And what about the threat cyclists pose to pedestrians?
A 10-stone man travelling at 20mph is going to do serious damage anyone foolish enough to cross a pedestrian crossing when he decides not to stop because there was a car back there who didn't give him enough room.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 9:50, 2 replies)

I would run a red light at a crossroads when there are no pedestrians crossing on the green man and a green man on the road crossing the one I'm on means there is no traffic. Or I'd turn left under those circumstances, again if there are no pedestrians. I think London is probably different because there is a bit of a "cycle couriers are cool" culture where people do take risks, but in Newcastle I know a number of people who've hit pedestrians due to them stepping into the cycle lane without looking due to being on the phone etc, and in every circumstance the pedestrian has admitted responsibility. I would LOVE the Dutch system (seperate cycle lanes) to be introduced over here, but it's not happening any time soon.

I suggest you try cycling to work one day to get a view from the other side (you might also find you enjoy it).
(Pete_G, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 10:00, closed)

came off as a smug cyclist there, sorry.
(Pete_G, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 10:03, closed)

I cycled to work in London for 4 years (12 miles each way for 18 months, 8 miles each way for 30)
I obeyed the law throughout, and if I felt threatened by traffic, I would get off and walk for a bit.

There is no problem other than self-importance and arrogance in the cycling community.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 10:04, closed)

^ this
I used to cycle through Archway junction at rush hour every day. Yet I always stopped at red lights and pedestrian crossings because, well, IT'S THE FUCKING LAW. It's not that difficult to understand.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 10:11, closed)

^^ this
Can't agree more.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 4 Aug 2010, 10:15, closed)

When the system is set up so that cycling is as safe as driving a car (ie Holland) I think you'll see cyclists behaving better. I should stress again that I personally only jump red lights if there's no one crossing. And on the subject of it being the fucking law... actually lets not get started about car drivers whingeing about speed cameras.
(Pete_G, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 10:33, closed)

I concur about speed cameras.
You are still wrong to jump red lights at any point, though - people crossing or no - just as it's not right to kill people with no dependents, steal stuff from the rich, or abuse people because they're poor.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 10:36, closed)

sure thing jesus

(augsav forgot about B3ta, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 10:48, closed)

Oh you naughty, rebellious scamp, you!

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 10:58, closed)

*runs away giggling*
(augsav forgot about B3ta, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 11:00, closed)

ANYONE jumping red lights
is committing an offence. Big deal, not a problem you might think. We all stretch the yellows and we all do 32 on that long straight bit near work.

BUT red lights are there to establish a safe traffic flow. If you follow the system, you CANNOT crash or hurt anyone (or if you do, it's the fault of the council who set up the timing). Not just "it lowers the risk" like speed cameras are supposed to do. You cannot crash. Which means that blind people can cross the road at the beeps with no risk. Drivers can set off on a green light and know that no-one's going to smack into the side of them coming out of the arm of the junction.

Jumping red lights is so, so much more dangerous than speeding that it's horrifying that you two-wheeled types are so keen on it.

Saying that, watching two red-light jumping cyclists run into one another was the funniest thing I've ever seen.
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 14:09, closed)

^ I like your views and wish to subscribe to your newsletter

( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Thu 5 Aug 2010, 9:24, closed)

I was hit by a cyclist in this manner.
I foolishly stepped out on to a one-way street after only checking the direction the traffic should have been coming from, only to feel a sharp pain in the back of the head and stagger forward a bit. I looked around to see what it was and saw a cyclist landing about twenty yards farther down the road. He was bigger than me (I'm just over ten stones) and moving faster, so I have little notion as to why he suffered more from the collision than I did. Perhaps I'm just a very grounded person.
(ThomsonsPier consumes, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 11:26, closed)

SPANG

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 11:51, closed)