Cameras, cars and cyclists

**Saitch** · 26th March 2014, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by loneranger

I read a comment on here that they don't mind commuters but don't like those that put on the lycra and go for long mindless rides. I do both and always wear lycra, so by definition I'm both ok and disliked at the same time. How do you know which ride I am on when you see me?

Food for thought.

Let me guess here!
If I come across 5, 10, 20 or more Lycra clad cyclists on the sorts of roads I'm discussing then I'm sure I could safely assume they're not commuters

No one in their right mind would want to commute by pedal power from Samford to Wivenhoe via Mt Glorious!

**Dave_S** · 26th March 2014, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Saitch

Let me guess here!
If I come across 5, 10, 20 or more Lycra clad cyclists on the sorts of roads I'm discussing then I'm sure I could safely assume they're not commuters

No one in their right mind would want to commute by pedal power from Samford to Wivenhoe via Mt Glorious!

Nope, not commuters. Just a bunch of mates getting together for some good, clean, legal fun. Getting into the great Aussie outdoors, spending lots of money at local bike and coffee shops and generally enjoying the benefits of the freedom that comes with living in a first world democracy.

**Chucaro** · 26th March 2014, 10:56 AM

I personally prefer the riders that wear lycra because they are easy to spot.
I am very worried when they are in a peloton chatting among themselves and if one loose concentration in the wrong time they can finish under the wheels of a car.
How the poor driver is going to prove that was not his fault with many cyclists as witness it would be a nightmare

When I use to ride the bike I selected which roas will be suitable and safe to ride and never ride with the mentality that I have the right to be there.
My body is not as strong as the body of a car and we humans can make a mistake

**gossamer** · 26th March 2014, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Dave_S

Nope, not commuters. Just a bunch of mates getting together for some good, clean, legal fun. Getting into the great Aussie outdoors, spending lots of money at local bike and coffee shops and generally enjoying the benefits of the freedom that comes with living in a first world democracy.

i might use that quote

i dont think its just cyclists, i think by nature we frown upon anyone who does something we dont do ourselves.
You see a cyclist but dont cycle then you frown upon them
you see a bushwalker but dont bushwalk you frown upon them
you see a bunch of 4wd's but dont 4wd then you frown upon them
you see a bunch of nissan's or toyotas but drive a landy you frown upon them and they frown upon you
the same can be said for most things inc religion and politics.

**weeds** · 26th March 2014, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by gossamer

i might use that quote

i dont think its just cyclists, i think by nature we frown upon anyone who does something we dont do ourselves.
You see a cyclist but dont cycle then you frown upon them
you see a bushwalker but dont bushwalk you frown upon them
you see a bunch of 4wd's but dont 4wd then you frown upon them
you see a bunch of nissan's or toyotas but drive a landy you frown upon them and they frown upon you
the same can be said for most things inc religion and politics.

Well put.......

**PhilipA** · 26th March 2014, 08:07 PM

And anyone that drives faster than you is a MANIAC.
Regards Philip A

**loneranger** · 26th March 2014, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by Saitch

Let me guess here!
If I come across 5, 10, 20 or more Lycra clad cyclists on the sorts of roads I'm discussing then I'm sure I could safely assume they're not commuters

No one in their right mind would want to commute by pedal power from Samford to Wivenhoe via Mt Glorious!

I'm in WA so I have no idea what roads you are talking about but I have on occasion been known to turn my 32km one way commute into a 100km commute just for the fun of it.

Just a question: Did you cheer Cadel's 2011 Tour de France victory or World Championship? or any Greenedge victory or any other Australian cycling victory in the Olympics?

Do you follow motorsport Mark Webber or any of the V8 drivers? Most of them do 300+km's per week as a cyclist as part of their training regime. I remember reading an article about one of the Gold Coast based drivers and the km's he did on country roads to keep fit for his day job and how the attitude would change once people recognised him.

I've always thought the most effective road safety campaign would be for motorsport drivers, footy players etc to front a cycling safety campaign as most of them cycle.

**loneranger** · 26th March 2014, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by Chucaro

When I use to ride the bike I selected which roas will be suitable and safe to ride and never ride with the mentality that I have the right to be there.
My body is not as strong as the body of a car and we humans can make a mistake

That's my approach. I'm lucky in WA I run out of energy before I run out of quality cycle paths to use.

**Killer** · 27th March 2014, 07:40 AM

[QUOTE=loneranger;2114468]I'm in WA so I have no idea what roads you are talking about but I have on occasion been known to turn my 32km one way commute into a 100km commute just for the fun of it.

Just a question: Did you cheer Cadel's 2011 Tour de France victory or World Championship? or any Greenedge victory or any other Australian cycling victory in the Olympics?

Do you follow motorsport Mark Webber or any of the V8 drivers? Most of them do 300+km's per week as a cyclist as part of their training regime. I remember reading an article about one of the Gold Coast based drivers and the km's he did on country roads to keep fit for his day job and how the attitude would change once people recognised him.

I've always thought the most effective road safety campaign would be for motorsport drivers, footy players etc to front a cycling safety campaign as most of them cycle.[/QUOTE]

Scott Pye, who is driving for DJR this year, is an ambassadoor for our local 24//7 Cycling Safety Fund. This fund was set up by our local bike shop owner after three members of our local cycling community were struck by vehicles and killed, all in the space of just over a month in 2011. The last one to be hit was the local bike shop owner's mother, she was knocked off her bike by a US sailor going through a stop sign near Amberley air base. The aim of the fund is to set up a cycling facility off the public roads, so that people can go and ride their bikes in a safe enviroment.

Cheers, Mick.

**London Boy** · 27th March 2014, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by Saitch

I have no beef with commuter treadlies. Getting to & from for a reason is commendable.
What I can't come to terms with is the Lycra Billboard mob who are going nowhere in particular for a good reason.

So every time you drive it is for professional or medical reasons, not just because you're going somewhere for fun? You never go out on the trails just for the sake of it? Etc?

I just read a few of the posts in the thread. Just need to state a couple of the rules.

1. That was a no stopping zone so the taxi was not legally stopped (even if paused in traffic) and passengers should not have been getting out.
2. A cyclist is explicitly allowed to ride down the left of a motor vehicle.
3. It is an offence to open a door and by doing so to cause a hazar dot other road users. That is an offence of strict liability, so if you do it you are guilty, unless you can prove that you took all reasonable steps NOT to create the hazard.
4. The fact the cyclist ran into the open door is prima facie evidence that a hazard was caused.
5. If there is an incident on the road then the drivers (a rider is a driver) must exchange details or wait for the police to arrive.

There are more, but I'll not labour it.

The practical reality is that people are tribal and dislike anything (or anyone) who is different. Whether it is white people hating black people, or motorists hating cyclists, it's all the same thing.

Motorists also give respect to other road users based on the size of the other vehicle. Everybody tips their hat to a Mack truck, except maybe another Mack truck.

I'll not go into the rego debate, because then I'd have to point out that taxpayers generally, including those who are not drivers, subsidise motorists for every milometre they drive. And if we talk about rego as a way to identify road users (as opposed to revenue to fund roads, which it isn't) then obviously I'd have to say that every motorist who goes through a red is caught, obviously.

It's a dull and boring argument to have to have so often, because people using two ton wheeled steel boxes don't stop to think for a minute. And don't learn the road rules (but way too many of them think they know the rules, and way too many of those are wrong). And too many of them suffer the MGIF disease (must get in front). Or the SMIDSY disease, or worse the SMIDGAF disease.

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