A few years back in London, I witnessed a cyclist "undertaking" a line of cars, and quickly at that.. He came a cropper when one car which was signalling turned left. the crash didn't hurt too much, it was the impact with a streetlight that broke his leg. Was he contrite?

Which is why the sensible urban cyclist moving at pace passes traffic on the offside where the motor vehicle's driver expects overtakers to be. Nearside requires extreme caution. I've lost count number of occasions while passing in such a manner I've had people bail from cars/taxis without a thought.

There will be a few fatals and then something will be done, knowing our govt yet more laws making the motorist responsible for preventing suicidal cyclists from themselves.

Chap on an electric bike, plus pedalling furiously came flying past the traffic starting to bunch for a right turn ahead, we were doing say 20 to 25mph and he came past us easily and in complete silence, must have gone straight over the mini roundabout behind at 30mph plus, which is no problem as such but he was weaving through in spaces that just weren't suitable given no one would see or hear is approach, i should add there was a compulsory cycle pavement beside the road but he was travelling far too fast to be sharing that with pedestrians.

He's a soon to be statistic, unfortunately some poor innocent motorist will get the blame when it happens changing their life forever, arguably that's better than someone on the pavement being maimed or worse by the twerp, the motorist being likely to have insurance.

Edited by gordonbennet on 10/08/2020 at 13:03

Police are either disinclined or under-resouced as minor offences are routinely ignored.

Cars have to have a big badge fron and back so that cameras and automated systems can issue fines. Bikes presently have nothing - and I see little prospect of enforcement even if the law changed.

So I think there are a few limited things which could change behaviours, as when car and cyclist collide the former may be scratched and the latter seriously injured or dead.

• Motoring organisations to fund a communications exercise - adverts, press, etc - to make cyclists more aware of the dangers.
• Schools to include some road safety training
• Fit dash cams - post footage of cyclist stupidity on line, use footage if collision to prove who is at fault
• Damage to pedestrians as a result of "riding wthout due care and attention" should be pursued as would similar damage if caused by a motorist.

I have no desire to squash a cyclist - many ride thoughfully and sensibly. But a significant proportion behave on the arrogant basis that:

• I am green and therefore righteous
• I do not have to follow the highway code
• I have a divine right to ride how, where and when I want

Just been out to the shops,

Nearly got an Electric scooter rider who came out of the retail park downhill through the exit. got a wave and a wry smile.. No helmet and i didn't know that colchester was in the "Trials" for e-scooters. Turned left 50 yards later and a young teen, headphones on stepped off the pavement without looking and gently ambled diagonally away from me.. missed him too!

Darwin theory is still working.

Yes, I have it on dashcam!

Speaking as a motorist who is also a cyclist, I am appalled at the behaviour of some cyclists when I am driving. I am also appalled at the driving of some motorists when I am cycling, and also when I am a pedestrian. It helps understand other road users if you are the other road user sometimes. Some cyclists do indeed cycle in a self righteous manner, and some drivers drive much too fast along narrow roads when a slight false move or grit on the road can all too easily result in death or serious injury. Of course we need more cycle tracks, our network here is rubbish compared to many European countries, such as Denmark, Germany and Holland, to name three that I have both driven and cycled in. I felt much safer in those countries mainly because cyclists, even when on the road, are treated with much more respect by drivers. I don't know why this is. In Germany we were the rarity whi wore cycle helmets, but I think their system is inherently safer for cyclists, keep them separate much more than we do, and clearly mark where the cyclist goes next. Our councils could learn a lot for sure. Signage here is patchy and often just stops, and through routes have gaos with no info on where to go. Education is a big part of the answer, including educating cyclists not to drop their empty glucose gel packets everywhere they go.

One minor issue - cycles don't have speedometers

I've got one - not one of those fancy-pants digital doo-dahs with a GPS or even the next grade down with the metal disc on the wheel and a sensor (counting how many revolutions it make) with a digital display - nope, two - a honest good ol' dynamo type one with a rotating cable linked to a physical speedo, which flies off the wheel when you get up to 40mph, and another similar one that rotates about the wheel spindle but is a pain to attach to the frame.

The both look 'cool' even if the are old school. They even have a trip meter / odometer.. When I was a yoof (when I bought them), I also thought it was amazing that I could get up to 50mph caning it down a local hill. Not so sensible, looking back on it.

Edited by Engineer Andy on 10/08/2020 at 18:03

The only thing I'd say to cyclists is - if you're waiting at a road junction, and a lorry pulls up beside you, watch out. The driver probably can't see you, and may be about to turn left. So look and see if he's signalling"

Surely if the lorry pulls up alongside the bike, it's the lorry driver's responsibility to be aware of the cyclist who was already present. If the driver 'can't see you' or is distracted by their phone/something else , then they are not fit to drive

Your point is however valid & a vulnerable road user owes it to themselves to take every precaution .

When the bike arrives AFTER the lorry, definitely assume you haven't been seen & act accordingly.

If cyclists have no speedos how can they tell how fast they are travelling. Unless downhill you have to be pretty fit to exceed 30mph on a sustained basis. When cyclists are travelling in the same direction as you, you just have to be patient.

Speeding cyclists mixing with pedestrians is totally different. Riding a bike on the pavement has been against the law almost since the penny f***hing. If a bike with say a 12 stone rider hits a child or adult you need not guess who comes of worse. Yet cyclists in todays world are actively allowed to ride in pedestrian areas. At the very least cyclists should have insurance.

.... more often than not the delays / time 'lost' can be measures in minutes.

And quite often, fractions of minutes. It's just the frustration that can't be measured.

Very interesting comments-thankyou. Of course cyclists should be entitled to use roads, obey the same rules as motorists and motorists in turn should respect them.

Its been many years since I rode a bike on a public road--Is it time for pedal bicycle tax ( vehicle tax ?) and should you perhaps have to have (comprehensive) insurance?

Bicycle tax.?...impractical....the administration and policing of it would cost more that the revenue it attracted....you suggesting registration plates too.?

Insurance.?...why not...from what I've seen here it would seem cyclists need protecting from the unnecessarily angry and impatient motorists they have to endure.

It's a shame that the UK is not as enlightened as some of our European cousins.

BUT...I will always maintain there are good and bad on both sides...one can only hope that the good always outnumber the bad.!!

Edited by nellyjak on 12/08/2020 at 17:11

It's been many years since I rode a bike on a public road--Is it time for pedal bicycle tax ( vehicle tax ?) and should you perhaps have to have (comprehensive) insurance?

I think taxing cyclists would be messy, and probably counterintuitive at a time when people are being urged to use them - while arguably drivers are taxed so as not to drive.

But I think some form of cycle registration to help identify riders (and bikes) might be considered. Some university towns used to do this, and may still do ?

Don't worry - if the conspiracy theorists amongst us are correct, we will all be injected with Bill Gates' microchips and tracked by the all-killing 5G signals so there will be no need to identify the vehicle.

Some king of registration is a good idea. Maybe a chip in the frame.

Perhaps some fish too? Salt and vinegar, mushy peas?