Cyclists

max^power · 11-01-2006, 10:26 PM

Ok, i nearly got killed today. I am getting personal training, and this involves some cycling on the road. Now the last 3 times i've been on the road ( i can't cycle in the bike lane because CARS are in there parked! ) cars get real close to me, seem like they're going to hit me. One idiot opened his car door right in front of me causing me to swerve on the road more - dangerous at 6pm! True, i should'nt be riding a bike in such a dangerous area with a broken shoulder blade, but i need to keep fit, and only do it a few days a week on the road. There's only about 4 in our group.

Look i drive too, but don't some people care?
why are the cycle lanes so damn big to make it a car park?
What legal action is available should they hit me? it's not a case of if, but when.

i didn't want to post this on here, but i want this communities thoughts on bike riders, and if you give them room, or care if you hit one.

big_pete · 11-01-2006, 10:31 PM

get a treadmill.........

Kapn_Kiwi · 12-01-2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big_pete

get a treadmill.........

It's really hard to ride a bike on a treadmill, trust me...

Jeez, some of you really seem to hate cyclists. Ride to work some day, so long as drivers give you due courtesy, you might enjoy it.

**Charliewool** · 13-01-2006, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapn_Kiwi

It's really hard to ride a bike on a treadmill, trust me...

.

What if the bike (Casper riding it, of course) has a jet engine and the treadmill is going in reverse and..............

superpursuit83 · 11-01-2006, 10:32 PM

Always give bikes room. You dont need to get close, and if you can drive properly you dont have a problem. But there are some cyclists who think they own the road and dont have any courtesy either

MO · 11-01-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

Always give bikes room. You dont need to get close, and if you can drive properly you dont have a problem. But there are some cyclists who think they own the road and dont have any courtesy either

Very true and as far as I'm concerned all p/bike riders/owners should pay rego fees.

Gammaboy · 11-01-2006, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McMaster

Very true and as far as I'm concerned all p/bike riders/owners should pay rego fees.

right. and people who walk on the foot paths should pay rego etc too, because we all know the money goes into maintaing the road network.

:

MO · 11-01-2006, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gammaboy

right. and people who walk on the foot paths should pay rego etc too, because we all know the money goes into maintaing the road network.

:

Bish..Bish..Bish....think about...If I have a scooter of 50 cc I pay rego..I am sick and tired of all these bleeding heart cyclists who think they own the the road in their packs of twenty plus riding two by two and causing traffic probs.

Feathers · 11-01-2006, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McMaster

Very true and as far as I'm concerned all p/bike riders/owners should pay rego fees.

There was a talkback radio program on that very subject a few months ago. People got stuck into the host for suggesting the same thing.

MITCHAY · 11-01-2006, 10:45 PM

What I don't understand is that car owners pay rego fees, licence fees, and insurance and have to give way to cyclists when, A) they don't pay rego etc and B) it is way easier for a person on a bike to stop and give way than a car (I'm talking about these BS green cyclist lanes we have here in the ACT in relation to on/off ramps.)

I have no problem with cyclists in general but some of them are just so damn irresponsible it's not funny like riding in the middle of the road. Really the shoulder of the road should be enough.

All I can say au^ute is be very careful because both parties can equally cause an accident.

max^power · 11-01-2006, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McMaster

Very true and as far as I'm concerned all p/bike riders/owners should pay rego fees.

I pay rego on my car, which covers the expenses for roads, my bike can't weigh more than 10kg's, so it's not causing damage to the road, or wearing it out. Should we have seperate speed limits too? Perhaps the A holes parked in the bike lane can pay parking fees or fines? or better still park in their freaking drive ways!! isn't that what they are for?

Didn't realise this was such a sore subject for so many. People think because i ride a bike, i dont drive a vehicle too, that's just crazy! Sure, there are your massive packs of riders, but its still within the law. At least you only have to pass one group, and not stay on the rhs all the way up the highway, which you would if they were strung out. While its inconvenient, i've been there too, theres no reason to nearly hit us!!

We never ride side by side, we only ride single file on those roads. We can't take the back streets, because they're too short, and hoons tend to be worse than the highway.

Quote:

They are saving you/us money. Unless of course you hit them and it cost's a packet in hospital and insurance bills...

in a way, i'm waiting for the day, so i wont have to work again, and some poor bastard will be paying my wages for not giving me 30cm of room.

:

Psycho Chicken · 12-01-2006, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McMaster

Very true and as far as I'm concerned all p/bike riders/owners should pay rego fees.

Get nicked, I need to pay rego on my bike so I can ride in a whopping 500 metres to the local park where I ride it? Or the 3km ride to the beach track, most of which I spend on footpaths in industrial estates?

parawolf · 12-01-2006, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Get nicked, I need to pay rego on my bike so I can ride in a whopping 500 metres to the local park where I ride it? Or the 3km ride to the beach track, most of which I spend on footpaths in industrial estates?

nah see if you check out my justification for how to charge for rego based on pro-rata for mass, then it works out to about $4 a bike. However as a unit price it would cost more to process than that and to put the infrastructure in place.

Then again... over 1.1Million bikes were sold last year - more than cars. Though then again, perhaps it should be built into the cost of the bike. Most don't last more than 4 years so $15 for 'rego' when buying a new bike should cover it.

Again won't happen.

MO · 12-01-2006, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Get nicked, I need to pay rego on my bike so I can ride in a whopping 500 metres to the local park where I ride it? Or the 3km ride to the beach track, most of which I spend on footpaths in industrial estates?

YOU ride on a public road with cars you pay rego...if by some chance you use bikepaths and dismount to cross public roads no rego.

But to be fair pay rego because none of you pushies could be that good.

Also when pushies start obeying the road rules then and only then will you get my respect!!!!!

parawolf · 12-01-2006, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McMaster

YOU ride on a public road with cars you pay rego...if by some chance you use bikepaths and dismount to cross public roads no rego.

But to be fair pay rego because none of you pushies could be that good.

Also when pushies start obeying the road rules then and only then will you get my respect!!!!!

See it is a crap attitude like that, that tars all cyclists with one brush. Some of us (like myself, and other cyclists i ride with) obey the road rules. I wouldn't be against a fair 'rego' system, however i'd want to see local and state governments do something directly which improves cycling lanes and see that money go directly into improve cyclists safety on the road.

So please, not every cyclist is a manic, some of us are trying to improve the social view of cyclists on the road by obeying all road signs, signaling intention well ahead of time, and basically being predicable.

However as a cyclist, I see morons all the time that run red lights, and run stop signs, that don't ride in the in the bike lane (ride on the tram lines). These people aren't long for this world in my opinion, and they need a firm kick up the backside from the police enforcing the road rules.

max^power · 12-01-2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McMaster

Also when pushies start obeying the road rules then and only then will you get my respect!!!!!

That will never happen, all road users can't obey the road rules either, simple thing to do, but even that is difficult for some. Driver education is probably the biggest problem here.

I'm not a big rider on the roads, i prefer the off road tracks like reserves etc. But sometimes, my training takes me out on the road, so thats when im on the road.

It's not just on the road cyclist cop abuse. I nearly punched out an old fart the other day for abusing me. :jab: He was walking his mongrels in the park, without a lead, or a dump bag, but because i was riding on the concrete path which was designed for bike riding, i was in the wrong.

: I mean, are the people that attack cyclists on the road made from the same mold as this old bastard? Quite possibly!

i am with parawolf on this one.

Psycho Chicken · 13-01-2006, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McMaster

Also when pushies start obeying the road rules then and only then will you get my respect!!!!!

Have you seen me ride? No?

I saw some stupid drivers today, so I guess you must be one too.

merlin · 13-01-2006, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McMaster

Also when pushies start obeying the road rules then and only then will you get my respect!!!!!

Geez you could say the same thing about car drivers

:

Its just a stupid argument that pushies should pay rego - as previously stated why penalise something that is helping reduce congestion, the environment and the health care system.

Homer1 · 15-01-2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McMaster

Very true and as far as I'm concerned all p/bike riders/owners should pay rego fees.

I'm more for having a way to track down individual bikes. Maybe give them free rego plates and make it compulsory to have them on. My biggest gripe is when some bike riders do something stupid/illegal or damages my car, there is no way of tracking the culprit down. I think some bike riders are have the arrogant "I will ride whereever and however I want" attitude on the roads because they know they can't be tracked down unlike cars.

Quadcams · 14-01-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

Always give bikes room. You dont need to get close, and if you can drive properly you dont have a problem. But there are some cyclists who think they own the road and dont have any courtesy either

Agree mate as my father rides a bike on the road and he knows to show alot of respect to to cars kinda obvious whos going to win in a collision but alot of bikes can cause havic with there arrogance.
Myself give them plenty of room as you dont want a dead person in your conscious. I noticed alot of people bikes or cars seem to have blinkers on not having any consideration whos around them.

b0son · 15-01-2006, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

But there are some cyclists who think they own the road and dont have any courtesy either

Amen. I was once abused by a cyclist while I was crossing a pedestrian crossing - seems he didnt think he had to slow down and give way to me. You never see the cops doing much about poor cycling behaviour though....

sfr rob · 11-01-2006, 10:40 PM

i cant stand cyclists on the road, it is hard when you drive a truck, you have about 3 inches of spare lane on wither side of you and the last thing you need is some moron on a bike, not riding in a straight like infront of you whenyou cant change lanes!

Maybe you should ride around some back streets or something, i would love to ride a bike some nights but its just way to dangerous!

phillyc · 11-01-2006, 10:53 PM

Cyclists are often drivers and motorbike riders too. So asking them to pay rego is carp. I already pay two car and one motorbike rego's plus my CTP and comprehensive insurance (in total about $3500 a year.)

I'm looking forward to getting on the racer again within the next month or so actually.

I try to give cars room when i'm on the bike as i don't want to be hit and vice versa.

What needs to be changed is peoples perceptions. Think of the bike as one less car that is in your road creating congestion at the lights. Think of the rider as someone who is keeping fit so is not going to cost you heaps by being obese (soon to be australia's biggest killer) down the track. They are saving you/us money. Unless of course you hit them and it cost's a packet in hospital and insurance bills...

Lobby councils and the government to provide cycleways if you feel that strongly.

PS good luck with the fitness schedule.

MO · 11-01-2006, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyc

Cyclists are often drivers and motorbike riders too. So asking them to pay rego is carp. I already pay two car and one motorbike rego's plus my CTP and comprehensive insurance (in total about $3500 a year.)

I'm looking forward to getting on the racer again within the next month or so actually.

I try to give cars room when i'm on the bike as i don't want to be hit and vice versa.

What needs to be changed is peoples perceptions. Think of the bike as one less car that is in your road creating congestion at the lights. Think of the rider as someone who is keeping fit so is not going to cost you heaps by being obese (soon to be australia's biggest killer) down the track. They are saving you/us money. Unless of course you hit them and it cost's a packet in hospital and insurance bills...

Lobby councils and the government to provide cycleways if you feel that strongly.

PS good luck with the fitness schedule.

GET REAL......

merlin · 12-01-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyc

What needs to be changed is peoples perceptions. Think of the bike as one less car that is in your road creating congestion at the lights. Think of the rider as someone who is keeping fit so is not going to cost you heaps by being obese (soon to be australia's biggest killer) down the track. They are saving you/us money. Unless of course you hit them and it cost's a packet in hospital and insurance bills...
.

Too true mate. Im not a cyclist but I can see the benefits clear as day, and I can see how some motorists treat them.

Why make cyclists pay rego - they are reducing YOUR traffic congestion, keeping people fit and healthy, reducong greenhouse emissions ect. Just give them room and go round them - what is with people being such impatient a$$holes nowdays...oh no you may get held up for 15 seconds.....geessh!

the_scotsman · 11-01-2006, 11:04 PM

Yea and also lets start charging 4 year olds a fee to ride their bike that they just got from santa!

:

Quicklier · 12-01-2006, 12:37 AM

Wow, I was impressed with the first post... then I read them all.
C'mon guys, surely you've spent some time on the pushy?

I ride to work each day in Edinburgh. It's damn cold (normally just a whisker above 0) and I have to use all the same roads as the commuters in their cars. We have quite a few cycle lanes and they're great when they're empty. When it's icy, it's safer for me to cycle with the traffic, I'm allowed to use as much room as I want according to the law. There are people that get ИИИИed off, but I always seem to pass them at the next set of lights.

Cyclists can be big victims of Road Rage, but I agree with phillyc in that every guy on a bike is one less guy in a car. One less guy that has to get through on the green arrow, one less guy to get stuck behind turning right.

Some cyclists do have the wrong attitued, but I've driver aggresively before (not the correct attitude to have behind the wheel). At least the bike uses zero fuel, unlike the car/bus/tram/train.

Good luck with the fitness, get a decent bike computer and ensure it has average speed as a function. I've got my around the 13.5 mph mark (about 21.6km/h), the hills around here are killing my performance! It's great to see it improve though!

rag top · 12-01-2006, 09:22 AM

Not all cyclists use the road... I use the bike path network that we have here in the ACT.

Some of the above comments played with my sick sense of humor:
If a pedestrian crosses the road, should they pay rego for the privelidge!?!?
If a pedestrian uses traffic lights to cross the road, and they hold up traffic, should they pay rego or nusience tax??? They would be contributing to the pollution in the environment, as engines put out more emmissions in stop start traffic...

Yellow Fire · 12-01-2006, 09:52 AM

I don't live in a major city, so city drivers may disagree, but around me cyclists do nothing but increase congestion. The traffic will be flowing along fine at 60-80km/h depending on the speed limit until we come to a cyclist doing 20km/h then it all goes to hell.

parawolf · 12-01-2006, 09:53 AM

I cycle to work now. I don't own a car directly either anymore because it was costing me an average of $8.50 per kilometre to drive it (payments, insurance, rego, petrol, etc).

I ride on the bike paths where available, and within the provided bike lanes on the roads where provided. If there is no bike lane I stay within my 1 metre of the gutter so as not to cause problems. Coming from a long term drive-to-work person I know how annoying a cyclist can be.

However just this morning there was this IDIOT female driver. 4 individual cyclists come up to a red light and we all 'prop' up in the bike lane in the fair left of the road. While waiting for the light to turn green (I was 3rd out of the 4) I looked behind me and there was this green subaru with its left hand indicator on. Fair enough, she is going to turn left at the lights. So I get going and once the front 3 out of 4 of us had gotten through the intersection we were doing about 30km/h.

This lady in the Subuaru accelerated past us and 5 metres in front of the leading cyclist (we were in single file) she stops in the bicycle lane. All three lead cyclists had to stop and wait, for her to move because of passing traffic in the driving lane prevented us to overtake her safely. She then had the nerve to abuse us as she wound down her window without any provocation from any of the cyclists.

So drivers, a little respect and calm while driving makes everything easier. Also, treat that cycle lane where it is provisioned as an additional lane of traffic, if you have to wait for a cyclist, do it. May only put you out 10 seconds - which is not life or death situation.

Just so i'm not coming off all high and mighty, I know there are cyclists that run red lights, don't signal turns, and generally swerve in and out of traffic, however I am not one of these. I stick to my lane where provisioned, I stop in traffic if I cannot clear it rather than weave through, and I stop at every red light, including pedistrian crossings. The cyclists that run these lights do no-one favours, they give us all issues because we WANT to be treated like vehicles, however running red lights just doesn't get any respect from anyone, including other cyclists.