14 November 2011

Cyclist on London Circuit at 7:45am

| angrymotorist1
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Hello,

This morning whilst travelling to work in my road registered car I came across a rather selfish cyclist and would like to bring attention to him here in the hope that he reads this and grows a brain.

Turning right into Akuna Street from London Circuit with a green arrow, I along with another vehicle were held up by a cyclist sitting in the middle of the turning lane waiting for his red light to turn green so that he could go straight and get a jump on the straight traffic. He sat there until our arrow went red and his light went green and then off he went oblivious to the rest of the world. He was lucky the driver in the vehicle in front of me was more patient than I, as if I were at the front of the queue he would have found himself in my bullbar.

Yes it’s a rant, yes it’s a first world problem – I don’t care. Selfish cyclist, I hope you read this and think about your actions next time you ‘share’ the roads with the rest of us.

Darryl

(Angry Motorist)

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Clearly the cyclist was breaking road rules – respect needs to be given on both parts. But as the family member of someone who was hit by a car and killed while on his bike, it makes me sick to read you threatening cyclists with your bullbar. Completely inappropriate and not a laughing matter.

Think about how you would feel if you took someone’s life out out of frustration.. .not something you would be forgetting in this life time.

Actually with regards a second coming (personally and honestly, I’m too old for that now ladies) what would Jesus ride for example and this is a good question. I ask you to think environmetally from these 3 choices.

A donkey
bbbbbbb a car!
or an…eeeeeeeeeeeelectrocution…..E-bike

Its between the donkey and an E-bike! We don’t even have to consider the Palm Sunday traffic issues if by car….it is a loosing deal.

So..donkey or E-bike…instictivly…what?…what?….you counter me with ideas about tradtion! Tripe and codswallop! Do as you will with the donkey…it no doubt will find a career in South America eventually becoming a pinyata. It is a sad end but not everyone gets a staring role.

So we are left with what….oh! Palm Sunday Jesus riding into town on an E-bike.

Right on

Carists indeed are not happy with cyclists. That is apparent. But they clearly by inference loathe statisticians and would deal with them in the same way they would with cylcists..if only they were on the roads. Personally I take this view upon refledton. Maybe the Prime Minister is right and education is an important issue..

How could you explain the benifits of cars over bikes to a primary school class? Actually no need. Just get their mum to pick them up after school. What an attractive lifestyle. No wonder traditional religions are fading in popularity.

BTW…genuine question. Is there a religion that has come out for the environment yet? Better still persuaded their God to weigh in on this climate change business. I don’t want to bother the dude but if anyone is in contact..well let him know he is not alone on this project and I understand everyone has business to attend to…etc….and if he is real..does he really want a trouble maker like me in hell?
I don’t wish to expand on this issue in a public forum

OpenYourMind5:14 pm 29 Nov 11

Captain RAAF said :

I have often thought of mounting a small set of bongo drums to the steering wheel of may car for just such a scenario, wind the window down and start bongo-ing while shouting “Ramming Speeeed!”

Dear CaptainRAAF, your continual display of lack of knowledge of road rules coupled with your really poor attitude to the use of motor vehicles has led me to the conclusion that you are not safe to hold a bus ticket, much less a car licence. Regards, OpenYourMind

I don’t know if you can presume the cyclist knew the road rules, as he may or may not have completed the necessary “Learners” license examination that operators of other vehicles must complete, proving their theoretical competence.

Which always struck me as the most sensible practice for allowing cyclists on roads. It doesn’t cost much or take long to do, it should be a requirement.

Captain RAAF said :

I have often thought of mounting a small set of bongo drums to the steering wheel of may car for just such a scenario, wind the window down and start bongo-ing while shouting “Ramming Speeeed!”

funny Captain…though in a certain way i’m comforted that you are with the RAAF rather than Qantas 🙂

Captain RAAF7:58 am 29 Nov 11

I have often thought of mounting a small set of bongo drums to the steering wheel of may car for just such a scenario, wind the window down and start bongo-ing while shouting “Ramming Speeeed!”

The fact is carism is almost like a religion in Australia. We cyclists are apparently witholden (or without in fact 🙂 to the hegemony of carists with their ridiculous road rules which are null in validity through reason except for the fact that there are so many cars.

In the Netherlands for example it is exactly the opposite. Cars are subserviant to bikes in a general sense and guess what? Noone is complaining. Though indeed they all did at first.

Perhaps because they are now aware of the lifestyle advantages directly, or else it could be as a result of several billions of dollars saved and enjoy spending that surplus on holidays and various excesses of enjoyment presumeably frowned upon by ranting carists here.

That is my expression of road rage

Here is an example. I went to AllBids on Sunday and sat at the traffic lights on Ipswich St waiting for the right-turn arrow into Wiluna. Big shiney white scratch-free 4wd behind me with a big white shiney scratch-free driver at wheel. After about 10 seconds, he just went round me and into Wiluna St.

Now, first of all, I was in the wrong as the lights didnt have a red right-turn arrow (so, what happens if lights usual do but the bulb has blown? Not very fail-safe….) and so, if theres no on-coming traffic, I could have turned right quite legally.

As it was, the fool (Yep, I was in the wrong but not being a fool so much as a slap-head) decided to be unsafe and go round me. Why didnt he toot? Why didn’t he toot and shout “go on with ‘wake up!’ its green and theres no-one coming”? Is it because he is just an unsafe fool counting the days before he runs a red light and has a bucket of flowers left for him by the side of the road? Or is it because when he does – rightly so – chastise some half-awake moron like me he just gets a load of abuse back? Interesting questions….. But it does come back to the main question of why dont we start with some self-criticising of poor driving (of which Canberra excels itself) rather than taking the ‘someone else is to blame’ approach….

If you have a solid green light (and no arrows) and there is no oncoming traffic you can do the right turn legally.

Here is an example. I went to AllBids on Sunday and sat at the traffic lights on Ipswich St waiting for the right-turn arrow into Wiluna. Big shiney white scratch-free 4wd behind me with a big white shiney scratch-free driver at wheel. After about 10 seconds, he just went round me and into Wiluna St.

Now, first of all, I was in the wrong as the lights didnt have a red right-turn arrow (so, what happens if lights usual do but the bulb has blown? Not very fail-safe….) and so, if theres no on-coming traffic, I could have turned right quite legally.

As it was, the fool (Yep, I was in the wrong but not being a fool so much as a slap-head) decided to be unsafe and go round me. Why didnt he toot? Why didn’t he toot and shout “go on with ‘wake up!’ its green and theres no-one coming”? Is it because he is just an unsafe fool counting the days before he runs a red light and has a bucket of flowers left for him by the side of the road? Or is it because when he does – rightly so – chastise some half-awake moron like me he just gets a load of abuse back? Interesting questions….. But it does come back to the main question of why dont we start with some self-criticising of poor driving (of which Canberra excels itself) rather than taking the ‘someone else is to blame’ approach….

Gotta love Canberra, its always someone else at fault….

BicycleCanberra said :

The cyclist has every right to ‘ take the lane ‘ if he or she feels fit to do so.This is usually done for safety reasons and not to inconvenience other road vehicles. Many cyclists that ‘share the roads’ with vehicles are often cut off with vehicles turning left and not looking behind. A cyclist lost their life in this way in Wanniasa last year. So a bit of patience shouldn’t be too hard for a few minutes!

I bet he lives in Cambell or Hackett?

puggy said :

Phwoa said :

Everyone should have a go at riding/driving/walking/crossing a road in south east Asia.

Ah, walking across six lanes in China…. live action Frogger.

So true! I have fond memories of watching my travel companions trying to cross the massive roads in Beijing.

Phwoa said :

Everyone should have a go at riding/driving/walking/crossing a road in south east Asia.

Ah, walking across six lanes in China…. live action Frogger.

I believe so. Turns out no one here is well traveled. Everyone should have a go at riding/driving/walking/crossing a road in south east Asia.

I met a Dutch cyclist once in Jakarta, taking a world tour, next stop Australia. I told him to think about it as motorists are actually antagonistic towards cyclists here and riding on the roads represents a real danger. He didn’t believe it was possible.

fromthecapital said :

Are we going to have someone write in every time cars queue across an intersection, run a red light, cut someone off, enter a roundabout without right of way? Or is it only a scandal when some outlaw on two wheels upsets someone?

I believe so. Turns out no one here is well traveled. Everyone should have a go at riding/driving/walking/crossing a road in south east Asia.

Sgt.Bungers said :

“…I along with another vehicle…” – A TALKING CAR!!!!!! Herbie?

.

Herbie never talked except for the occasional beep of his horn or revving of his engine. You’re thinking of KITT.

“…I along with another vehicle…” – A TALKING CAR!!!!!! Herbie?

Sir, you are not a motor vehicle.

As for your post… OMG! A person on a bike made a mistake and held you up…

The other day, whilst travelling to somewhere, I was sitting in the right turn lane behind a person driving a Subaru. The driver of the Subaru had stopped their vehicle just short of the sensor for the traffic light. As a result the light did not change. The Subaru driver theeeen moved up a bit, and I, along with Dean Jones and Lindsey Lohan, had to wait another 200 seconds for the next traffic light cycle.

The Subaru driver was lucky that I acted like an adult and restrained myself from beating him to death. Instead, I decided to join the Riot-ACT, and spend 10 minutes writing about how someone else cost me 200 seconds of my time. I’m a big shot you see.

Yes it’s a rant, yes it’s a first world problem. I don’t care. Selfish Subaru driver. I hope you read this and thing about your actions next time you ‘share’ the roads with the rest of us.

Darryl, if you get so worked up about something as minor as that, then I put to you that you’re an incredibly lousy and dangerous driver. S*** happens. Deal with it like a man.

A

kezzafezza said :

A few weeks ago I was driving around Capital Circle.. As I came around the bend, at the part where Capital Circle merges with Commonwealth Ave, I almost ran over a cyclist. He came hooting down Commonwealth Ave from Parliament House and swerved across all the lanes, without indicating he was going across, and without looking to get to the left side of the road. Another car and I had to jam on the brakes to avoid hitting the twit. It was then I noticed he only had one leg. I have always wondered since then if his idiot cycling skills were the reason he lost his first leg…

How dare you question Aussie Olympic champions like Milton? Very un-Australian of you.

Didn’t you get the memo that our sports stars are beyond the law and public criticism, at least until they stop winning or engage in bizarre sexploits – not the case here as far as I know, so clearly he had the right of way

A bullbar, eh? So you’re a 4WD driver then? That says it all!!

It’s time to get all these inconsiderate, impatient, drivers and their oversize death traps off our city streets before they hog any more riot-act space (not to mention roads).

Postalgeek said :

kezzafezza said :

… without indicating he was going across …

I’m not going to defend any ‘not looking’ allegations, but I will ask you to get on a bike, find a hill, pick up the pace, and then maneuvre the bike with one hand through traffic while indicating with the other, and show us how it’s done safely.

Signalling left is optional on a bike … signalling right is mandatory. Crazy and based on the flawed assumption (like so many bike road rules and bike lanes, most likely by someone who never rode a bike as an adult) that the left, rear brake is the primary one…

Postalgeek said :

kezzafezza said :

A few weeks ago I was driving around Capital Circle.. As I came around the bend, at the part where Capital Circle merges with Commonwealth Ave, I almost ran over a cyclist. He came hooting down Commonwealth Ave from Parliament House and swerved across all the lanes, without indicating he was going across, and without looking to get to the left side of the road. Another car and I had to jam on the brakes to avoid hitting the twit. It was then I noticed he only had one leg. I have always wondered since then if his idiot cycling skills were the reason he lost his first leg…

I’m not going to defend any ‘not looking’ allegations, but I will ask you to get on a bike, find a hill, pick up the pace, and then maneuvre the bike with one hand through traffic while indicating with the other, and show us how it’s done safely.

Especially a road bike with skinny bars. Flat bar & mountain bikes are easier as the bars are wider.

kezzafezza said :

A few weeks ago I was driving around Capital Circle.. As I came around the bend, at the part where Capital Circle merges with Commonwealth Ave, I almost ran over a cyclist. He came hooting down Commonwealth Ave from Parliament House and swerved across all the lanes, without indicating he was going across, and without looking to get to the left side of the road. Another car and I had to jam on the brakes to avoid hitting the twit. It was then I noticed he only had one leg. I have always wondered since then if his idiot cycling skills were the reason he lost his first leg…

I’m not going to defend any ‘not looking’ allegations, but I will ask you to get on a bike, find a hill, pick up the pace, and then maneuvre the bike with one hand through traffic while indicating with the other, and show us how it’s done safely.

dpm said :

kezzafezza said :

A few weeks ago I was driving around Capital Circle.. As I came around the bend, at the part where Capital Circle merges with Commonwealth Ave, I almost ran over a cyclist. He came hooting down Commonwealth Ave from Parliament House and swerved across all the lanes, without indicating he was going across, and without looking to get to the left side of the road. Another car and I had to jam on the brakes to avoid hitting the twit. It was then I noticed he only had one leg. I have always wondered since then if his idiot cycling skills were the reason he lost his first leg…

Wonder if it was this guy….

http://www.michaelmilton.com/Home.aspx

Probably hahahahahaha. Mind you there are a couple of one legged cyclists in Canberra, there is a young Aisian woman who rides with one leg as well.

I-filed said :

That is particularly dangerous as a solo cyclist may well be able to be clear of a car that has squealed to a stop. Baby in trailer? Not so much.
It’s time bicycles carried plates so dangerous cycling could be formally reported.

I’ve seen a cyclist that has done exactly as you described – barreling across the pedestrian crossing with child in tow @ Dickson. I don’t mind if cyclists slow right down near crossings and give time for drivers to react but surely some cyclists have death wishes.

As for drivers … that Challis street crossing gets the heart pumping no matter if you’re a cyclist or a pedestrian.

How hard is it for drivers going through Dickson to slow down when approaching pedestrian crossings? Cyclists that plunge headlong across pedestrian crossings regardless of traffic conditions piss me off but so do drivers that just fly through crossings without exercising due care as well. We all know that Dickson has a lot of cycling and pedestrian activity, yet some drivers just belligerently cannon around the place.

kezzafezza said :

A few weeks ago I was driving around Capital Circle.. As I came around the bend, at the part where Capital Circle merges with Commonwealth Ave, I almost ran over a cyclist. He came hooting down Commonwealth Ave from Parliament House and swerved across all the lanes, without indicating he was going across, and without looking to get to the left side of the road. Another car and I had to jam on the brakes to avoid hitting the twit. It was then I noticed he only had one leg. I have always wondered since then if his idiot cycling skills were the reason he lost his first leg…

Wonder if it was this guy….

http://www.michaelmilton.com/Home.aspx

A few weeks ago I was driving around Capital Circle.. As I came around the bend, at the part where Capital Circle merges with Commonwealth Ave, I almost ran over a cyclist. He came hooting down Commonwealth Ave from Parliament House and swerved across all the lanes, without indicating he was going across, and without looking to get to the left side of the road. Another car and I had to jam on the brakes to avoid hitting the twit. It was then I noticed he only had one leg. I have always wondered since then if his idiot cycling skills were the reason he lost his first leg…

Wow – an e-thug making threats of a criminal nature towards a thoughtless moron. That’s not something you see every day on the interwebs!

I don’t get it through – how does it benefit a cyclist to head straight from the right hand turning lane ? How is that getting a jump on the traffic?

Perhaps if the cyclist reads this, next time he’ll know to take the left lane – from where he can hop onto the footpath and continue onwards across the top of the T-intersection, instead of stopping and waiting!

fromthecapital5:23 pm 14 Nov 11

Bussie said :

fromthecapital said :

I-filed said :

It’s time bicycles carried plates so dangerous cycling could be formally reported.

How does the formal reporting process currently work for registered plated motor vehicles? If I see someone run a red or fail to indicate, how do I get them charged?

Bingo.

You call the cops and tell them, “a white commodore, rego YXX-00X ran X red light at Y time”, they most likely ignore you because they’ve got better things to do or just couldn’t be bothered. But on the off chance they don’t ignore you, what would they do? Can they just send out an infringement notice on Joe Busybody’s say-so? Do they have to summons you? In the incredibly unlikely event it makes it to court it’s your word against the red-light runner’s plus if they’ve got half a brain they’ll have coached friends to swear they were somewhere else.

Thats what I thought.. Pointless and spiteful…

This is why I sometimes want to sprinkle tiny nails on bike lanes.But, suppress my desire because I don’t want innocent cyclists to suffer. 🙂

Classified said :

It’s really interesting how ‘ragey’ people on Australian roads are. I’ve driven in a number of other countries and never seen anything like it.

There’s a good reason for that in places like Texas: beep, and you’ve just increased your chances of getting shot.

arb said :

there was a cyclist in the right hand turn lane who sat still on a green arrow (thus blocking traffic)

ahh ok, i see the issue now.

fromthecapital said :

I-filed said :

It’s time bicycles carried plates so dangerous cycling could be formally reported.

How does the formal reporting process currently work for registered plated motor vehicles? If I see someone run a red or fail to indicate, how do I get them charged?

Bingo.

You call the cops and tell them, “a white commodore, rego YXX-00X ran X red light at Y time”, they most likely ignore you because they’ve got better things to do or just couldn’t be bothered. But on the off chance they don’t ignore you, what would they do? Can they just send out an infringement notice on Joe Busybody’s say-so? Do they have to summons you? In the incredibly unlikely event it makes it to court it’s your word against the red-light runner’s plus if they’ve got half a brain they’ll have coached friends to swear they were somewhere else.

It’s really interesting how ‘ragey’ people on Australian roads are. I’ve driven in a number of other countries and never seen anything like it. Sure, you get the occasional honking, and maybe even a finger raised (it’s rare, though), but nothing like the screaming at each other out of car windows, tailgating and cutting off that I see in Aus.

Perhaps this is a sign that many of us are more stressed than we realise.

BicycleCanberra said :

I-filed said :

It’s time bicycles carried plates so dangerous cycling could be formally reported.

Not this again, lets make pedestrians were number plates as well!

If pedestrians wander around on the road, by all means, but unless they are drunk or stupid (possibly the majority?) they stay mostly on the footpath.

BicycleCanberra said :

Not this again, lets make pedestrians were number plates as well!

Like I said, thanks BicycleCanberra for proving my point… 🙂

Henry82 said :

MissChief said :

Akuna and London is a T intersection. If he’d been in the left lane he might have been able just to keep going regardless of lights – not sure how that works.

Wouldn’t the cars turning right into Akuna Street be blocking his path?

I don’t think OPs explanation was very clear, or i don’t see the issue.

MissChief: the cyclist still needs to obey the road rules no matter what lane they’re in (whether it’s a bike or a traffic lane). That intersection has pedestrian lights too which can be green when the straight ahead traffic light is red.

Henry82: I’m not sure what’s not clear in the original post… there was a cyclist in the right hand turn lane who sat still on a green arrow (thus blocking traffic) and then went straight ahead when the arrow was red and the straight through light was green. And how (as you suggest) could cars turning right be blocking the path of a cyclist in the left lane?

fromthecapital said :

I-filed said :

It’s time bicycles carried plates so dangerous cycling could be formally reported.

How does the formal reporting process currently work for registered plated motor vehicles? If I see someone run a red or fail to indicate, how do I get them charged?

I think how it works is if you see someone break the law then you report it on a site called the-riotact.com

BicycleCanberra2:59 pm 14 Nov 11

I-filed said :

It’s time bicycles carried plates so dangerous cycling could be formally reported.

Not this again, lets make pedestrians were number plates as well!

MissChief said :

Akuna and London is a T intersection. If he’d been in the left lane he might have been able just to keep going regardless of lights – not sure how that works.

Wouldn’t the cars turning right into Akuna Street be blocking his path?

I don’t think OPs explanation was very clear, or i don’t see the issue.

fromthecapital2:55 pm 14 Nov 11

I-filed said :

It’s time bicycles carried plates so dangerous cycling could be formally reported.

How does the formal reporting process currently work for registered plated motor vehicles? If I see someone run a red or fail to indicate, how do I get them charged?

well, at least he didn’t a red light….

It doesn’t make sense to be sitting in the right turn lane to go straight ahead. Akuna and London is a T intersection. If he’d been in the left lane he might have been able just to keep going regardless of lights – not sure how that works. Perhaps he meant to turn right but then changed his mind???

This does raise an important issue though, who checks that cyclists know the road rules? If they don’t drive and have never had a licence, they could have some misunderstandings. It is taken too much for granted that cyclists sharing the roads know how to use them.

It’s nice of you to mention your car is road registered. Do you have a valid license and insurance to go with that?

Thoroughly Smashed2:27 pm 14 Nov 11

ThatUniStudent said :

Now if I saw that, it would piss me off. I would probably resort to swearing (though not at the guy loud enough to hear) and tooting my horn to wake them up, but I would not resort to using my bull bar or loose e it at them. Crap happens, live with it. Too many angry people on the roads.

Wind down the window and let them know you’ve called dibs on any of their organs you might need later in life.

ThatUniStudent2:19 pm 14 Nov 11

Now if I saw that, it would piss me off. I would probably resort to swearing (though not at the guy loud enough to hear) and tooting my horn to wake them up, but I would not resort to using my bull bar or loose e it at them. Crap happens, live with it. Too many angry people on the roads.

I-filed said :

It’s time bicycles carried plates so dangerous cycling could be formally reported.

Pedalpower + just about every cyclist out there would be jumping up and down if this was to go through, despite the fact that all it would do is identify dangerous riders.

Of course you are advocating being held responsible for ones own actions, hasn’t daytime court room TV taught you anything? It’s always someone elses fault.

inconsiderate jerk vs. inconsiderate jerk… I can see why the popcorn option is popular…

Cyclists disobeying the road rules can be freaky – such as when they cycle across pedestrian crossings – sometimes emerging too quickly for a car to stop. This morning in Dickson a fellow cycled across the pedestrian crossing and risked the life of a baby he was towing – car in front of me had to do an emergency brake. That is particularly dangerous as a solo cyclist may well be able to be clear of a car that has squealed to a stop. Baby in trailer? Not so much.
It’s time bicycles carried plates so dangerous cycling could be formally reported.

Mysteryman said :

I don’t suppose the thought of tooting your horn, or yelling out the window “you’re in the wrong lane”, ever occurred to you? Would have been much simpler and more effective than ranting on here about it.

But that wouldn’t have been as fun for us now would it?

Can I have a gold star?

I just stopped in a cycle lane & obeyed a red light. I signalled my every intention as I turned left out of London onto Northbourne & then signalled that I was crossing to the right lane to turn into Alinga. The fact that I was there still annoyed the old bloke in the silver Nissan Maxima (EVEN THOUGH I WAS DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS!) who tried to pass me illegally on the left hand side even though I had right of way in the lane.

Can this just be a road ranting thread?

Do you resort to violence as a solution to every problem, angrymotorist1?

Do you get this aggravated about people who stop their trolleys across the aisle from another stopped trolley while both trolley-using shoppers are deciding whether to go for Nandos, Latina or Homebrand pasta? Do you threaten to ram them with your shopping trolley because what they’re doing doesn’t suit you?

What if the cyclist was originally intending to turn right but then changed their mind?

Was it really worth ranting about? Do you feel better now?

fromthecapital said :

Are we going to have someone write in every time cars queue across an intersection, run a red light, cut someone off, enter a roundabout without right of way? Or is it only a scandal when some outlaw on two wheels upsets someone?

Spot on.

Yogie said :

Your threat to use your bullbar puts you much further into the wrong than the cyclist, in my opinion.

Also nailed. From the description, the cyclist was illegally using a turn lane to overtake a queue of traffic. From the writer’s opinion … well, the writer is a buffoon.

fromthecapital12:10 pm 14 Nov 11

Are we going to have someone write in every time cars queue across an intersection, run a red light, cut someone off, enter a roundabout without right of way? Or is it only a scandal when some outlaw on two wheels upsets someone?

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Sounds like an inconsiderate jerk, but that’s not because he’s a cyclist.

Nailed.

I predict this will be a rational debate, with interesting commentary from both sides of the argument.

/grabs popcorn and sits back.

Three points:

1. Can someone explain why there was a cyclist in the right hand lane and travelling straight through the intersection; I have always been taught to say left? I think there is more to this story.
2. “yes it’s a first world problem”, no it is not, China, Thailand, etc.
3. Bull bars have a real and valid purpose, which is not maiming cyclists.

Do you feel tough not Darryl .. or does it only come when you manage to wedge a cyclist in your bull bar?

Cry baby.

Seriously not worth stressing about Darryl.
You lost 5 minutes (or less) waiting for another turn, which is less time than you have now spent venting your pettiness to the world. Let it go. The world has much more interesting things to offer.

I don’t suppose the thought of tooting your horn, or yelling out the window “you’re in the wrong lane”, ever occurred to you? Would have been much simpler and more effective than ranting on here about it.

Thoroughly Smashed11:20 am 14 Nov 11

I should ask whether you’d have posted about it if someone in a car did exactly the same thing?

Thoroughly Smashed11:19 am 14 Nov 11

Sounds like an inconsiderate jerk, but that’s not because he’s a cyclist.

Bullbar you say? Last farkwit in a car that I had an altercation with after he squeesed me into the gutter threatened me with his bullbar.

Don’t live in Conder/Banks do you?

Before we all get up in arms, they may have been a reason for the guy to be out there on his bike. Pity there are no pics to see how far “in the middle of the lane” the rider was.

Sharing the road is a wider issue than just one cyclist holding up someone for a minute. It happens daily & not limited to one bunch of users.

nice_enough said :

So what did the cyclist do wrong?

I think it is quite clear, the cyclist sat in the turning lane with every intention to go straight and held up the traffic. Whether it is a bicycle or car, doing the above is illegal but, of course, the rules only apply to cyclists when it suits them.

Seems BicycleCanberra has no issue with cyclists doing things illegally when it suits them, but is the first one to jump up and down if someone does wrong by the cyclists.

fromthecapital11:14 am 14 Nov 11

I would hope your car is registered! It’s a requirement you know.

I hear exercise really helps with stress relief. I can understand why you are so angry though! You must have got to work 90 seconds late!

luther_bendross11:09 am 14 Nov 11

One thing that irks me in this continuous cyclist/motorist debate is the issues of “sharing” the road. It seems that in the way it’s promoted, it’s up to the driver to “share” with the cyclist, and not the other way around. Riding one abreast is sharing. Riding two abreast is being inconsiderate to the people behind you trying to to 60 km/h.

I drive cars 90% of the time and cycle on bike paths.

So what did the cyclist do wrong?

As a cyclist who uses the same route, and who does not block traffic by being in the wrong lane, I would like to apologise on behalf of the brainless cyclist.

Your threat to use your bullbar puts you much further into the wrong than the cyclist, in my opinion.

buzz819 said :

BicycleCanberra said :

The cyclist has every right to ‘ take the lane ‘ if he or she feels fit to do so.This is usually done for safety reasons and not to inconvenience other road vehicles. Many cyclists that ‘share the roads’ with vehicles are often cut off with vehicles turning left and not looking behind. A cyclist lost their life in this way in Wanniasa last year. So a bit of patience shouldn’t be too hard for a few minutes!

Unfortunately for for you and the cyclist, going straight from a left turn only lane is illegal on a bike or a car.

beat me to it. cyclsts have every right to share the road, not monopolise it…

Definitely an illegal move by the cyclist. Definitely a selfish asshole for doing so.

Solidarity said :

Sweet, I have popcorn and everything!

Yeah I’ve forgotten to get popcorn. I’m sure this fight will still be going at lunchtime, so I’ll get my popcorn then… 🙂

BicycleCanberra said :

The cyclist has every right to ‘ take the lane ‘ if he or she feels fit to do so.This is usually done for safety reasons and not to inconvenience other road vehicles. Many cyclists that ‘share the roads’ with vehicles are often cut off with vehicles turning left and not looking behind. A cyclist lost their life in this way in Wanniasa last year. So a bit of patience shouldn’t be too hard for a few minutes!

Unfortunately for for you and the cyclist, going straight from a left turn only lane is illegal on a bike or a car.

Sweet, I have popcorn and everything!

BicycleCanberra10:38 am 14 Nov 11

The cyclist has every right to ‘ take the lane ‘ if he or she feels fit to do so.This is usually done for safety reasons and not to inconvenience other road vehicles. Many cyclists that ‘share the roads’ with vehicles are often cut off with vehicles turning left and not looking behind. A cyclist lost their life in this way in Wanniasa last year. So a bit of patience shouldn’t be too hard for a few minutes!

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