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I'm a long way from all of you so imagine you're sitting in the passenger seat next to me and we'll go for a drive...
Back out the drive: Look out for passing traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, dogs, cats and anything else which may appear.
Drive into the city: Maintaining my position in my designated lane I constantly check mirrors and cars in lanes around me to ensure I have enough warning and room to manoeuvre should some idiot do something stupid.
Whilst driving I must be forever vigilant for speed signs {which vary dependant on what part of the city or what road one is driving} observe any workers which may be working on or near the roadway, observe any signage which may appear which are not normally there, I could risk looking at those flashing neon signs advertising anything and everything facing you, watch out for any pedestrian whom may not observe the appropriate pedestrian crossings, kids, motor bikes and the list goes on and on, besides changing lanes when nearing an intersection or roadway I need to turn into.
Also whilst driving I must avoid vehicles parked at curb side, THEN there is a bike lane OUTSIDE of that curb parking lane...WHAT THE...? Here the media pushes that motorists should keep 3 feet away from cyclists...HELLO...? that bike lane is only about 3 feet wide anyway so what do I do? That's right, I must straddle the lane line risking possibly sideswiping another vehicle to keep that 3 foot distance from the cyclist.
I got nothing against cyclists ~ BUT ~ if they want the same privileges as me in my vehicle, then best they start paying all those b l o o d y expenses I have to pay, ie; registrations and have rego plates fitted to the bike so I can sue your ar*e if you cause me any issue on the road, petrol I must pay, vehicle maintenance, insurances, licences, eye tests at a certain age and whatever else I have to pay for. I got enough to do and enough distractions driving to work safely, so if cyclists whinge about us motorists or whatever then I suggest they get the h e l l off the busy roads and cycle out in the country where there is no risk to ME in my vehicle!!!
then best they start paying all those b l o o d y expenses I have to pay, ie; registrations and have rego plates fitted to the petrol I must pay, vehicle maintenance, insurances, licences, eye tests at a certain age and whatever else I have to pay for.
Despite all of these costs, rules and regs, it appears fools are still in abundance
I'm a long way from all of you so imagine you're sitting in the passenger seat next to me and we'll go for a drive...
Back out the drive: Look out for passing traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, dogs, cats and anything else which may appear.
Drive into the city: Maintaining my position in my designated lane I constantly check mirrors and cars in lanes around me to ensure I have enough warning and room to manoeuvre should some idiot do something stupid.
Whilst driving I must be forever vigilant for speed signs {which vary dependant on what part of the city or what road one is driving} observe any workers which may be working on or near the roadway, observe any signage which may appear which are not normally there, I could risk looking at those flashing neon signs advertising anything and everything facing you, watch out for any pedestrian whom may not observe the appropriate pedestrian crossings, kids, motor bikes and the list goes on and on, besides changing lanes when nearing an intersection or roadway I need to turn into.
Also whilst driving I must avoid vehicles parked at curb side, THEN there is a bike lane OUTSIDE of that curb parking lane...WHAT THE...? Here the media pushes that motorists should keep 3 feet away from cyclists...HELLO...? that bike lane is only about 3 feet wide anyway so what do I do? That's right, I must straddle the lane line risking possibly sideswiping another vehicle to keep that 3 foot distance from the cyclist.
I got nothing against cyclists ~ BUT ~ if they want the same privileges as me in my vehicle, then best they start paying all those b l o o d y expenses I have to pay, ie; registrations and have rego plates fitted to the bike so I can sue your ar*e if you cause me any issue on the road, petrol I must pay, vehicle maintenance, insurances, licences, eye tests at a certain age and whatever else I have to pay for. I got enough to do and enough distractions driving to work safely, so if cyclists whinge about us motorists or whatever then I suggest they get the h e l l off the busy roads and cycle out in the country where there is no risk to ME in my vehicle!!!
I believe there are a handful of the arrogant cyclists out there but their numbers are small. Unfortunately what happens is a motorist has just one encounter with one of those "arrogant" types and the negative experience of that is far more prevalent than any others, thus cyclists might get stereotyped by the motorist. I am probably going to get flamed for saying this but I feel a lot of these issues stem from poor infrastructure design (or a complete lack of) that supports safe and efficient cycling.
I see on these forums a fair amount of contention between cyclists and motorists which can be useful. As a cyclist I feel it is important to hear what sort of issues motorists are having with bicycle riders or certain roads. It would be nice to see less focus on who is right/wrong, who owns the road, who must have been asking for it, and instead find more avenues (pun intended) for motorists and cyclists to communicate and share the roads safely.
I believe there are a handful of the arrogant cyclists out there but their numbers are small. Unfortunately what happens is a motorist has just one encounter with one of those "arrogant" types and the negative experience of that is far more prevalent than any others, thus cyclists might get stereotyped by the motorist. I am probably going to get flamed for saying this but I feel a lot of these issues stem from poor infrastructure design (or a complete lack of) that supports safe and efficient cycling.
I see on these forums a fair amount of contention between cyclists and motorists which can be useful. As a cyclist I feel it is important to hear what sort of issues motorists are having with bicycle riders or certain roads. It would be nice to see less focus on who is right/wrong, who owns the road, who must have been asking for it, and instead find more avenues (pun intended) for motorists and cyclists to communicate and share the roads safely.
The second paragraph is about the most intelligent thing I've read here.
As a motorist travelling in the city one has to be observant of other cars, motorbikes, rigid trucks, semi's, buses, tourists towing caravans, vehicles towing boats, potential idiot drivers, motorbikes lane hopping in front of you, being forever vigilant of traffic lights changing, roadways which are 30 years behind the times for the volume of traffic etc etc so is it any wonder I for one do not wish to negotiate around, and be mindful of cyclists, I have enough already trying to distract me while I focus on motoring through the city.
I have even seen a group of cyclists taking up the entire lane out on the highway - now THAT'S arrogance, or a death wish.
I believe the animosity toward the cyclist stems from all the crap one has to contend with on the road, be it country or city, but mostly in the city. They just add to an already over congested and bad situation.
A couple of years ago here someone decided to paint a bike lane right up to an intersection that for years had provision for two cars, one to turn left and one to turn right. I spoke to the police suggesting a potential bottleneck of vehicles and hazard to the cyclist ~ the bike lane has subsequently been painted out 20 odd metres from that intersection.
Don't know about where you folk are, but here the roadways simply do not accommodate bike lanes mixed in with vehicular traffic, and that's one of the reasons motorists are getting their backs up here, it's creating more hazards for the motorist - as if the motorist hasn't got enough already. If others don't experience this, then all I can say is...They are lucky.
and that's one of the reasons motorists are getting their backs up here, it's creating more hazards for the motorist - as if the motorist hasn't got enough already.
Im with ya
All those 180lb or so bicycles totaling cars and killing the drivers when they "swerve into" them.
All those texting and drunk cyclists jacking our insurance rates up and causing traffic jams at rush hour.
I feel yer pain, bro
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