Should there ever be a bike-porn thread...

Magicscreen2 · May 20, 2017

http://selfieonbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/need-someone-to-ride-with-13.jpg

chillywilly2 · May 20, 2017

Magicscreen2 said:
http://selfieonbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/need-someone-to-ride-with-13.jpg

As long as I have a face. She has a place to sit down

oggbashan · May 20, 2017

thør said:
The driver needs to go to jail. The cyclist needs a traffic ticket.

People need to know the damn rules, and they haven't changed in the over 50 years I've been riding a bike.

The rules

In the UK it is illegal to ride on the pavement (sidewalk) unless it is marked out as a cycle, or shared cycle/pedestrian, zone. It is not usually enforced. It was in my youth, many decades ago. Riding a cycle in a pedestrian area would get me a clip around the ear from a policeman.

The UK's Highway Code applies to cyclists as well as to car/truck drivers. Cyclists must obey traffic lights and road signs. Most do.

BUT there are cyclists who behave like suicidal assholes, riding fast on the pavement (sidewalk) endangering pedestrians, jumping red lights, switching randomly from street to sidewalk, going the wrong way down one way streets etc.

There are virtually no penalties enforced against cyclists who behave badly. If their actions cause a vehicle accident or an injured pedestrian the cyclist can get away before any statement is taken. They do not have to be registered, or licensed, or insured.

Most UK cyclists are also car drivers. If they cycled as legally as they drive their cars there would be fewer cycle/car incidents.

Cyclists who break the law should face a penalty for their actions. Unfortunately the only UK penalty they seem to face as a result of their own acts is injury or death sometimes caused by a vehicle driver acting correctly. The cyclist seems never to be blamed for an accident nor seems willing to accept that being an asshole has consequences.

However many injured or killed cyclists were cycling in accordance with the Highway Code. They are much more vulnerable than a person in another vehicle if they are hit by a stolen car, or a drunk or drugged driver.

In congested cities being a cyclist is risky. All drivers should be aware that there are cyclists around them but they cannot always watch for the cyclists who ride badly with no thought of the consequences. Swerving to avoid a cyclist crossing against a red light might kill a cyclist who is riding properly.