Wow!
This thread got so big so quick I could only read half of it but I wanted to share my thoughts...

I love my motors but I also love my cycling. I love cycling on roads but I hate those who don't give you any space. When I over take in a car, I make sure the cyclist has plenty of room and I drive on the other side of the road. I hate it when I look in my rear view and see other drivers over taking within inches and not giving them any room even though the road is clear.

From recently buying a proper road bike and cycling 10 miles into work everyday, I can say that on the roads near me, the worst menaces are busses. Cars and large lorries / vans give you plenty of space but the number of times I've been forced off road by busses I cannot now count on both hands - within 2 weeks of cycling. Artics are bigger but they can give you plenty of road space when they over take! When a road bike goes off road it equals instant stoppage and when your feet are clipped in place, it also means you will fall off and get hurt...

Saying that though , cyclists do have a responsibility themselves to be safe and be seen. Last week I hit the back of a stationary bus at 25mph as I was concentrating on making sure I had enough space between me and a kerb, and a scooter who was next to me had enough space too... Ouchy! The bus driver never noticed and drove on but it was my fault for not looking so I can't hold a grudge. I did like the fact that 5 cars stopped to help though the only thing that was damaged was my pride (and a very sore neck and headache for three days).

Cyclists do have to abide by the rules. A red light means stop. In my youth I would jump them, nowadays I obey them as you never know who may step out at the last minute. If I'm in a hurry, I'll get off my bike, cross the road, get back on and carry on my way. You can also get penalised on your drivers license by not following the rules of the road.

I have some serious biker friends who have obtained points on their drivers license for speeding on a bike (you can go fast on bikes, I have so far hit 47mph on a mountain bike (in a 60mph zone) but roadies are so much faster and my friends have set off speed cameras at over 60+mph!) If you're caught, you will get points and a fine if you own a car. I find that very unfair as non drivers get nothing if they're caught doing wrong on a bike!

The other gripe I have is cycling helmets. I did the London to Brighton this year and wore a helmet because of the length of the ride. I never used to wear one but all the accidents I cycled past, all had to be ambulanced or air lifted away and not a single one had a helmet on and had severe head trauma! I'll always wear one now, every-trip. When I hit my bus, the one thing that stopped me having concussion was the fact I had a helmet on as I hit the back at 25mph head first!

Another thing on helmets, I work for the government and promote cycling to better the air quality in my district. We get a lot of external funding for this which is great and this year, cycling schemes and rides have really taking on and we are getting thousands of participants in cycle schemes, rides and events. Due to the fact we are promoting safe cycling, all our literature shows people having fun on bikes wearing full protective gear (helmets, lights, reflectors etc). the law does not state protective clothing must be warn but I feel ashamed that some of the biggest promoters for cycling events show people doing dangerous stunts, families mountain biking down hills etc with no safety gear... i think that's unacceptable. By all means let people know its an option but do not advertise unsafe riding. I raised this with some companies with whom I refused to distribute their adverts for this point and their statement in reply was that it was not the law and up to the individual to make their own choice. From what I have seen, by all means we can make our own choice but the bigger public profile we can raise for safe riding, the 'cooler' hi vis jackets and helmets will become...

*breathes*

goodness, I didn't mean to rant but I'm very into my cycling and want to promote just how good and fun it can be but for very very little expenditure, you can be made safe without damaging your 'street cred'.

length... I can't think of a pun but my helmet is blue and want a red one (to match my bike)...
(Something funny, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 21:32, 2 replies)

on the helmet point, I never used to bother. On the third day I started wearing it, a car driver turned left across a bike lane without checking their blind spot and I went straight into the side of them (albeit at a very slow speed). I took it as a sign and now I wear it all the time.
(Pete_G, Wed 4 Aug 2010, 22:28, closed)

See, I agree with pretty much everything you wrote there
I don't tend to wear a helmet for recreational cycling (I live near a really long, flat disused railway track which doesn't present a whole lot of dangers) but I'd never hit the road without one, that's just playing Russian roulette. I've also impressed the need for one onto my girlfriend as well - the same girlfriend who got her collar felt recently for...jumping red lights. Oh, how I laughed.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Thu 5 Aug 2010, 9:32, closed)