Another Cyclist Death

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I have just watched a farcical interview on London Tonight, where Boris Johnson plans to go ahead with Cycling highways costing thousands of pounds.

Cyclist have to be educated in using the roads, most of them are totally ignorant of the roads, blaming drivers for accident.

Tonight on my way home for example, a cyclist went straight through a red light, he got tooted by a van and the cyclist stuck his fingers up. And this was on the busy A4 Gillette Corner.

Cyclist have to realise several things. They MUST wear a hi vis, have lights, etc etc. Drivers are human, accidents happen with cyclists everyday of the week - they cannot keep blaming drivers if they have an accident.

What Boris has to do, is bring in a law - They have be registered and MUST have insurance, which you can get for cycles.

[Nidge41]

They're idiots round here, I'd hate to think what they're like in London.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Nidge41

They're idiots round here, I'd hate to think what they're like in London.

same here -i'm spotting a trend

[Hom3r]

I see cyclist everday jump lights pull out on roundabouts in front of cars and then have the nerve to blame the driver.

[Osem]

Yes we all know that sort of thing's a regular occurrence.

Last night I did 40 miles to/from a couple of nearby villages and was surprised to see so many cyclists wearing dark clothes which rendered them almost invisible in the gloom, especially where there were no street lights. To be fair most had flashing rear lights but I saw only one with any form of front light and none had helmets. Trying to see a cyclist coming up behind you in the dark really is very hard work if they don't have some form of front light to show their presence.

[Hom3r]

I also seen them driving with just those flashing LEDs (it stated this on the pack when I bought some before I learnt to drive) which are NOT allowed to be used on there own, but with a non-flashing light.

[Nidge41]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I also seen them driving with just those flashing LEDs (it stated this on the pack when I bought some before I learnt to drive) which are NOT allowed to be used on there own, but with a non-flashing light.

Them lights are blinding especially the Cree LED lights.

---------- Post added at 06:13 ---------- Previous post was at 06:11 ----------

Originally Posted by papa smurf

same here -i'm spotting a trend

Shall we start a trend?

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Today we saw another death of a cyclist. On a report by London Tonight, we saw cameras showing cycling on London Roads.

BUT, several of these DIDN'T HAVE LIGHTS or HI VIS jackets and cycling in the middle of traffic, and those that did have lights could not be seen properly.

It is no good the Cycling commissioner throwing more money into safer roads and lanes for cyclists.

Before they do that, the cyclist have to be educated on how to ride the thing, how to be SEEN in the dark and on the roads, cyclist must be hit with fines if they do abide by the laws of the road.

I ride and bike and was also a delivery driver in London and have driven on the roads for over twenty years.

BUT, Cyclists are a danger to themself, jumping lights, going on the wrong side of vehicles, despite warnings on the vehicle.

They have to be educated, they must be registered, and NOT allowed to cycle on the road until they have done a cycling course and given a card like a drivers licence, BEFORE they are allowed on the road.

I know that police cyclist of which my son is one, has to apply for a cyclist card, pass a fitness test, and go on a course. And is NOT allowed out until he wears all the proper equipment and has lights on his cycle.

I sympathise with the people that have been killed, but cyclist must realise that any mistakes by them could lead to a car, lorry or even a bus could maim or kill them.

THEY MUST BE EDUCATED ON THE ROADS.

Threads merged - no need for a new thread when there is a an existing recent thread on the same subject by the same OP.

[Tezcatlipoca]

I actually agree with Arthur on something

Originally Posted by Matt D

I actually agree with Arthur on something

As do i

I went into London the other day in the truck and for those who have not seen them the cycle super highways are simply painted blue lanes half the width of a normal lane ,the mad thing is in a lot of places they have actually cut the bus lane in half so you have the totally bonkers situation of buses and cycles sharing the same lane with the cycles being on the left (the blind side )

[Osem]

I heard Harriet Harman's demanding that lorries be banned from London during rush hour. How's that going to work then?

[Arthurgray50@blu]

What a pathetic comment from an MP, is she going to ban Buses and cars as well.

IF, cyclist obeyed signs that are on lorries - there are signs on lorries saying ' do not pass on this side' Then they would not be involved in accidents with lorries

What you should do is BAN all cycles from London roads - IF they want to be stupid and jump lights, don't wear PROPER gear and have lights or cycle in between vehicles , and even use mobiles when cycling or have headphones on- then you should not be on the road - FULL STOP, Once they start paying TAXES, they can have there say.

Originally Posted by Osem

I heard Harriet Harman's demanding that lorries be banned from London during rush hour. How's that going to work then?

we would absolutely love it and it is workable ,it already happens in france

---------- Post added at 21:05 ---------- Previous post was at 21:01 ----------

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

What a pathetic comment from an MP, is she going to ban Buses and cars as well.

.

Not at all Arthur ,as i said above restrictions apply during certain hours in many parts of Europe and works well ,banning trucks in london during rush hours makes sense because something has to give and the most flexible are the trucks ,the only addition i would make is lifting some of the night time restrictions that apply to trucks .

[Osem]

Originally Posted by martyh

we would absolutely love it and it is workable ,it already happens in france.

My understanding, if I heard correctly, is that in Paris the ban is all day not just peak hours. Given the vagaries of London traffic, what'd happen to those lorries which enter London off peak but are stuck there due to traffic problems or whatever? They can't just park up for the day can they. How is all major development work going to be carried out in London if lorries are banned all day and if some of the night time restrictions are lifted I'm sure there'll be an awful lot of Londoners complaining about being woken up in the night? Am I missing something here?

Anyway why are we suddenly considering banning lorries after half a dozen cycling deaths when thousands of pedestrians and other road users are killed year in year lout by cars and other vehicles every year and very little seems to be done.

If, by a similar quirk of fate or coincidence, there are no further cyclists killed this year and in 2014 the figures are back on a par with recent years will that mean lorries suddenly don't need to be banned? I'm sorry but, whilst all such deaths are tragic, I see a massive overreaction gathering pace here.