The disadvantage of commuting by bike

[User482]

It's a fair point User482.
However, it's antisocial behaviour apart from the safety issue and if left unchecked will become endemic in cities. To my mind that is not a good thing. Sometimes in Oxford you'd think the lights were non-existant judging by cyclists behaviour... the safety hazard is stopping on the red with the fear of being rear-ended rather than jumping with the rest of the lemmings.
Something needs to be done, cyclists are increasingly seen as the enemy on the roads by drivers and peds alike. It's not a feeling I appreciate.

It's a good time for cycling, numbers are on the up, we have an opportunity to lead the way, but were severly hampered image-wise by RLJ'ers and pavement riding.

Well done plod for doing something.

Yes, I take all of your points. But it seems a shame that plod isn't similarly motivated to clamp down on motoring offences.

 

[PBancroft]

Do people really jump out of the way of pavement cyclists? I walk straight at the feckers.

This is confession time... I have honestly never told anyone this.

I live near a canal which has a footpath running alongside it. It's a pleasant walk into town which myself and my partner take every Saturday to do our weekly grocery shop. A couple of years ago there was a kid on a motorbike who used to ride down this path. Bear in mind that this is a footpath - it is wide enough for two very friendly people to walk side by side, no more.

He did this on a regular basis, and I often saw people have to stand in the hedge in order to get out of his way (no - he did not slow down). I had always wondered what would happen if he rode up to an elderly person or someone who couldn't get out of the way in time.

One day, my partner couldn't come into town with me, so I went alone. Along came this twonk. I stepped into the hedge as normal, but couldn't get in fair enough to leave sufficient safety space. He kept coming. As he came alongside, something snapped. He was an inch away.

I pushed.

He went into the canal, along with the bike.

He was OK - he looked up with shock at me, and I told him to ride on the road like a sensible person, and walked off. He didn't do it again.

I'm not proud. This is why I haven't told anyone (not even the Mrs.). But there we go.

 

[gavintc]

This is confession time... I have honestly never told anyone this.

I live near a canal which has a footpath running alongside it. It's a pleasant walk into town which myself and my partner take every Saturday to do our weekly grocery shop. A couple of years ago there was a kid on a motorbike who used to ride down this path. Bear in mind that this is a footpath - it is wide enough for two very friendly people to walk side by side, no more.

He did this on a regular basis, and I often saw people have to stand in the hedge in order to get out of his way (no - he did not slow down). I had always wondered what would happen if he rode up to an elderly person or someone who couldn't get out of the way in time.

One day, my partner couldn't come into town with me, so I went alone. Along came this twonk. I stepped into the hedge as normal, but couldn't get in fair enough to leave sufficient safety space. He kept coming. As he came alongside, something snapped. He was an inch away.

I pushed.

He went into the canal, along with the bike.

He was OK - he looked up with shock at me, and I told him to ride on the road like a sensible person, and walked off. He didn't do it again.

I'm not proud. This is why I haven't told anyone (not even the Mrs.). But there we go.

I laughed out when I read that one. I have always to have the courage to do something like that.

 

[hackbike 6]

Im sure I had another plod behind me at Blackfriars today but as RLJing is getting out of hand good on them.

Just hope they don't nick me for stopping over the line occasionally.

 

[HJ]

It's about time too, the law applies to all of us equally...

 

[hackbike 6]

Actually RLJing got out of hand a long time ago.