CYCLISTS

[TONTO]

There has been a great deal of discussion in the Times recently,as regards cyclists on our roads,following a serious accident involving one of their staff members.It has got to the extent where various "celebrities" are lending their support, in order to make those in "higher places",aware of the dangers encountered on the roads each day by cyclists.
Now, we all know that there are some complete "nobs" driving around, some of which shouldn"t even be holding a licence.
Here in North Wales, the local authority has spent a great deal of time and expense on creating cycle paths, in order to give cyclists an alternative to riding in congested traffic.These paths often run parallel to main road ,SO...   why do cyclists continue to weave their way through traffic,when a safer alternative is on hand?.
I see this sort of thing almost daily, and in some cases, the cyclists are riding 2-3 abreast, therefore taking up a complete lane, which, in turn, leads to traffic pulling out over white lines,and creating even more dangers to oncoming vehicles.
Another aspect to consider is, motorcyclists are continually having their "lifestyle" tampered with by Eurocrats, in terms of speed, power, protective/visible clothing and compulsory training.
A cyclist, can go into Halfords,collect his/her cycle, and literally pedal off into the sunset,having had no experience of riding on a busy road, AND without having to wear any form of protection, other than in some cases,a helmet which resembles something out of Mr Bean.
Don"t get me wrong, I do sympathise with anyone having to negotiate traffic, however, I feel that if an alternative is available, in this case  cycle paths, then they should be used.
This group of "road users", must be the most vulnerable, yet it is motorcyclists who have the means of avoiding accidents by way of "power", who are regularly criticised,and blamed for accident statistics, which are more often than not, based on incorrect information.
Are there any cyclists who would like to respond to this,as I would be interested to hear their side of things?.
                                                                   RANT OVER 

[Guns]

I hear you mate.
My two pet hates are cyclists and feckin horses!
Both can be ridden on roads without any training, a license, insurance or road tax.
Both are inconsiderate to other road users, especially on B roads where safe overtaking opportunities are scarce.
Both are responsible for causing accidents and neither are accountable for their actions.

Cyclists need to understand that they do not have any more rights than other road users and in fact have less as they do not contribute any road tax yet are the first to complain about potholes and raised manhole covers etc!

I don't know what the solution is, but we need one and fast before I start targeting them deliberately

Rant over

[GfL]

Both are inconsiderate to other road users, especially on B roads where safe overtaking opportunities are scarce.

As a horse rider for many years I object strongly to that.  I was taught to be considerate and safe for my sake, the horse I was riding AND other road users.  I think you will find that horse-riders are more reasonable, considerate and polite than cyclists.

You get emotionally attached to your horse just as your pet dog or cat so you are not going to deliberately put it at risk unlike cyclists riding a piece of metal that you do not get attached to.  Plus horses are more expensive to replace whereas a cyclist can get his bike written off and go out and easily replace it and there is no emotional distress experience either.

Horse riders will acknowledge a considerate car driver / bike rider unlike cyclists - I have had many riders but no cyclists say thank you when I give them wide berth, approach them slowly and steadily.

My one abiding memory of cyclists was from when I worked in London and was literally run over by a cyclist who was in a cycle lane.  The car lane AND cycle lane had traffic lights and they were red.  The pedestrians had right of way, the cars stopped, the cyclist was approaching, I crossed and the cyclist thought, road laws don't apply to me, and rode straight through his red light and into me, he came off the bike and I went over.  I was younger and much more hot headed and short fused - the result of this incident was not pretty and I don't think I need to elaborate any further over actions and language.

Near to where we live there is a small bridge, goes over a railway line and it twists slightly so it is awkward.  For a long way before this bridge there is a path on the right hand side anyone can use however, cyclists stay on the road and pedal at their own speed, snail pace, holding everyone up.  Impatient, stupid drivers sit right behind them and then speed up and overtake, others veer on the side of caution to the extreme, so there is a trail of traffic doing 10mph if lucky now please tell me why don't the cyclists cross over and just for this short way use the pavement ?  Bet your bottom dollar a horse rider would.

Give me a horse rider over a cyclist any day.

One thing I do agree with, if they are going to use the road, both should pay insurance.

[Apache]

Save a horse----Ride a Cowboy!!!!
Save a cycle-----Ride a biker!!!!

[TONTO]

C"mon guys/gals, there must be more of you who have some opinion on this matter, let"s hear from you.

[dynaboy]

I don't have a problem with cyclists... I just scare the life out of em

Now horses have been known to leave some pretty serious deposits on the roads and that has scared the life outa me!

[TONTO]

I don't have a problem with cyclists... I just scare the life out of em

Now horses have been known to leave some pretty serious deposits on the roads and that has scared the life outa me!

That"s what"s known as re-cycling 

[Guns]

LMFAO

[TONTO]

I don't have a problem with cyclists... I just scare the life out of em

Now horses have been known to leave some pretty serious deposits on the roads and that has scared the life outa me!

Have been thinking, if someone should fall foul of horse droppings on the road,would they then be leaving a "skid mark"? just wondered

[pagewizards]

LMFAO

.......GOTTA SAY THAT WAS FUNNY... .....Some feedback from the wizard: As for "Plus horses are more expensive to replace whereas a cyclist can get his bike written off and go out and easily replace it and there is no emotional distress experience either."...I have to support the cyclist here as some are as costly as a horse, yes some of these mad bastards spend £10k plus on a bike....and as a cyclist supporter I'm all to happy to support their transit to the nearest undertaker, as my experience has been they are mostly brain dead anyway, and clearly assume they are immune to being killed as many don't use lights at night or if they do they are lit up like a Christmas tree which makes me suspect I'm approaching a newly arrived ET which scares the shit out of me!...Back in the day a cyclist (and I used to be one until I got a brain and bought a motorcycle) had a light on the back and one on the front...not a collection of strobes and all manner of flashing lights. Also as cyclists dont pay road tax they clearly think the rules of th e road don't apply to them which is why they don't understand what that nice red light means even when everybody else has stopped!....As for horse riders ( I used to horse ride in my youth) these days I restrict my riding to only on fair maids, however my experience has been horse riders (and there are lot where I live) are normally considerate and polite,and to be fair they are also mostly fit posh horny rich birds, whom clearly enjoy spreading their legs across the back of a horse to enjoy the rythym.. which to be fair always brings out the best in me to see...so I have no problem with them..just wish they would give me their telephone number as they wave at me..as that's  a clear sign I've pulled...happy days

[TONTO]

I too live very close to a riding stables,so encounter a fair number on horseback throughout the week, and mainly they are polite and courteous, though they don"t carry a "pooper scooper" with them.
However, I also encounter the "lycra brigade" quite often, who tend to ride the bicycles as if they are joined together at the hip, and completely ignore what is going on around them. 

[GfL]

"Plus horses are more expensive to replace whereas a cyclist can get his bike written off and go out and easily replace it and there is no emotional distress experience either."...I have to support the cyclist here as some are as costly as a horse, yes some of these mad bastards spend £10k plus on a bike....

If someone is going to pay £10k on a pushbike they don't deserve to have £10k !!  At least with a horse if you are paying that kind of money it is obviously from a pretty good blood line which means you can put it out to stud (steady PW) or, if it is a mare, breed from her and therefore make money. Never be able to do that with a cycle.

Cyclists are just lethal and trouble makers 

[GfL]

Save a horse----Ride a Cowboy!!!!
Save a cycle-----Ride a biker!!!!

 

[pagewizards]

If someone is going to pay £10k on a pushbike they don't deserve to have £10k !!  At least with a horse if you are paying that kind of money it is obviously from a pretty good blood line which means you can put it out to stud (steady PW) or, if it is a mare, breed from her and therefore make money. Never be able to do that with a cycle.

Cyclists are just lethal and trouble makers  .........

Well there was that guy arrested for having sex with his bike........and I seem to remember 9 months later it had a couple of trikes!.......mow then Tonto cyclists in lycra sounds promising...as long as they are fair maidens!

[TONTO]

Well there was that guy arrested for having sex with his bike........and I seem to remember 9 months later it had a couple of trikes!.......mow then Tonto cyclists in lycra sounds promising...as long as they are fair maidens!

Afraid not, they are mainly of the "male" species, with about as much meat on them as a butchers pencil