Cyclist/Scooterists with no lights.....(rant)

[rorywquin]

I wish they'd legislate these stupidly bright lights though .... I appreciate they need to see & been seen, but some of these lights are that bright and have the aim of a WWII search light and it takes a few seconds before you regain any focus on the road in front

Some bikers (especially those with dual headlamps) seem to have one set to shine (on bright) directly into the eyes of drivers in oncoming traffic.

 

[mercmancdi]

My rant is , ****ed of with cyclists
riding on the Rd where there’s a cycle lane and second some who you meet with those dam led lights flashing on there head. Cut the eyes out of you
, I personally think car drivers are far more considerate to the cyclist than cyclists are to the car drivers.

 

[AnthonyUK]

Some bikers (especially those with dual headlamps) seem to have one set to shine (on bright) directly into the eyes of drivers in oncoming traffic.

Some of those LED lights are ridiculously bright. I just bought a new set and had the choice between 80 lumen or 250.
The 80 is more than bright enough even during the day so having overly bright lights are counter-productive as far as safety is concerned IMO.

Idiots will be idiots whether in a car with HIDs/LED headlights or on a bike.

My rant is , ****ed of with cyclists
riding on the Rd where there’s a cycle lane and second some who you meet with those dam led lights flashing on there head. Cut the eyes out of you
, I personally think car drivers are far more considerate to the cyclist than cyclists are to the car drivers.

Why do you think a cyclist HAS to use a cycle lane? Again - they have as much right to use the road as anyone else so why are you ranting and is this what you think is considerate?

 

[EmilysDad]

....
Why do you think a cyclist HAS to use a cycle lane? Again - they have as much right to use the road as anyone else so why are you ranting and is this what you think is considerate?

Cyclist don't have to use cycle lanes, but you'd have thought that common sense would prevail. I've seen cyclists ride in the middle of a lane on a normal A road with a HGV unable to pass them, but 5' away from them was a huge cycle lane they would have been far better using. Or use the cycle lane and not try to use the 4 lane by-pass and get upset cos cars can't really give them the room they want.

 

[AnthonyUK]

Cyclist don't have to use cycle lanes, but you'd have thought that common sense would prevail. I've seen cyclists ride in the middle of a lane on a normal A road with a HGV unable to pass them, but 5' away from them was a huge cycle lane they would have been far better using. Or use the cycle lane and not try to use the 4 lane by-pass and get upset cos cars can't really give them the room they want.

It really depends on the situation. Some cycle lanes are so poorly thought out that it actually makes sense not to use them.
On my short cycle to work in London, there is one section on CS6 where it is so painful to cross the road at the north end of Blackfriars bridge that it is better to use the road and if done at a suitable time inconveniences nobody else.
You still unfortunately have cyclists who don't think about others though and find themselves stuck at the lights with traffic zooming past on their left

If I was going to rant about anyone it would be the new fad of electric scooter riders who are not allowed anywhere so switch between cycle lanes and pavements as it suits them.

 

[Blobcat]

It really depends on the situation. Some cycle lanes are so poorly thought out that it actually makes sense not to use them.
On my short cycle to work in London, there is one section on CS6 where it is so painful to cross the road at the north end of Blackfriars bridge that it is better to use the road and if done at a suitable time inconveniences nobody else.
You still unfortunately have cyclists who don't think about others though and find themselves stuck at the lights with traffic zooming past on their left

If I was going to rant about anyone it would be the new fad of electric scooter riders who are not allowed anywhere so switch between cycle lanes and pavements as it suits them.

I agree with you about the poorly thought out psycho-paths - hate to think how much the paint, bollards and signs cost for no other reason than to meet some target set by a quango

 

[mercmancdi]

Some of those LED lights are ridiculously bright. I just bought a new set and had the choice between 80 lumen or 250.
The 80 is more than bright enough even during the day so having overly bright lights are counter-productive as far as safety is concerned IMO.

Idiots will be idiots whether in a car with HIDs/LED headlights or on a bike.



Why do you think a cyclist HAS to use a cycle lane? Again - they have as much right to use the road as anyone else so why are you ranting and is this what you think is considerate?

i have a Rd near me which was narrowed and a cycle lane put in for
approx 5 mls. Make the Rd single file no overtaking for 5 mls. Do you not think the cyclists should use the special lane that was put there for them at a cost of thousands of £. they even had to remove all drainage gully’s out of the cycle lane onto the Rd. The name of the RD is Randalstown road if you want to check it out.
By the way the cycle lane is almost 2 mtrs wide and raised above the Rd. and cyclists still ride on the single lane for cars.

 

[js190d]

Some of those LED lights are ridiculously bright. I just bought a new set and had the choice between 80 lumen or 250.
The 80 is more than bright enough even during the day so having overly bright lights are counter-productive as far as safety is concerned IMO.

Idiots will be idiots whether in a car with HIDs/LED headlights or on a bike.



Why do you think a cyclist HAS to use a cycle lane? Again - they have as much right to use the road as anyone else so why are you ranting and is this what you think is considerate?

The very high powered bike lights are used by mountain bikers for night rides off road. It's pretty good fun!

 

[Philedge]

The very high powered bike lights are used by mountain bikers for night rides off road. It's pretty good fun!

The 4000 lumen unit I use has a strobe mode. So funny riding up behind a mate and popping the strobe on so all he can see is his shadow flickering at 50 hz

 

[Philedge]

i have a Rd near me which was narrowed and a cycle lane put in for
approx 5 mls. Make the Rd single file no overtaking for 5 mls. Do you not think the cyclists should use the special lane that was put there for them at a cost of thousands of £. they even had to remove all drainage gully’s out of the cycle lane onto the Rd. The name of the RD is Randalstown road if you want to check it out.
By the way the cycle lane is almost 2 mtrs wide and raised above the Rd. and cyclists still ride on the single lane for cars.

Have a good look at the cycle lane as theres likely something wrong with it if bikes are on the road over a 5 mile stretch. Round our way most of the cycle lanes are designed by non cyclists, or total dicks. First section I come to goes abruptly up and down as it passes house entrances and its like riding a bucking bronco. It stops at every road crossing so I have to give way to anything on the road. Result is I ride on the road as its more comfortable a less disruptive

If youve got a beef with cyclists using the road when theres a "cycle" lane available, its more than likely you need to complain to the highways dept and not to the cyclists.

 

[mercmancdi]

Absolutely nothing wrong with the cycle lane it’s excellent and many do enjoy it , it’s the disrespectful cyclists
that appear to have a grudge against
motorist that don’t use it then give you fingers if you pass them . there is no Rd crossing or anything to cross on it , it’s a lovely straight ride .
Wish the Rd was as good as cars heave to drive over gully’s and pot holes.

 

[Philedge]

Not sure if ive got the right place but I googled randlstown road antrim and street veiw shows a road with a shared path at the side of it. Street veiw takes me to a place where theres a pedestrian on the path followed shortly by a factory entrance crossing the shared path. I didnt look any further up the road as Ive seen enough to say that Id probably ride on the road, if thats the place your talking about

 

[Frontstep]

The whole philosophy behind VED will need to change as people move to electric. The government will still need to raise those £££s somehow.
I can see a pay per use model being the way forward but this is going to be nearly as divisive as BREXIT

I have linked to the future above its pay per metre if not KM.

The European Council has called for all cars to have data loggers fitted by law

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money...-cars-fitted-black-box-devices-log-speed.html

Even us Brexit fans realise that is the way its going in or out of the EU.

Imagine the implications of such tracking, when where and how fast all collected by a server for ever.

 

[davidsl500]

i have a Rd near me which was narrowed and a cycle lane put in for
approx 5 mls. Make the Rd single file no overtaking for 5 mls. Do you not think the cyclists should use the special lane that was put there for them at a cost of thousands of £. they even had to remove all drainage gully’s out of the cycle lane onto the Rd. The name of the RD is Randalstown road if you want to check it out.
By the way the cycle lane is almost 2 mtrs wide and raised above the Rd. and cyclists still ride on the single lane for cars.

I looked at it and looked at the traffic on the main road and I'd be on the shared cycle path. I'd pass a law to fine cyclists that don't use cycle paths when available. Some just seem to have a chip on their shoulder for some reason, must be inbreeding or something

 

[EmilysDad]

... Some just seem to have a chip on their shoulder for some reason, must be inbreeding or something

This applied to the cyclist I came across in North Wales the other week. A bloke in his 50s/60s cycling towards me but not yet in sight due to the narrow B road & bend that was only just wide enough for an ML ... he was determined to squeeze himself passed me though there was not really the room. I blasted the horn and received a 2 fingered salute.

 

[Brizzle]

I feel like the police have a lot to answer for on this one.

I don't think you can blame the police. Their numbers have been so savagely reduced that they have to prioritise their time and efforts and minor road traffic infringements are exactly that ... minor. Indeed, there is a slight irony in that the cycling/scootering idiots (and I'm only referring to the idiots) will eventually learn the lesson in a painful way.

I've had a couple of run-ins with one of said scooter idiots who insists on riding his (large) scooter up the pathway that leads to our local railway station. He never slows down and shows no regard for anyone else so one evening I deliberately stood in his way and forced him to stop. We exchanged views and failed to come to an amicable agreement on his behaviour so I told him that next time he came tearing towards me he was likely to find himself in need of the helmet he has strapped to his handlebars. I wouldn't mind but he is obviously a well educated man but shows complete ignorance of how he affects those he abuses.

 

[rorywquin]

This applied to the cyclist I came across in North Wales the other week. A bloke in his 50s/60s cycling towards me but not yet in sight due to the narrow B road & bend that was only just wide enough for an ML ... he was determined to squeeze himself passed me though there was not really the room. I blasted the horn and received a 2 fingered salute.

I wouldn't go as far as calling cyclists inbred, but the folk that are keen cyclists seem to have a huge sense of entitlement (on the road) and their behaviour gets exponentially worse as the size of the group cycling together grows.

That said we walk our dog daily on the village roads and there are some cyclists that are quite polite (a rare breed).

 

[AnthonyUK]

I don't think you can blame the police. Their numbers have been so savagely reduced that they have to prioritise their time and efforts and minor road traffic infringements are exactly that ... minor. Indeed, there is a slight irony in that the cycling/scootering idiots (and I'm only referring to the idiots) will eventually learn the lesson in a painful way.

I've had a couple of run-ins with one of said scooter idiots who insists on riding his (large) scooter up the pathway that leads to our local railway station. He never slows down and shows no regard for anyone else so one evening I deliberately stood in his way and forced him to stop. We exchanged views and failed to come to an amicable agreement on his behaviour so I told him that next time he came tearing towards me he was likely to find himself in need of the helmet he has strapped to his handlebars. I wouldn't mind but he is obviously a well educated man but shows complete ignorance of how he affects those he abuses.

If he P's you off again then take a video of him riding on the pavement and send it via Twitter to the local police or BTP if on station property.

 

[EmilysDad]

... and there are some cyclists that are quite polite (a rare breed).

Agreed. While going to work early Sunday morning one summer, there were a load of lycra'd cyclist 4 or 5 wide on the narrow road. I gave a short blast on my horn when I was a few hundred yards behind them. I got a wave of acknowledgement as they formed a single line!

 

[Philedge]

This applied to the cyclist I came across in North Wales the other week. A bloke in his 50s/60s cycling towards me but not yet in sight due to the narrow B road & bend that was only just wide enough for an ML ... he was determined to squeeze himself passed me though there was not really the room. I blasted the horn and received a 2 fingered salute.

So youre blocking a narrow country lane in a 2 ton lump of steel and somehow the cyclist is in the wrong trying to get past you???