Yes! There is justice! (Cyclists)
Posted by: Ancipital on 19 May 2005
Riding my motorbike into work this morning, saw the following.
One cyclist nearly get run over by lazily cycling across a junction when the lights on their side had gone red. It's a large busy junction and a main throughway, the cyclist seemed to be oblivious to this.
At a pelican crossing when the lights were red and about 15 pedestrians were crossing, a cyclist shot out from round the side of a lorry and went straight across, nearest pedestrian that was walking to that side of the road, about 5 feet.
Near work at another set of red lights, had a motocycle in front of me with a police motorcycle in front of him and a car at the front. Cyclist came down the inside and shot across the (red) lights. The policeman went off after him and pulled him over 200 yards down the road. Last I saw when I went past was the policeman having a discussion with the cyclist.
All that needs to happen now is for fines to be issued for cyclists that systematically ignore traffic lights and pedistrian crossings and for cyclists to have at least mandatory 3rd party liability as every other road going vehicle has (or should have). Maybe even introduce mandatory number plates to get those cyclists that do a hit and run.
As is with everything else I do understand that the minority cause the problems for the majority!
Steve.
One cyclist nearly get run over by lazily cycling across a junction when the lights on their side had gone red. It's a large busy junction and a main throughway, the cyclist seemed to be oblivious to this.
At a pelican crossing when the lights were red and about 15 pedestrians were crossing, a cyclist shot out from round the side of a lorry and went straight across, nearest pedestrian that was walking to that side of the road, about 5 feet.
Near work at another set of red lights, had a motocycle in front of me with a police motorcycle in front of him and a car at the front. Cyclist came down the inside and shot across the (red) lights. The policeman went off after him and pulled him over 200 yards down the road. Last I saw when I went past was the policeman having a discussion with the cyclist.
All that needs to happen now is for fines to be issued for cyclists that systematically ignore traffic lights and pedistrian crossings and for cyclists to have at least mandatory 3rd party liability as every other road going vehicle has (or should have). Maybe even introduce mandatory number plates to get those cyclists that do a hit and run.
As is with everything else I do understand that the minority cause the problems for the majority!
Steve.
Just ban all pedestrians everywhere 
Lomo - you are a GOD 
I inhale toxic fumes on a daily basis in Heavitree, Exeter, because of selfish school-run parents and loan gas guzzler drivers.
If each one of them got off their fat arse and cycled or WALKED (gasp horror!) Exeter wouldn't be the most poluted* city in England.
*according to my housemate - though I think he's wrong - but Exeter IS in the top-5.
I inhale toxic fumes on a daily basis in Heavitree, Exeter, because of selfish school-run parents and loan gas guzzler drivers.
If each one of them got off their fat arse and cycled or WALKED (gasp horror!) Exeter wouldn't be the most poluted* city in England.
*according to my housemate - though I think he's wrong - but Exeter IS in the top-5.
quote:Originally posted by John Sheridan:quote:I also ride horses out on the roads which gives an even more interesting perspective on how oblivious a lot of car drivers are.
hope your horse is insured, and can't wait to see where you're going to stick the plates - also like to see where you'd stick a visible number plate on a bike.
Actually, yes, am insured, horse is insured for 3rd party liability, vet bills etc and I'm insured for hospital bills and dental bills!
When I do get round to replacing the tyres on my cycle, I will be getting 3rd party liability insurance!
Talking to a policeman about 2 hours ago (in a bar), he did say that jumping a set of lights on a pushbike (and getting caught) can get the cyclist hit for an £80 fine.
Dom, I read on a bbc forum yesterday about 4x4s how one couple drove their kid to school and then drove to work themselves. School was in the village they lived in and so was there workplace. Grand total of 500 yards driven.
Steve.
quote:Originally posted by Ancipital:
Actually, yes, am insured, horse is insured for 3rd party liability, vet bills etc and I'm insured for hospital bills and dental bills!
well that just leaves you with finding somewhere to stick your number plate
So how much does it cost to insure a horse? A bike costs less than £20 a year as it is (it's included in the British Cycling federation membership) so I could imagine certain administrative nightmares if someone decided to make it compulsory for the few pounds it would cost.
The real reason it's not compulsory of course is that the government doesn't want to discourage people, kids especially, from doing exercise.
quote:Originally posted by John Sheridan:
well that just leaves you with finding somewhere to stick your number plate
So how much does it cost to insure a horse?
Could get the rider to have the numberplate on their back, like you get the trade number plates hanging over the real one on cars.
Ummmm, hope your sitting down for this. Including some of the stuff I want to do like showjumping, it comes to about £600ish a year. That is more than my motorcyle insurance and way more than my car insurance.
Nime, nah, they won't need to carry all that stuff with them, they just need to have someone drive along behind them in a gas guzzling SUV to carry all their urgent supplies with them - of course, there'll be a microwave in there as well.
Steve.
quote:Originally posted by Ancipital:
Nime, nah, they won't need to carry all that stuff with them, they just need to have someone drive along behind them in a gas guzzling SUV to carry all their urgent supplies with them - of course, there'll be a microwave in there as well.
Steve.
Now you're exaggerating!
Just one of those things I'm afraid James.
Many truck drivers now have a mobile phone welded to their spare hand. (Truck drivers always have three hands and can parallel process effortlessly) It's all part of the new HGV test now. They have to learn to zigzag between pedestrians and badly parked cars while talking on their mobiles to pass the test.
Petrol tanker drivers have to prove they can light a cigarette, use the mobile phone, eat a hot-dog, do their paperwork, read a map to find their next destination and drive through burning hoops, held by trained poodles, all at the same time.
The driving standards obviously have to be set higher where petrol tankers are concerned in case they are needed as emergency stunt drivers for the next Hollywood blockbuster. Petrol tanker fires being obligatory these days to give any sense of realism.
Many truck drivers now have a mobile phone welded to their spare hand. (Truck drivers always have three hands and can parallel process effortlessly) It's all part of the new HGV test now. They have to learn to zigzag between pedestrians and badly parked cars while talking on their mobiles to pass the test.
Petrol tanker drivers have to prove they can light a cigarette, use the mobile phone, eat a hot-dog, do their paperwork, read a map to find their next destination and drive through burning hoops, held by trained poodles, all at the same time.
The driving standards obviously have to be set higher where petrol tankers are concerned in case they are needed as emergency stunt drivers for the next Hollywood blockbuster. Petrol tanker fires being obligatory these days to give any sense of realism.