Thread: hehe strange sence of humor

Originally Posted by dobbo

Why do cyclists have these special rights to the road when they do not pay registration to maintain the roads?

Many of them pay car rego as well, I know I do. Do you really think your rego costs go towards road maintenance anyway?

Originally Posted by dobbo

Why do cyclists have these special rights to the road when they do not pay registration to maintain the roads?

On the special rights, what gets me is that car drivers have to pay significant tolls to use motorways in Sydney and cyclists (the push kind) are allocated the former breakdown lane to use for free, so you have cars scooting along at 80 or 90 KPH faster than the pushbikes just inches away.

When a car breaks down in the cycle way, the cyclists ride onto the lanes risking injury or death and at the least causing the motorists to make avoidance maneuvers, risking crashes with other cars as they do it. (If they are Motorways - why are their cyclists on it? )

On the issue of "lane splitting" it always amuses me in a line of traffic you can watch in your mirror the motorbikes lane-splitting past all the cars etc in the traffic. Then if there is a Police car/Police bike all the bikes (except for the stupid ones who didn't know that lane splitting is illegal) will pull into a position behind the Police. I wanted to cheer one day when one of the stupid ones passed a Police bike and the Police officer pulled out after him to give him a ticket.

C Ya
Diana

I guess we've all seen the 'dooring' as a classic comedy sketch. Easy laugh. Wasn't so funny for the friend of mine who had his mate killed when someone flung open the door in front of him. Edge of the door right into his (helmeted) skull. Not pleasant.

A few clarifications (for Vic at least):

Regarding rego: Not one cent of your rego pays for roads. A small component goes toward the admin of running the rego system, the greatest element (over 80%) is a TAC insurance premium. Our road network is paid for through general tax revenue. Currently only 30% of the excise on petrol has gone to funding roads. The balance is paid by you and me. Bike Rego has been costed by countless governments and abandoned for decades as it would cost far more than it could realistically collect.

Regarding road rules:

Cyclists are permitted to ride two abreast - I agree that it can be annoying, but they have that legal right. Also, it is only a requirement that a cyclist ride as far to the left 'as practicable'. That does not mean riding in the gutter... In fact, most people who have cycled for any time know that it is far safer to ride a metre or so out from the kerb/parked cars. After being 'doored' myself, I always do. I'll agree again, as a driver it's annoying - but next time just remember that they're doing it generally for their safety, not just to annoy you or 'make a point' (OK - some riders might be trying to make a point , but most aren't).

It is also legal for cyclists to overtake on the left. So riding between parked cars and moving traffic is ok - Not always safe, I can testify to that, and requires caution on both sides. I've learnt that if I have little to gain, I often won't bother overtaking but just sit in the traffic queue - I get some funny looks , but it can be safer at times!

Oh, and it's not a legal requirement that cyclists must always use the bike lanes if they are there - the 'practicable' rules applies again. No doubt I will if there is one, but sometimes they're often in poor shape - Potholes, full of glass, too narrow, etc.


Anyway, here endeth the monologue. Sorry about that! It's just as someone's who's ridden for several years you get a bit weary of being considered 'fair game' by some motorists, when you're really just trying to get to work/home!

Originally Posted by RonMcGr

As for cyclists, providing they ride in their "bike lane" I have no problem with them.
The dickheads who ride two abreast on a motor vehicle lane, are fair game

Under NSW legislation a bicycle is considered as a vehicle.

Cyclists also have some special rights, which include:

• Riding two abreast, no more than 1.5 m apart

When you ride 2 abreast, it means the dickhead drivers dont try to squeeze you, the gutter, them and the car beside them into 2 lanes and try their best to sideswipe you into a power pole. If you ride 2 abreast, they have to check the next lane and move over into a clear lane which makes it safer for the riders and probably all road users.

On the flip side when I'm driving trucks I have no problems with 4WD's..... as long as they get out of my way on my road. Those that don't are fair game, and a truck always wins.





and no I'm not like that in a truck, but it does bring a new perspective.

Originally Posted by mudmouse

I remember a person of a certain ethnic background who opened her do into the path of a government bus - it peeled the door forward into the guard and bent the 'A' pillar pretty badly. Problem number one was that she owned a late model Merc, problem two was that it wasn't insured. When i asked her why not, she said, 'Oooh. insurance very expensive for dis car'.

Talk about false economy! And she SSSSSPewed when she got a $120 ticket for the offence...

Having driven Gov buses in Sydney, was doing a trip to Nth Bondi in a double decker and removed a door going up Oxford St, she was not impressed at all with me and even more so with the copper that gave her the ticket

Baz.

I know how ****ed off I get when I'm driving and cyclists are slowing down traffic, and also how easy it is for an accident to happen when a car is trying to squeeze past a cyclist while staying in their lane. So because of that, unless there's a bike lane available I always use the footpath when I'm riding along major roads to/from work during peak hour traffic. I know it's illegal, but I just think its safer for everone concerned, and I'm not stuffing up the flow of traffic.

Cheers

Sean

Originally Posted by p38arover

As far as I'm aware, it is not illegal to lane-split. I hate drivers who close the gap.

Ron

'fraid it is in QLD, I might even know of someone who got 2 $60 tickets in a month.
Never used to be enforced but the issues with the 'great western carpark' in brisbane has turned a little political and steps had to be taken...
The first one who issued the ticket (a solo) was real smug with himself, the second guy (a weekend rider) did not want to be there.
Just don't get caught anymore.
Oh an drivers who intentionally squeeze bikes are fair game

Originally Posted by RonMcGr

I have often thought of doing that to motorcycle riders that run down between the line of cars. I stopped one bastard once, by moving in close to the car next to me!

As for cyclists, providing they ride in their "bike lane" I have no problem with them.
The dickheads who ride two abreast on a motor vehicle lane, are fair game

As for sorry Dads, accidents and scars, my youngest, (Son) was riding across a road, close to home, without looking, helmet on the handle bars holding a bottle of soft drink, when he was in year 12.
Why? That road was usually clear of traffic, so why look!

He rolled over the cars, bonnet, hit his head on the windscreen pillar and spent 7 days in intensive care with multible skull fractures. He is now 25 and still has no sense of taste or smell..

He also knows it was a really stupid thing to do!

Ron

cyclists have all the same rights as any other vehicle, they don't have to use a 'bike lane' and can legally take up a whole lane of traffic and they can ride two abreast.