This whole motorist V cyclist argument is bizarre. Yes some cycling habits leave much to be desired (as do driving habits), but I look at each cyclist as one less car clogging up our roads, which are arguably as congested as Sydney roads during peak hour.

Equally bizarre are the drivers who keep saying “aww but i can’t hardly see ‘em” – time to hand back your licences, fellas, if you’re so incompetent you don’t notice a bike using the road. This is usually the excuse motorists use after plowing down a motorcyclist, whose dimensions are not much different to a bicycle.

“Usually below car window height???” Yeah but only if you’re driving a Landcruiser or Mack truck!

I am talking about OTHER cars and 4wd’s.

No one can argue that motor bike riders are at more at risk than car drivers in accidents. What makes you think that cyclists are any less at risk?

can you believe that one time i saw one person doing something wrong and stereotyped an entire group of people?

like this one time, i saw just one car driver turn right when it said ‘no right turn’! all car drivers should be banned from the road and sent to be shot!

but yes, the stupid cyclists doing that deserve what’s coming to them if that’s the way they want to play it. i can assure you, though, that they’re in the distinct minority. and proportionally, there are just as many fuckwit drivers i’d imagine. and yes, just as many fuckwits in any other group of people, no doubt.

live and let live, eh, or whatever is the case for the few dickheads. they’re the exceptions. there’s always exceptions. deal with it, but don’t use it for any reason to needlessly hate on ‘the rest’, that just accomplishes nothing eh.

You think that’s bad? I once saw a [member of a vehicular group] doing [something incredibly stupid and/or illegal (strike out where applicable)] and they caused a whole load of grief to [other vehicular group]!

The should ban [members of vehicular group] from the [road/footpath/cycleway/cycle path/gene pool] before someone gets hurt!

I’m only thinking of their wellbeing. Really!

A cyclist to be out of vision would have to be damn close to the windows to be in the blind spot.

Go check yourself in for a nearsighted test Pandy, you should be paying more attention to your longer focus skills.

1 star because this story has been done TO DEATH already.

Agreed with Maelinar! this is sooo 2005. Get with the times dude.

I drive a late model Falcon, I also ride a mountain bike, and I can assure you the handlebars of my average bike are well above the window sill of my average car.

Cyclists and motorcyclists are both at risk from motorists, but as these alternate modes of transport both have a legal right to use the roads, it’s better just to keep your eyes open and giving them a wide berth.

Cyclists are fine, that is, those that obey road rules and realise that if they get involved in an accident they will lose, no matter who was in the right or wrong.

Apart from that, they keep the traffic down and make it easier for all of us who drive cars. This is a good thing.

What I don’t like is the sanctimonous wankers who think that because they ride a bike they are somehow better than people who don’t.

And to agree with Maelinar, yes, this story has been done to death, in fact, many, many times….

I think he was refering to a cyclist on one of those rather odd “laying down style” bikes you see getting around, the ones that look like a cross between a street luge and a pushie (hence recumbent), which would be below eye level in many cars.

far out folks, he’s talking about recumbant bicycles being below window height.

I’ve seen a few cyclists riding the wrong way down, haven’t managed to hit any yet, but I see it only as a matter of time. Toorak Tractor in front of me hiding the cyclist coming the wrong way, on an exit… bad news.

And weren’t we supposed to have one of the best cycle path networks in the world? why did we need on road cycle lanes?

Problem is since the cyclist types have been given ‘free’ (at the expense of motor vehicle users), lanes, They seem to think they own the road.

I see various problems. 1. Not many riders are wearing the proper safety gear. 2. half of them don’t ride in tha lanes designated for them 3. putting cyclists on roads with cars is a silly idea. 30kph speed of a bicycle vs up to 100kph for a car on the same stretch of road. There are plenty more, but I don’t see why the ACT Govt couldn’t upgrade the already in place footpath/cyclepaths rather than introducing more road rage, and more danger.

I can’t see the difference between the visability of cyclists and dogs, roos, pedestrians and snakes. I squash snakes but avoid the others. The only cyclists who annoy me are teh ones who are pedestrians AND vehicles, depending on which state confers the greater benefits at the time. They’re irksome. But for the most, i’m happy to share the road with them.

I’m all for spending millions on bike paths. Too many motorcyclists burning up the cycle lanes during peak hour, they give me the willies.

TO DEATH. Geeze, I see car drivers acting like idiots every day. And I drive like a complete bastard with no regard for public safety or other road users…

Only complaint is the small number of cyclists that insist on riding on the road (or very near to the road), when there is over a metre of bike lane to use.

But I see a lot worse drivers than cyclists on the road

So, we’re pretty much all agreed that of the 3km of visible road in front of your car that you could/should be looking at, the 3m of blind space on the immediate metre on the left side of your car is pretty nucking irrelevant when you look at the big picture. And that this has already been done to death, brought back to life, reflogged, rinse, wash, repeat, ad-infinatum.

Would like some french cries with your waaaahmburger?

I don’t understand the point of those people who ride those bikes where you’re lying down. What’s the point of them?

I don’t understand the point of those people who ride those bikes where you’re lying down.

Exactly. Lets all lie down when driving our Land Cruisers and Hummers, and see how they like it!

vandam wrote: “…2. half of them don’t ride in tha lanes designated for them 3. putting cyclists on roads with cars is a silly idea. 30kph speed of a bicycle vs up to 100kph for a car on the same stretch of road.”

well, for 2, half? one in every two cyclists? really – what, from a sample of the first two cyclists you saw?? exageration doesn’t aid the discussion at all, as noted from cogent observations on pandy’s lumping all the cyclists together and berating them ’cause he’s in a car and can’t drive.

as for 3, another disengenuous statement – the stretches of roads with cycle lanes on them are usually in 60km/h, only sometimes up to 80km/h, zones, but these all have excellent forward visibility and, again, if you can’t be bothered to look out for everything on the roadway, not just the few things you want to be there, then hand back your licence and enjoy the new action timetables, my friend.

I hate cyclists too Pandy – it’s not just you. The recumbent bikes are the worst. Especially on Adelaide Ave. Or how they insist on travelling in a big group on Lady Denman (which has a few blind corners) rather than riding single file, or even better – on the bike path.

I also hate how all the middle aged men gather at the cafe near my house wearing their tight lycra bike shorts. It really puts you off breakfast – usually because I can see what they’ve had for breakfast!

Ahhh, I’m going to regret this, but… I ride a recumbent trike. 16″ wheels so nice and low. I ride it partly because it’s an extremely comfortable riding position with all your weight supported from your bum right up to yopur shoulders and no weight on your arms, or having to hold your head up to see where you’re going; partly because the stability means I have a fantastic all-round view, not just my front wheel, but mostly because its an absolute blast to ride – like a Go-Kart really

In terms of safety I feel safer on the road on my trike than I feel on an upright bike. I have two wing mirrors on the trike, so I know exactly what’s coming up behind, and have enough forewarning to quickly look round for an escape route if I need to (never happened, incidentally). I’ve found that car drivers give me a far wider berth than they give upright cyclists, quite often changing lanes to go round me rather than just squeezing me up. And if the worst comes to the worst, if I hit something it’ll be feet-first not headfirst, and I don’t have nearly as far to fall if I do.

As far as visibility goes I ALWAYS ride with a small rainbow windsock for visibility, and agree that ‘bent riders that don’t are idiots. I’m 178cm – bang on average for aussie blokes – and when I’m on the trike I can just see over the windowsill of a Commodore. If I can see into that car then anyone in it can certainly see me.

I’ve been riding round Canberra for about 4 years now on the trike and make no concessions as to where I ride – roads, bikepaths, everywhere. I’m yet to have a close encounter of any description with any vehicle or other cyclist or pedestrian. I know you don’t have close encounters every day on uprights, but over 4 years and based on previous 20 years of upright riding, I’d expect to have had at least a couple of dangerous moments or accidents by now.

Anecdotal data I know, but it works for me

you are an idiot.

recumbents should be banned from the roads.

stick to bike paths.

I don’t understand the point of those people who ride those bikes where you’re lying down.

Well basically the recumbent seating position cuts the wind resistance by a large amount, which results in more speed for less effort. Sadly they are banned from all the major cycling competitions by the UCI. The record speed for a fully fared recumbent is approx 130 kph. That’s a dude on a pushbike going 130kph.

The seating position is also more comfortable than the standard road bike on which the rider has to hunch forward to reduce wind resistance. The riders neck and head are in a much better position and there is less stress on various body parts. It’s a pity they were banned from competing by the UCI so many years ago as they are still regarded as strange and ungainly.

it’s an extremely comfortable riding position

why not throw on a couple of fluffy goose down pillows and a lambswool doona to make it all the more comfortable and relaxing? And a side table for a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows?

Good grief man, if you want comfort and bum support, stay on your sealy posturepedic and off the road!

Ah, Bonfire, always the RiotAct’s calm and reasoned voice of maturity and wisdom

Seriously, who give a f*ck what you think?

Read your road rules about bikes on the road, and if you don’t like ‘em then, as Astrojax has already said very cogently, hand back your licence and enjoy the new Action timetables, my friend.

Yeah, I’m not sure I understand all these ‘its more comfortable’ arguments. You’re supposed to be giving your body a workout and maintaining your fitness. Isn’t lying back kind of lazy?

recumbents should be banned from the roads

Could not agree more.

AussieGal, it takes the same amount of energy to get from A to B no matter what you ride so your muscles still have to do teh same amount of work. The difference is that if you’re comfortable while you’re doing it you can either ride longer, or faster or both. On an upright bike after a long ride my arse is usually a bit sore, as can be my shoulders and lower back. This is not uncommon, and while you can mitigate it with a well-fitted bike, it’s a fact of life that it happens.

On the ‘bent I don’t get saddle-sore. Ever. Or sore back, shoulders or neck, no matter how far I rider or for how long. I still get tired, sure. Going up hills is harder work because there’s no upper-body English happening (but coming down the other side is the payoff – a wicked fast downhill like you’re on rails!)

And your heart and lungs get the same workout too, so you have the same cardiovascular benefit.

I guess the comfort idea is best got across by asking would you rather jog in lycra shorts or ones made of sandpaper? They don’t directly affect how much execrise you CAN do, but the greatly affect how much you WANT to do, and how long you can keep at it.

Does that help?

Thumper, why exactly?

Although you say that you can be seen whilst riding your recumbent, you can’t.

They are low, they are fast, they are in traffic. SOunds like a recipe for disaster to me, even though you have never had any dramas.

Maybe I’m to short to see over my dashboard? However, fact is that they are bloody hard to see and frankly I’d hate to be the poor guy that runs over a recumbent biker just because he didn’t see it.

As for normal bikes, i don’t have a problem.