Frikin' cyclists

[Dan_h]

I know I'm swimming against the stream here, but I have sympathy, indeed some respect for the type of person being criticised in this thread. Living in a less densely populated area I know by sight most of the people in my locality whose actions so annoy posters on this and similar previous threads. With the exception of youngsters who know no better, they all have some problems in life which I have never had to contend with including mental issues, low wages, unemployment, or unemployable, and difficulties with basic social skills.
Why respect? These guys don't have "all the gear", but they're on the road 52 weeks of the year, rain or shine, unlike some who would call themselves cyclists and make disparaging remarks about "BSOs" and their riders.

I kind of know where you are coming from here. I may not go quite as far, but one of the things that is great about the bicycle is that it is such a universal form of transport, it's cheapness and simplicity makes it useful for many people who for whatever reason wish to use it. Those of us on this forum generally take cycling more seriously but for many it really is just a case of getting from a to b with the minimum of fuss and expense.

Unfortunately this does mean that some will ride without lights or on the pavement, they should not do it, but they are probably not really giving it much thought. They are just going wherever they need to be on their bike.

 

[wiggydiggy]

There are an awful lot of people around in Birmingham at the moment with no light on their bikes. And - shoot me down in flames if you like - a LOT are students. I know this cos I work at the Uni (Bham Uni) and leaving work at 5pm I see plenty of them cycling around campus / just leaving campus with no lights. And cycling on the pavement. I am tempted to roll the window down and shout 'Get some lights!!' at them.

Agree with you re Students its the same in Leeds unfortunately.

Its a little quieter now as its bad weather and dark. But its around the universities where some of the worst cyclists I see are, unlit, pavement hoppers, going for gaps that arn't there etc etc

I'm sure its a lack of interest/willingness on the cyclists part to improve their skills as the Unis do run cycle safety courses and have an excellent cycling website with maps/tips/safety instructions etc

 

[pshore]

You must attract them or something. I never see even a tiny fraction of the problems you describe. Yes I see them but nowhere near that often. And I cycle in Cambridge too.

I have to agree. Castle Hill is on my commute and I was surprised when I did see someone RLJ at the top the other day. You are more likely to see a frustrated motorist amber gambling. Perhaps its a time of day thing, I go through at 6-7pm on the way home.

Hills Road and East Road, now there's a different story.

[edit] This was last week, I recall it was on Castle Hill:

CYCLISTS have been fined for riding after dark with no lights in Cambridge.
Twenty-four cyclists were given £30 fixed penalty notices for not having lights while a further two were fined for going through red traffic lights.
The operation was run by eight Special officers, on bikes and in a van, between 6pm and 10pm yesterday (December 7).

http://www.cambs.police.uk/news/newsitem.asp?NewsID=6290

One caught every 10 minutes.

 

[DCLane]

Going into Leeds this morning - a no-hands RLJ-er went through 4 red lights in a row. He followed this up with riding no hands wobbling across the lane on the main road into the city from the south. Cars were having to veer round him.

Caught up with him and let him know what I thought. Will it work ... doubt it.

 

[rich p]

I know I'm swimming against the stream here, but I have sympathy, indeed some respect for the type of person being criticised in this thread. Living in a less densely populated area I know by sight most of the people in my locality whose actions so annoy posters on this and similar previous threads. With the exception of youngsters who know no better, they all have some problems in life which I have never had to contend with including mental issues, low wages, unemployment, or unemployable, and difficulties with basic social skills.
Why respect? These guys don't have "all the gear", but they're on the road 52 weeks of the year, rain or shine, unlike some who would call themselves cyclists and make disparaging remarks about "BSOs" and their riders.

You were making some good points there snorri but telling fibs just loses you credibility.

 

[Bman]

Agree with you re Students its the same in Leeds unfortunately.

Its a little quieter now as its bad weather and dark. But its around the universities where some of the worst cyclists I see are, unlit, pavement hoppers, going for gaps that arn't there etc etc

I'm sure its a lack of interest/willingness on the cyclists part to improve their skills as the Unis do run cycle safety courses and have an excellent cycling website with maps/tips/safety instructions etc

I'm pretty sure that if someone suggested this to me while I was in college I would have told them where to go. I doubt I would have even considered that I needed further training. I learnt to ride a bike at about 5 years old and wouldnt have felt I needed any more tuition.

 

[pepecat]

Birmingham Uni is pretty good - they run a cycle workshop thing every couple of months where you can get locks / high viz stuff (and possibly lights, i don't know), and have your bike postcoded by the police, or ask about maintenance etc. They also run cycle courses for people who might just be starting cycling again or need some more confidence on the roads. I don't know what the uptake on these are, but there's a fair bunch of people who cycle to the uni every day.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I'm pretty sure that if someone suggested this to me while I was in college I would have told them where to go. I doubt I would have even considered that I needed further training. I learnt to ride a bike at about 5 years old and wouldnt have felt I needed any more tuition.

Youthful arrogance that you ahve grown out of now I hope? Obv your attitude is just yours, but may goto explain why despite the efforts of the unis I still see many cyclists around the universities cycling without any due care or attention whatsoever.

 

[cycleruk]

they all have some problems in life which I have never had to contend with including mental issues, low wages, unemployment, or unemployable, and difficulties with basic social skills.
Why respect? These guys don't have "all the gear", but they're on the road 52 weeks of the year, rain or shine, unlike some who would call themselves cyclists and make disparaging remarks about "BSOs" and their riders.

i agree with what you are saying and i do have sympathy for these people but the public highway is not the place to bring these problems!. The law is there for a reason and every one going by the law on the roads creates less stress (red mist can be a killer). if what you say is true then that means its one law for one person and a completely different law for everyone else, its attitudes like this that give car drivers and so on the ammunition they need to say what they want and do what they do

 

[snorri]

public highway is not the place to bring these problems!.

It was decided some years ago that locking them up was a policy that had had it's day, so this is an example of Care in the Community at work.
Car drivers don't need ammunition supplied, they can invent their own.

 

[cycleruk]

I never said anything about locking them up, my point is there are far safer placesto be to
deal with these problems, im sure no one wants to say to a family member that there loved one has just been killed in a smidsy type crash. regular occasions i hear car drivers say cyclist should not be on the road because they think they can do what they want (red light jumping is a common one).

 

[snapper_37]

[QUOTE 1640954, member: 3143"]It's amazing, the conversations that one can have at these 'speed dating' events.[/quote]

It's not a proper Cranky date without an out of control rabid dog snapping at his heels.

 

[chillyuk]

The attitude being displayed about those with mental health issues is why I keep myself to myself, don't join a cycling club or take part in many social activities. Under a thin veneer of tolerance old prejudices and fears are not far from the surface.