Anyone see the programme on BBC 1 last night? War on Britains Streets. Dreadful and shameful lasting impressions of knob head cyclists and aggressive and poor drivers. Not sure what the progeramme was supposed to portray but it was neither educational nor made any meaningful contribution to the problem.
Gaz the helmet cam biker - not a good representation of cyclists in general but boy am i glad i don't cycle in London.
I saw it, reminded me of the bad old days, and one or two horrific incidents I witnessed.
Anything that serves to highlight the truth about road use and the carnage we currently accept is a good thing.
I am all in favour of change to improve safety.
I think, within our life times, most cities will go the Cambridge route and beyond.
I have watched about half of that cycle program from last night and what a complete fucking weasel that cyclist was who had a row with that black cab driver. The way he was smirking as he was watching that clip, to me the cab driver did nothing wrong at all in that sequence of events. What I saw was a smug big headed twat of a 24 year old, taking his life into his own hands by the sheer stupidity of his actions. Was he acting like a deliberate plonker just because he was videoing the action on his helmet cam?
If ever there was an argument for not allowing cyclists on the road without adequate insurance that was it. So far I have seen cyclists riding on the pavement, along with over taking on the left and the right with no regard for their own safety, and then they wonder why other roads users think the majority are knob heads.
I shall report back again when I have watched the second half, but so far the cyclists have done themselves no favours at all. That knob at the beginning seemed to think it was fantastic that he was doing 30mph, on tyres as skinny as a pencil and brakes about as good at stopping as a three wheeler is when going around corners. I think the cab driver should have knocked that smirk off his face. Maybe part two will show the other side of things eh?
Well have now watched part 2. The first thing I would say is great sympathy with Cynthia who lost her Daughter. She is certainly an inspirational woman. Also I do not condone the violence that I saw, with cyclists being assaulted.
What I have seen from this show is that the roads are too dangerous for cyclists. If a cyclist is involved in an accident they will always come off worse. There was of course very poor car drivers, and van drivers, but some of those cyclists were idiots pure and simple. From the cyclists undertaking that cement lorry who was stationary with inches to spare, from the cyclists who would jump red lights at every opportunity and also mount the pavements. To the worst cases of being an idiot that I have ever seen where right at the end those two cyclists racing each other. How they are still alive is purely by luck, and I feel sorry for the car/van/lorry driver who will kill one of them, and have to live with that guilt.
Funnily enough the oldest member of that program who was the cab driver, showed his years by being and saying the most sensible things out of all the people.
Another person stated that ' cyclists would not behave that way if they had number plates' was correct. The cyclist must realise that their behavior is likely to seriously injure them or as in many cases every year, kill them. The roads are too dangerous for cyclists and that program proved that point beyond any doubt.
And that clip of the cyclist riding down that pathway at the end, and knocking that lady over was typical of their attitudes on the roads. Proof to me that there are idiots of all sorts using the roads, but cyclists are just oblivious to things around them, and the wearing of headphones should be made illegal.
Oh dear.
Now whilst I certainly in no way agree with this in the violence thing, this guy seriously is one of the biggest fecking twa-s I have seen. You really had to see the documentary to appreciate the level of knobness of this bloke.
Seriously some people do get what they ask for in certain instances in life.
Can't profess to be an expert on the UK's Highway Code (the French code de la route more relevant these days) but do I recall a rule for cyclists about always riding in single file except when road conditions allow?
Cyclists sometimes are just as much to blame as car drivers sometimes cycling 2 or 3 abreast in inappropriate circumstances.
Yes I do break the law...........
I regularly exceed 70 mph on the motorway (in my car)
I sometimes exceed the speed limits on trunk roads (on my car and on the motorbike)
I have been guilty of touching my mobile phone whilst at the wheel (driving)
I occasionally ride my bicycle on the pavement
Issue here is that I accept it all around and I am not being hypocritical. The problem in the UK is that too many people want everyone else to adhere to the "rules" but find all sorts of excuses when applied to themselves.
In all of the above situations and along with everyone else I am sure there is a personal judgement call made as to whether your actions are acceptable in the circumstances - or wanton and crazy.
Driving at 100 mph on a motorway full of traffic weaving in and out is going to get you killed sooner or later. Driving at 85 mph on a deserted stretch of the M6 north of Preston is still breaking the law but in a modern car is probably something that most people would do.
Tearing down a pavement full of pedestrians on a bicycle is foolish as well as being illegal. Hopping on an empty pavement on a bicycle to get ahead of a line of traffic is illegal but is safer than filtering through traffic so people do it.
I guess that my regular use of a car, motorcycle and a bicycle gives a slightly different perspective to someone who is solely blinkered to metal box driving. I don't have any issues at all on whatever mode of transport I am using to other people taking advantage and making progress. I do have major issues with dangerous road users be it inconsiderate drivers, speeding motorcycles on trunk roads or cyclists barging along crowded footpaths. Acceptance, tolerance and understanding is what is needed all round in my opinion.
These numbers are interesting.
Since 1960, about 5000 people have been killed in the USA by terrorists.
This is roughly the same number killed in the USA each WEEK by vehicles.
I think we are far too accepting of the road death toll.
The solutions are not obvious or simple and the blame does not lie with any particular group of road users.
When I read comments by people whose opinion I value to the effect that "we all speed" it makes me very sad. Society needs a cultural shift, people are more valuable than liberty sometimes.
, but seeing as you mention it and are now quick to enlighten us all as to what it says in the highway code then I give you this....
