Could get nasty, handbags at 5 paces and all!!
well I am gonna add my two cents in here…
I love cars, I love my bikes and my Dad is an avid cyclist. And this is my opinion on the whole issue of us “bikers” vs the rest of the road users… (i know for a fact my Dad will agree with this)
It is not the type of vehicle on the road it is the user of that vehicle and just because you are a biker/cyclist/driver does not give you the right to own the whole dam road. It comes down to common courtesy and respect to other users of the road.
Yes I get frustrated with other road users both in my car, and on my bike. But I am aware that there are those dangers out there so I watch out for it, as I am sure the rest of us do as well. And I do my utmost to make sure that I do not become a danger to other users.
I lose all respect for anyone - biker/driver/cyclist who think they can ride/cycle/drive with no respect or courtesy to other road users - its stupid and dangerous.
How can I have this opinion - well simply because I have nearly been taken off the road by fellow bikers (once intentionally because the guy clearly thought it was funny), car users (because they just dont see us) and cyclists (because they honestly think we will stop for them)… so that gives me the right to have this opinion.
Please note my opinion is not only about bikers, cyclists, or car drivers - its about all road users…
OK before the blue touch paper is really lit here I do just want to say a bit…
Bike Riders & Insurance
I believe they should be made to take a proficiency test and I believe they should all have to hold some liability insurance. Like any other road use they must follow the highway code and while they do or they don’t I really don’t care, if I am in accident I do want all parties to be insured and as a road use I believe they should be.
I really don’t car on the merits of driving or riding quality as there are good and bad in all groups of road users, I just feel that cyclists get “free ride” on the roads. Don’t tax them, don’t plate them, but insure them and make it law that they must wear a helmet for Christ sake we panic about baby seats in cars ( which I might add have been proved to do NOTHING but is a £15,000,000 a year industry ) , but yet we allow people on the road without a helmet… The fact there is no “motor” involved is not a reason to no protect people, after all if your on a motorbike you have to wear a helmet even if only going 5mph it’s the law !
As for being racist people are entitled to their opinions , I love the fact that we are in the most multicultural diverse city in the world but right now Londoners especially feel under siege from the non working immigrant population. The frustrations that are being aired on a day to day basis I believe are both valid and distorted. However there is only one way to resolve any issue and that dialogue no matter what language you talk. If you result to name calling your just as much of the problem as the next person ( in my humble opinion ) …
Keep it on topic people …
Fully agree Lee…
not gonna comment on the racist remarks tho… given that I am a foreigner and have yet to experience any form of racism in London.
i do agree with you Aj & LCooler. I rode a push bike into work for a year, through all wheather. I would like to add a thought to this topic. When I did ride a push bike i noticed that 90% of other push bike riders were completely incompetant on the roads to the extent of causing many accidents that i saw - all their own fault. When Driving a car or a Bike I have noticed that at least 50% or 60% of other car drivers are incompetent and extremely lazy in the manner by which they drive. As for Motorcyclists, I would say that maybe about 20% are a danger on the roads. I agree that there are some horrific Motorcyclists out there, but I think that as a rule we are the safest drivers on the roads because we understand much more the dangers around and as such our awareness levels and concentration levels are higher. This is supported when you look at the accident figures and who is liable - about 90% of the time the car driver etc holds greater liability…
Number plates for cyclists sounds all well and good but the police have a hard enough time policing the problems we already have in this city so how are they going to control cyclists to?
It will end up being a big joke I can just picture what kind of response a bobby on the beat will get when he’s in an urban area and tries to tell some 16yr old kid he needs a number plate and insurance lol
They find it hard enough getting people to insure cars and motorbikes.
True - but something does need to be done
i hear what your saying about not being able to work so it’s simple you introduce a new bike tax of £50 . Every bike that is sold has a levy on it . Simple job done !
Why shouldnt they start paying to use the highways ! more and more of the roads are being given over to cyclist ,cycle lanes and them spaces just by the traffic lights,do they ever use them ??? ,i commute every day in london and can say that 99% of cyclist ignore even the basic highway code,one thing though how will the insurance companys deicide on the premium cyclist pay,will a racing tour de france style machine pay a higher premium than a winnie vinegar bottle bike with a wicker basket on the handle bars,
If cycles in London are to be licenesd it would cost a fortune to setup. How would the setup costs be met? Through the congestion charge? Ken may be targeting cyclists at the moment but I don’t think it will be long before he turns his attention to motor cyclists. How long before we see a congestion charge introduced for motorbikes?
Teh congestion charge has proved to be a success and given that this year alone 30 new buses were purchased with extra revenue alone raised from the CCHarge your looking at just under 7.5 Million. The system could easily be setup for a fraction of that , given a new purchase tax thats fine.
No one is trying to make it hard for cyclists its simply trying to protect THEM as well as everyone else.
The other option is that along with the campaign they have going at the moment encouraging people to cycle to work that they include in that the dangers of cycling…
I’m in agreement with AbbeyJ & LCaller - there are bad drivers, bad motorcyclists, & bad cyclists. I commute either by pushbike or m/bike (cycling mainly at mo) & think there are a few of you making suggestions that would have you up in arms if they were directed solely at (motor)bikers.
Yes, pass law that makes a helmet compulsory (believe they have in Holland) but number plates? Come on.
Liability insurance is a good idea, but compulsory?
Just see how well (ha ha) the mobile phone whilst driving law is enforced on our daily streets…
I’ve just paid £175 to tax my car, so am pleased when my bike costs a third of that.
If Ken’s trying to encourage cycling & people out of cars then starting to charge/tax cyclists isn’t going to help.
Just my 2p’s worth…
>>I’ve just paid £175 to tax my car
you drive a MONSTER planet killing car 
Mmmm, a whole 1800cc of family hatchback 
that said i was reading some “league tables” the other day and a new VW Beetle Convertable is just as bad as a big 4x4 for CO2 per mile…
Well i am sure if anyone spoke to my boss about weather or not they should have insurance they would soon be enlightened to the fact that it should be compulsory.
He was driving home in the wet doing about 20mph when a woman walked her pushbike out between two cars while looking the wrong way - straight in front of him. He swerved and braked to avoid her, came off and slid along the road and bounced up the kerb and into the wall. He was badly battered and bruised and was in some pain for weeks. the bike was wrecked all down one side (bars, mirrors, engine cases, fairing panels, the lot). Now because she had no form of insurance in place and her household policy did not cover it, there was no way he could recover the costs and damages - and he lost his no claims in trying to. She walked away without a worry in the world. Now does that sound fair.
Also there is a actually a form of indemnity insurance that push bike users can take out - its just not publicied or enforced so it wouldn’t cost much to implement - they ar just scared of doing it because they know they will be paying out 90% of the time.
Just had a though which goes back to an earlier post. Why dont we have the pretend police enforce road policy. I am sure in a few short months with EVERYONE who goes through red lights etc, etc being fined it will be a nice little earner and then the cash can be used to enforce a television campaign aimed at ALL road users on the basics of road useage. If repeat offenders ignore it they can be sent to the Isle of White.
And i thought all the pricks were on visordown.
I too cycle to work. i work 2 1/2 miles from my house, my motorbike is in garage 1 mile away in the opposite direction. by the time i get to my garage for motorbike i would normally be at work on pushbike.
There are twats in/on all vehicles and yes as a smotorcyclist/car user i do abide by the lights etc, How many of you would do same if you know you could not be traced on your motorbike? and wot bout the pratts who wheely at high speed at every opportunity they can on there motorbikes? or the pratt in the BMW that pulls out on you even though he has seen you but dont give a ****?
Theres a lot more things to worry about than cyclists