Cyclist v driver rant

WalkTheTalk said :

If anyone wants to rant at a cyclist, rant at those who (as previously mentioned in this thread) run red lights, stop signs etc. You’ll probably be ranting side by side with the cyclists who do obey the law.

x eleventybillion!!

IMHO there’s a big sense of entitlement from many cyclists, motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

The only entitlement any of us have is to get to where we are going safely. This stems from all parties obeying road rules combined with a healthy dose of common sense.

The common sense part can’t be understated (nor it seems in many cases can it be found). The simple fact is that no one is going to care more about your welfare than you, regardless of what legal and/or moral position you have whilst on the road.

Matt 31221′ at #97 – No, don’t take all cyclists off the road. Just those that can’t respect the rights and responsibilities all road users have (take any driver or rider who can’t do the same, with them). Based on your description – the bloke you wrote about should fit neatly into this category. He should have made himself easier to be seen.

If anyone wants to rant at a cyclist, rant at those who (as previously mentioned in this thread) run red lights, stop signs etc. You’ll probably be ranting side by side with the cyclists who do obey the law.

Reply

damien haas said :

Maybe we can have one universal post to list the numberplates of shit drivers.

Silver Ford, YFX 15Z – last Thursday, 4.50PM, 20ish brunette, heading to Civic on Nthbourne – weaving all over the place, causing me to swerve to the left so i was not sideswiped. I would have honked, but that may have distracted you from typing that SMS message into your phone while driving…

They did, it was http://www.ratetheplate.com.au. The amount of people who posted BS reports about certain vehicles was the main reason it was taken down, along with obvious privacy and legal issues.

So moral of the story is, if your a cyclist, people driving their vehicles are reckless, and if you drive a motor vehicle, then cyclists are reckless.

And around and around we go……….

Granted, I see alot of wreckless drivers, but i see more cyclist going through red lights, failing to stop at stop sighs etc on a daily basis then i do cars, and there are more cars on our roads!

On the weekend I esperienced some bad driver behavoir & not purely because I was cyling at the time, I notice this behavoir time & time again from drivers who come from the city & are used to dual lane roads.

I did a lap of the Cotter/Tidbinbilla over the weekend on my bike. As most people are aware, there is not much room so I get out early to try & avoid the traffic.

Anyway, why are Canberra drivers incapable of passing safely?

Rather than wait to pass me on a safe stretch of road I had two divers pass on blind curves nearly resulting in head on accidents with other traffic. Two drivers nearly hit me because they did not move over because of on coming traffic. Would it be too hard to slow down & pass when safe?

I see this bad passing behavoir time & time again when travelling to my home town on the Sapphire Coast & it is worse on the Kings & Barton highways.

Think about your actions people.

Dear Special G and Co. You are deluded. No one looks good in lycra. No matter how fit or trim you are, it’s simply hideous. I drive a car (and therefore pay rego) I also ride a bike (and therfore save money on petrol parking etc). I occasionally experience dangerous behaviour from motorists while riding my bike. I do agree that some action bus drivers seem to be on an anti cyclist mission and it is very scary when they indulge in bullying behaviour.

However, I also experience smiles and waves from motorists and courteous behaviour (quite often from tradies). Below are some of the reasons why I think I don’t piss them off very often:

I don’t assume that they will stop for me at a pedestrian crossing (because I’m not a pedestrian). If they see me waiting to cross and stop for me, I smile, wave and thank them.

I’m more likely to be wearing a pretty dress and looking happy than I am to be wearing lycra and an aggressive frown.

I don’t flash bright lights in the eyes of motorists and other cyclists – front lights are for seeing where you’re going and therefore should point at the road not at people’s faces (blinding lights are particularly dangerous on unlit bike paths like the one over O’Connor Ridge. Cars use low beam; cyclists should too). Rear lights are important for safety but don’t need to be blinding either.

I don’t press the button at pedestrian/bike crossings unless the traffic is very heavy. I simply wait until it is safe to cross – I believe that everyone who is old enough to safely cross a road should do the same (and those who are not should be accompanied by an adult). Recently, while driving on Lady Denman Drive, I saw a lycra-clad cyclist crossing the road at a crossing hundreds of metres in front of me. By the time I reached the crossing, the light changed to red and I had to wait even though there was no other traffic and the cyclist was long gone. Thanks mate – you’re doing great things for motorist cyclist relations (not). The crossing on Macarthur Ave is another one where cyclists regularly force mororists to stop unnecceserily.

If I feel like meandering along slowly, I ride on the footpath.

It’s not rocket science folks!

Take push bike riders off the road and here’s why – In some conditions they are generally really hard to see. Some don’t wear high viz and come out of no where. I cut a push bikers off when turning across Northbourne ave into Dickson the other day, I didn’t see him till the last minute (Lucky I slowed down). He was sticking his finger up and carrying on – the clown was wearing camo and riding a green speed bike in a bushy area!!

That’s great – blame your poor driving skills and inattention on the cyclist. Then feel all offended when the bloke you almost killed gets upset at you.

I hope you get through life without killing someone.

Just to add another driver to the shit list:

Small white car driven by an old woman with rather wild white hair. Didn’t catch the numberplate, as I was too busy avoiding the tree she almost pushed me into. Before you change lanes, GENERALLY it helps to check if there’s anyone using that space already.

People can bitch and moan about cyclists and cycling initiatives, but the reality is that just about any significant city you care to name is factoring cycling in as a bigger and bigger part of their transport solution. Have a look at London, Paris, Vienna, even Melbourne. They are all installing public bicycle rental systems and installing various cycle lanes and cycleways. None of these cities charge registration for bicycles.

As I’ve said before, I’m a motorcyclist, ex truck and taxi driver, motorist and very keen cyclist. Sharing the road and being polite really aren’t that hard and most drivers/riders manage to do so.

I do think the walking across pedestrian crossings with a bicycle law is ridiculous and I’m glad to say that the Pedal Power is lobbying to get this law changed.

Chip said :

Like a lot of adult cyclists, when I ride my unregistered bike, my registered car is sitting at home, costing me money but not clogging the road or the carparks.

When I ride my registered motorbike, my registered car is sitting at home. But unlike in your fantasy world, I don’t get to pick and choose which vehicles I register, or transfer my rego from one vehicle to another on a whim. They’re all registered.

Happy for rego to be based on weight; motorcycles weigh 1/10th a car so should only pay 1/10th the rego. Sounds good. Bring it on.

santiago said :

Been riding down Northbourne for 4 years now on the way to work and never had too much trouble. Most cyclists and motorists obey the rules and near misses are through inattention, not intent, as far as I’ve seen. Undesirable, but not a hanging offence. It’s the cars, particularly taxis, who double park in front of the Jolimont Centre who are the most danger to other motorists and cyclists alike. As for Commonwealth bridge and the green/red ‘death zone’ crossing, I’ve never had a problem. I just make sure the motorist and I make eye contact before I cross, then always wave thanks.

Must admit I never fail to get a buzz out of peak hour, picking a car at the top of Northbourne and beating it through Civic and across the bridge.

Happy to pay rego if it ever gets up, just hope its based on the weight of the vehicle…

If we all wore lycra and motorists could see our cycling induced smokin’ buns, think how many crashes we would cause?! The daggy baggy shorts are a civic duty.

I don’t cycle the bridge but +1 to the rest of this comment.

I’ve had a couple of close calls but like santiago says – it’s been through inattention (probably on both parties’ parts) not maliciousness.

Cycling is like driving – keep your wits about you and you avoid bad situations. Vice versa with drivers and cyclists sharing the roads with you. Most of both groups (cyclists and drivers) are happily sharing the roads together in a safe way.

Like a lot of adult cyclists, when I ride my unregistered bike, my registered car is sitting at home, costing me money but not clogging the road or the carparks. When I ride, I keep in mind that even if I am totally in the right in an accident, it won’t make the bones heal any quicker so I should be careful and humble when there are cars around me. When I drive, I keep in mind that even if I am in the right when I hit a cyclist, the paperwork will spoil my whole week so I should be careful when there are cyclists around. And always, I am wary of buses – the drivers must be full of rage most of the time, partly cos they hate having those bike racks stuck on the front of their bus, especially when someone actually uses it!

Been riding down Northbourne for 4 years now on the way to work and never had too much trouble. Most cyclists and motorists obey the rules and near misses are through inattention, not intent, as far as I’ve seen. Undesirable, but not a hanging offence. It’s the cars, particularly taxis, who double park in front of the Jolimont Centre who are the most danger to other motorists and cyclists alike. As for Commonwealth bridge and the green/red ‘death zone’ crossing, I’ve never had a problem. I just make sure the motorist and I make eye contact before I cross, then always wave thanks.

Must admit I never fail to get a buzz out of peak hour, picking a car at the top of Northbourne and beating it through Civic and across the bridge.

Happy to pay rego if it ever gets up, just hope its based on the weight of the vehicle…

If we all wore lycra and motorists could see our cycling induced smokin’ buns, think how many crashes we would cause?! The daggy baggy shorts are a civic duty.

Special G said :

Footpaths are even more dangerous for a bike….

Only time I have ever been properly knocked off my bike by a car, I was riding along a footpath.

Footpaths are even more dangerous for a bike. Giving way to pedestrians on paths and passing them has caused both myself and my wife to crash. Then you are closer to driveways. Throw some bushes into the mix and you’ll be T-boning a car in now time.

Cars fault but who cares.

Fcuk it – run me down, drag me for 300 metres, flense the skin from my body so I resemble fresh meat, crush my bike ’til it’s unrecognizable and spread far the shards of my now-pointless helmet.

I won’t care.

But our families and our friends and our colleagues will.

So make your choice – confront that gory image all the days of your life, or embrace tolerance and patience for everyone’s sake and perhaps we’ll get along just fine.

[no probs if you mod this johnboy, your call – just a bit of prose.]

Golden-Alpine said :

Gungahlin Al, the incident at the roadworks in Mitchell was that turning right from Sandford into Flemington at about 8am? If so I saw that happen.

At the moment that intersection isn’t very safe for those in cars.

Nope – straight down Flemington about 8.40.

nutter said :

Sometimes I drive to work, sometimes I ride. When I drive I make room for cyclists and put lots of room between us when I overtake. Unless they’re riding more than two abreast (which I believe they are allowed to do) and I rarely experience this.

When I ride I try and use the paths as much as possible, it’s more scenic, not much slower and once you’ve ridden the route once you can try and beat your time. On the odd occasions I am forced onto the road (no path or it’s well out of my way) I also adopt the same attitude as I do on my motorbike and in my car – everyone else on the road is trying to kill me. I haven’t had any accidents.

I will approach pedestrian crossings at a speed I can stop if needs be, if there’s no cars I’ll ride across, if there are I’ll make eye contact with the driver. 95% are courteous and wave me through anyway which I acknowledge with a nod. I ring my bell for pedestrians at a safe distance and if they don’t make some sign of acknowledgement I’ll do it again whem I’m closer. If they still don’t acknowledge this I figure they like being startled.

In a slightly spiteful way I will ignore the red/green man and cross the road when I can (as I also do as a pedestrian). I figure drivers like to see me out of their way and clear of the intersection. Plus they get to see I can travel faster than them and may be inspired to ride as well.

I think that unlike helmets bells should be compulsary. I know more and more people who ride to work although whether this is a result of parking costs, running costs or a desire to get fit is not clear. I do not wear lycra and never will (although with the arse I’ve got, I too would look amazing in it), I don’t believe the drag from my tshirt and shorts will slow me by much over the course of my ride and I don’t want to distract other travellers (like those huge posters of lingerie clad women do). I’m not saying my arse is larger than life but it is very eye catching. I believe that we should all live in peace and celestial harmony. I also think that everyone should spend the first year of their licence on a moped. Then they’d learn respect for other road users and if they didn’t the problem would most likely be eliminated.

Nutter, that would be me in a nutshell. Esp the bit about great arse! So she tells me – must be some reason she married me… 😉

The Axe Man said :

KB1971 said :

The Axe Man said :

I totally agree with your sentiment when you put it like that. I made an ass out of you & me & assumed you were a hater.

I only break one road rule when cycling, I ride across pedestrian crossings BUT I do give way to cars if we are approaching at the same time AND I do obey the little green & red men. Not saying it right but I obey every other road rule.

I don’t have a problem with riders riding across the pedestrian crossing as long as they don’t have a full head of steam up coming up to the crossing. It’s sensible for the rider to slow, almost to a stop if necessary, to make sure that the car will stop, just like a pedestrian wouldn’t just walk right out in front without making sure the car can see them and is slowing down.

It’s all about commonsense people.
It’s not about enforcing the roads rules, thats what the police are for. We all need to be considerate though

I actually wave the car through, I wont go until it is clear.

Jethro said :

At least a plate system would allow these cyclists to be identified and issued with the appropriate fine.

Do seven year olds on BMXs get the same fine as 40 year olds on $5k carbon fibre roadies?

There is already at least one bicycle specific law on the books (helmets). If the police were to begin actively enforcing that rule (and all other road rules) on cyclists it might well go towards improving behaviour. The same is true of drivers.

I don’t have an issue with on-road cycling. I’m not even that put out that some 2 lane roads have been chopped back to 1 lane just to make way for a bike path. If that’s what floats your boat, then go for it, it’s mostly a harmless activity however what I can’t understand is the thinking behind the green and red death zones across the exits of major roads.

For example, the 3 exits off Commonwealth Avenue down to Parks Way and London Circuit. 20km/h bikes against 40-80km/h cars, trucks and buses (yes I know its a 60k road) coming up sight unseen behind them. The bikes launch out past the exit without looking and rely on the judgement and patience of Mr and Mrs Joe Average to avoid them, and when it all goes wrong, Joe Average has 2+ tons of vehicle wrapped around them for protection vs 200grams of lycra.

I don’t care if the law is on the side of the cyclists, punishing Jane Average for being on the phone when she ran her Hyundai Crapbox GLi over your legs isn’t going to help *you* much.

I often catch the bus into work in the morning and I quite often see cars braking hard and swerving to avoid cyclists on the death zones. Yes they are probably crap drivers, and yes, they should have left more space and time for braking, but, seriously, are you betting your life on that?

The green/red zones need to be removed.

Hi, I never post here, and this argument is always a slanging match, but something needs to be clarified:

KB1971 said:

“Al: With regards to the dude turning left, It was my understanding that if the car is in front it has right of way, thats how I treat it anyway. It is only the green lanes where the cylist has absolute right of way. Given that though, the motorist is supposed to give clear room when negotiating a bend/intersection at the same time as a cyclist & also has a responsibilty to do it safely. Correct me if I am wrong.”

Page 100 of the act road rules handbook:
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/64482/Part_E_-_Other_Road_Users_2010.pdf

“If a cyclist is on a bicycle lane the *motorist must give way*”
also
“slow down and allow cyclists to negotiate intersections safely”
also
“overtaking cyclists – leave plenty of room in case they need to avoid a rough surface or obstacle on the road”

Okay?
Someone cut me off on northbourne while i was in the bike lane (one of many), I was going 50kph, they rebuilt my face, he got charged with negligent driving and one road user found out what the rules are.
It’s important, just because you are in front doesn’t mean you have right of way. Try turning left from the right lane across traffic, at least you are less likely to kill someone!

On a couple of other points in the thread:

Pedestrians can become erratic if you use a bell, I normally call “excuse me, passing on your right”, bells tend to send people in to your lane because they think that they are doing something wrong when you ring them… I do have a bell and normally use it when i’m a bit closer and/or people are blocking both lanes on the shared path.

Bikes don’t require rego and it’s not available. I’d get it, as would many cyclists, for insurance and to make car drivers a bit more courteous. It’s not available, it’s not being made available, we have a legal right to be on the road and we cannot possibly pay for rego any more than we already do (I do) on our cars. Don’t hate us for not doing something that is impossible. We can ride on footpaths here, but not elsewhere in the country, and there seems to be less animosity there. I’m scared of and for cyclists on the road, but a lot of the time there are no other options, footpaths may as well be trials courses and bike paths don’t go everywhere. Be courteous and a little patient and noone gets hurt.

Since when has a rego meant only -you- have to follow the road rules? If you’re on the road, no matter what you’re driving, registered or unregistered, you follow the rules. If you drive a car without a rego, you get a penalty for that. If you speed and don’t have a rego, you get two penalties, duh – you don’t suddenly get immunity from the law with no rego.

As for people who say stick to the footpath if there are no cyclelanes, have you -seen- the tiny tracks that pass for footpaths in this city? You have to do a sideways shuffle if you encounter just one other pedestrian – there’s no room for a bike, and especially not one going at any speed.

beemused said :

Muttsybignuts said :

I’m too lazy ( obviously a motorist) to look at other blogs and forums. Do other States, Territories, Cities or Towns go on and on and on and on about this same subject? Or is it just Canberra?

It could only be the bureaucratic set that could be so self righteous.

Pfft, this is nothing. I once saw a thread on Amazon.com in which several people were seriously asserting that cyclists who were hit by a car while riding on the road deserved to die.

Sometimes I drive to work, sometimes I ride. When I drive I make room for cyclists and put lots of room between us when I overtake. Unless they’re riding more than two abreast (which I believe they are allowed to do) and I rarely experience this.

When I ride I try and use the paths as much as possible, it’s more scenic, not much slower and once you’ve ridden the route once you can try and beat your time. On the odd occasions I am forced onto the road (no path or it’s well out of my way) I also adopt the same attitude as I do on my motorbike and in my car – everyone else on the road is trying to kill me. I haven’t had any accidents.

I will approach pedestrian crossings at a speed I can stop if needs be, if there’s no cars I’ll ride across, if there are I’ll make eye contact with the driver. 95% are courteous and wave me through anyway which I acknowledge with a nod. I ring my bell for pedestrians at a safe distance and if they don’t make some sign of acknowledgement I’ll do it again whem I’m closer. If they still don’t acknowledge this I figure they like being startled.

In a slightly spiteful way I will ignore the red/green man and cross the road when I can (as I also do as a pedestrian). I figure drivers like to see me out of their way and clear of the intersection. Plus they get to see I can travel faster than them and may be inspired to ride as well.

I think that unlike helmets bells should be compulsary. I know more and more people who ride to work although whether this is a result of parking costs, running costs or a desire to get fit is not clear. I do not wear lycra and never will (although with the arse I’ve got, I too would look amazing in it), I don’t believe the drag from my tshirt and shorts will slow me by much over the course of my ride and I don’t want to distract other travellers (like those huge posters of lingerie clad women do). I’m not saying my arse is larger than life but it is very eye catching. I believe that we should all live in peace and celestial harmony. I also think that everyone should spend the first year of their licence on a moped. Then they’d learn respect for other road users and if they didn’t the problem would most likely be eliminated.

I am having a slow day at work.

KB1971 said :

The Axe Man said :

I totally agree with your sentiment when you put it like that. I made an ass out of you & me & assumed you were a hater.

I only break one road rule when cycling, I ride across pedestrian crossings BUT I do give way to cars if we are approaching at the same time AND I do obey the little green & red men. Not saying it right but I obey every other road rule.

I don’t have a problem with riders riding across the pedestrian crossing as long as they don’t have a full head of steam up coming up to the crossing. It’s sensible for the rider to slow, almost to a stop if necessary, to make sure that the car will stop, just like a pedestrian wouldn’t just walk right out in front without making sure the car can see them and is slowing down.

It’s all about commonsense people.
It’s not about enforcing the roads rules, thats what the police are for. We all need to be considerate though

annoyedcan said :

Postalgeek said :

nhand42 said :

Unless you’ve got rego plates on your push bike, you don’t belong on the road. Get back on the pedestrian path.

Get back under the bridge.

why should he, you should pay up

Oh boy.

Here, nice and simple, real toddler level: taxes pay for roads. Who pays taxes? Everyone.

And here’s the funny thing. Car drivers generate way more costs for the public purse than they contribute, in infrastructure, pollution, accidents and medical costs, and wear and tear. So taxpayers like cyclists are actually subsidizing drivers. How farked up is that? So you should get off the road until you pay for it.

But hang on to that hope that governments will want to encourage more cars on the road, provide more free parking, and fuel will get cheaper. Really ingrain the daily dependence on uncongested roads, fuel and parking in your life. Make it absolutely integral to your day. Do it for me if for no-one else.

And the day registered drivers abide by the road rules will be the day you have a case.

pls excuse poor grammar

Okay, let’s get all the bike riders off the road….when there are these driving morons going to spit their venom at?

Rangi said :

Herf derf. Umma gonna killa bike-dood in my foo-wee drive. Herf derf.

KB1971 said :

Rangi said :

I only break one road rule when cycling

Ha Ha, I too only break one law when driving, I intentionaly ram bike riders, but thats it, nothing else, it’s only one little law, don’t hate me for it. It is more just a suggestion than a law isn’t it?

So you dont speed?
You dont drive through stop signs? (hell of a lot of drivers do)
You dont have one too many & then drive, even though you might be just over the limit?
Have you ever had a parking ticket?

I could go on but until you can at least say no to any of the above you cant judge others too much now can you……

I wasn’t judging, I was just getting excited and joining it the law breaking.

When I speed I am only breaking that ONE law because there are no bike riders around!

I do not drink and drive, don’t run stop signs and never have had a parking fine.

Now, Now boys and girls you silly little people do realise, I was being sarcastic I don’t really run over bike riders, I only said that to point out how silly it is to say “I only break one law” ……damnit where’s that sarcasm font again?

annoyedcan said :

Deckard said :

nhand42 said :

Unless you’ve got rego plates on your push bike, you don’t belong on the road. Get back on the pedestrian path.

No.

LOL yes. Everyone one else who uses the road does, so should you. And don’t use the same excuse of, I already pay for my car. Well your bike is not your car

You know what the funniest thing is?

I don’t have to pay rego to ride on the road, and never ever will. While your rego fees will only keep going up and up. Sucked in mate!

Jim Jones said :

Rangi said :

I only break one road rule when cycling

Ha Ha, I too only break one law when driving, I intentionaly ram bike riders, but thats it, nothing else, it’s only one little law, don’t hate me for it. It is more just a suggestion than a law isn’t it?

If you can’t tell the difference between riding across a pedestrian crossing and attempted murder, then perhaps the friendly policeman and his new taser could assist in some elucidation.

Oh I can tell the difference, Sorry, I just thought we were picking which one law we want to break, I didn’t realise there were a set we had to chose from. Can you post the list so I don’t make a mistake again. Apologies to the poor guy on the green mountain bike, I wiped out on Limestone this morning, I thought I was allowed, get well soon.

Oh and when we pick one does it have to stay the same or can we change it around, do we have to notify anyone of which law we are no obeying, and when we want to change it?

I meant “all” of the above actually.

Rangi said :

I only break one road rule when cycling

Ha Ha, I too only break one law when driving, I intentionaly ram bike riders, but thats it, nothing else, it’s only one little law, don’t hate me for it. It is more just a suggestion than a law isn’t it?

So you dont speed?
You dont drive through stop signs? (hell of a lot of drivers do)
You dont have one too many & then drive, even though you might be just over the limit?
Have you ever had a parking ticket?

I could go on but until you can at least say no to any of the above you cant judge others too much now can you……

john87_no1 said :

KB1971 said :

john87_no1 said :

Why cant you understand that some people just dont want you on the road? In turn some people are going to be a-holes. Or…. now this might sound crazy – dont ride during peak hour traffic.

Coz Im here just to piss you off.

Actually, peach hour is safer in some respects as the traffic is slower.

lol, ive been waiting to hear something from you.

Hehehehe the sparring is fun….. 🙂

Rangi said :

I only break one road rule when cycling

Ha Ha, I too only break one law when driving, I intentionaly ram bike riders, but thats it, nothing else, it’s only one little law, don’t hate me for it. It is more just a suggestion than a law isn’t it?

If you can’t tell the difference between riding across a pedestrian crossing and attempted murder, then perhaps the friendly policeman and his new taser could assist in some elucidation.

I only break one road rule when cycling

Ha Ha, I too only break one law when driving, I intentionaly ram bike riders, but thats it, nothing else, it’s only one little law, don’t hate me for it. It is more just a suggestion than a law isn’t it?

KB1971 said :

john87_no1 said :

Why cant you understand that some people just dont want you on the road? In turn some people are going to be a-holes. Or…. now this might sound crazy – dont ride during peak hour traffic.

Coz Im here just to piss you off.

Actually, peach hour is safer in some respects as the traffic is slower.

lol, ive been waiting to hear something from you.

annoyedcan said :

Postalgeek said :

nhand42 said :

Unless you’ve got rego plates on your push bike, you don’t belong on the road. Get back on the pedestrian path.

Get back under the bridge.

why should he, you should pay up

There are plenty of cyclists arguing that paying rego would actually be a very good thing. Paying rego would mean comprehensive insurance coverage for a start.

But from implementation, administrative and compliance perspectives it’s about as practical as registering pedestrians. There is already plenty of research saying that 30% more people would make short trips by bike (and hell, get some exercise in the process) if it weren’t for helmet laws – and you want to place fees, testing, licensing, etc in the way of people occasionally dusting off the old pushy?

Where do you draw the line? Obviously you’ll need to register your kids bikes if they are going to ride in your street too!? It’s a road – for cars!

The Axe Man said :

KB1971 said :

The Axe Man: How many man hours have you lost sitting behind a cyclist?

It’s not about being held up, it’s about showing commonsense.
All road users need to start realising that there are other road users out there and that they may not all be in a car.
As I alluded to before I’m not anti-cycling on the road (I never would though) but I am against cyclists not obeying the traffic laws when it suits them if it has an effect on other road users.
By all means ride in the middle of the road but if a car comes up behind pull all the way into your specially painted safe zone

I totally agree with your sentiment when you put it like that. I made an ass out of you & me & assumed you were a hater.

I only break one road rule when cycling, I ride across pedestrian crossings BUT I do give way to cars if we are approaching at the same time AND I do obey the little green & red men. Not saying it right but I obey every other road rule.

How come all the time i ride my bike i have NEVER had a problem…well maybe because….1. i stick to the footpaths when i can, 2. When on the road i stick basically in the gutter. 3. If there is a hazard ahead (roadworks etc…) i stop my bike and wait till there is a big enough gap in traffic. Simple. Remember the road is not a race track like these Lycra &$%# use it.

I hate it most when you have a Lycra in the middle of the road on the short green lights normally maybe 8 cars get through safely instead only like 5 get through….sigh….i hope they change the law since a bike has no Hazard lights, indicators etc….

Jim Jones said :

You’re allowed to have your own opinion, but I’m afraid you’re not allowed to have your own facts.

I nominate this for the pool-room. It’s the best thing to come out of these threads so far!

davecdp said :

All cyclists should pay registration and display plates! Then maybe they would actually abide by the road rules.

I pay rego and display plates on my car, but still don’t abide by the road rules. What a stupid argument!

KB1971 said :

Special G said :

I wear lycra and look good in it too. Jealous much. Get on your bike a bit more and you too could look like me. Ka chow!

YAHHHH!!! Me too 🙂

I sprung a woman having a look out of the Quantas Club shop window the other day as I was parked waiting to go across Northbourne…. Hhehehehehe.

You both invite more side swipes of the lycra clad cult. As a matter of fact I think I’ll drive my car to work today instead of riding just to taunt a couple.

Muttsybignuts said :

I’m too lazy ( obviously a motorist) to look at other blogs and forums. Do other States, Territories, Cities or Towns go on and on and on and on about this same subject? Or is it just Canberra?

It could only be the bureaucratic set that could be so self righteous.

I ride a bike. But I also drive a car. I despise the lycra clad. Why? Because a significant number of them have pissed me off enough times to tarnish the lot of you. What do many of you do that piss me off? You ride in packs more than two wide. You treat pedestrians how cars treat cyclists (the victim becomes the perpetrator), hogging pathways/bridges. So I will go out of my way, when passing a pack (and I use pack as in a pack of dogs) of cyclists, to sound my horn in a feeble and angry attempt to startle the pack back into single file.

I’m too lazy ( obviously a motorist) to look at other blogs and forums. Do other States, Territories, Cities or Towns go on and on and on and on about this same subject? Or is it just Canberra?

rebcart said :

Just yesterday some dingbats in a massive 4WD passed me as close as they could, and just as they got level with me blasted the horn and yelled obscenities. Apparently freaking out a random girl on her bike, minding her own business in the tiny Northbourne bike lane, in the hope she’ll swerve with fear and fall into traffic is the most fun thing in the world. Wish I’d seen their numberplate, but they drove off too fast (and I need glasses 🙁 )

If their side mirror had been just a few cm closer, it would have hit my elbow…

Well ride on the path that is right next to the road. Alot safer

Postalgeek said :

nhand42 said :

Unless you’ve got rego plates on your push bike, you don’t belong on the road. Get back on the pedestrian path.

Get back under the bridge.

why should he, you should pay up

Deckard said :

nhand42 said :

Unless you’ve got rego plates on your push bike, you don’t belong on the road. Get back on the pedestrian path.

No.

LOL yes. Everyone one else who uses the road does, so should you. And don’t use the same excuse of, I already pay for my car. Well your bike is not your car

Cyclists need to shut up and get off the road. You can start to have a whinge and most people might listen to you problems when you start paying registration, until then keep off the road.

lycra is hot kidz

Special G said :

I wear lycra and look good in it too. Jealous much. Get on your bike a bit more and you too could look like me. Ka chow!

Yeah shame about the hemorrhoids and crushed penile artery (assuming you are a guy) small bike seats are a health hazard. Ouch Now!

I believe if they’re not in their lane it’s game on, 10 points for a side swipe, 50 for a direct hit, 100 if no one sees!

Maybe I should move to QLD, after today’s court case in Cairns it would seem one can get away with murder!

Maybe we can have one universal post to list the numberplates of shit drivers.

Silver Ford, YFX 15Z – last Thursday, 4.50PM, 20ish brunette, heading to Civic on Nthbourne – weaving all over the place, causing me to swerve to the left so i was not sideswiped. I would have honked, but that may have distracted you from typing that SMS message into your phone while driving…

nhand42 said :

Unless you’ve got rego plates on your push bike, you don’t belong on the road. Get back on the pedestrian path.

No.

The unfortunate reality, Gunghalin Al, is that Canberra has an obscenely high percentage of aggressive and arrogant people using the roads. This goes both ways. There are aggressive and arrogant drivers and arrogant, non-road-rule-abiding cyclists. Neither are willing to look at things from the point of view of the other.

I have a bike. Sometimes (though rarely) I even ride it to work. I generally make use of that fantastic network of bike-paths our dear leaders have provided for us. As an occasional rider I am quite quick to acknowledge that I am going to come off second best in a bust-up with a car, so go out of my way to avoid this happening (the same way I go out of my way to avoid drunken thugs displaying their machismo on the streets of Civic in the early hours of a Saturday morning).

Too many riders in the ACT unfortunately seem to carry a chip on their shoulder, and too often display a brazen lack of appreciation for the road rules. I am sure they are in the minority, but they give all the angry people in their cars an excuse to hate cyclists. Unfortunately that means that the a***hole who tailgates me and flashes his lights at me because I have the audacity to drive at the speed limit becomes the a***hole who goes out of his way to make your ride to work more dangerous and difficult.

Now, I’m not wanting to sound like a Spida Everitt-type apologist, but perhaps people who ride need to make the unfortunate acknowledgement that, although they have a right to use the roads, it doesn’t always mean they should. If you are aware that a road is dangerous for cyclists, avoid it. If you ride on it be aware that you are doing so at considerable risk and don’t be too surprised if you get injured.

On a side note, the whole ‘they don’t pay rego’ argument has been put forward a couple of times on this thread. While I’m not of the view that because cyclists don’t pay rego they can’t use the roads, I am supportive of some type of identification plate system. Far too many cyclists openly flout the road rules – running red lights, turning right from the left lane and cutting across a couple of lanes of moving traffic, crossing unbroken lines, etc. At least a plate system would allow these cyclists to be identified and issued with the appropriate fine (Interestingly, I know for a fact that motorised wheel chairs in QLD are required by law to display a number plate, so it makes you wonder why push-bikes aren’t). If you claim that your are legally allowed to use the roads you need to accept that you have to use the road legally. (Again, that applies to both cyclists and motorists).

nhand42 said :

Unless you’ve got rego plates on your push bike, you don’t belong on the road. Get back on the pedestrian path.

Get back under the bridge.

What really pisses me off is when i take the back road through Yarralumla, past the Southo club, there is a perfectly good bike path and the cyclists who still use the road. There is a perfectly good path and you wonder why i get cranky and have to do dangerous overtaking to get around you because your too good for the bike path.

Unless you’ve got rego plates on your push bike, you don’t belong on the road. Get back on the pedestrian path.

Al, you have my word…………….it wasn’t me!

Gungahlin Al, the incident at the roadworks in Mitchell was that turning right from Sandford into Flemington at about 8am? If so I saw that happen.

At the moment that intersection isn’t very safe for those in cars.

Pitchka said :

Roads are for vehicles, not push bikes.. (flame suit on).

Your statement is an oxymoron, push bikes are vehicles.

Clown Killer said :

I love this stuff. Wait while I get myself a beer and a packet of pretzels.

Really? I find it becomes boring and repetitive. Generally the only conclusion I ever come to is that a lot of people are asshats, and asshats seem to be pretty evenly spread out between drivers and cyclists.

Ahh the cyclist and motorist battle.
I like to keep a good eye out for cyclists, because when it comes to it, I’m protected by over a tonne of metal, glass and plastics. Cyclists on the other hand tend to have air between them and cars. Sure, I’ve been delayed by cyclists. But big deal. It has never been long. I’ve also pulled well over to the left to let motorcyclists pass me on highways because even if I am doing the speed limit and they’re well over it, it is no big deal to let them pass.

I really can’t understand the mentality of inconsiderate motorists or cyclists for that matter who think me me me. Give people a break folks. So what if a cyclist slows you down for a minute or so. So what if the car in front of you slows down to turn left or right.

At the same time I’ve seen some stupid thng done by motorists and cyclists. I’ve seen a B double driver pull well into a cycle lane as it passed a cyclist, with no obvious reason for needing to. I’ve seen cyclists on Canberra Avenue sit right on the line between the motor lanes and the cycle path instead of further left or even in the excellent cycle path further left.

Basicly I figure like any group there are goood and bad motorists and good and bad cyclists.

I ride 95% on the cycle paths. Where the worst you have to look out for is groups of supermums with prams off in la-la land. iPod listeners can be a hazard. But hitting one of those wouldn’t sting as much as a bus.

I can’t stand lycra-clad, mid-life-crisis hotshots that think they don’t need a freakin’ bell on their bike.

So I don’t wear lycra. So I am slow on my bike. But at least when I am lucky enough to overtake someone else on the bike path I have the common decency to ring my nerdy little bell so they aren’t frightened out of their skin when they don’t realise someone was behind them!

I hate all those I’m-too-cool-for-school-in-my-expensive-unflattering-lycra-and-stupid-cleats-to-need-a-bell f***ers.

There’s my rant 🙂 How was that CK? Was it crazy enough? Out of 10?

BTW post #16 achieved its intended purpose, $hit stirring. Caught you hook line.

Actually no you didn’t. The thread was only displaying up to post #13 when I posted. Given that fact I’m guessing that the only option is to place the handle “davecdp” in the part of the venn-diagram labelled ‘twat’. 🙂

Riding in the cycle lane, I inhale about one quarter the amount of Carbon Monoxide that a car diver or their passengers do.

Riding in the cycle lane on Northbourne Avenue is no more or less frustrating than driving in the traffic on Northbourne Avenue.

The most frustrating people on the roads are the ones who don’t behave the same way I would when using their mode of transport. If everyone would just be sensible like me, the world would be a happier place.

@rebcart – there’s an off-road cycle lane running parallel to Northbourne from Dickson to EPIC, but beyond that you’re back to the street. Although by that point the road is back to dual carriageway with a generous shoulder.

Jim Jones said :

Pitchka said :

Jim Jones said :

Pitchka said :

Roads are for vehicles, not push bikes.

Not accordingly to the law, dingus.

I wasn’t quoting the law, it was my opinion, sugnid!

I think you’ll find that the law holds a little more validity than your opinion (for example, the law is used in determining what is allowed to happen in Australian society, your opinion is used for … I dunno, being laughed at or something).

You’re allowed to have your own opinion, but I’m afraid you’re not allowed to have your own facts.

I’m sure the next cyclist who gets hit by a car driven by someone like Pitchka will be happy to know that at least they were in the right.

Johnboy, can i propose that drivers/cyclists rants have to be signed off by the writers real name and/or we have a “consolidated cyclist rant” thread stickied to the riot act page?

I was riding on Fincham Street Wanniassa the other night. Just as I approached the roundabout at Fincham Street near St Anthony’s school, intending to go straight through, a bronzed coloured car, with a P plate and a numberplate of “Britt” came up level with me. She and her load of passengers looked at me and then decided they had to turn left right there. If I hadn’t grabbed my brakes, I would’ve been underneath her car. Was that 2 seconds it would’ve taken for me to cross *THAT* important to you?

Britt with the pink numberplate – when you drive dumbly, we know who you are with that numberplate.

I have serious hardcore lights on the front and the back. I know you saw me as i looked at you through your passenger window.

You are either a rude pushy young girl, a complete dolt or a dangerous driver You choose.

Keijidosha said :

I can’t figure out why any cyclist would even consider using Northbourne Avenue (or any roadside bike lane for that matter). The inconsiderate drivers, added danger of becoming a meat pattie, and breathing in the copious amounts of smog kind of kill the enjoyment of riding for me.

After I discovered the oasis of the cycle path a mere 100m west of Northbourne I now enjoy a carefree and leasurely trundle to work amongst the birds and breeze. Sure it might add an extra minute or two to the trip, but there’s little chance of becoming roadkill, and every chance I’ll avoid getting black lung.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I need to get out to past the Watson roundabout on the Federal Hwy multiple times a week. There really aren’t that many side paths between Dickson and there which will get me there anywhere near as fast as the road will.

Clown Killer said :

My favourites are the twats who genuinely believe that whether or not a road user pays vehicle registration actually counts for anything … bring it on!

Yeah its just a pipedream Clown Killer but it would cut down on the number of cyclists on the road because the main reason they ride anyway is to save money…..

BTW post #16 achieved its intended purpose, $hit stirring. Caught you hook line.

john87_no1 said :

Why cant you understand that some people just dont want you on the road? In turn some people are going to be a-holes. Or…. now this might sound crazy – dont ride during peak hour traffic.

Coz Im here just to piss you off.

Actually, peach hour is safer in some respects as the traffic is slower.

I spent a good portion of a road trip to Melbourne listening to cyclists rant about the way cars treated them on the roads. The next part of the conversation was all the stupid things they had done on their bikes – riding home from Civic drunk, no helmets, no lights. It wasn’t until about an hour later that I realised that one of them didn’t have a drivers licence and one had a licence but had barely driven, and never in Canberra. I hate driving past cyclists on Northbourne because the lanes never seem wide enough and the cyclists are so close and vulnerable, not because they get in my way or slow me down. These non-driving cyclists had never seen it from behind the wheel of a car and only blamed the driver.

Special G said :

I wear lycra and look good in it too. Jealous much. Get on your bike a bit more and you too could look like me. Ka chow!

YAHHHH!!! Me too 🙂

I sprung a woman having a look out of the Quantas Club shop window the other day as I was parked waiting to go across Northbourne…. Hhehehehehe.

KB1971 said :

The Axe Man: How many man hours have you lost sitting behind a cyclist?

It’s not about being held up, it’s about showing commonsense.
All road users need to start realising that there are other road users out there and that they may not all be in a car.
As I alluded to before I’m not anti-cycling on the road (I never would though) but I am against cyclists not obeying the traffic laws when it suits them if it has an effect on other road users.
By all means ride in the middle of the road but if a car comes up behind pull all the way into your specially painted safe zone

I can’t figure out why any cyclist would even consider using Northbourne Avenue (or any roadside bike lane for that matter). The inconsiderate drivers, added danger of becoming a meat pattie, and breathing in the copious amounts of smog kind of kill the enjoyment of riding for me.

After I discovered the oasis of the cycle path a mere 100m west of Northbourne I now enjoy a carefree and leasurely trundle to work amongst the birds and breeze. Sure it might add an extra minute or two to the trip, but there’s little chance of becoming roadkill, and every chance I’ll avoid getting black lung.

Just yesterday some dingbats in a massive 4WD passed me as close as they could, and just as they got level with me blasted the horn and yelled obscenities. Apparently freaking out a random girl on her bike, minding her own business in the tiny Northbourne bike lane, in the hope she’ll swerve with fear and fall into traffic is the most fun thing in the world. Wish I’d seen their numberplate, but they drove off too fast (and I need glasses 🙁 )

If their side mirror had been just a few cm closer, it would have hit my elbow…

Gung’ Al,like the people you talk about, arrogant stupid a-holes are arrogant stupid a-holes no matter what mode of transport they are using, take them out of the car and put them on a bike they will cause a danger to others. They are also the sort of person who will cut off other cars at form one lanes and the like. The simply believe they are more important than anyone else and they have, nay are entitled to be at the front of any line, be it the movies the supermarket, the road etc.

A little while ago I was working around a place with a drive thru speaker box, when one of these oxygen thieves drove (in her new looking HSV) up to the box, talking on her phone, make up and tacky jewellery dripping off her, the employee asked what she wanted and she told him to hang on while she finished phone call!!!

I wear lycra and look good in it too. Jealous much. Get on your bike a bit more and you too could look like me. Ka chow!

Why cant you understand that some people just dont want you on the road? In turn some people are going to be a-holes. Or…. now this might sound crazy – dont ride during peak hour traffic.

troll-sniffer said :

After many years dealing with the moron element of the driving classes I have a strategy that I use in congested traffic areas:

When in doubt in narrow conditions, take over the lane. Any narrow roadworks, especially 40km/hr roadworks zones, I move to the middle of the lane. Even tradies respect that, the odd one who doesn’t can’t do a thing about it. I’ve never had anyone even so much as toot me for taking my right to a safe passage through a tight lane, as long as I am obviously hurrying and not dawdling.

I do this, we have a couple of slow points on Box Hill & Tom Roberts & I always signal & move out. You have to give plenty of notice though but most people are considerate enough that if you signal they will slow down. I also find that I go through the roundabluts quicker than most cars anyway & that seems to placate them because I am not actually holding them up.

I actually use the bike path all the way from Lanyon, I find it more relaxing than having cars whizzing past my shoulder & I am sick of flats from glass bottles thrown from cars.

GBT: it has always been the law & with the push to get people out of cars it will never change, get used to it & be a bit more open minded. I used to think like you but then I put the shoe on the other foot (which fits quite nicely actually) & realised I was wrong. When you are driving you should be prepared for all situations that may arise, be it a rogue kangaroo to a Mack truck changing lanes, same goes for a rider.

More people need to get on their tredly to experience life again away from the insulated comforts of things like cars (dont get me wrong, I love my CBR1000 & Nissan Patrol).

Al: With regards to the dude turning left, It was my understanding that if the car is in front it has right of way, thats how I treat it anyway. It is only the green lanes where the cylist has absolute right of way. Given that though, the motorist is supposed to give clear room when negotiating a bend/intersection at the same time as a cyclist & also has a responsibilty to do it safely. Correct me if I am wrong.

Pitchka: Can your flame suit handle 3000 degrees C? I hope so as I am warming my oxy/acetylene set up as we speak……..:)

The Axe Man: How many man hours have you lost sitting behind a cyclist?

Pitchka said :

Jim Jones said :

Pitchka said :

Roads are for vehicles, not push bikes.

Not accordingly to the law, dingus.

I wasn’t quoting the law, it was my opinion, sugnid!

I think you’ll find that the law holds a little more validity than your opinion (for example, the law is used in determining what is allowed to happen in Australian society, your opinion is used for … I dunno, being laughed at or something).

You’re allowed to have your own opinion, but I’m afraid you’re not allowed to have your own facts.

I think it’s the week for it. I got cut off on the Northbourne bike lane by a car turning left without indicating, which I’ve come to anticipate and prepare for. Not a huge deal. But the icing on the cake was the witness in the car behind who found this funny and abused me on the way past. Delightful way to start the day.

But that’s not to say I’m in one camp or the other, or that I’m a perfect cyclist and motorist myself. I’m not. But I do take exception with blantantly stupid behaviour from both parties regardless of whether I happen to be cycling or driving at the time.

Like cyclists running red lights on Northbourne. I’m serious – stop this – it gives all cyclists a bad name. If you want to be a road user at least attempt to follow the main road rules.

Even when I’m driving I get angry with cyclists who insist on putting themselves in danger on tight sections of road when there is a perfectly good bike path available (case in point – Ellenborough St from Kaleen all the way through to Dickson).

I could go on – but will save my breath for the ride home!

I love this stuff. Wait while I get myself a beer and a packet of pretzels.

I love sitting back and watching people queue up to tell the world what incompetent drivers they are and how little they know about the road rules. My favourites are the twats who genuinely believe that whether or not a road user pays vehicle registration actually counts for anything … bring it on!

southeeplace said :

The Axe Man said :

You may be one less car off the road but you’re still getting in the way and slowing us down

Bollocks. I can recall perhaps two times during my years of driving that I have seriously been impeded by cyclists. Even then … so what. Relax.

I’m tipping cyclists on roads aren’t the cause of your problems.

You’re right; drivers who sit in the right hand lane, fail to let you merge etc also cause me problems on the road but this isn’t the thread for that

Back on topic.
This morning as I was driving to work coming I was driving up to some traffic lights at the end of a moving queue, I was turning left and had indicated that.
A cyclist who was riding on the footpath parallel to the road decided to just cross the intersection where pedestrians are meant to cross right across in front of me causing me to come to quite an abrupt stop.
The rider did not have right of way as the little crossing man was red, not green, and they did not dismount their bike.
The rider was quite lucky that I have a distrust of cyclists and had mostly expected them to do just that

All cyclists should pay registration and display plates! Then maybe they would actually abide by the road rules.

troll-sniffer said :

…or put pointless flashing lights on my bike so perhaps motorists think I’m a normal road user and give me credit for that.

I would argue that if you ever ride at night then a light isn’t pointless. And if you ride a bike fitted with a light, but with it off, then you have just that little less to complain about if do get run over.

As a fellow rider I symapthise with the OP.

Every day, I dodge people who just can’t wait – they have to squeeze alongside you and the refuge island just because they can’t wait 5 seconds to travel behind you and then when they speed past you, they make every effort to rant at you a long the way. No doubt someone like Axe Man who just can’t wait to get home and watch Deal or No Deal, and nearly take out the cyclist who also just wants to get home too.

oh and exiting your car when the cyclist is coming along the street! Not very smart. Just because my running into you, might not damage your car very much doesn’t mean it won’t damage me.

Last week, this idiot eating a cheeseburger while driving pulled out in front of me (using the cycling lane).. didn’t even bother to look (or else no doubt would have seen me). Clearly life is just too hard to juggle the burger and the rear view mirror at once so get going when you can.

Cyclists have the law which also says they can use the road too, it shouldn’t

Assumptions, assumptions…

Lycra-free zone here. Always stick as far left as practicable. In Mitchell was doing exactly that, even holding out my arm to indicate thus – driver chose to run it anyway before I had moved out quite far enough. I was clearly moving pretty quickly too. Hence scare.

Yes – usually the side streets for me too, but I was running a bit late after stopping to do an interview with Mark Parton, so chose the quick route (that people keep telling me is perfectly safe) for a change. No more. I have little kids who need their dad in one piece.

Pitchka said :

Jim Jones said :

Pitchka said :

Roads are for vehicles, not push bikes.

Not accordingly to the law, dingus.

I wasn’t quoting the law, it was my opinion, sugnid!

then your opinion is wrong…

surely the op (and solidarity) have had near hits? a ‘near’ miss means that you nearly missed – so didn’t, so in fact collided with whatever you ‘near missed’ed’… q.e.d.

The Axe Man said :

You may be one less car off the road but you’re still getting in the way and slowing us down

Bollocks. I can recall perhaps two times during my years of driving that I have seriously been impeded by cyclists. Even then … so what. Relax.

I’m tipping cyclists on roads aren’t the cause of your problems.

Jim Jones said :

Pitchka said :

Roads are for vehicles, not push bikes.

Not accordingly to the law, dingus.

I wasn’t quoting the law, it was my opinion, sugnid!

I ride along northbourne most days, and i find 99% of drivers to be very curteous.

Then the law needs to be updated. Until cyclists can travel without slowing down traffic or causing dangerous situations for both the cyclist and drivers, they don’t belong on roads.

After many years dealing with the moron element of the driving classes I have a strategy that I use in congested traffic areas:

When in doubt in narrow conditions, take over the lane. Any narrow roadworks, especially 40km/hr roadworks zones, I move to the middle of the lane. Even tradies respect that, the odd one who doesn’t can’t do a thing about it. I’ve never had anyone even so much as toot me for taking my right to a safe passage through a tight lane, as long as I am obviously hurrying and not dawdling.

As for the bus problem on Northbourne Ave, I am possibly sympathetic to your experience, however if you are one of a number of my fellow cyclists who insist on riding in the right hand side of the cycle lane, rather than the left hand half, then you are not doing anything to further your cause, and a bus driver who doesn’t like cyclists will assert his right to occupy the left hand side of his lane. I suspect from the tone of your rant here that you are the type who pushes the buttons of motorists, so perhaps you need to look at what you are doing to generate such hostile behaviour.

I regularly ride Northbourne Ave and I cannot remember the last time I had a problem. I admit I get frustrated by the pin-headed bus drivers who sit on the white line, but riding in the left of the cycle lane means I’m not actually threatened by them. If I’m in a mood for a more relaxing ride that is 90% as quick, I ride down the back streets one block away from Northbourne, and rarely see cars at all.

Then again I don’t wear lycra or put pointless flashing lights on my bike so perhaps motorists think I’m a normal road user and give me credit for that.

I ride my BMX to work occasionally, use the bike paths (Adel Av) and everything… i’ve never had a near miss.

Maybe drivers target the lycra crew…

Pitchka said :

Roads are for vehicles, not push bikes.

Not accordingly to the law, dingus.

You may be one less car off the road but you’re still getting in the way and slowing us down

You mean that cyclists USE these bits of the dead car lane.

Remember, always ride as a pair, and take up an entire lane…..

Reminds me of those cyclists who think riding in the middle of a lane is acceptable as apposed to keeping as far left as they can, hogging a lane to themselves.. Sometimes there is a group mentality where you get a few of them and they take up a whole lane….. Sigh….

Roads are for vehicles, not push bikes.. (flame suit on).

Nah. (I drive a Maroon sedan)