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The Fear of Cyclists
- Thread starter darts22
- Start date
darts22
Well-Known Forumite
because I was quoting the disgruntled police officerdirtybobby said:troll officially spotteddarts22 said:
here's your original post:
you clearly state here that cyclists make footpaths "unsafe for pedestrians".. how can you say you haven't complained about cyclists, when that is the sole point of your original post?darts22 said:
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Keep cars off the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111!!!!
db
#chaplife
at no point did you make that clear, you presented the original post as if it were your own position.. i'm sure i'm not the only one in this thread who assumed as much.. one can't help but feel that you are now simply changing your stance because you are too afraid to admit defeat!darts22 said:because I was quoting the disgruntled police officerdirtybobby said:troll officially spotteddarts22 said:
here's your original post:
you clearly state here that cyclists make footpaths "unsafe for pedestrians".. how can you say you haven't complained about cyclists, when that is the sole point of your original post?darts22 said:
darts22
Well-Known Forumite
Wrongdirtybobby said:at no point did you make that clear, you presented the original post as if it were your own position.. i'm sure i'm not the only one in this thread who assumed as much.. one can't help but feel that you are now simply changing your stance because you are too afraid to admit defeat!darts22 said:because I was quoting the disgruntled police officerdirtybobby said:troll officially spotteddarts22 said:
here's your original post:
you clearly state here that cyclists make footpaths "unsafe for pedestrians".. how can you say you haven't complained about cyclists, when that is the sole point of your original post?
darts22
Well-Known Forumite
Oh, One thing I was told many years ago by the great Joseph Cyril Bamford, was NEVER ASSUME as it will sometimes bite youdirtybobby said:at no point did you make that clear, you presented the original post as if it were your own position.. i'm sure i'm not the only one in this thread who assumed as much.. one can't help but feel that you are now simply changing your stance because you are too afraid to admit defeat!darts22 said:because I was quoting the disgruntled police officerdirtybobby said:troll officially spotteddarts22 said:
here's your original post:
you clearly state here that cyclists make footpaths "unsafe for pedestrians".. how can you say you haven't complained about cyclists, when that is the sole point of your original post?
shoes
Well-Known Forumite
I agree it is startling, I did not realise how bad the figure was.darts22 said:
I'm all for keeping pedestrians and cyclists off the road where feasible and reducing deaths, however somtimes its a choice between a road and a footpath and frankly the footpath wins in almost every circumstance.
I understand the need for the cycle paths and being quite the hippy as DB points out I am also keen on the environment and would love to see more people cycling. The problem is that cycle paths are sometimes more trouble than their worth and people walk on them anyway.
I suppose one option is to licence pushbikes and their users but thats boardering on the ridiculous.
My Name is URL
Well-Known Forumite
But you must surely agree with his point of view... else why start a debate about it except if you are a troll.....darts22 said:
If I was going to post something I disagreed with then i'd damn sure make it clear that I was quoting and that it wasn't my point of view....
Its like me starting a thread saying "All black people should go back to their own country"
If I posted that on here there would be a riot.
Whereas if I posted "The BNP think all black people should go back to their own country. What a bunch of twunts"......
darts22
Well-Known Forumite
The debate has highlighted that cyclists in Stafford are fearful about the dangers of being in the vicinity of vehicles, and if they do cycle on footways they are probably mindfull of pedestrian care. It is obvious that vehicle owners are not as caring about cyclists, you only have to view the cycle routes in Tixall Road having about 20 cars blocking them. Apparently the police are frustrated about the number of complaints received by pedestrians, and they are virtually powerless to act since they are discouraged from doing so by the local authorities, who are spending millions on cycle routes - and cyclists must be praised, not criticised for anything they do. The authorities believe that the cycle routes are a big success, but in truth they are probably not, and that is why people cycle on footpaths.gk141054 said:
We have now gone from question to answer via your goodselves' taking part in this debate.
This has been one thread that has stuck to its content and not veered away in some obscure direction, and obviously, in my opinion, has been very fruitful even though it has touched a few nerves, understandably.
djstaffs
Well-Known Forumite
Have just read all the posts in this thread and sorry darts, it would seem trolling is going on here.
This does bring up an intersting question. Are laws regarding cyclists ever enforced? not ofr the first timt this morning i suddenly find a cyclist in a black coat, no lights and no helmet on, this particular idiot was also cycling on the wrong side of the road. The quoted figure of 1 in 4 cyclists having an accident is not unsurprising given the poor way many ride I.E. No lights and dark clothing making them so hard to see.
What really concerns me though is so many do not wear helmets, most puzzling being those who go out with their kids making them wear one but then not have one on themselves.
This does bring up an intersting question. Are laws regarding cyclists ever enforced? not ofr the first timt this morning i suddenly find a cyclist in a black coat, no lights and no helmet on, this particular idiot was also cycling on the wrong side of the road. The quoted figure of 1 in 4 cyclists having an accident is not unsurprising given the poor way many ride I.E. No lights and dark clothing making them so hard to see.
What really concerns me though is so many do not wear helmets, most puzzling being those who go out with their kids making them wear one but then not have one on themselves.
henryscat
Well-Known Forumite
It isn't a legal requirement to wear a helmet when cycling - and actually the benefits of wearing one are by no means clear cut. How many (road) cycling relating injuries would be prevented by wearing a helmet? Lots of car occupants gain head injuries in accidents every year, but you don't have to wear a crash helmet in a car....djstaffs said:
On other points raised re: cycling off-road.... You are arguably safer cycling on the road than on shared-use cycle paths that run along side. Its impossible to (safely) cycle at a decent speed on off-road paths; they are often bumpy; and they are interrupted at frequent intervals by driveways, accesses and side roads. The last one is the most important as when you're on a cycle path crossing a T-junction you have to look through 270 degrees to determine its safe to continue. Crossing driveways you risk some pillock reversing into you. For the most part I don't bother with cycle paths for these reasons. Have used the Beaconside one as that's not too bad and is relatively uninterrupeted for decent stretches.
If you're cycling on road and correctly positioned - decent distance from the kerb or if narrow road and cars cannot pass safely in the middle of your side the road - and aware of what's going on it should be possible to avoid most dangerous situations.
It makes me cringe when I see people cycling on road down the gutter almost to the left of any double yellow lines - no escape route whatsoever. The other dangerous situation a lot of cyclists put themselves in is filtering up the inside of a queue, rather than the outside.
shoes
Well-Known Forumite
having been an avid downhiller when I was younger and coming off my bike countless times i can assure you that a helmet is essential wear when on a bike. I have hit my head off trees, rocks, the ground, other cyclists and in one amusing incident I kneed myself in the face. Suffice to say I wasn't wearing a helmet for one of them, and after that I always wore a skid lid.
I feel this issue is six of one and half a dozen of the other, I have seen many idiots on bikes dicking around and generally presenting themselves as a hazard to everyone, as well as mentioned above no lights / black clothes etc.
On the other side I have been on the receiving end of what is quite frankly appauling driving and a poor attitude to cyclists and I find it very hard to understand. Every cyclist (within reason) is another potential driver to clog up the roads and yet there they are, a mere inconvenience for the amount of time it takes to overtake them, often less than 30 seconds.
As ever it boils down to the minority of fools affecting the majority of sensible people who wish to return home in the same state they were in when they set off for their journey, transported by whatever means they choose.
Your comments about cycle paths being irritatingly sporadic is something I really have to agree with you about, it's very frustrating.
Finally, cycling on the road + iPod (or equivelent) = FAIL
I feel this issue is six of one and half a dozen of the other, I have seen many idiots on bikes dicking around and generally presenting themselves as a hazard to everyone, as well as mentioned above no lights / black clothes etc.
On the other side I have been on the receiving end of what is quite frankly appauling driving and a poor attitude to cyclists and I find it very hard to understand. Every cyclist (within reason) is another potential driver to clog up the roads and yet there they are, a mere inconvenience for the amount of time it takes to overtake them, often less than 30 seconds.
As ever it boils down to the minority of fools affecting the majority of sensible people who wish to return home in the same state they were in when they set off for their journey, transported by whatever means they choose.
Your comments about cycle paths being irritatingly sporadic is something I really have to agree with you about, it's very frustrating.
Finally, cycling on the road + iPod (or equivelent) = FAIL
Goldilox
How do I edit this?
Since I started the last thread on this I feel I should chime in- I dislike cyclists riding on the pavement as a pedestrian (crooked bridge road, where I frequently have to leap into the road to avoid idiots riding on the narrow pavement even though the road is empty, is my the worst spot on my route to work for this), as a cyclist I have come off my bike because of pedestrians walking five abreast down a cycle path so this is also a cause of annoyance. I'd agree with henryscats post about the safest way to cycle being on the road in the centre of the lane - this means cars can't do stupid things like overtake when there's on coming traffic. I know cars can be intimidating but if you know the rules of the road and act accordingly on a bike there's very few spots where you couldn't cycle at all. There's always the option of dismounting if you have to cover a few yards on the pavement.
darben
Well-Known Forumite
I agree and also some of the cyclists on the footpaths can be verbally abusive, agressive and intimidating. I refuse put my life in danger by walking into the traffic to get out of the way of a cyclist who is breaking law, and get sworn at a lot because of it. Some of the pavements are very narrow because of the age of the town and are simply too narrow to be sensible to cycle on.Goldilox said:
Please cyclists if you feel have to cycle on the pavement have a bit of respect at least have the common sense to cycle on the correct side of road so you can access the road safely as soon as you are in the way of a pedestrian. Being an ignorant cyclist is just as bad as being an ignorant motorist. I am often left gobsmacked at the danger some cylists will put themselves by not observing any kind of common sense or having any self respect.
Also, although I do not agee with cycling on the footpaths, I feel it is a sad reflection of how bad the road traffic situation has been allowed to deteriorate in the town.
ToriRat
Is that a Moomin?
An idiot can be anywhere, driving, walking or cycling- I cycle on a cycle path where present, on the road if I deem it to be safe for myself and others to do so and on the pavement where I deem the road to be too hazardous for cycling ( and theres a fair few places in Stafford where that is the case).
I always wear refelective or bright clothing, have lights on in dim conditions and always wear a helmet. Having been involved in several near misses on the bike, I wouldnt go anywhere without it.
Cycling on the cycle path I've had idiots jump in front of me, on the road I've been abused, threatened and intimidated, and on the pavement berated by people who I've been nowhere near. On the flip side I have been in a vehicle that has been hit by a cyclist, and have been bashed into on the pavement by a dimwit on a bike. As I said at the start of the post an Idiot can be anywhere...
I always wear refelective or bright clothing, have lights on in dim conditions and always wear a helmet. Having been involved in several near misses on the bike, I wouldnt go anywhere without it.
Cycling on the cycle path I've had idiots jump in front of me, on the road I've been abused, threatened and intimidated, and on the pavement berated by people who I've been nowhere near. On the flip side I have been in a vehicle that has been hit by a cyclist, and have been bashed into on the pavement by a dimwit on a bike. As I said at the start of the post an Idiot can be anywhere...
djstaffs
Well-Known Forumite
In reply to henryscat (sorry the post was too long to quote), I stand corrected, i was under the impression it was a legal requirement. Why it isnt i dont know, if you have any eveidence of where a helmet is a hinderence and a hazard to safety then please share, i would be very interested. I think it is quite clear the protection it gives you and i have a number of people in a+e say "wish i had been wearing a helmet". Car occupants having head injuries??...not sure we get many of them these days. We used to have many and a very large portion of them went on to donate organs for transplant. Then Volvo came along and spolit it by giving us the seat belt, consequently we now have hardly any organ donors.
If there were safety concerns over helmets why do all professional cyclists and events insist upon it?
And the biggest part of my mentioning helmets were adults who dont wear them but make their children wear them. They obviously know the benifits so why risk it themselves?
We have too many idiots out there really, on foot, on 2 wheels and on 4. Think there is justification for riding on pavements in some spots, just comes down to everyone being sensible, tolerent and using the head. But then we would live in a perfect world and would have nothing to moan about...where would staffordforum be then
PS Good ones or bad ones (and i think there are plenty good ones) Staffprd has loads more cycle paths than many other places.
If there were safety concerns over helmets why do all professional cyclists and events insist upon it?
And the biggest part of my mentioning helmets were adults who dont wear them but make their children wear them. They obviously know the benifits so why risk it themselves?
We have too many idiots out there really, on foot, on 2 wheels and on 4. Think there is justification for riding on pavements in some spots, just comes down to everyone being sensible, tolerent and using the head. But then we would live in a perfect world and would have nothing to moan about...where would staffordforum be then
PS Good ones or bad ones (and i think there are plenty good ones) Staffprd has loads more cycle paths than many other places.
My Name is URL
Well-Known Forumite
Went to Oxford the other week... don't think I drove down one road that didn't have an (uninterupted) cycle lane... and every railing I saw had about 100 bikes chained to it...djstaffs said:
