Cyclists.

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Originally Posted by Dave_S

I love seeing all you guys (and all the rednecks who commented on the news article) getting bent out of shape about cyclists. See, I can't do anything about the daily routine of verbal abuse, people trying to run me off the road, driving in bikeways, throwing crap at me and whatever else they can think of. Then I have to put up with being told I'm arrogant, elitist, a criminal and just plain rude. I'm also a freeloader, using roads I haven't paid for and hiding my identity by not having a registration number on my forehead.

The cowards who throw all this crap at me are keen to inflict damage from a distance - the abuse comes from people who are running away or who hide in the anonymity of the internet.

I deal with it by getting out there on the roads and pedalling more miles. But I enjoy knowing that the whole cycling issue is eating away at all the haters, pushing them ever closer to that inevitable stroke or heart attack. I know that one day one of them will probably run me down, but I'm comforted by the knowledge that an average person will be pushed to bankruptcy by the cost of hiring lawyers to defend them in the trial that will result. Even if the police don't charge you, I'll be bringing a civil action. And if you kill me, my partner will take so much money off you that you'll end up having to ride a bike. A cheap one.

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there are doctors who can help you.

Kid at my daughters school was last week given a $300 fine for texting while riding, no hands on handlebars and I think she also said no helmet.
Apparently it was about the fourth time he's been pulled over.

The 75 year old partner of a work colleague was killed in perth recently while cycling single file along a 50 km/h road.

Reports are that they were obeying all road rules, unlike the driver of the Rav4 that hit them. Had she been riding 2 abreast the Rav4 driver might not have tried to pass illegally.

Time and time again when these deaths and injuries occur it is proven that in 99% of cases it is the drivers who need improved education and testing.

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Originally Posted by Eevo

there are doctors who can help you.

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Thanks, but I don't think that getting a lobotomy and becoming a hillbilly is the answer. Many Australians appear to have had that treatment and it doesn't offer much of a benefit.

Anyway, you seem to have misunderstood my post. Riding is both the cause of, and cure for, the abuse that comes my way. As such, I don't have a problem. The fact that my cycling causes a bunch of haters to experience stress and anxiety is really just a bonus.

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Originally Posted by isuzurover

The 75 year old partner of a work colleague was killed in perth recently while cycling single file along a 50 km/h road.

Reports are that they were obeying all road rules, unlike the driver of the Rav4 that hit them. Had she been riding 2 abreast the Rav4 driver might not have tried to pass illegally.

Time and time again when these deaths and injuries occur it is proven that in 99% of cases it is the drivers who need improved education and testing.

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I have had two bad experiences and have drastically curtailled riding bikes. Dirt riding is still fun of course. No cars and trucks!

I was hit in broad daylight (0830) in 2012 and got bounced to the ground at a roundabout at slow speed. Luckily there was a 15second gap before the next car and I got off the road in time.

I was wearing a fluro orange hi vis nylon vest.
I was wearing a Big W helmet and it got a 4inch split. The noise in my ear as I hit the bitumen was really surprising. Never had that before.
I bled a little near my funny bone and elsewhere but my bike was hurt the most. :)

As I had approached the roundabout a little BMW overtook from behind then turned left across my right side and my front. All done at about 20-30kmph. She was a cute 20-24 yo and could've been on the phone I don't know. She pulled up and was shaking and crying saying she didn't see me and that she hadn't had her coffee yet and she was late for work etc. I got her phone number and could've chased her for a front rim but I couldn't be bothered. I left her, still having a little bawl on the phone to her girlfriend or some other unfortunate. I wonder if she updated her facebook status.

Another time, on my motorbike, an older 70+ lady came the wrong way on a roundabout from my left ( I was scanning the right to giveway if needed as you do, and when I saw her I dived left and put it down on the grass verge, no ill effects. She didn't stop. Too much meds or not enough. Carefactor zero.

Bikes and motorbikes suit country towns, quiet roads etc.. but with our current unprecedented demographic bubble of senior cits, and druggys, and mobile users, taking a ride can simply be death on a stick in urban areas. As I see it, the risk is too much. You can wake up in the spinal ward after a MVA and start filling the solicitor's paperwork but you have lost the argument. The car driver is at home carrying on their life. You have a big 'L' on your forehead.

Its not 'fair', its not 'Australian way', or not a legal problem, its first and foremost physics. You just don't take a knife to a gun fight. Thats how I feel.

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Originally Posted by Dave_S

As such, I don't have a problem.

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let me guess, everyone else has a problem but your all good.

I stopped owning motor cycles decades ago. It felt like every time I went out on a bike someone tried to kill me.

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Originally Posted by d2dave

Why ride in such a large group? This is what annoys motorists. Why not split your 50 into say 5 lots of ten and spread out a bit? There is another law that I have just realized that is continually broken. Keeping a safe distance.

Now if 50 bikes are riding together like the first lap at Bathurst, what happens if one in the middle clips another and causes a fall?

As for licensing a 6year old. This is not needed. Just license lycra. Bikes only seem to become a problem when riders wear lycra, so this material must be the problem. Maybe there is some chemical in the fibres that is absorbed through the skin and affects the brain.

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Charity rides are sometimes large. Although 25 seems to be the magic number they try to use... well that's in my experience anyway.

If one person falls.... well been there done that, live to tell the tail :D There is definitely a moment of :eek: in there though.

When it boils down, I enjoy riding and I commute to work/shops etc when I want. I will continue these actions in the safest way I can. If you see me taking up a whole lane through a roundabout so you can't run over me because your life is too busy to wait a second then use a different road or something. You'd also be surprised just how often I've had to wait for a slow car (on my bike). :p

It's interesting to note that the replies in this thread demonstrate exactly what that Danish fella was talking about.

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Originally Posted by sam_d

It's interesting to note that the replies in this thread demonstrate exactly what that Danish fella was talking about.

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well this isnt Denmark, this is Australia.