Cyclists, insurance and road tax

maestroamado

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Same traffic laws apply, regardless of how many is in the group.

Disrupting traffic is an offence so if there is a windy piece of road we can be stuck behind a string of bikes for considerable time. The simple solution is capping the numbers...

Hurrache

maestroamado wrote: »

Disrupting traffic is an offence so if there is a windy piece of road we can be stuck behind a string of bikes for considerable time. The simple solution is capping the numbers...

It's not a solution of any kind, it's a breathtakingly dumb hot take on a problem that doesn't exist.

oisinog

jaffusmax wrote: »

I don’t think they should pay taxes but strongly believe that they MUST obey the rules of the road like every motorist and some must lose the attitude as the roads where never built with cyclists in mind in the first place!

I think you will find that roads were never built with cars in mind

5uspect

maestroamado wrote: »

Disrupting traffic is an offence so if there is a windy piece of road we can be stuck behind a string of bikes for considerable time. The simple solution is capping the numbers...

Cyclists are traffic too.

Seth Brundle

maestroamado wrote: »

Disrupting traffic is an offence so if there is a windy piece of road we can be stuck behind a string of bikes for considerable time. The simple solution is capping the numbers...

Seeing as you're trying to refer to the legislation (loosely), you'll be aware that cyclists are traffic as defined in the Road Traffic Act.

Fighting Tao

maestroamado wrote: »

Disrupting traffic is an offence so if there is a windy piece of road we can be stuck behind a string of bikes for considerable time. The simple solution is capping the numbers...

Maybe you should go and get retested for your licence. You don’t seem to know that people on bikes are traffic.

maestroamado

km991148 wrote: »

Few groups would be going out more than 6 pairs. Becomes a safety concern really.

But a general group of say 4-8 cyclists would always be preferable. Faster moving and less distance to overtake than single file.

I understand people might not appreciate the speed boost, but the overtaking angle should be blindingly obvious to all but the most dangerous or obnoxious drivers.

This is more or less what i am talking about, 12 bikes will take as much road space as an Artic truck, they are travelling slower than motor traffic so people stuck behind, for this reason i think numbers should be capped.
I was behind a string of bikes one Sunday in a line of traffic, this was before Covid as things seem to pretty ok at the moment...

namloc1980

maestroamado wrote: »

Disrupting traffic is an offence so if there is a windy piece of road we can be stuck behind a string of bikes for considerable time. The simple solution is capping the numbers...

Genuinely scary that there are drivers like yourself out there who clearly have no idea about driving or dealing with traffic.

Fighting Tao

maestroamado wrote: »

This is more or less what i am talking about, 12 bikes will take as much road space as an Artic truck, they are travelling slower than motor traffic so people stuck behind, for this reason i think numbers should be capped.
I was behind a string of bikes one Sunday in a line of traffic, this was before Covid as things seem to pretty ok at the moment...

Would you complain the same about being struck behind a string of cars on a motorway for a short time?

5uspect

Was your journey more important that theirs?
You need a license to operate your vehicle in the road. Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders have a right to the public road.

Seth Brundle

maestroamado wrote: »

This is more or less what i am talking about, 12 bikes will take as much road space as an Artic truck, they are travelling slower than motor traffic so people stuck behind, for this reason i think numbers should be capped.

They have every right to be there - just as much of a right as you.
Your impatience does not remove their right.

maestroamado wrote: »

I was behind a string of bikes one Sunday in a line of traffic, this was before Covid as things seem to pretty ok at the moment...

Covid has meant that cycling clubs are not holding group spins - they are socially responsible, you know!

JimmyVik

Hurrache wrote: »

Seems you don't realise the video you're watching is not from the posters eyes. When cycling you have a much better view ahead of traffic and can see over the top of all those cars, there's no obstructed view. "Wouldnt get me doing it.", :rolleyes:

I mean the drivers having obstructed view of the cyclist who is over the while line at the junction, when drivers are turning right around the cars at the junction. They are watching their left, their right, their ass, the footpath, oncoming traffic and now they have someone going the wrong way in the lane they are turning into as well.

Why can road users not think of the point of view of anything but themselves. That goes for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians.
Think about the road from everyones point of view when using it.
Of course I might as well be talking to a wall, i know.

Hurrache

JimmyVik wrote: »

I mean the drivers having obstructed view of the cyclist who is over the while line at the junction, when drivers are turning right around the cars at the junction. They are watching their left, their right, their ass, the footpath, oncoming traffic and now they have someone going the wrong way in the lane they are turning into as well.

Why can road users not think of the point of view of anything but themselves. That goes for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians.
Think about the road from everyones point of view when using it.
Of course I might as well be talking to a wall, i know.

You might as well talk to a wall alright, it might think you're as clever as you think you are when it comes to roads.

Tombo2001

Paddigol wrote: »

I do like to check in to the last page on these kind of threads every so often to confirm that, yes, the same questions are indeed being asked again and again, with the aplomb of someone who thinks "hold my drink lads, I've just come up with a question nobody else has ever thought of - lets see those lycra ninjas dodge this one" - despite having been answered innumerable times in the thread itself.

Basically - why can't you all just get in cars like the rest of us, break the same laws as the rest of us, spend thousands a year on your car like the rest of us, and sit frustrated in traffic like the rest of us. STOP BEING DIFFERENT YOU B******S. Basically.

Whats amazing really is the difference between the cyclists experience of these debates and that of drivers.

Cyclists - I cant believe I am hearing this same crap again.

Drivers - damn cyclists, they dont event pay road tax.....I'm going to say it to one of them right now.....

JimmyVik

Hurrache wrote: »

You might as well talk to a wall alright, it might think you're as clever as you think you are when it comes to roads.

I give up then.
You are correct. He was right to be cycling on the wrong side of the white line approaching a red light to him where there was oncoming traffic turning right into the lane he was crossed into. There you go, you win.

5uspect

JimmyVik wrote: »

I mean the drivers having obstructed view of the cyclist who is over the while line at the junction, when drivers are turning right around the cars at the junction. They are watching their left, their right, their ass, the footpath, oncoming traffic and now they have someone going the wrong way in the lane they are turning into as well.

Why can road users not think of the point of view of anything but themselves. That goes for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians.
Think about the road from everyones point of view when using it.
Of course I might as well be talking to a wall, i know.

This is an hour long commute speed up to fit into a 4 and a half minute video. I was aware of oncoming traffic as I safely overtook and moved in well in advance.

Pawwed Rig

maestroamado wrote: »

This is more or less what i am talking about, 12 bikes will take as much road space as an Artic truck, they are travelling slower than motor traffic so people stuck behind, for this reason i think numbers should be capped.
I was behind a string of bikes one Sunday in a line of traffic, this was before Covid as things seem to pretty ok at the moment...

I was behind a line of cars this morning dropping my kids to school. Took ages.

I think numbers should be capped so I can get where I am going quicker.


See how dumb that argument is?

Hurrache

JimmyVik wrote: »

I give up then.
You are correct. He was right to be cycling on the wrong side of the white line approaching a red light to him where there was oncoming traffic turning right into the lane he was crossed into. There you go, you win.

Well I am, yes. When you're on a bike you can see well in advance anything coming your way and move in out of the way. If a motorist gets fearful, it's on the motorist. Motorcyclists do it all the time too.

Seth Brundle

5uspect wrote: »

This is an hour long commute speed up to fit into a 4 and a half minute video. I was aware of oncoming traffic as I safely overtook and moved in well in advance.

What struck me most was that you access Strawberry Beds through the Park rather than up Knockmaroon Hill.
I thought you were hardcore

oisinog

JimmyVik wrote: »

I give up then.
You are correct. He was right to be cycling on the wrong side of the white line approaching a red light to him where there was oncoming traffic turning right into the lane he was crossed into. There you go, you win.

On a bike you can see much more than you can in a car. What looked like passing the whte line on the video was probably more likley him running on the white line.

He may also have been aware of the traffic light pattern and knew how long he had.

Now would you ask the same questions of someone on a motor bike.

Fighting Tao

JimmyVik wrote: »

I give up then.
You are correct. He was right to be cycling on the wrong side of the white line approaching a red light to him where there was oncoming traffic turning right into the lane he was crossed into. There you go, you win.

More concerning is the cars that appear to be breaking a red light on that turn. The damage they could do is far greater.

marvin80

JimmyVik wrote: »

See I think the problem here is that nobody, cyclists or motorists want to admit they ever did anything wrong.
Hence always at each others throats.

I think the key thing here is there's a massive difference between the consequences of any poor actions by motorists and cyclists on our roads.

Motorists cause hundreds of deaths and injuries on our roads every year so it's very hypocritical when they come onto threads like this saying cyclists are a menace.

JimmyVik

5uspect wrote: »

This is an hour long commute speed up to fit into a 4 and a half minute video. I was aware of oncoming traffic as I safely overtook and moved in well in advance.

It can clearly be seen in the video. You are over the white line approaching the junction with traffic turning right into the lane.
Im just saying its a dangerous thing to do. Im not saying you would for definite be killed if you do it. Just pointing out, its dangerous and you should be more careful. Its not just you that has to make the mistake that kills you. One of those drivers might not be watching as carefully as they should have and mow you down.
Just pointing out that cyclists and drivers can lose concentration and do the wrong thing but noone who does make a mistake ever thinks they did make a mistake. Theres a bullheadedness, im never in the wrong attitude, to bot drivers and cyclists, that causes friction that never seems to end.

Thats all i have to say on the subject. I'll leave it at that.

JimmyVik

marvin80 wrote: »

I think the key thing here is there's a massive difference between the consequences of any poor actions by motorists and cyclists on our roads.

Motorists cause hundreds of deaths and injuries on our roads every year so it's very hypocritical when they come onto threads like this saying cyclists are a menace.

No. The key point is that a lapse of concentration by anyone can have consequences. They do happen. Try to minimize them as much as you can.
And when cycling i am only too aware that any lapse by anyone, including me, will hurt me a lot more than a car. So i try my best to stay out of the way of cars who may or may not be concentrating themselves.
Drivers think they have some sort of superhuman senses and dont make mistakes.
Cyclists think they have some sort of superhuman senses and dont make mistakes.
But they all do and a cyclist is more at risk to a mistake made by someone else, without adding their own carelessness into the mix.

mrslancaster

5uspect wrote: »

I’m filtering, as is recommended for cyclists and motorcycles. Are you looking for a gotcha or are you that offended by cyclists overtaking you while you sit immobile in traffic?

Is that why this thread exists? Cyclists should pay road tax because they overtake me because I’m stuck in traffic? Where are their manners? They should have to wait too!

Always learning things on boards. I didn't realise that filtering or weaving in & out of traffic was recommended, I thought when cycling we had to keep left or stay in cycle lanes.

Fighting Tao

JimmyVik wrote: »

No. The key point is that a lapse of concentration by anyone can have consequences. They do happen. Try to minimize them as much as you can.
And when cycling i am only too aware that any lapse by anyone, including me, will hurt me a lot more than a car. So i try my best to stay out of the way of cars who may or may not be concentrating themselves.

Cars running red lights but yeah cyclist who will only kill himself is worse. I know which I’d rather meet.

osarusan

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

I was behind a line of cars this morning dropping my kids to school. Took ages.

I think numbers should be capped so I can get where I am going quicker.


See how dumb that argument is?

Commuter busses, school busses, refuse collection trucks, tractors...they all gotta go.

km991148

maestroamado wrote: »

This is more or less what i am talking about, 12 bikes will take as much road space as an Artic truck, they are travelling slower than motor traffic so people stuck behind, for this reason i think numbers should be capped.
I was behind a string of bikes one Sunday in a line of traffic, this was before Covid as things seem to pretty ok at the moment...

Don't know where you live, but how often do you find yourself sitting for long behind a large group? Probably as often as a lorry? i.e. not that much.

Most people I know if 12-14 people turn up then it's two groups. That means a line of 6/7 (back to lorry length) or 3 pairs (van length). The paired configuration has the advantage of being able to go faster.

Contrary to popular belief, most cyclists (or club runs especially) do as much as they can to inconvenience others as little as possible (It's not comfortable sitting with some impatient arsehole behind you).
This is done via group size, route choice etc but sometimes you can't help a little inconvenience but when you look at it, how often do you really get held up by anything more than a few minutes?

km991148

osarusan wrote: »

Commuter busses, school busses, refuse collection trucks, tractors...they all gotta go.

Some arsehole pulled out on me on a country road. Was tipping along 40/45. Car proceeded to drive along at 30 after. Had to pull over and let them get away, I suppose I should have came here and cried about it first (ah crap, I just have).

namloc1980

Some very angry motorists in this thread. Maybe take a break from driving as it seems to make you very angry indeed.