Cyclists

That I do agree with Bob and horses on the road. 

double post

Here we go again, just add a tax or up it, because someone doesn’t like cyclists. That I’m sure, will make you feel 100% better.

I suggest you start, by not buying a bike when your children are old enough to ride, then you can explain to them the reason why they shouldn’t have one.

No, it would be easier to tax them.l  

Do you agree though cyclists should have some form of insurance Bad Penny?
I agree with you they should not pay road tax as per my earlier post.

It is a healthy pastime. What we need are more cycle ways not insurance. The most vulnerable is the cyclist not the car driver. Every country I have cycled in abroad, treats a cyclist with total respect. It is only this country, that seems to have problem with cyclists.

If hit by a car and killed, why would I want insurance? If I owned an insurance company, maybe I would say yes.

And if you run in to the back of my car on your bicycle who pays?
I certainly have nothing against cycling and even thinking of getting an electric one.

groundhog wrote:And if you run in to the back of my car on your bicycle who pays?

Presumably your insurance company will pursue the cyclist to recover the cost.

groundhog wrote:I certainly have nothing against cycling and even thinking of getting an electric one.

And you'll be getting 3rd party insurance to go with it?

I would investigate the options yes.

Cycling UK members get £10 million cover for free, £30 a year to join so surely a good way to go?

groundhog wrote:Cycling UK members get £10 million cover for free, £30 a year to join so surely a good way to go?

And worth every penny, have been a member for 5 years, you also get 10% in Halfords as well as other benefits,

Probably best to extend the need for insurance to pedestrians !

Davy

Bad Penny wrote:It is a healthy pastime. What we need are more cycle ways not insurance. The most vulnerable is the cyclist not the car driver. Every country I have cycled in abroad, treats a cyclist with total respect. It is only this country, that seems to have problem with cyclists.

No tax, no insurance, no contribution to road maintenance, but lots more designated cycle ways which you would probably be happy for the motorist to fund as well ..... Er  ... Cake and eat it 

Suppersready wrote:

Bad Penny wrote:... It is only this country, that seems to have problem with cyclists.

No tax, no insurance, no contribution to road maintenance, but lots more designated cycle ways which you would probably be happy for the motorist to fund as well ..... Er  ... Cake and eat it 

This comment only proves Bad Penny's point.

I've given you evidence, with supporting links, that all taxpayers fund the roads, irrespective of their chosen mode of transport. Yet, you continue to believe, or, at least, post, that cyclists make no contribution.

And, yes, we need more cycleways. Either we have useable cycleways or we have cyclists on the road. You can't have it both ways.

Weegie wrote:

Suppersready wrote:

Bad Penny wrote:... It is only this country, that seems to have problem with cyclists.

No tax, no insurance, no contribution to road maintenance, but lots more designated cycle ways which you would probably be happy for the motorist to fund as well ..... Er  ... Cake and eat it 

This comment only proves Bad Penny's point.

I've given you evidence, with supporting links, that all taxpayers fund the roads, irrespective of their chosen mode of transport. Yet, you continue to believe, or, at least, post, that cyclists make no contribution.

I’m actually a very keen cyclist myself .... However I feel quite strongly that unfortunately there are a growing number who have a scant regard for anyone else. I am also a keen walker and the same can be said about the ramblers association ( off topic ) but selfish arrogance as I posted earlier.
We all contribute to an extent as you have mentioned ... but unproportionally I think

A classic example of cyclist versus car driver, happened last week. A lady tv presenter was cycling in a cycle lane, on her way home from work. 
She noticed a car alongside her, which suddenly took a left turn across the cycle way and knocked her off her bike. Her helmet saved her from serious injury, which split as her head hit the pavement. Luckily she was ok.

I know I can see a car, but not sure whether a car driver can see me, because of blind spots. Therefore the one who will come off worst in an accident will always be the most vulnerable. 

If you want cyclists to pay insurance, then you must also include pedestrians. We have cycle ways divided in two for pedestrians and cyclists here. Sand is usually blown onto them in strong wind. My wife fell off her bike, because pedestrians strayed onto the cycle lane. She braked to avoid them and skidded on the sand and fell off. They walked off, not realising they were the cause of the accident.

Suppersready, I’m also a keen cyclist but like you have noticed an increasing number of recent novice and (more infuriating) club cyclists who don’t give a hoot about other road users, primarily cars.
I always pull in even if it means stopping to let other vehicles pass but I am in the minority and get genuinely angry when I’m in the car so can see non cyclists point of view 100%.
Saying that there are also some right ‘knob’ car drivers out there too!!!!!

By the way Suppersready, It’s not cake and eat it, I pay insurance and vehicle tax for my car and MH. I guess that makes me a qualified motorist. My bike also does less road damage than those.

As for paying for cycle routes, the tax I’m still paying as a retired person, should cover that. Old railway routes have been turned into cycle ways by a walking and cycling charity organisation called “Sustrans”  who are custodians of these routes.

Unfortunately our government, are more concerned with giving vast sums of money away for, well we all know what.

You may think it is disproportionate, I don’t.

BobK wrote:While on the subject of duty etc.  should cyclists have third party insurance ??

Very much so. And, a licence plate. Then at least maybe they might behave better if they knew they could be recognised. 

We get huge flocks/gangs/pelotons of them, organised cycle group holidays or some such. All well and good, but we are bang in the centre of a 40 mile single track route... They ride in bunches, and you cannot pass, nor will they pull up. Frustration causes accidents!

I was heading home once, and was heading into a gaggle of these... Kept pulling into passing places to let them past (very few, acknowledged this) and slowly over the 20 miles the bunches got smaller... Until the very last one, an old lady, probably in her 70's, all alone, cycling up the beallach, spitting lung. She could have been dead in a ditch for all the others cared.

Yes, and they have every right to be there, the same as you. Except of course they are not impatient.

Bad Penny wrote:Yes, and they have every right to be there, the same as you. Except of course they are not impatient.

I'm not impatient! I drive a 40 Yr old Land Rover! Patience is an inbuilt fitting. You can't rush an old 2.25d.

I'm always happy to pull up to let folk pass, whatever I'm driving. And, it's only polite to acknowledge folk who pull up for you, isn't it?

But, yes.. Frustration causes accidents. Those who are in a rush get frustrated and take risks. Cyclists are very vulnerable, it's them that will get hurt.

Bad Penny wrote:
As for paying for cycle routes, the tax I’m still paying as a retired person, should cover that. 

You may think it is disproportionate, I don’t.

I’ve been paying tax as a retired person for the last 4 years   ... but I doubt it would cover the cost of all the cycle routes you would like to see all over the country.

And yes, I do




Niall.

Dbvwt wrote:Suppersready, I’m also a keen cyclist but like you have noticed an increasing number of recent novice and (more infuriating) club cyclists who don’t give a hoot about other road users, primarily cars.
I always pull in even if it means stopping to let other vehicles pass but I am in the minority and get genuinely angry when I’m in the car so can see non cyclists point of view 100%.
Saying that there are also some right ‘knob’ car drivers out there too!!!!!

Totally agree and I think the large increase in cyclist began following Chris Hoy’s Olympic successes ...




Niall.

Bad Penny wrote:Yes, and they have every right to be there, the same as you. Except of course they are not impatient.

They have the right to be there  .... so they must be in the right ?  Does not mean that their action when there is right though ! I would call it selfish, arrogant and potentially dangerous ...

Cycling has always been popular, nothing to do Chris Hoy. Even before the car.
As I said, many routes across the country are created by a charity organisation, Sustrans.
I just hope the tax you pay, like mine, helps to create safe cycle routes, for children as well as adults, this would then appease all disgruntled motorists.