20 cm away from death

[Armegatron]

What always amazes me is how, for so many motorists once they have completed their overtake, the cyclist ceases to exist in their mind. There's this almost certain blind-spot in the non-cycling motorist's brain that tags the cyclist as 'slow moving obstacle' such that, once they're past you, you're no longer there.

Like this or this?

 

[downfader]

Just caught this last night on Trucknet and this Bobthedog character lives in cloud cuckoo land it seems:

I will not watch his clips so he doesn't get the penny from my click.

Ehh.. how do you get pennies from clicks. Idiot. Does he not understand how youtube works?

I would never agree that you should be able to squish anyone, but every time someone does get caught by a left turning truck at a set of lights it becomes something else for the bike brigade to mash truck drivers about, and that sceanario is entirely the cyclists fault.

He obviously hasnt delved any deeper in the accident stats regarding large vehicles and cyclists, or spoken to any of us. All he has to do is google back dated threads and he will see the respect we have for them.

The "left turning truck" seems to be a media brush anyway, as it doesnt seem to happen like that in a fair few of the cases. The case of Eilidh Cairns should serve as one sad example: LINK for his viewing (if he's reading this)

While some are battering all cyclists, cyclists invariably bash all truck drivers. There is an imbalance in the whole argument.

Again, he only has to search back posts here, Bikerader, the CTC forums even, and he will see the respect.

Personally, I think cyclists should be forced to sit a test for hazard perception and for road law, and they should have a sticker or plate attached to their cycles to show they have sat the test. In modern road travel, whatever mode is used, there is simply too much traffic to allow particularly vulnerable people to ride as if they either have superpowers or that God is on their side. A real, recognisable test would help, and it would educate cyclists in the art of road use. Many lack that particular ability or talent

Vast majority of UK born cyclists did cycle proficiency for one. Many people are doing Bikeability etc. The vast majority of those cycling on the roads have taken a driving test.. I see a lot of drivers that have no hazard perception or "talent" (not LGV or HGV drivers I'll add)

If we go down the compulsary training route it should be done in schools for all vehicles, not just bikes. Your first experiences of riding a bike will have been whilst at school more than likely. Given the impetuousness of youth these are the most vulnerable agegroup (under 25s).

I'll leave out the insult of the comment he left about Mags, though I'm sure he might see eventually see it. This one (supposed) trucker has no idea why we've all taken up cameras and perhaps should either talk to cyclists a little more instead of staying in his own little quadrant or try and do some research. Its nothing personal, we just want things to be made safer, and even he must surely realise that the odds are stacked against us.

 

[wafflycat]

Don't forget, Downfader, that as cyclists,

1. None of us drive a motor
2. We're all penniless
3. We haven't grown up yet
4. We all jump red lights
5. We all cycle on the pavements when we should bugger off on to the roads
6. We all cycle on the roads when we should bugger off on to the pavements
7. We don't pay road tax
8. We're all Guardian-reading, yoghurt bathing, museli-knitting, tree-hugging lefties who think we're soooooo smug saving the planet by cycling

yadda, yadda, yadda.

You get my drift.

 

[wafflycat]

Damn... forgot

9. Eat nothing but lentils.

 

[wafflycat]

Damn. Forgot...

10, Can never get a sh*g, as obviously we're so unattractive we're all still virgins.

 

[Armegatron]

11. Shave our legs

 

[Landslide]

9. Eat nothing but lentils.

12. Fart lots.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

13. We're all gay too (not sure whether that applies to women on bikes though)

 

[4F]

14. We don't have jobs

 

[downfader]

LMAO!! yeah comments like that make me WANT to ride over a granny on a pavement in me sandles whilst munching a muisli bar.

 

[wafflycat]

LMAO!! yeah comments like that make me WANT to ride over a granny on a pavement in me sandles whilst munching a muisli bar.

I do hope that you'll be wearing argyle socks with your sandals... standards an'all.

 

[hackbike 666]

....and spell muesli right.

 

[addictfreak]

Damn. Forgot...

10, Can never get a sh*g, as obviously we're so unattractive we're all still virgins.

Ok who told you about me

 

[fossyant]

3. I'll go along with that...grow up...never !

 

[BentMikey]

3. I'll go along with that...grow up...never !

Absolutely - you don't stop playing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop playing.