The Fear of Cyclists

[shoes]

PS Good ones or bad ones (and i think there are plenty good ones) Staffprd has loads more cycle paths than many other places.

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...

Cambridge is pretty much the same although there are sooooo many cyclists in camb that you have to be real careful whether you're on wheels or foot.

 

[My Name is URL]

LOL ok so we also have got some catching up to do

Sorry DJ, wasn't trying to say you were wrong. I agree Stafford is pretty good compared to most.

 

[shoes]

I used to cycle from Derrington to the tech park and back every day for work, probably 3 or so years ago and I must admit its a pretty easy ride and there are two routes both of which i would imagine are over 50% of both covered by cycle paths. I never had any complaints other than on the western road, mainly due to school kids who were in scores on their way to school. Most are walking in the same direction so don't see you coming which can get frustrating. Can't recall ever having a problem with any of them when i said 'excuse me' apart from once but that lad is probably in prison and/or rehab now anyway so who's the real winner lol.

On the whole I find stafford good for cycling.

 

[My Name is URL]

but that lad is probably in rehab now anyway so who's the real winner lol.

Jesus christ, what did you do to the poor kid?

 

[shoes]

but that lad is probably in rehab now anyway so who's the real winner lol.

Jesus christ, what did you do to the poor kid?

lol nothing, it was more his demeanor and attitude i use to formulate that opinion. He threatened to hit me for saying excuse me. not entirely his fault i accept, but you can guarantee the poor sod's parents are no stranger to the big house or the job centre.

as i said though, it was a one off. the western road kids have never really posed any problems as far as i'm aware. a handful of them were settng fire to things by way of deoderant can behind my office every day for a week or so, i got a photo of them at it and all of their faces (gotta love the clarity on the DSLRs) and sent it to western road school. suffice to say it stopped, there and then.

 

[darts22]

The Department of Transport has just revealed that the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on the roads rocketed in the spring. The grim toll for April to June totalled 820, a rise of 19 percent on the same period the previous year. Slight injuries to pedal cyclists rose 9 percent.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

darts22 have you ever been hit by a car when you're on a push bike? I have, it hurt and I had to take three weeks off work with a sprained ankle. I'm lucky thats all it was. Funnily enough the blameless car drive didn't stop either the c**t.

If you'd like to experience it first hand i'll happily run you down.

now now calm down

Why? I was hit by a car as a pedestrian nearly three years ago now, and even at 30mph it is still quite traumatic. I imagine for children the damage would be more than just sprained ankles and bruises.

To cite just one example of the many inconsiderate acts that drivers commit on a regular basis, at least once every few weeks I have some idiot driver blocking a pedestrian crossing (which definitely IS illegal. Unlike most drivers I have actually read the fooking Highway Code) meaning that I and any other pedestrians have had to go around this vehicle, sometimes off the crossing, to get across the road.

 

[basil]

I've got a bike
You can ride it if you like,
It's got a basket and bells on
And things to make it look good,

 

[tek-monkey]

Ride a motorbike and you appreciate the hatred car drivers in general have for cyclists. Ride a pushbike and you may as well be a walking genital wart for the consideration you get.

 

[basil]

Ride a motorbike and you appreciate the hatred car drivers in general have for cyclists. Ride a pushbike and you may as well be a walking genital wart for the consideration you get.

Steady on, have you should have seen Gilbert after our 'working lunch' yesterday......

 

[darts22]

Ride a motorbike and you appreciate the hatred car drivers in general have for cyclists. Ride a pushbike and you may as well be a walking genital wart for the consideration you get.

Try a white swan

 

[Gramaisc]

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

 

[darts22]

Anyone read the open letter in the Newsletter last week, headlined "An ode to cyclists to mend their ways"
Quote
The All new Cycling Proficiency Test 2010
You Shall ride on the pavements and not on the road
You do not need lights at night
You do not need a bell
You do not need brakes
You do not need visible clothing
You do not have to be sober
You do not have to follow the highway code
You can run into people and cars
You do not need to pay for damage
You do not need road tax or insurance
The County Council will build lanes to nowhere for you
You do not need to stop at lights
You can ride on pedestrian areas
You can ride the wrong way up one-way streets
You will not get fixed penalty tickets

I'll leave the last bit out

 

[Wookie]

Yeah, what happened to bells on bikes? Several times a month I nearly get run over by cyclists in Cannock, who seem to think it's *my* fault that I didn't know they were coming up behind me.
Next one who argues with me gets shoved into the path of an 18-wheeler.

 

[basil]

Anyone read the open letter in the Newsletter last week, headlined "An ode to cyclists to mend their ways"
Quote
The All new Cycling Proficiency Test 2010
You Shall ride on the pavements and not on the road
You do not need lights at night
You do not need a bell
You do not need brakes
You do not need visible clothing
You do not have to be sober
You do not have to follow the highway code
You can run into people and cars
You do not need to pay for damage
You do not need road tax or insurance
The County Council will build lanes to nowhere for you
You do not need to stop at lights
You can ride on pedestrian areas
You can ride the wrong way up one-way streets
You will not get fixed penalty tickets

I'll leave the last bit out

Yes i did read that, no doubt plagarism was it signed Dave Parker, Burns Ave?......

 

[db]

Anyone read the open letter in the Newsletter last week, headlined "An ode to cyclists to mend their ways"
Quote
The All new Cycling Proficiency Test 2010
You Shall ride on the pavements and not on the road
You do not need lights at night
You do not need a bell
You do not need brakes
You do not need visible clothing
You do not have to be sober
You do not have to follow the highway code
You can run into people and cars
You do not need to pay for damage
You do not need road tax or insurance
The County Council will build lanes to nowhere for you
You do not need to stop at lights
You can ride on pedestrian areas
You can ride the wrong way up one-way streets
You will not get fixed penalty tickets

I'll leave the last bit out

Yes i did read that, no doubt plagarism was it signed Dave Parker, Burns Ave?......

nope, i know the guy who wrote it, he must spend his whole life writing letters to the newsletter cos he has at least one a week in there lol..

 

[basil]

So there's 2 nutters?.........

 

[My Name is URL]

Yeah, what happened to bells on bikes? Several times a month I nearly get run over by cyclists in Cannock, who seem to think it's *my* fault that I didn't know they were coming up behind me.
Next one who argues with me gets shoved into the path of an 18-wheeler.

I believe it is a legal requirement that all bikes sold must be sold with a bell... I have one on mine, its a modern one so doesn't look too bad.

I can understand your frustration, but you weren't walking in a cycle lane were you? You wouldn't believe how many people do - dumb shmucks! Even worse when kids have ipods on and don't hear your bell