cyclist's right to the road

[check_mate_kid_uk]

do you think cyclists should have the right to be on the road?

 

[MetalFortress]

Uhhh, yeah... in the bike lane.

 

[check_mate_kid_uk]

Originally posted by MetalFortress
Uhhh, yeah... in the bike lane.

and when theres no bike lane? ie most of the time!

 

[Climax]

.....................................................................................

I think that they DO have a right to be on the road, but they must just be clever enough to know WHERE to cycle so that they WONT get in the WAY of cars etc. If you want to cycle somewhere but there are alot of cars there during peak hours, then go there when the road is "calmer" / "less busy".

 

[Abbott]

No I don't.

It's safer if they don't ride on roads, at least not on roads with somewhat high speed traffic.

Just today, after dark, I saw someone using a BICYCLE on this belt-way (road that circles around a town). The speed limit on this road is 45 MPH, so traffic often goes about 50MPH.

Someone on a bicycle probably isn't going to go any faster than maybe 15-20MPH, unless he's in really good physical shape. Considering speed and speed alone, there's a 30-35 MPH difference, the equivalent of being approached at 30 MPH.

Now let's consider weight:

I can lift an average bicycle, so it's probably 50 lbs or so. Maybe 100 lbs if you have a lot of extra gear on it. A typical very small automobile is going to weigh about 2,000 lbs. Larger cars will weigh more (as much as 5,500 lbs, even). The best case scenario is a 100 lb bicycle with gear, plus 150 lbs for the operator, or 250 lbs versus a 2,000 lbs compact car.

There's an 8-fold difference between 2,000 lbs and 250 lbs. That means an automobile at a slow speed requires the same amount of force to make a bicyclist fly like Superman.

Plus it's easy enough to touch the back of a bicycle with a car bumper and knock it over.

But for now, at least in the U.S., many places it's legal for a bicycle to travel on roads like automobiles.

Now before you bring up the fully-loaded semi versus a large car (80,000 lbs vs. 5,500 lbs), realize that semi operators need special driver's licenses, which require more training than your typical driver's license. Bicyclists don't need licenses to operate bicycles (though it's still possible to get a DUI and lose your driver's license on a bicycle......).

Perhaps I will change what I think if bicyclists were required to have "bicyclist licenses."

It's just that it's SO hard to see them sometimes, and at night it's even worse (especially in poorly-lit areas). Plus...can't they just ride on sidewalks, where you can't use automobiles?

Sometimes I've thought "Oh Sh|t there's a bicyclist! Better watch out for him!" Even motorcycles are easier to spot...they're required to have lights and operators need licenses, plus motorcycles are bigger.

Ben

 

[check_mate_kid_uk]

do you realise that bikes where on the road before cars where ever around, cyclists have a right to the road and had it for over 120 years, drivers do not have a right, they have permission to use them, they need a liscense and with out it are banned from having right to drive on the road, so although those that are on the road have the same rights in the highway code, cyclist have a right to be there, drivers only have permision. With that in mind, lets ask the question again, who has the RIGHT to the road.

 

[earthshyne]

Originally posted by check_mate_kid_uk
do you realise that bikes where on the road before cars where ever around, cyclists have a right to the road and had it for over 120 years, drivers do not have a right, they have permission to use them, they need a liscense and with out it are banned from having right to drive on the road, so although those that are on the road have the same rights in the highway code, cyclist have a right to be there, drivers only have permision. With that in mind, lets ask the question again, who has the RIGHT to the road.

Repeat after me: Spelling and puncutation matter, spelling and puncutation matter...

You may be correct about rights and so forth, but that's of little value when the cyclist is squished under the wheels of a lorry because the two-wheeler made a stupid move in traffic.

 

[WesCottII]

Originally posted by check_mate_kid_uk
do you realise that bikes where on the road before cars where ever around, cyclists have a right to the road and had it for over 120 years, drivers do not have a right, they have permission to use them, they need a liscense and with out it are banned from having right to drive on the road, so although those that are on the road have the same rights in the highway code, cyclist have a right to be there, drivers only have permision. With that in mind, lets ask the question again, who has the RIGHT to the road.

Using that line of arguement:

Horses have more right than cyclists, because they came first, ergo, pedestrian has more right than anybody, because he was around before anyone.

 

[check_mate_kid_uk]

Originally posted by WesCottII
Using that line of arguement:

Horses have more right than cyclists, because they came first, ergo, pedestrian has more right than anybody, because he was around before anyone.

well pedestrians are not suposed to walk around on the road, just cross it although cyclists are not suposed to gon the motor way. It was just somthing i thought i would bring up, legally cyclist and drivers have the same rights, its quite dangerous that some drivers do not no that, and seem to think cyclists do not have right of way and thats when accidents start.

The EU are thinking of introducing a law like in holland that if a cyclist collides with a car its automaticly the drivers fault not matter how it happened, despite being a cyclist i got to say i disagree with this, so if you are driving along a main road a cyclist comes out of a small road and smacks in to the side of your car, its not fair for you to have to pay damages and loose oyur no claims bonuses! although it will premote cycling and i know that the reason for it is not out of fairness, it is to premote cycling.

 

[Layla]

I'm an avid road cyclist, and I say we should have the right, but we should just be smart with it.

I wouldnt ride on a highway in the middle lane, I always try to stay at the side of the road. Cyclists also should pass red lights, something that happens often.

 

[Desdinova]

In the winter, there are lots of cyclists on the streets. With the snowbanks piled high (sometimes making the roads more narrow) and not to mention ice, it's too damn dangerous for cyclists to be on the road. I wouldn't be on a bike in the middle of winter on the street!

 

[Vincent]

Find a better route unless you're going to work, if you're just working out, stay off the F*cking road.

 

[check_mate_kid_uk]

Originally posted by Vincent
Find a better route unless you're going to work, if you're just working out, stay off the F*cking road.

so say you got that major race in 2 months. You done a lot of base miles this season, where do you expect cyclists to cycle? offroad is fine if thats the kind of racing you do, but if you race on road you got to do most of yout training on road. Im lucky enough to have a tarmack velodrome near by that i can practice on, and then do a longer group ride on sundays, and then some offroad riding, but not every one has the luxuary of a velodrome near by!

 

[7 Virtues]

In some places it is illegal to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk if it has X wheel size.

 

[Climax]

*G*

Originally posted by 7 Virtues
In some places it is illegal to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk if it has X wheel size.

Well then you just dont ride your bike there ... And I worked that out all on my own

 

[Wyldfire]

Bicyclists are usually a complete and total pain in the a$$ and a safety hazard. Most cyclists are totally CLUELESS about how to ride on the street. I think if a bicyclist wants to ride on the road they should have to get a special license just like people who drive in cars...including passing a written test and riding test. Oh yeah...and there needs to be a set minimum speed limit, too...and if they can't keep up then they should be subject to fines and suspensions just like vehicle drivers.

 

[Alpine]

Repeat after me: Spelling and puncutation matter, spelling and puncutation matter...

So what your saying is, you wouldn't ride a bike because you're worried you might have a puncturation.

Sorry he let you down with his punctuation, but I think you've blown it up out of all proportion.

Originally posted by earthshyne
Repeat after me: Spelling and puncutation matter, spelling and puncutation matter...

You may be correct about rights and so forth, but that's of little value when the cyclist is squished under the wheels of a lorry because the two-wheeler made a stupid move in traffic.

 

[jiza101]

Today i was driving and this fat ***** on a bike decides to pull INTO the car lane i nearly knocked her ass of her bike !

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by check_mate_kid_uk
do you realise that bikes where on the road before cars where ever around, cyclists have a right to the road and had it for over 120 years, drivers do not have a right, they have permission to use them

most of the roads in developed countries were certainly not made for the benefit of cyclists.

 

[MetalFortress]

Originally posted by check_mate_kid_uk
and when theres no bike lane? ie most of the time!

Sidewalk