Tarmac cyclist

pilgrimhudd · Dec 18, 2019

I've never understood cyclists jumping lights, being a cyclist myself it gives us a bad name.

Shared cyclepaths are awful, being someone who likes to cycle fast (in my head anyway) I prefer to cycle on the road with traffic. I also think that the little cycle lanes they put on the side of the road are a menace, full of ****, potholes, drains and manhole covers. I'm not sure what the answer is, closed off cycle lanes perhaps but that would mean an awful lot of investment for a minority of commuters.

the_quick · Dec 18, 2019

I walk everyday on a small footpath (not near the road) that is shared with cyclist. I always try to walk near the verge, so cyclist can overtake me. But sometime they pass me with huge speed, made me jump on few occasion. I can understand you want to cycle fast, but please be respectful to users of the same space. Best solution is dedicated cycle patch, next to walk path divided by a small green belt.

DavidHatton · Dec 18, 2019

Constantly see it on my walk to work, several times I've adjust my walking speed to p*ss off the rider, making them brake, I weigh 23 stone and am 6ft 2, will take my chances no problem :tongue:

ps, I personally have no issue with cyclists just fools on a bike.

DavidDetroit · Dec 18, 2019

At least in Michigan, we're a little behind the times in getting people to exercise, walk, travel on bikes, etc. I notice that the dedicated space for cyclists is non-optimum to dangerous. Too many cars, not enough carpooling, not nearly enough use of public transportation.

Richie_asg1 · Dec 18, 2019

I would be happy to use public transport every time if it didn't cost £6 per person just to get the 3 miles into town. 3 people £18. - Cheaper by car.
If government wanted to they could nationalise the public transport system and make it so cheap even the cyclists would want to ride on it. Solve the pollution problem overnight.

marshbrewer · Dec 18, 2019

I cycle lots; I also drive lots for work (40-80k miles a year), and as I think I've said before, there are careful and courteous users of all modes of transport, and also complete melts, and many in-between.

I don't jump red lights in / on any vehicle. I also have nearly been wiped out many a time, both in my bike and in my car.

We all rightfully share the same public roads; personally I wish everyone on them took a chill pill and just got on!

Gingerbrews · Dec 19, 2019

I must say I think that some of the problem stems from drivers never having cycled as kids, so they don't appreciate how scary it can be to have a car pass close and at speed. Difficulty is that to alleviate the problem more people need to cycle, but conversely some find it too frightening

skulltat280 · Jan 16, 2020

I've cycled when younger but not for years now

In my opinion (and I'm sure not a popular one for some) , motorists pay a fortune to use the roads so I don't believe everyone is equally entitled to use the roads so if any right of way should be given it should be the cyclists giving way

If true equality is to be adhered to, cyclists should be required to pay to use the roads, or at least have to be put through a test and hold a licence, insurance, fined/penalty points for not adhering to the highway code and breathalysed if involved in an accident

If we are to use the road as one, we should all be treated as one, just my 2 cents

marshbrewer · Jan 16, 2020

By your logic, you should give way to me on my bike, as I do around 40-80k miles a year I my car, thus almost certainly pay far more fuel duty than you.....

In reality, roads are funded through general taxation. Vehicle excise duty, fuel duty, council tax, income tax, etc etc, so 'cyclists' are already paying for the roads just like any other taxpayer.

skulltat280 · Jan 16, 2020

jjsh said:
By your logic, you should give way to me on my bike, as I do around 40-80k miles a year I my car, thus almost certainly pay far more fuel duty than you.....

In reality, roads are funded through general taxation. Vehicle excise duty, fuel duty, council tax, income tax, etc etc, so 'cyclists' are already paying for the roads just like any other taxpayer.

Cyclists most certainly are not paying just like a motorist

MyQul · Jan 16, 2020

skulltat280 said:
Cyclists most certainly are not paying just like a motorist

Your paying for your car, as jjsh say, the roads come out of general taxation. So cyclists pay equally (unless an individual cyclist pays less tax e.g. is below the income tax threshold)

samale · Jan 16, 2020

skulltat280 said:
I've cycled when younger but not for years now

In my opinion (and I'm sure not a popular one for some) , motorists pay a fortune to use the roads so I don't believe everyone is equally entitled to use the roads so if any right of way should be given it should be the cyclists giving way

If true equality is to be adhered to, cyclists should be required to pay to use the roads, or at least have to be put through a test and hold a licence, insurance, fined/penalty points for not adhering to the highway code and breathalysed if involved in an accident

If we are to use the road as one, we should all be treated as one, just my 2 cents

I cycle and drive. You can get bad in both. Problem I see is that the person driving the biggest vehicle seems to think they have right of way. The other thing is people are in a mad rush to get to where they are going and take crazy chances to shave seconds of the time.

skulltat280 · Jan 16, 2020

MyQul said:
Your paying for your car, as jjsh say, the roads come out of general taxation. So cyclists pay equally (unless an individual cyclist pays less tax e.g. is below the income tax threshold)

Vehicle road tax, fuel tax, here in Northern Ireland m.o.t. None of which cyclists pay for, especially the road tax which is supposed to be used for the roads

Richie_asg1 · Jan 16, 2020

With the increasing use of electric bikes, electric motorbikes and electric vehicles - where would the line be drawn?
Licence for electric bikes maybe. Or no licence for purely electric 4x4.

skulltat280 · Jan 16, 2020

samale said:
I cycle and drive. You can get bad in both. Problem I see is that the person driving the biggest vehicle seems to think they have right of way. The other thing is people are in a mad rush to get to where they are going and take crazy chances to shave seconds of the time.

Absolutely, there's idiots in cars, bikes, boats, skateboards, walking, running

skulltat280 · Jan 16, 2020

Richie_asg1 said:
With the increasing use of electric bikes, electric motorbikes and electric vehicles - where would the line be drawn?
Licence for electric bikes maybe. Or no licence for purely electric 4x4.

I've no idea where the line should be drawn but everyone who uses the road should pay their way imo

MyQul · Jan 16, 2020

skulltat280 said:
Vehicle road tax, fuel tax, here in Northern Ireland m.o.t. None of which cyclists pay for, especially the road tax which is supposed to be used for the roads

You can balance that against all the damage cars do the roads compared to bicycles. I saw some stats once. It's it takes several thousand bikes to do the same damage one car does. I'll try and find some stats

samale · Jan 16, 2020

skulltat280 said:
I've no idea where the line should be drawn but everyone who uses the road should pay their way imo

I don't believe in that. Cycling should be free to enjoy. May that be to commute to work or to enjoy it as a sport. It should be used as an incentive for people as a mode of transport. Holland is a great example

skulltat280 · Jan 16, 2020

MyQul said:
You can balance that against all the damage cars do the roads compared to bicycles. I saw some stats once. It's it takes several thousand bikes to do the same damage one car does. I'll try and find some stats

But if it wasn't for the substantial amount of money the government take from motorists, the roads would be unusable. Well, maybe a mountain bike could ride on the terrain lol

marshbrewer · Jan 16, 2020

skulltat280 said:
especially the road tax which is supposed to be used for the roads

skulltat280 said:
Vehicle road tax, fuel tax, here in Northern Ireland m.o.t. None of which cyclists pay for, especially the road tax which is supposed to be used for the roads

Vehicle excise duty ( we don't have a road tax) is an emission tax. Thus cyclists would be zero rated. VED isn't ring fenced for the use on transport infrastructure, it's just a general tax. Fuel duty isn't paid by electric vehicles, cyclists, horses and pedestrians, and so on.

But I reiterate - everyone who pays any sort of tax pays for the roads. There are no special taxes that raise money for roads per se. In fact, a lot of it comes out of council tax - should people with large, high band houses therefore get priority access over people in smaller ones?

The 'cyclists don't pay for the roads' argument is an old chestnut, and it's consistently wrong.

Tarmac cyclist

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