing ablity in trackstanding ( i used to downhill race and MTB time trail only so no real need for a trackstand only been road riding for 9mnths) i had slowed to around 4/5 mph and then stood still.
is it really that bad to practice and gain a new skill in your daily commute?
on the speed issue ofcourse you need to take into consideration the conditions etc but if the roads are safe to do top speed on a bike why would i not enjoy being able to do that rather than craw in traffic like the cars? surely thats the reason to cycle to avoid the daily grind?

didnt see this being a confrontational thread ..

It's not. Don't really know why some people have taken it as such. If you can track stand, kudos to you. I'd do it if I could, with a proviso that if it's not appropriate (I.e. tightly bunched with other cyclists or cars) then don't.

As for the speed issue, it's simple. Go as fast as you want whilst maintaining yours and others safety. No one needs to tell you to 'slow down' just to 'be safe'.

 

[jonny jeez]

Yes I can twatstand.

Anyone can do it.

Err...I cant

 

[smutchin]

If a pedestrian has to consider the possibility that you're about to jump a red light while they cross in accordance with their green pedestrian crossing signal, you are obviously perceived to be cycling somewhat antisocially.

Hmmm. Interesting thought.

I know I'm not planning to go through the light, I know I'm not going to hit the pedestrian, but is there anything about the way I approach the lights that could give a person crossing the wrong idea? It's worth thinking about, I'll grant you.

d.

 

[jonny jeez]

I think trackstanding (although a bit daft looking IMO) is a pretty good skill to acquire (along with riding no handed and pulling wheelies). I dont think any of them are useful in a commuting sense and I wouldn't recommend them but anything that allows you to enhance the handling of your bike is a good thing in my book.

 

[smutchin]

I can trackstand quite well, even if I say so myself, and I sometimes do it at traffic lights (not ped crossings), but it's certainly not something I'd consider a useful skill for commuting. And it only looks daft it you do it badly. If you do it right (no wiggling, staying in the saddle), it can look pretty cool.

d.

 

[Speedywheelsjeans]

Life's not a race, drop your top speed, more, and you'll feel better every day.

The road has speed limits which we as cyclists rarely exceed, 17mph is hardly fast

 

[hennbell]

Well then.



Obviously not ridiculous.

Using this logic the whole world needs covered in bubble wrap and everyone must not move ever in case we might cause a safety issue.......

 

[simon.r]

Well then.

Obviously not ridiculous.

Ah, OK then - and I thought I was pedantic Let me qualify my assertion:

Riding as fast as you want to, whilst abiding by the law and taking account of the conditions (be they weather, road, pedestrians or any of the other 1001 things that one needs to be aware of) isn't antisocial.

Anyway, I'm off to the pub. Any of my responses after 10pm will be under the influence of several pints of this:

Cheers