Games & Recreation Cyclists

[Lazarus]

Ok, I am a learner driver so admittedly I have much less experience than many others on the road. But even in my (relatively) small time driving (2 years), I have seen several cyclists go through red lights when I'm turning right, or cut me off on a roundabout without indicating. In addition, my uncle had one of his side mirrors badly damaged by a cyclist.

Now I have nothing against cyclists - as I myself sometimes ride, but is it time cyclists who ride regularly on the road should be registered so they are as culpable as drivers? I have never really been in favour of this, but recently I can think of more things for it than against it.

So - what are people's thoughts/experiences about cyclists on the road?

 

[Shell]

Personally I hate trucks/ truck drivers waaaay more than cyclists. But then again I come into contact (not literally!!! but there have been some close calls) more with trucks than cyclists, cause most of the way I drive to work is on the freeways.

Was a story about this on 60 Minutes the other night. Didnt come up with much of a solution, lol.. but you could see both sides of POV. Cyclists are always gonna be there, we have to learn to live with them. (unfortunately )

 

[nicky]

No cyclists should not have to register to ride their bikes (did you start the smoking thread??)

Cars should be more cautious and if they can't drive without worrying they will hit a cyclist, then maybe they are not cut out for driving.

I do not care that cyclists use their inititive and make the call that they're able to go through a red light.

 

[rickyp]

As a regular cyclist I might as well weigh in.

As far as anything in life goes, there are going to be w***ers who ruin it for the rest of us. Cycling is no exception. I don't see how a registration system will fix this, given the amount of currently registered drivers who are a far greater hazard.

 

[WALL-e]

I hate everyone on the road.

**** off.

 

[HarryTiger]

It's like you and the spider, you're a lot bigger than him so chill out!

Ask for yourself this question, "why are cars and drivers registered/licensed?"

Or "what is the result if cars and drivers are not registered/licensed?"

The answer is carnage. Cars need to be in safe working order and drivers need to know how to operate them. A car is 1+ tonne of metal travelling at 100 km/hr. Momentum wise there's no comparison. 70kg + 10kg bike and he averages 30 km/hr.

Car hits cafe full of diners.
Bike hits cafe full of diners.

Get it?

People forget this, they've gotten so used to paying the fees for driving that they think it's just another tax (which it is exploited as). It's about minimising harm.

It's stupid and reactionist to license bikes. It's the Homer Simpson mob calling for the bear patrol. Cycling is clean, easy and can be almost free but lets burden it with beauracracy so non-cyclists don't feel chagrained about being fined for things cyclists (usually) aren't.

 

[standingroomonly]

I don't mind most cyclists, but the tour de france wannabes that think that a group of 40 year old out of shape men in lycra riding 3-5 abreast on a single lane road is a good idea deserve everything that comes their way.

 

[Childish Gambino]

My biggest issue here is cyclists not following the road rules. If you choose to ride on the roads like drivers you must follow the basic road rules and stop at red lights.

Also why when there is a cycling lane do cyclists continue to ride on the road?

 

[nicky]

My biggest issue here is cyclists not following the road rules. If you choose to ride on the roads like drivers you must follow the basic road rules and stop at red lights.

Also why when there is a cycling lane do cyclists continue to ride on the road?

We don't, we ride in the cycle lane. Often there will be a cycle lane and it will end suddenly thus forcing the cyclist to ride on the road.

 

[HarryTiger]

Speaking from experience sometimes cyclists avoid large shoulders or cycling lanes because the road surface is crap and/or full of stones and other debris. The fact that cars don't drive on that bit means it can become like that as the debris gather. On a road bike with skinny tyres you can't be riding on loose stones or you'll be punctured too often. Slows you down too ;-)

 

[hamG]

I have no issue with cyclists breaking road rules so long as it is done safely.

I also think the general population should be encouraged to ride their bike to work - not discouraged by stupid regulations and fees which are madly wanted by the cyclist hating idiot in his Commodore who sits in traffic for half his life.

City planning should place more emphasis on bike infrastructure, it would help ALL parties, not just riders.

For the record I don't even own a bike

 

[ozasismick]

I've had this argument with many people. The common misconception is that registration goes to the maintenance of roads, it doesn't. That's your tax dollars at work.

I'm surprised and pleased at some of the good responses put forward so far on this topic. Read the Herald Sun for long enough, and apparently it's a war on the roads. Idiots on both sides from my observations.

I'll say I'm a keen cyclist, cycling into work most days merely due to it being the quickest way for me to get to work. In four years I could count on two hands the amount of times I've seen cops pull over cyclists. I don't particularly see how this would change if registration was brought in.

 

[rocker_oz33]

Re:

l hate them riding 3 or 4 wide on the barwon heads rd or on the torquay hiway sometimes they think they own the road.

 

[dr nick]

I'll say I'm a keen cyclist, cycling into work most days merely due to it being the quickest way for me to get to work.

Is that because you run red lights and overtake stationary cars?

 

[dr nick]

Re:

l hate them riding 3 or 4 wide on the barwon heads rd or on the torquay hiway sometimes they think they own the road.

There was this case in sydney where a group of 20 or so cyclists were hogging 2-3 lanes of the M5 at about 7am on a saturday morning. This pisses drivers right off every week and so one day this guy overtakes them and slams on his brakes creating absolute carnage behind him.

He was taken to court and everything but was let off... although his counterclaim regarding the cyclists paying for the damage to his rear bumper was also dismissed, which I thought was a kick in the teeth

 

[Ed_Gein]

If the thread on Whirlpool is anything to go by, you've opened up a can of worms with this one.

To be honest, i hate them on the road. Especially on 2 lane (each way) roads when it's busy and you can't get around them cause traffic is flying past in the lane next to you.

No wonder most of them get hit. Stick to the footpath

 

[HarryTiger]

I hate everyone else on the roads. Everyone else should use the footpath, unless I am in such case they should use the road.

 

[YOTC]

Re:

Pfft they want the same rights on the road but pick and choose which rules to follow.

I was doing traffic management on Newcastle Street, Northbridge where we had a truck full of bricks parked in the middle of the road (there's a space big enough so both sets of traffic can flow past). So I had to stop traffic whenever the forklift was ready to get another pack of bricks.

I get the message to stop the traffic, i wait for a break, turn the sign and signal the driver. After I signal the driver a cyclist comes around the corner. They weren't stopping so I stepped out infront of her, she asks if she can just go through as she is just a cyclist.

I tell her that she is on the road and she must follow the rules and I am responsible for all traffic and if her head gets smashed by a fork then it's my arse on the barbie.

She has a cry, says a few things, cuts around me onto the wrong side of the road and continues on her way. Confiscate her bike I say, that'll teach the bitch for thinking she's above the law.

Typical bloody Cyclist, you want respect; earn it.

 

[Allbetsroff]

If the thread on Whirlpool is anything to go by, you've opened up a can of worms with this one.

To be honest, i hate them on the road. Especially on 2 lane (each way) roads when it's busy and you can't get around them cause traffic is flying past in the lane next to you.

No wonder most of them get hit. Stick to the footpath[/quote]

Against the law champ.

 

[lifelike_]

I don't mind most cyclists, but the tour de france wannabes that think that a group of 40 year old out of shape men in lycra riding 3-5 abreast on a single lane road is a good idea deserve everything that comes their way.

This.

 

[nicky]

If the thread on Whirlpool is anything to go by, you've opened up a can of worms with this one.

To be honest, i hate them on the road. Especially on 2 lane (each way) roads when it's busy and you can't get around them cause traffic is flying past in the lane next to you.

No wonder most of them get hit. Stick to the footpath

It's against the law to ride on the footpath.

I was reversing out of a car spot at the train station and this middle aged queer guy was speeding on his bike through the car park. Anyway i had to stop from reversing quite suddenly so not to hit him. We both stopped and he went hysterical at me. I said "sorry, but mind your speed when travelling through an area where people are reversing"
He screamed at me hysterically saying that the near miss was completely my fault. Which is technically 100% true but at that moment in time he could not comprehend my point that him being right means nothing when he's dead.

Cyclist should and usually do take extra care but drivers need to as well these days. It is in everyones interests to have more people riding to work, for the simple reason that it means less cars on the road and people on PT. Melbourne is making efforts to increase bike paths throughout the city, so if you drivers cannot handle bikes then don't drive.

 

[nicky]

I have no issue with cyclists breaking road rules so long as it is done safely.

I also think the general population should be encouraged to ride their bike to work - not discouraged by stupid regulations and fees which are madly wanted by the cyclist hating idiot in his Commodore who sits in traffic for half his life.

City planning should place more emphasis on bike infrastructure, it would help ALL parties, not just riders.

For the record I don't even own a bike

Wowee, unselfishly thinking of the bigger picture. This rarely happens on BF or anywhere for that matter

 

[TheStinger]

Roads rules are designed to help keep everyone safe. When a car is at an intersection trying to turn right across traffic and sees the lights turn amber and waits until he is sure the oncoming vehicles are stopping so he can complete his turn only to be confronted by a cyclist who nonchalantly wheels through the now red light as he is turning.

He either has to brake hard in the middle of the intersection as the lights turn green for the next set of traffic or plow into the idiot cyclist.

Either way, the cyclist should be obeying all traffic rules and if they don't know them because they do not drive a car then they should learn them. It will help save their life one day.

 

[bresker]

I have seen several cyclists...... cut me off on a roundabout without indicating

And how many motorists use their indicators at roundabouts?

Or in general for that matter? It seems that indicators are optional extras these days.

For some motorists, the 'give way to the right' rule doesn't apply to cyclists

 

[_JC_]

IMO a small fee and license number on the bike if it is used to ride around the streets is fine. Would mean cyclists would have some accountability if they ran red lights etc.