Cyclists on the pavement

Of course it can be frustrating - no doubt about that. But, it’s there for a reason - the risk to cyclists is real and they always come off 2nd best with a car.
I wholeheartedly agree the risk is real.

If a motorist makes an error of judgement, he/she has the backing of an insurance company (not cheap either) to, in some way,, make recompense. What about the cyclist whose mistake may cause carnage?

Also aren't the majority of cyclists motorists as well?
 
I’ve considered the fact that I’d like to cycle to work but am frankly too scared of being flattened on the roads to dare to take it up. I really wish there were fully joined up cycle routes / paths along roads in the uk such that it was safe for all (vehicles, bikes, pedestrians).
It certainly is taking your own life in your hands in some places more than others.
We need joined up thinking - not just piecemeal, otherwise people like yourself will stick to what you know, rather than risking your life.
Ive been cycling for decades and been hit 5 times by motorists.[Only three times in hospital though].
Broken collar bones, fractured hips, ankles,chipped lnee caps and clavicals are cynically viewed as "medals" by serious day to day cyclists.
Lets hope it takes months to improve - but regular cheaper bus and trains have to play a much bigger part.(y)
 
Cyclists want all the room in the world on the road.
They’re more than happy to cycle on the shoulder of pedestrians in the parks though.
I often cycle on the path, especially on a bike ride with my kids. I couldn't care less what people like you think. My daughters best freind lost her dad while cycling to work on the road. The way motorists treat cyclists is just scary.
 
I'm a driver, and I regularly speed on motorways as I believe the speed limits are set too low for modern cars, and so I tend to drive between 80 - 90mph on clear motorways, and I don't care what you people think.

The attitude of a driver summed up, and I look forward to my view being used against other drivers as a typical representation.
 
If a motorist makes an error of judgement, he/she has the backing of an insurance company (not cheap either) to, in some way,, make recompense. What about the cyclist whose mistake may cause carnage?
Cyclist insurance is incredibly cheap because they don't cause the carnage that motorists do.
Join British Cycling, Cycling UK, many local cycling clubs and 3rd Party Insurance is included in your membership fee.
My house insurance includes 3rd Party Insurance for when a member of the house is out & about on their bike.

The reason why it isn't compulsory for cyclists to have insurance isn't because of the cost to the cyclist but of the cost to create and manage the database to organise it all for absolutely zero gain.

There are about 1m uninsured drivers according to the government and around 10 people a month are killed by uninsured or untraced drivers. These criminals are actually causing carnage, they are adding to your & mine vehicle insurance costs, these are the ones that should be stopped not some fantasy cyclist.
 
In an area of social distancing, cyclists are more often that not cycling on the shoulder of pedestrians, in my experience. Often when there is no need for it.
 
In recent years I have attended meetings held by an campaign called Living Streets. They are supposed to champion cyclists, pedestrians and even motor bikers. I gave up going because every meeting I went to was monopolised by cyclists and their endless sense of entitlement. Every riverside walk in London, I pointed out, leaves you more stressed than when you started out, with bikes cutting you up every 10 yards of the way.
I read up on the history of this organisation and it turns out they were originally called The Pedestrian Society!
 
I bet you wouldnt take your kids on the road?!
Try cycling along Acklam Road or along Linthorpe Rd from Town to the Linny.
Nope, they’d walk on the pavement.
The infrastructure for cycling doesn’t exist in most towns and cities in the UK.
 
Nope, they’d walk on the pavement.
The infrastructure for cycling doesn’t exist in most towns and cities in the UK.
So kids are not allowed on a bike but motorists can do as they please?
Grreat for kids lungs all that carbon monoxide.
 
Department for Transport:

The real cost of motor vehicles in human life and injury.

UK road casualties

Key facts:
  • In 2018, there were 1,784 people killed on the roads in Britain;
  • In 2018, 25,511 people were seriously injured on the roads in Britain;
  • In 2018, there was a total of 160,597 casualties of all severities in road traffic crashes;
  • In 2018, the highest number of fatalities were car users, both drivers and passengers, who accounted for 44% of road deaths;
  • In 2018, of the 1,784 road deaths, the majority (58%) occurred on rural roads.
Introduction
On average, five people die every day on the road in Great Britain and countless more are seriously injured. Britain's road safety record has stagnated in recent years, with the number of road deaths remaining broadly constant for several years.
Casualties by country
England
In 2018, England experienced the highest number of road fatalities (1,521), accounting for over four fiths (85%) of road deaths in the UK. This was also a 1% decrease on the number of deaths in 2017. The highest number of fatalities occurred in the south east of England (258) and the lowest in the north east (52).
Wales
The number of fatalities on the roads in Wales in 2018 remained the same as 2017 at 103. Wales also saw a 7% decrease in total casualties from 2017 to 2018.
Scotland
In 2018, there were 160 deaths, 1,580 serious injuries and 8,394 casualties on Scotland’s roads.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland had the lowest number of road fatalities (55) and serious injuries (730) in 2018.
Casualties by road user type
In 2018, the highest number of fatalities were car users, both drivers and passengers, who accounted for 44% of road deaths (777) in the UK.
There were 456 pedestrian deaths in the UK in 2018, a 3% decrease on 2017. 26% of all road deaths were pedestrians.
There were 99 cyclist deaths in the UK in 2018, a 2% reduction on 2017. There was a total of 17,550 cyclist casualties on Britain's roads in 2018, a 4% decrease on 2017. There was also an estimated 2% increase in cycling traffic in 2018 compared to 2017.
There were 354 motorcyclist fatalities in 2018, up 1% from 349 in 2017.
Road type
In 2018, of the 1,784 road deaths, the majority (58%) occurred on rural roads, yet the most casualties (63%) occurred on urban roads.
The number of people killed on built-up 20 mph roads in 2017 increased by 79% on 2016, while the overall number of road crashes on 20mph roads rose by 43% over the same period. [16]
Fatalities on built-up 30 mph roads fell by 1% in Great Britain in 2017 from 2016, yet the number of serious injuries increased by 5%. [17]
The number of people killed on motorways increased by 8% to 107 in 2018.
Demographics
Between 2017 and 2018, the number of child fatalities (aged 0-15) in Great Britain remained the same at 48. During the same period, the total number of child casualties decreased by 9% to 14,266, the lowest total on record. The majority of child fatalities are mainly pedestrian (28) or car passengers (15).
279 young people (aged 17-24) were killed on Britain's roads in 2018, remaining unchanged from 2017. However, whilst young people make up only 7% of licence holders, they represent over 20% of drivers killed or seriously injured in car crashes. The number of road deaths within the older population (aged 60+) increased by 5% to 588 in 2018, up from 559 in 2017.
 
Well if they cant cycle and they have to walk - whats the alternative?
That’s a question for your local MP. I’m happy walking and wish to do so without the presence of cyclists on my shoulder in an area of social distancing.
 
If a Dad wants to take his kids out on their bikes - is he to wait years before some planner draws a white line on the pavement with a bike sign?
Just like we have spent the last 60+ years planning our shopping, our cities, our lives, around the precious motor car - we have to knock that experiement firmly on the head.
Government must have the political will and determination to provide support to new railway build and reopening of closed lines: whilst politicians talk of relaxed planning laws for building - it still takes a grindingly slow process to build and reopen rail lines.
Roads cost billions and huge swathes of agricultural land continue to be carved up and covered in tarmac, whilst our public transport infrastructure is creaking to a halt.
Town "planners" have to put people / cycles / public transport first and the car firmly at the end of priority.
Its not a dream: in many countries across the world - integrated transport and mass rapid transport has cut congestion, liberated free space for human beings and cleaned up the atmosphere from pollution.
We need all public transport to be publicly owned [again] in order to plan and co-ordinate it effectively.
 
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