Ok, tenuous link, but this is something I have been thinking recently on my cycle into work...
When you are in a car, you take as much care as possible to not run over pedestrians, rear end other cars, slam on your brakes for no reason, pull out without indicating in front of someone, run red lights (most people do this, anyway).

Why is it, that so many cyclists flout these rules? I stop for red lights, signal, and try not to cut people up. But every day, on my cycle in, I see other cyclists being bell-ends (is that hyphen warranted?). People are safer in cars (yes! Linked it to the question), than they are on bikes, but why do they act like such morons?
(The Kwyjibo A big, dumb, balding North American ape., Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:06, 39 replies)

Because 99.9% of cyclists think the law shouldn't apply to them
Because, y'know, they're on a bike. And that's good for the environment or something.

And that they're all ignorant, arrogant twats.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:09, closed)

Hardly all of them
When you notice a cyclist acting like a twat and jumping red lights, you no doubt think to yourself, 'There goes a twat' and rightly so.

When you see a cyclist acting sensibly, obeying signals etc, I doubt you think, now there goes a sensible cyclist.

I'm a cyclist, and I use cycle paths where possible, otherwise I ride on the road. I follow the laws on the road as I expect car drivers to do, and still I've been driven straight into at T junctions by numpty drivers

I accept that all car drivers are not this way (otherwise there's no way in hell I'd cycle on the roads at all), but some of them are. Goes for cyclists unfortunately.

Part of the reason is the shitty cycle paths that the government half heartedly put in everywhere. We could learn a lot from Holland.
( LemonEntryMyDearWatson This time, Moriarty, the hand is on the other foot, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:17, closed)

I dunno.
I work in central Mordor. I see a lot of dickhead cyclists, one of which stopped and threatened to spark me as I had had the audacity to cross the road on the green man.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:18, closed)

Arm out - throat height
In London they jump red lights at crossings all the time. Unfortunately the speed they put on to get in front of you works against them when a 16st commuter "accidently" collides with them.
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:25, closed)

Again, yeah...
...the desire to install a rear-view so I can be ready to clothesline one of the pillocks amongst us grows with each time I see one of them do it.

*smack* 'AWK! WTF!' 'Red means stop, dickhead'. Though if I was going to do that, I'd have to find some Accord decals for my bike.
(thatblokeoverthere not quite as much an arsehole as I thought, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:52, closed)

They were obviously a cunt
Unfortunately they exist.

I try to redress the balance by being a jolly civil cyclist, with a bell on my bike and everything. When going down the towpath, I always make sure to give a cheery wave and a thankyou.
( LemonEntryMyDearWatson This time, Moriarty, the hand is on the other foot, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 19:01, closed)

Cycle paths don't always help
Quite a few years ago they built a cycle path along a considerable length of the A127. I used to use it a fair bit - it was new, flat, well-maintained and got me the other side of the kerb from 70mph traffic.

Yet amazingly I still used to see (and still do) the lycra-clad brigade avoiding it as if they'd catch saddle-itch or something.
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:21, closed)

Yeah, I notice that...
...in my neck of the woods too. I figure possibly that being dressed like a penis in a novelty condom sponsored by who-the-fuck-ever has some effect on thier common sense.

I'd rather ride seperate from the motorised traffic if I can, so why the novelty condoms don't is a mystery to me.
(thatblokeoverthere not quite as much an arsehole as I thought, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:30, closed)

In general...
...I do take note when I see a sensible cyclist because it's such a rarity. The mickey-takers are so prevalent as to cause confusion in my brain when I actually see one obeying the law.
(ThomsonsPier consumes, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:24, closed)

Okay first let me say...
...cunt. Or is that 'troll', I can never tell.

Now I've got that off my chest, yes, I totally agree with the main poster on this one. I ride a bike to work amongst other places and it makes my blood fucking boil when some twat sails past me through a red light where I've stopped like I'm supposed to. I'm waiting for one to sail past me straight under the wheels of a white van - it isn't often one gets to observe Darwinism in action.

It's my opinion that cyclists who mean to use the road should be licenced to some degree, and compulsory insurance should also be applied. In addition to making us all safer no matter what device we're using to travel on the roads, it would reduce the admittedly and regrettably large twat quotient that exists amongst us push-bikers, because a shitbag always prefers not to pay.
(thatblokeoverthere not quite as much an arsehole as I thought, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:20, closed)

See above reply to LemonEntry.
I think that bike riders, considering that they're road users, should be treated exactly as any other road user, ie, tested, taxed, licensed and should be bound by transport laws.

Of the cyclists in Mordor, 99.9% think that they're above it, and if they're couriers, that they're being really cool anarchists by, frankly, endangering their lives and others jumping lights, riding on pavements, etc.

No more. There is a huge amount more bad behaviour from cyclist than any other road user I've seen, in my experience.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:26, closed)

I agree
I think it's because they don't have to tax, insure, etc., or have plates on their bikes they often feel "outside of the law".

I'd tell you of a few run-ins I've had with cycle couriers, but fear I'd be missing my target audience :-)
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:34, closed)

Bollocks...
...a lot of cyclists do it because they currently can without landing in court. If it were the same for motorists they'd be exactly the same. Oh, and repeating what I said in not-so-many-words isn't reducing your cunt/troll status any.

It's not about cyclists, it's about human nature. Laws regulate our behaviour, and cyclists aren't bound by enough to keep them safe and stop them pissing people off when they break the rules that rightfully bind others. Common sense is a decent substitute, but only as long as you have some and sadly it doesn't seem to come as standard with most brains.
(thatblokeoverthere not quite as much an arsehole as I thought, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:35, closed)

"It's not about cyclists, it's about human nature."
Hahahahahahaha

Last I heard, cyclists are human. As such they are able to make the choice as to whether or not they want to obey the law.

Going by your logic, it's not my fault I kill people who piss me off, it's just human nature, and the government should do more to stop me.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:38, closed)

Wait, let me think...
...nope, you're still a cunt. Oh, and you're still repeating what I say.
(thatblokeoverthere not quite as much an arsehole as I thought, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:40, closed)

Good point well presented.
I stand down, defeated.

I'm not repeating what you say. Cyclists ARE bound by enough laws. They're just not killed prosecuted enough.

Of course, it's still down to the individual cyclist as to whether or not they act like a cunt. And 99.9% of the cyclists in Mordor chose to act like cunts.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:40, closed)

Then...
...you need to read up a little on this. That's what I do when it becomes apparent that I don't know what I'm talking about, and urgently so when I come off as an ignoramus on top.

Okay, I'm done. Getting irritated now.
(thatblokeoverthere not quite as much an arsehole as I thought, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:55, closed)

What are you on about?
Are you denying me what I see on my way to work, day in, day out, for the past six years?
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:57, closed)

I wouldn't mention your education if I were you.
After all, you felt it appropriate to begin a conversation by calling someone a cunt. Are you really surprised that people might not agree with you after that?
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 1:19, closed)

Methinks you should lighten up a little
It seems that you're actually agreeing with most of A Vagabonds points, so why the hostility?
( LemonEntryMyDearWatson This time, Moriarty, the hand is on the other foot, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 22:13, closed)

I agree with your views and would like to subscribe to your newsletter

( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 17:14, closed)

I'm a poor student
And as such, I spend quite a lot of my time cycling various places. It's free and it's good exercise. I do also drive, so I know all the traffic laws and obey them. I don't cut people up, I never jump red lights even if I really, really want to, I don't ride on the pavement unless there's no-one on it and I think the road is getting very dangerous (double lines of parked cars at night etc.) and I'll happily pull over for a bit if I seem to be obstructing traffic. If I feel I'm too tired to cycle at a decent speed on the road, I'll get off and walk for a bit rather than move at 5mph in the middle of the road.

To me, this stuff is just how I should behave, and I don't know why some cyclists behave as if they own the road. But taxes, tests and licences? No. Maybe a quick CBT style course for people without driving licences but the rest is just very, very silly. My bike doesn't emit anything or damage the roads, so I'm damned if I'm paying car tax. I can do just about fuck all damage to most other vehicles on the road, so I'm damned if I'm getting insured. If I want to take out personal insurance, that's my lookout. I don't.
( MatJ LOOK, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 15:59, closed)

Hahahahaha
Cyclists hurt a lot of pedestrians each year, and as such, should be insured against doing so, and have to get a license that can be revoked and thus prevent them legally cycling if they're caught so many times breaking the law. Cyclists use the road, so they should pay road tax proportionately.

Why on earth should cyclists be exempt from being treated like any other road user?

This is a prime example of why people think cyclists are twats - they genuinely think they're above the law, and that they SHOULD be above the law.

Maybe if cyclists had to behave like other road users, they'd have a bit of respect for the road.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 16:16, closed)

I actually think insaurance is not a bad idea...
However, licensing is bollocks. I would be tempted to say that if you jump a red on a bike, you should get points on your drivers licence, like you can get your licence taken away fro cycling drunk. However, this would never work, in practice, as it would be a huge bain to enforce.

As for tax, if I were to start paying road tax, on my bike, I would demand that the edges of roads were cleaned on a daily basis, to keep my tyres from punctures, that cycle lanes didn't get left to be pot-holed, and there was a cycle lane at the edge of every road. As this is not going to happen, and would cost far more than people would be prepared to pay, I think we just ignore taxing bikes.
(The Kwyjibo A big, dumb, balding North American ape., Wed 28 Apr 2010, 16:40, closed)

That sounds perfickly reasonable about the sides of the roads.
But the whole "it would never happen" mentality is wrong. If the Martin Luther Kings or Emily Pankhursts had thought like that we'd still have black people as slaves, women wouldn't have the vote, and being gay would be illegal.

I also reject your objection to the licence. It would be easy to enforce. Just get coppers on bikes to enforce it.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 16:57, closed)

All right
You, a pedestrian, should be paying pavement tax.
( MatJ LOOK, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 16:59, closed)

I do.
It's called income tax.

I also pay tax on the train journeys I make into work, to subsidise their paying of tax for the wear on the track that they use, who pay tax on the ground they use.

No problem.

So you agree with me.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 17:09, closed)

I do pay road tax in any case
As I said in my post, I also drive. I have spent thousands on being able to do so. I pay ridiculously large amounts to continue doing so. I would be quite happy not to use roads and rather to use tracks and paths. In fact, living in the country, I frequently do. It so happens that the roads are more convienient and as I already pay toward their upkeep as a driver, I don't see why I should pay more to cycle on them.

Are you seriously suggesting that you're going to ban people from cycling because they can't afford your myriad taxes and licences when one reason a lot of people cycle is that they can't afford all that stuff for a car?

I can, in a way, see where you're coming from and there have been days when I've thought along similar lines, but I think that in the end cycling is not in the same category as driving. You can go out on a bike for exercise, fresh air, you can go and see your friends at age 13 rather than walk... I think that all the licences and taxes wouldn't cut down on dickhead cyclists - if they're serious cyclists then they'll probably pay the fees anyway - but it would hurt a lot of people (particularly young people, old people and poor people) for whom a car just isn't practical.
( MatJ LOOK, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 17:33, closed)

I'm not for one moment suggestion that the fees be the same PRICE as those for a car.
Proportionate, is all. Numberplates for the cycles, tax, license, etc. Sure - make the minimum age 13 and lower the insurance the older/less points on the license. Likewise, points on license = higher tax.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 17:43, closed)

You are suggesting a minimum age for riding a bike?!

(The Kwyjibo A big, dumb, balding North American ape., Wed 28 Apr 2010, 21:07, closed)

Why not? There's a minimum age for driving all other vehicles.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 8:43, closed)

I'm going to throw my weight behind Vagabond here
I've been knocked down by cyclists twice while walking in London, once on a pedestrian crossing. It's a miracle if I see one actually stop at a red light, and zebra crossings don't seem to apply to them unless they're using it to cross the road on their bike. When you mention this sort of thing it's as he says - they believe that they should be above the law, and when you criticise them they get defensive and petulant like a six year-old who's just been told to stop hitting playing with himself in public.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 17:28, closed)

BUt as someone mentioned above...
Do you see bikes stopped at lights and think, "what a good cyclist."? NO, you don't. You only pay attention to the dicks, rather than the rest of the cyclists who are law abiding. I hate the guys who jump lights as much as anyone else, and I cycle to work everyday.
(The Kwyjibo A big, dumb, balding North American ape., Wed 28 Apr 2010, 21:11, closed)

And as someone else said above, yes I do see a cyclist stopped at lights and think "what a good cyclist"
Because it's such a rarity.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 8:44, closed)

Sorry, I wasn't implying you didn't, and it is nice that you do...
But most others don't.
(The Kwyjibo A big, dumb, balding North American ape., Thu 29 Apr 2010, 9:26, closed)

See, this is why I shouldn't get vitriolic on here...
...partly because it puts a pall on my day but more in this case because I've almost come to blows with some red-light-running tit who, yes, sailed past me whilst I was waiting for the green at one such road safety device. Only thing that stopped us was the lights changing.

I'm going to change my signature line to 'If I get nasty, remind me that I vowed not to'.

Apologies all, and especially to V. I stand by my opinions (those being in a nutshell "It's not all of us" on cyclists being twats and "Didn't I just say that?" on the licencing/taxation/insurance thing), but getting personal was unnecessary, not to mention the resulting effect on my equilibrium could well have gotten me, this other guy or both of us pasted/arrested on my way home.

Not a good show from me on this one. I mean to do better.
(thatblokeoverthere not quite as much an arsehole as I thought, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 18:34, closed)

Bikes with engines aren't much better
Sure there are lots of them who behave. I'm talking about those who don't care about anyone else.

The kind who think motorbikes never slow down traffic.
Including when they admit they bomb down the right hand side of traffic and cut across the moving ones to turn left.

Think, bike.

(And I'm a two wheeled user too, but don't dick about)
(Wize, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 20:24, closed)

There are some daft buggers on cycles
But this talk of tax/insurance/licence is silly. Lots of children use bikes, I can't imagine a 5 year old with stabilisers filling out an insurance form! Just hammer the idiots with the laws we have. On the other hand, I'm amazed politicians haven't spotted such a revenue earner. It'll probably happen when no-one can afford a car or motorbike.
Out of interest, isn't there some quirk of law that says if a vehicle hits a cyclist/pedestrian it is always the vehicle at fault?
( Greenbat, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 0:05, closed)

I don't see why cycles shouldn't have to be registered and have plates just as motorbikes do
And cyclists licenses, and there be a minimum age to cycle.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 8:47, closed)