Doubling Up On Road

[mickle]

Tandems?

A very good point. And well made.

 

[briantrumpet]

But tandems are a real problem for motorists, as they are longer than a normal bicycle AND if you try to overtake one and can't get all the way past before a car comes from the opposite direction, you can't pull in in between the two riders. If they were being considerate riders, they'd get off and get onto two separate bikes. If anyone disagrees with me, it'll only prove how militant you cyclists are.

 

[snailracer]

Sad indictment of this forum if indeed advocating consideration to others is a minority view...

Cyclists have already shown consideration to others by:

- not hogging parking spaces and narrowing roads when parked
- not hogging roadspace by driving cars with empty seats and boots
- not driving dangerous, overpowered, overweight, half-blind steamrollers that kill thousands every year
- not slowing down the roads with traffic lights
- not generating air and noise pollution
- not increasing global warming
- not supporting dodgy OPEC governments

Which is a lot more than motorists can claim.

...
I rather think the reality is that i hold the mainstrean reasonable view whereas you and a few vocal others hold a militant extremist viewpoint which although may go down well on a cycling forum will not go down so well in the outside world and which might explain why you get intimidated by motorists.

I don't know if your viewpoint is "mainstream" or not, but it's simply wrong. It was once the mainstream view that the earth was flat, but that was simply wrong, too. Most motorists (and a lot of cyclists, too) have no idea about cycling, so it's hardly surprising their notions of how to cycle safely or correctly may be wrong.

When I am driving my car, other motorists annoy me much, much more than cyclists. Perhaps that is because bad driving risks my safety, whereas bad cycling does not. When I am on my bike, if I have the choice of possibly annoying a motorist but enforcing safety, or risking a misjudged overtake, I'll take the former. Inconveniencing motorists is not as important as cyclists' safety - that should be obvious to any reasonable human being.

Lorry drivers are taught to "block" as many lanes as necessary when negotiating roundabouts or junctions, to avoid cars getting "wedged" alongside them - most motorists would agree that that is sensible and safe, and that is the same principle cyclists are applying when taking the lane.

Motorists intimidate each other too, and there are even cyclists that intimidate motorists - maybe it's just human nature that some people are aggressive tw@ts at times. However, I do not equate giving in to unjustified aggression with being considerate.

 

[Bicycle]

Cool it man - we won't be using the cycle lanes - so you and FC and all other responsible cyclists will not be inconvenienced

What revolutionary talk is this!?

I shall be in my motor car!

I have no use for these new-fangled cycle lanes.

Will this militancy never cease?

I feel like a commander of the National Guard at the St Martin barricades in 1832.

This revolutionary talk must be met robustly.

Me? Cycle to an important meeting? Pah!

(Author assumes a look of disdain and combines this with a Gallic shrug while saying "Pfff" in a French accent).

 

[StuartG]

What revolutionary talk is this!?
I feel like a commander of the National Guard at the St Martin barricades in 1832.

Hmmmm ... designate all cycle lanes as bridleways? Just make sure you clean up behind you ...

 

[John the Monkey]

I shall be in my motor car!

I have no use for these new-fangled cycle lanes.

Don't speak too soon!

Manchester's motorists appear to appreciate the extra parking opportunities these oddly placed green painted bits of road and pavement provide.

 

[StuartG]

I hear Philip Hammond was thinking of conscripting militant cyclists as valet parking attendants for the war weary motorists so eliminating this source of temptation to the primary position.

 

[John the Monkey]

The second stop line 1m further out is a bit of a hit as well.

Genuinely, I don't care about ASLs. I simply expect them to be blocked, and wait mid-lane a bit further back from the front.

I see red when drivers block pedestrian crossings though (happens a lot in Crewe) - that's incredibly anti-social.

 

[John the Monkey]

Sorry, I was unclear. Not ASLs, I'm thinking of where motorists use the outer edge of a cycle lane ad the stop line when turning out of a side road.

Oh, I see now! Yes, that's a pain, although generally it happens because they can't see around the cars parked in the cycle lane, ime...

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

Can I remind you that this thread has, uh, a substantial dollar value?

They can BILL me for it!

 

[dellzeqq]

it's sweepstake time

no of posts before midnight Saturday - my guess is 1800
no of posts by the most prolific poster on the thread by midnight Saturday - my guess is 200
identity of most prolific poster on this thread................no, I think I'll leave that one alone!

 

[400bhp]

Has anyone died yet in the making of this thread since the last time I asked?

 

[theclaud]

it's sweepstake time

no of posts before midnight Saturday - my guess is 1600
no of posts by the most prolific poster on the thread by midnight Saturday - my guess is 100

Can we throw in a Flounce Point? I'm going for Bicyclist at #1358.

 

[rowan 46]

Has anyone died yet in the making of this thread since the last time I asked?

I have

 

[dellzeqq]

Can we throw in a Flounce Point? I'm going for Bicyclist at #1358.

Sorry - but enflouncement is just like cricket - too serious a matter for petty wagers!

I have counted the posts made by one particular contributor, and I reckon my amended guess is way too modest!