Cycle gangs of Stafford?

[Vault_girl]

This morning on my way to work a "gang" of young teenage boys on BMX bikes really worried me. They zoomed around the roundabout by Queens then up the lichfield road to town, going straight through Red lights, switching between the road and the footpath and not particularly sticking to the cycle paths or anything. They weren't wearing helmets and weren't really looking before hopping onto the road or crossing junctions.

What happened to bike training in schools? Sooo many times they could nearly have been killed or hit by cars...

/rant

 

[tek-monkey]

I wasn't aware they did bike training in schools, we didn't anyway! Not that its releavnt really, the parents should be the ones making sure their kids are OK, relying on someone who only sees them for a few hours a week, 35 weeks of the year isn't exactly good parenting but unfortunately many do think that its up to the schools to do everything and they need do nothing at home.

 

[staffordjas]

I've noticed quite a few lately going straight through the red lights by the odeon and narrowly avoiding people on the pelican crossing.

And again,last weekend when I stopped at the red lights at LLoyds Bank/Riverway junction a few cyclists jumped off the pavement, ignored the red lights completely, and cycled straight across the busy junction . They don't seem to think the road regulations apply to them.

They do the cycling proficiency testing from our local school for a couple of days in year 6 and they come up by my road. Watching them it is a total waste of time, especially when you see the same kids hurtling around the estate having taken no notice at all of the previous cycling lesson.

My son had one day cycling training and the teachers cancelled the second day as it was raining!!! They gave them all a certificate anyway, even though they hadn't completed the training.

 

[Mr J C]

When I did my cycling proficiency - way back in the depths of time.....the course used to be held every Wednesday night for 3 months and only when you actually proved you understood the rules of the road did you get a certificate. This rubbish about giving certificates just cos the kids turn up is pants!!!

 

[Trumpet]

Came across one last winter on Queensville bridge, perfect positioning about 12-18 inches from the kerb unfortunately he was on the wrong side of the road in the dark with no lights!
Soon to be out of the gene pool maybe.

 

[United57]

I've just seen 2 lads on bikes cut across a road, no care in the world, nearly caused a crash. Then suddenly a police car pulled out all lights blaring and the nabbed them. You could here the policeman a mile off givng them a dressing down. Unfortunately this is in South Yorkshire where the police appear to have a zero tolerance policy.

 

[Vault_girl]

I was just astounded at their apparent lack of care for themselves... sailing straight through red lights, jumping from the road to the footpath and back again and not looking at where the traffic was going at all. They could have been so badly hurt. Luckily I think all drivers saw them (there was a lot of them) and were driving with extra care. They were young kids but still plenty old enough to have known better...

 

[proactive]

I've just seen 2 lads on bikes cut across a road, no care in the world, nearly caused a crash. Then suddenly a police car pulled out all lights blaring and the nabbed them. You could here the policeman a mile off givng them a dressing down. Unfortunately this is in South Yorkshire where the police appear to have a zero tolerance policy.

That policeman needs to be careful. If he's been mean and shouted at the little loves, they may sue him and the force (sorry, service) for psychological distress.

 

[shoes]

Perhaps they should pull the naughtiest kid our of each class and run him/her down with a car in front of the rest of the class - that'll learn 'em!

 

[ATJ]

Spotted two kids riding bikes up the dual carriageway section of Castlefields the other day. Only they were riding one each side of the road and expecting cars to thread between them...

 

[United57]

I've just seen 2 lads on bikes cut across a road, no care in the world, nearly caused a crash. Then suddenly a police car pulled out all lights blaring and the nabbed them. You could here the policeman a mile off givng them a dressing down. Unfortunately this is in South Yorkshire where the police appear to have a zero tolerance policy.

That policeman needs to be careful. If he's been mean and shouted at the little loves, they may sue him and the force (sorry, service) for psychological distress.

South Yorkshire police have a reputation ask any Leeds or Sheffield fan. Fair but very firm.

 

[gilesjuk]

They're kids, their minds don't work the same as an adults.

I see plenty of cars going through red lights at the last second on the way to work.

It's called Bikeability now and it is still done.

 

[tek-monkey]

Too true, the amount of idiotic car drivers is amazing. I'm worried enough when I'm in the right lane, doing the right thing. To expect a car driver to react properly to an oncoming bike with no lights at night is tantamount to suicide.

 

[Withnail]

They're kids, their minds don't work the same as an adults.

And don't forget, they are actually indestructible.

A bit like Captain Scarlet.

 

[ddub1984]

They're kids, their minds don't work the same as an adults.

And don't forget, they are actually indestructible.

A bit like Captain Scarlet.

Or maybe they are learning by the example set by a lot of adult cyclists you see these days... zooming down the insides of cars queuing, cycling at night without lights or helmets, running red lights, hopping on & off pavements as they please... I see adult cyclists doing this just as much as kids. They are a law unto themselves, some of them. If kids dont know how to cycle safely I think part of the blame should be put on adults setting a bad example. Im not sticking up for these kids, just saying.

 

[Glam]

The majority of the kids I see these days are on them bmx bikes,it's by the grace of God that they aren't hit. I'm not painting them all with the same brush either,yes some adults are daft too,but majority of near misses I see are with teenagers. I'd bip me horn at them but don't want be parked up at the next set of lights and have 1 of the little darlings rip me wing mirror off.

 

[gilesjuk]

Or maybe they are learning by the example set by a lot of adult cyclists you see these days... zooming down the insides of cars queuing, cycling at night without lights or helmets, running red lights, hopping on & off pavements as they please... I see adult cyclists doing this just as much as kids. They are a law unto themselves, some of them. If kids dont know how to cycle safely I think part of the blame should be put on adults setting a bad example. Im not sticking up for these kids, just saying.

What about all the cars parked on the pavements blocking the cycle lanes, obscuring the view at junctions, making the pavements hard to use for wheelchair users or users of mobility scooters?

People like this idiot:

There's a lot of really bad drivers, people who have been trained to drive and passed a test. People who should know better!

 

[shoes]

Pesky kids!

 

[John Marwood]

Or maybe they are learning by the example set by a lot of adult cyclists you see these days... zooming down the insides of cars queuing, cycling at night without lights or helmets, running red lights, hopping on & off pavements as they please... I see adult cyclists doing this just as much as kids. They are a law unto themselves, some of them. If kids dont know how to cycle safely I think part of the blame should be put on adults setting a bad example. Im not sticking up for these kids, just saying.

What about all the cars parked on the pavements blocking the cycle lanes, obscuring the view at junctions, making the pavements hard to use for wheelchair users or users of mobility scooters?

People like this idiot:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5619860973_3d4ab97aca.jpg

There's a lot of really bad drivers, people who have been trained to drive and passed a test. People who should know better!

Or for that matter any motorist who parks on or half on a pavement - Twats - its not there to protect your hideously large wing mirrors you monkey brain, its made of softer tarmac (Tm) for starters and how am I supposed to take the baby triplets to the pub with you in the flucking way!


And breath....

 

[toooldtorock]

I agree, where I live is plagued by people parking half on the footpath, half on the road. 2 doors down from me has a driveway, never used, parks on the road/footpath. Bloody nuisance' although my dog does like peeing up the tyres!