Thread: Cyclist aware drivers... are you one?

Originally Posted by Sitec

So, if a car/truck is forced to slow and change lanes because a car space is taken, then rego should be paid for that car space that's also taken....



Most hilly, narrow and windy roads have blind corners every few kms... which have Armco, double white lines and an indication of the danger ahead... A corner is approached in readiness for problems, but if everyone was to drive dangerous roads as tho there will be an issue around the next bend then we'd all be doing 10kph.... If the cyclist is in single file, then there is safely room to pass (given, many do not leave enough space, but there is still room). If there is a block of 4 cyclists, there is not room.. I now hear you say 'what about slow moving vehicles?' They are usually large, well lit and can be seen over the top of fences etc... something a block of cyclists can't.. (Worst case scenario if there is a big thump both parties are usually ok as both items are solid)..


I'm not trying to be negative about this, I've just seen lots of 'close calls' with cars getting around blocks of cyclists, but I've seen few issues with people overtaking a line of cyclists. Yes, we all need to be more forgiving and cyclist aware.... BUT in the same breath, our cycling friends need to think more about their safety on fast narrow busy roads and remember that they are not in a safe cocoon when riding in a block of 4. They are in fact just the opposite..

I can see that you think rego should be paid, but rego is not required or requested and there is no possible way for rego to be paid.

If the road is windy, double lined and not safe to pass on, it is still not safe to pass cyclists in single file. It bloody dangerous to do this to the riders but many drivers who do this are only focused on themselves rather than the riders safety and can't recognise as I've already outlined why this is still dangerous. But I do agree, if the road is blind then riders should be right off to the left, but this is too allow for negligent drivers who do come blindly flying through.

Originally Posted by loneranger

I've done similar to stop cars squeezing between us and traffic furniture because sometimes it is safer to stop cars overtaking than have them trying to squeeze you off the road. But I'm sure no-one here would ever do that.

Good luck with that, I did it in an 8 tonne tractor + chaser bin combo once, the dickhead in the Commodore still came round and I nearly ended up off the side of the culvert just so I didn't put an 80 inch tyre over him.

At the end of the day the most ignorant will be the one that doesn't move, he or she may come off for better or worse because of it though.

Nice to see this come up again. Although there is some negativity from both camps, it raises the profile of the plight of both and increases peoples awareness.

I ride a bicycle A LOT! (350 to 450 km's per week normal with the odd 250 or 600km week). I also drive a fair bit (the D90 has 31k up in just over 2 years) and ride motorcycles a little bit (tends to be 5k in a week and then nothing for a year - although the Dakar will see 10k in 14 days!).

I don't ride because I'm saving the planet, or anything heroic like that. I ride because I enjoy it, it saves me a fair whack of money and it keeps me fit. It's also much less hassle to get to work, keeps one car off the clogged up freeway and frees up a parking space somewhere in the city every day. The last two reasons are the only ones that everyone else gets any benefit from, so really it's a selfish choice to ride. I can live with that.

Sometimes I ride 2 abreast with mates so we can chat (it's legal folks) but also ride single file occasionally when conditions call for it. There are many conditions that affect cyclists that drivers don't see or fully appreciate unless they're cyclists themselves. (I guarantee it isn't cyclists that create all that broken glass on the road edges!). Of my 32.5 km commute, all but 1.5 km are on cycle/shared path. For the 1.5 km on the road, if you have to follow me the entire way it would increase your trip by around 2.5 minutes. Wow - big deal!

Anyway, on to topic. Even as a cyclist I think it takes an "extra effort" to actually consciously "look" for bicycles and truly be "cyclist aware". I fear knocking a cyclist off, because it would be so easy to do and, regardless of fault, it could end someones life! Imagine ending someones life because you figured a cyclist was going to hold you up for 30 seconds because she was riding 2 abreast chatting to her husband, boyfriend or other. Don't take the risk ... please - for both our sakes. Be or become cyclist aware ... please. I want to drive my Landy again after my ride.

Cheers

Originally Posted by garrycol

Cyclists think they have a god given right to ride across pedestrian crossings and get a shock and cannot understand when I do not give away to them .
They are classed as motor vehicles so I have right of way - if they get off their bikes then that is different - legally they are pedestrians but when they are on their bikes they are motor vehicles.

Any particular cut off for their age? would you do the same to a say 5 year old kid on a scooter, 10 year old on a BMX? How about someone in a wheelchair? or someone on a mobility scooter? I mean technically they aren't a pedestrian either.. What about in states such as Qld where you are perfectly entitled to ride on footpaths?

I'm guessing you wouldn't actually have the balls to drive at anyone on a pedestrian crossing and are just trying to come across as a internet tough guy.

I cycle quite a lot, not as much as some on here, but I did 150k last week. I don't recall any instances of breaking any laws on my part, and I obeyed all traffic lights / stop signs.

I also spent most of the time on the road, as opposed to the bike paths due to broken glass and other debris. For instance today in a 20k ride I counted the remains of 7 broken glass bottles in the bike pathed area. (which was probably about 8k of the ride)

I don't recall holding anyone up, I did have a few cars hold me up on roundabouts where they passed me and stopped where I could happily have kept going. I didn't feel the need to act like a dick however unlike some on here would appear to when they feel that their obviously much more important life may have been impacted by a few seconds.

People just need to have a bit of respect for others. Having said that, being right as a cyclist isn't great if you are dead so I am quite wary of the general standard of driving.

Came across a bunch of cyclists today, taking up the entire lane.
When they saw me coming they moved over as much as they could, and I gave them the most available room I could when I passed.
Sometimes that's impossible, so I just give them space and wait for a safe opportunity.
That's really all it takes. And if they're going to be ****s about it let them, don't let it reflect poorly on you

Originally Posted by Disco Muppet

Came across a bunch of cyclists today, taking up the entire lane.
When they saw me coming they moved over as much as they could, and I gave them the most available room I could when I passed.
Sometimes that's impossible, so I just give them space and wait for a safe opportunity.
That's really all it takes. And if they're going to be ****s about it let them, don't let it reflect poorly on you

Couldn't have blood and guts taking the shine off the bullbar, aye!

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

snip... or someone on a mobility scooter? ...snip

Don't get me started... Some of these are the biggest menace on our streets and footpaths - I've been run down by one and the old biddy on it blamed me - I was standing on the (very wide) footpath talking to a mate when mowed down... I though she would just go around as there was plenty of room - I couldn't move much further to one side from where I was, but she just crashed straight into me, then screamed at me for not moving...

Stupid old cow....

I had a woman on a Segway run me over at the pedestrian lights. I stopped because the red man was flashing. She tried to outrun the red man. Then she "J" walked.....er....segwayed at the other side to catch the green man.
She knocked me flying. Well, more accurately, ran over my foot.
This happened in the Melbourne CBD.

Originally Posted by bacicat

Stupid old cow....