Registration of cyclists

[Ginger Tea]

one time i was cycling home from town in the cycle lane with lights on and another cyclist cycling the wrong way towards me without lights.
no way was i going to let him/her continue onwards, if anyone was going to ride into the road it would be them, least they could see on comming traffic.
iir they stopped abrublty jabbered something in forign and dismounted to the pavement realising they were in the wrong.
points for using the cycle lane, but points lost for not noticing earlier you were cycling the wrong way, but as england is one of the few countries in the world that drives on the left it was probably pure force of habbit on their part.

another time I was over taken by another cyclist (not hard I get over taken by grannies at time) and they chose to brake without warning just as they passed me

[crazylegs]

As for cyclists; if cyclists had to pay road tax, then they could bitch about sharing the road.

Roads (general roads - not motorways) are cared for by the local authority, so anyone who pays council tax pays for the upkeep of the roads, so as a cyclist I pay my dues for the use of the highway.

The revenue car tax (properly known as vehicle excise licence) is nowhere near enough for maintaining all the roads in the UK.

As a driver, I've seen cyclists do some pretty stupid shit.

At the same time, however, I can't help thinking this idea is nothing more than yet another money grab. Call my cynical towards politcians. They all suck.

As a driver I've seen cyclists do some dumb and dangerous stuff.

As a cyclist I've seen drivers do some dumb and dangerous stuff.

As an advanced cyclist I've seen that drivers don't anticipate what cyclists do or why they might be doing it and I've seen that cyclists don't realise what they're doing might be dangerous.

I'm of the opinion that no-one should be allowed to drive unless they've passed an advanced driving course (I'm doing my ROSPA soon) and cyclists shouldn't be allowed to be on the roads unless they're level 3 certified. I am however pragmatic enough to realise that that is unenforcable.

[Rapscallion]

This always comes up and kinda shows ignorance/arrogance.

Psst - Lace is in the UK and we don't have a yearly tax on bike riding over here.

Rapscallion

[Sage Blackthorn]

I live in the United States, California to be specific. There are laws here that say bicyclists must wear bike helmets.....but those laws are not enforced. There are laws that say Motorcyclists must wear helmets....those laws are enforce a bit more often. There are laws that say automobile drivers must wear seatbelts.....those laws are enforce yet more. There are laws that say automobile drivers cannot talk on a cell phone while driving unless it's a hands-free headset......haven't once seen those laws enforced, and I often see the Police talking on cell phones while driving.

I have a mountain bike that I sometime ride to work or to the grocery store. There are times when cars have pulled into the bike lane by taking a turn to wide, cut me off without signaling, and damn near hit, force me to jump up onto the sidewalk, or had to take to the side walk when a car was parked in the bike lane. I also drive to work when I have to much to take with me for the bike. I've seen cyclists blow through stop lights, swerve into traffic without a hand signal, packs of cyclists taking up the entire road on Sundays for their bike club meets, and I've nearly been hit/watched other nearly and actually be hit by kids on bikes riding to fast on the sidewalk.

When it's safer for me to ride on the sidewalk, I ride slowly. When it's safer to use an unobstructed bike lane, I make sure I'm visable to cars by having lights on my bike and wearing bright clothing. As for helmets, I don't wear one most of the time. I wear a wide brimmed hat that helps keep the sun out of my eyes. I know if I take a tumble and injure my head, it's my choice. After talking with different folks, it seems that bike helmets may protect the brain, but seem to cause a higher incidence of servere neck injury in their opinions. I've heard many motorcyclists say the same thing. So my choice is not to wear a helmet, but then I'm not riding at high speeds, and I stay away from traffic as much as possible. I'm against helmet laws (and seatbelt laws for that matter) simply because I dislike paternalist legislation. If I kill myself by not wearing a helmet, then that's my own damn fault. Mind you I still choose to wear a seatbelt because I think it's just common sense when driving faster than 10 miles an hour. But I value the right to choose, and the result of that choice is my responsebility.

Dunno what to say about registration fees for bike though since we've never done that here.

[blas87]

I try my best to get along with cyclists, but incidents like yesterday make it hard.

Really tight residential street, cyclist peddling practically in the middle of the road. As soon as I get a chance, I go around him, because I'm sorry, I'm not going to toodle at 10-15 mph behind a cyclist when I have somewhere to be. As soon as I got around him and had to stop for a stop sign, he started peddling much faster and had this look on his face. I swore if I didn't get up and go, he was going to try to plow right into my car or at least pull up and start swearing

If you are alone in your travels, do whatever, but as soon as motor vehicles are behind or around you, you're going to have to move over. As much as you have equal rights on the road, no one should have to be stuck behind you because you want to ride in the middle of the road. The motorist doesn't have to be in a hurry, it's inconvenient and rude to make motorists crawl behind you because you want to ride in their lane or the middle of the road, and they are scared to pass you because they don't know what your next move will be. I nearly pissed my pants one day because a cyclist in the middle of the road didn't know where she was going, and went to turn at every intersection, but once she read the sign and it wasn't the right one, would swerve right back.

And for pedestrians.....it's called a sidewalk. Use it. Don't glare at me when I have to swerve hard to get around you because you think it's more fun to walk in the middle of the road all the way to the bus stop.

[Jack]

Operating in a travel lane as a slow-moving vehicle comes with its own set of rules and etiquette that many cyclists unfortunately ignore. I prefer to ride in the middle of the right lane for my own safety, to force drivers to change lanes to pass, but when there's only one lane in each direction, I'm always aware of the people behind me and will go to the shoulder, if available, or switch to the sidewalk for a block, if it's empty, to let the queue pass; or I might signal a single follower to pass in the opposite lane if it's clear and legal (a lot of people don't realize). Too many people think that vehicular cycling is about "take the road" not "share the road".

[blas87]

The thing is, I'm not even a huge jerk about it. Inside my car, sure I'm thinking "You fucking idiot, move over!", but I don't rev my engine or get real close or honk my horn. If they don't move over, I may just swerve way over myself and get around, which is probably why I see glares in my rear view mirror, but do they really expect me to stay behind them going way below the speed limit? Riding your brakes is hard on your car, and unfortunately, it's what I end up having to do when stuck behind a cyclist.

[Andara Bledin]

I'm against helmet laws (and seatbelt laws for that matter) simply because I dislike paternalist legislation.

I used to think the same way. Still do as regards helmets.

But I did a little more homework on the seatbelt issue, and there's a lot more at stake than just your own safety. If you always drive alone on roads with no other people and/or pets, then go for it, but if you are not completely isolated or have (or are) a passenger, then you are endangering others as well.

I think registering cyclists is a bit much. When do you start? Where is the cut-off? Does it only apply to adults? Does it apply to to kids, but only after they turn 13? Is it all bikes? Only city bikes? Do you include off-road bikes?

What we need is more education. For both cyclists and motorists. I know I wasn't made to think much about cyclists when I was in driver training, and I recall that other than the common sense my mother helped instill in me, nobody ever really taught me anything about how to legally and safely ride a bicycle.

^-.-^

[blas87]

I think it's only fair if you're going to fine a motorist for not wearing a seatbelt, you at the very least nail a motorcyclist for not wearing a helmet. I'm sick and tired to death of watching cyclists drive around wearing jeans and a tshirt, or worse, shorts and a tanktop and flip flops! And of course, no helmet, just sunglasses and a smile.

They always whine "But it's so hot out!". Then drive your car or ride a bicycle or walk. When you crash and end up with road rash all the way down your belly and your sides and you need multiple skin graphs and surgeries, you'll wish you wore the right clothing.

[Lace Neil Singer]

This always comes up and kinda shows ignorance/arrogance.

So does riding your bicycle thru a red light.

Also, what Raps said. It's a bit ignorant and arrogant to assume that everyone is referring to the US whenever they talk about bikes.

[Tanasi]

I think it's only fair if you're going to fine a motorist for not wearing a seatbelt, you at the very least nail a motorcyclist for not wearing a helmet. I'm sick and tired to death of watching cyclists drive around wearing jeans and a tshirt, or worse, shorts and a tanktop and flip flops! And of course, no helmet, just sunglasses and a smile.

They always whine "But it's so hot out!". Then drive your car or ride a bicycle or walk. When you crash and end up with road rash all the way down your belly and your sides and you need multiple skin graphs and surgeries, you'll wish you wore the right clothing.

A local boy around your age at the time loved his crotch-rocket always buzzing here and there always to top speed. He was quite obnoxious and arrogant pulling up beside people at light screaming at them of getting in his way. Summer of 09 he was running up and down a particularly dangerous highway in short-britches, flip flops and a skid plate. On that fateful day it was hot dang near 100, the roads were hot the tar was soft and sticky. I was driving my flatbeg truck that day and it will only get up 50mph (I stay in the right-most lane.) He passed me probably twice my speed at that time on the rear-tire alone. I don't know what he hit but down he went and slid with his MC for nearly 100 yards on that hot hot hot pavement leaving hide like a frog on a cheese grater. I stopped when I got near his resting place and asked him if he was in a lot of pain. He moaned out a yes, I replied "Good you SOB you deserve every ounce of pain you're gonna receive. I then went back to the truck and called 911. He survived his wreck but he doesn't ride a MC any more.

I think registering bike and riders is a good idea. I also think the bikes should have small MC sized plates as it would make them easiers to ID and report. The road on which I live is very popular for bicyclist to train for steep and curvey roads. Unfortunately the road has little to no shoulder on either side and one side is protected by guard rails as it's a long ways to the bottom. I certinally think all involved could use better sense. While I don't like the way they operate their bikes I tolerate them because for the time being it's against the law to move them over.
Helmet and seatbelt laws should be up to the operators that are over 18. That being said I wear a helmet when on MC or ATV and I wear my seatbelt (at least in the cars that have seatbelts.)

[Lace Neil Singer]

I always wear full leathers and lid every time I go out on my motorbike, no matter what the temperature is. I'd rather be hot than dead. Also, once I came off my bike after slipping on a diesel spill on the road, and got away with just a sprained wrist cuz I landed on my side and I was wearing a proper bike jacket.

[BlaqueKatt]

Also, what Raps said. It's a bit ignorant and arrogant to assume that everyone is referring to the US whenever they talk about bikes.

Maybe that's why my post had this in it-sorry if making it clear that I'm in the US, and that's what I'm talking about as I'm not sure of other countries tax laws- is offensive

in the US roadways are mainly paid for by local taxes-guess what-I'm not exempt from paying those because I ride a bicycle.

But hey Crazylegs cleared that up for us, at least the UK portion-

Roads (general roads - not motorways) are cared for by the local authority, so anyone who pays council tax pays for the upkeep of the roads, so as a cyclist I pay my dues for the use of the highway.

The revenue car tax (properly known as vehicle excise licence) is nowhere near enough for maintaining all the roads in the UK.

so there-from the UK your claim that cyclists don't pay their share and don't deserve to be on the roads is hogwash.

And for the record-with the drivers I deal with-I obey the traffic laws, all of them-even have a handy wallet card that lists them, from the bicycle federation of Wisconsin, of which I am a member. Right now we are pushing to get local law enforcement to enforce the traffic laws on cyclists-sadly the only way we may get it done is by calculating lost revenue for the citations they could be issuing......We would rather focus on the safety aspect of it.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Also, my comments were directed exclusively towards "lycra louts"; ie, the cyclists who break the rules of the road. There's no reason to drop the dummy about what I said unless you happen to BE a lycra lout, in which case I still stand by my comments.

Also, saying that my opinion is "hogwash" just makes you sound arrogant, as tho your opinion is the only one that matters. I pay council tax too, for your information; however, on top of that, I pay road tax and cyclists don't. In my experience, the arrogant, know it all bitches of cyclists who break the rules of the road with impunity are also the ones yelling, "Share the goddamn road!" the loudest. I'm happy to share the road with the others, the ones who obey the laws of the road; but not with the lycra louts.

Let me put it another way. Would you be happy to share a restaurant table with someone who was throwing food around, spitting at the waitstaff and refusing to pay? Didn't think so. So I don't see why I should be happy about sharing the road with cyclists who refuse to look where they're going, jump red lights, cut accross cars (something which is, as well as ignorant, incredibly dangerous for all concerned) and ignore pedestrian crossings.

Said lycra louts also ignore the cycle lanes which were put there for their safety and insist on riding in the middle of the road instead, cuz "it's my right to, thanks very much". Well sorry, but a lorry hitting you cuz you just jumped a red light isn't going to be the one who ends up splatted on the tarmac; that's you.

[blas87]

I wonder if I started saying lycra louts, if people would look at me any funnier than when I ask my bf if he wants to snog at the movies.

You people across the pond give me bad ideas.