Other Road Users / 4x4 rant (merged)

[Tim Falce]

Bikers (push bikes) should be banned from the roads. They are a menace especially when they ride two or three abreast down country lanes. They pay no insurance so there is no comeback against them when they cause accidents.

[Bluebottle]

It's really not rocket science to safely overtake a cyclist- yes, even when towing and don't forget that while our roads have maximum speed limits very few of them have a minimum speed limit. I do, however, feel that some sort of test should be taken and a minimum age set before a cyclist can take to the road. 2 abreast is not illegal but in most cases it's not safe and downright rude. 3 abreast I believe is illegal.
I also think that a part of the driving test should be a session on a bike where possible. As for the insurance thing, there is always comeback- just sit through one set of adverts on tv to find out how. Many cyclists do carry insurance now, I certainly do.

[Logrence]

I've been living in Germany this year in an area where nearly everyone cycles at some point during the week - no problems with cars, though. A certain amount of consideration and patience comes into play, really. I still don't understand why people feel the need to drive so aggressively to save 10 seconds off their journeys. It's the car drivers who are the menaces - I mean what can a bicycle do other than pootle along at a couple of miles an hour?

[Tim Falce]

Down the country lanes near us the cyclists use them for racing training and come flying down them at high speed, they won't move over and on more than one occasion I have been forced onto the embankment in my car. They also frighten the horses that use the lanes. They are ignorant and shouldn't be allowed to be on the roads.

[Woolley]

That's no way to talk about dumb animals. Oh, sorry, you didn't mean the horses...

We don't have problems round here with bikes on the road as they all ride on the footpath. I did only just miss cleaning one up while reversing out of my driveway. I have to cross the footpath before I can see what's coming, and he was on it at speed. Clipped my towbar with his ankle. I even managed to look sympathetic!

[Bluebottle]

Originally Posted by Logrence

I mean what can a bicycle do other than pootle along at a couple of miles an hour?

I ride at an average of 17mph (according to my little handlebar comuter) and I'm not very fit and dont ride on a high performance bike. Racers are much faster.
Cyclists pass horses with no problem at all, I've done it many times and never upset the horse or the rider, I normally get a friendy greeting.
Horses- ther're slow, take up too much room,often 2 abreast on twisty country lanes, I saw one out of control one time on a corner all over the place- and there wasn't any other traffic around (I was on foot) I don't even want to think of what might have happened of some car driver, who owns the road of course, came round the corner and hit the uninsured, untaxed, un tested horse and rider.

Sound familiar?

and I've never seen a horse with lights.

(Lights blue touch paper....)

[Bluebottle]

[QUOTE=falcemob I have been forced onto the embankment in my car.[/QUOTE]

No, you forced yourself onto the embankement.

[Logrence]

Originally Posted by falcemob

Down the country lanes near us the cyclists use them for racing training and come flying down them at high speed, they won't move over and on more than one occasion I have been forced onto the embankment in my car. They also frighten the horses that use the lanes. They are ignorant and shouldn't be allowed to be on the roads.

If they're racers, that's completely different. I can't trust men who shave their legs.

[MikeHoyer]

Not bothered about cyclists on normal roads, not sure about these guys that do time trials or whatever it is they do on dual carriageways. There's been a number killed or injured doing that near me, I had the misfortune to see one once...

[Bluebottle]

Originally Posted by MikeHoyer

Not bothered about cyclists on normal roads, not sure about these guys that do time trials or whatever it is they do on dual carriageways. There's been a number killed or injured doing that near me, I had the misfortune to see one once...

In any other country the road would be closed for such an event. If a driver chooses to ignore 'Cycle Racing In Progress' signs and ignore the marshalls instructions at roundabouts then accidents will happen, it tends to be the drivers fault- many people don't realize that a time trial bike dosn't just pootle along at a running pace so they don't leave a big enough gap.
Unlike most other countrys, the UK population tend to see bikes as kids toys and things people use untill they can afford a car....

[Bluebottle]

Joggers!! Why can't they stay on the pavement??

[Bluebottle]

Electric Milk Floats... what's that all about?
They should be banned because they're so slow and also you can't barge them out of your way!

Bin Wagons. They keep stopping, block the road and are smelly.

Busses- Hey Mr Bus Driver, it goes 'Mirror, signal, manoever' not any variation you feel like using!

BMW Drivers- Those orange lights on the corner of your car, there's a little stick on your steering column that makes them flash....

Volvo Drivers- See above

Other drivers- you always get in my way and slow me down.....

I'm off for a lie down now.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Bluebottle

Bin Wagons. They keep stopping, block the road and are smelly.

Makes note to oneself, "Must put a few cyclists in back of my bin wagon, especially after I pick up a skip of rotting meat"

[Bluebottle]

Off Road Vehicle should be banned, especially if they are towing anything. They're unstable, dangerous monstrosities ill equipped for basic functions like stopping safe? No, not even on the inside.

(Sorry, didn't mean to offend, I dodn't know you were a bin wagon driver)

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Bluebottle

Off Road Vehicle should be banned, especially if they are towing anything. They're unstable, dangerous monstrosities ill equipped for basic functions like stopping safe? No, not even on the inside.

(Sorry, didn't mean to offend, I dodn't know you were a bin wagon driver)

No offence taken, I don't do domestic refuse collection, mine is industrial, collecting large volumes of refuse. It's a good job with excellent money and even better hours so I am happy with it, not bad for a job I took as a stop gap after being made redundant nearly 20 years ago.
BTW, on the smell bit, I often laugh when people walk past my truck heaving and having to cover their noses. I don't notice the smell now unless someone manages to hide rotting food in a skip.