Cyclists

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Originally Posted by CJT

On that note, if someone is caught speeding, drinking or doing some other dangerous activity while driving, they are held responsible. What happens to cyclists? (This is a serious question - I honestly don't know, but the idea I get is nothing).

As far as I am aware, and I have heard of this happening, if a cyclist breaks road rules, rides while drunk etc. they can and have been fined and along with that I believe lose points or licence in the process.

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In Queensland cyclists are subject to the same road rules as every other road user, including as to warning devices (bells) and appropriate lighting and brakes. People are regularly fined and from time to time the police set up camp on cycle paths and book people there too. A notable recent example was a big crackdown on Ride to Work Day.

As for the pointless argument about cyclists not paying rego, pretty much everyone on a bike has a car that they have left in the garage, so they've paid their share. Rego fees don't go to pay for roads anyway - they go straight to each State's consolidated fund and are then doled out by way of appropriations for general expenditure along with most other taxes and revenue.

It's also amusing how often people say that cyclists "think they own the road". Well, public roads are owned by the State and regulated by law. So motorists certainly don't own the road either and, with very few exceptions, cyclists have just as much right to use public roads as motorists.

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Originally Posted by BMKal

What - you mean like we have in many areas in Perth. And STILL these lycra clad ******* insist on riding on the road in groups right alongside the cycle paths built for their use

Try driving along Riverside Drive in Perth any morning during peak hour traffic and coming up behind a bunch of these inconsiderate tossers who think they own the road. Or along the side of the river at Fremantle, where there are dedicated cycle paths BOTH sides of the road, but they still choose to use the road.

Can't ride in groups 5 wide on the cycle paths, can they. Ignorant ******* deserve everything they get.

Having said that - fortunately the ignorant ******* described above are outnumbered by far more sensible cyclists on the road.

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I have driven along riverside drive at peak hour many times and never seen a cyclist on the road, they are always on the bike path.

However, I think that the lycra wearing "roadies" should be on the road rather than the bike path. My wife cycles to work on a mountainbike along riverside drive daily, and she is often passed at great speed in either direction by roadies who think they can do 60+km/h along a narrow 2-way bike path.

My wife and I both regularly cycle to work, and I can echo DaveS's comments and experiences on the previous page.

I find it funny that everyone is getting on here and condemning the majority of cyclists based on a few inconsiderate *******. But yet when there is a media article on the misdoings of a (small minority?) of 4x4 owners??? Pot, kettle, anyone???

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Originally Posted by isuzurover

But yet when there is a media article on the misdoings of a (small minority?) of 4x4 owners??? Pot, kettle, anyone???

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lol point taken...

You must be on Riverside Drive at a different time than me then Ben.

I've recently been working on a job based out of an office in Claremont (before they sent me to site out of Karratha) and almost every morning, at just after 7:00am, I have come up behind a large group of bikes on the road between the old brewery and UWA somewhere.

I can see your point that the "roadies" travelling at high speed are probably a danger to others on the cycle paths - but this group (I'm assuming it is the same group every morning) is not travelling at high speed - but they love to ride 4 or 5 wide and block off one entire lane of traffic.

As far as I'm concerned, they should not be on the road, particularly on a busy main road like this, also particularly in periods of heavy traffic - and when there is a cycle path provided for their use right alongside, but well clear of the road.

The cycling lobby continually whinge about the lack of cycle paths, but even when these are provided some of them (fortunately the minority) still seem to think that they can do what they like on the roads, giving others a bad reputation.

I have also ridden bikes for many years - there's nothing like a bit of common courtesy and also common sense. To me - common sense tells me that it is madness to ride on roads like this AT ALL, particularly line abreast and during heavy traffic periods. I regularly ride from my flat on Canning Hwy to my company's office in Fremantle - I keep clear of the main roads (avoid Canning Hwy - use Preston Point Rd) and use cycle paths wherever they are provided - it's not hard.

I agree with your comment on how some condemn the majority on the actions of a few inconsiderate ******* - seems to apply in all areas of life these days. I believe that I did state in my original post that the ******* are fortunately outnumbered by sensible cyclists. But some of the examples I've seen go a long way toward explaining some of the road accidents we hear of on a regular basis involving groups of cyclists.

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Originally Posted by BMKal

I have come up behind a large group of bikes on the road between the old brewery and UWA somewhere..

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I have seen a reasonable size group of roadies having breakfast at a cafe near UWA a couple of times. Never seen them on the road though.

Miranda Devine is an idiot!
How aggressive do you have to be at 5am, anyway? You never hear of rowers, joggers, swimmers, yoga artists or other dawn fitness devotees attacking people.
What a Statement to make.

As a Cyclist I break the road rules for one reason only. To stay alive.
If I have to wait at the lights to right with 2 lanes of traffic behind me I will run the red light and cross when safe to do so. If I don't I will get cleaned up by cars in the 2 lanes either side of me.

I am a cyclist and a driver and you all annoy me!!! :)

I am sorry to say this but the roadies do tend to be the riders that cause most angst on the roads (sorry Dan!) but strange thing is that the mountain bikers are probibly the worst at breaking the rules ????? Go figure? I have to admit that as a mountain biker I do break rules. Most of the time it is to try keep out of the way of cars in tight or very busy sections of road. I will jump from road to footpath all the way to work. And before you have a go at me, if I do not have more than enough room to pass a pedestrian I either take back to the road or slow right down so as not to endanger either of us (I don't like falling off and hitting pedestrians hurts! :) )

Now one thing I don't understand is unless you are a serious contender for the olympics or some other major sporting event why do so many people ride these silly road bikes dress as if they are Cadel Evans???? They are ungamely and do not respond to drains and gutters very well. They are very difficult to bunny hop and frankly they handle terribly :) Correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't you get the same if not better work out riding either a mountain bike or a old hack. Therefore if so required you could go over a gutter or jump onto the foot path on a narrow bit of road?

I simply do not understand why roadies have to ride more than one abreast? Will someone please explain?

Bottom line is use your brain (whilst you still have one) Car are big steel things, they hurt! Try and do everything you can to keep out of their way. If you act like a guest in their house they might give you some respect?? If not, your not going to win anyway, their bigger!! Stop arguing with cars, they'll win!

Cheers,

In a nut shell, idiots ride bikes, idiots drive cars, trucks and busses. But not all road users are idiots. IMO the motorist/cyclist conflicts mirror the road toll, most issues would not exist with a bit of attitude modification. Some decent manners and a bit of consideration would go a long way.