Bloke getting written-up by traffic cop on Lewes Road, Brighton today...

[Acker79]

Does not get beyond the fact that cyclists are a danger to the road.

Irresponsible cyclists are a danger to the road, just as irresponsible motorists are.

Yes but everybody calls it road tax....

It doesn't matter what you call it, you are implying it funds the roads. It does not.

 

[bhaexpress]

Are the Rozzers going to go after all those cyclists who feel that they have immunity to pass through red lights ?

Seen several get nicked in the City recently. However the best one was the cyclist who was riding across a crowded square where cycling is not allowed. The cyclist tried to move one bloke out of the way but as he passed him the pedestrian pushed him off his bike. The cyclist hit the ground with a thud and swore loudly at the pedestrian. The pedestrian then walked over to the prone cyclist and smacked him in the nose which brought fourth plenty of claret. Just to add insult to injury many people stopped and clapped the pedestrian !

 

[Chicken Runner61]

As a car driver, I see shocking urban vehicle driving every day. The sort that could kill or hurt innocent others.
Pricks whizzing through Brighton's residential streets between 30 and 40 mph.

The stuff reeled out against cyclists pale into insignificance in comparson.

Both cyclists and motorcyclists have noted vehicle drivers in tedious jams often take exception to riders moving past, due to the green-eyed monster.

I disagree - I cycle and I think car drivers are much more considerate to cyclists than say 20 years ago. I do see more cyclists breaking the law than you used to. Riding the wrong way down one way streets, riding two abreast in narrow streets. Jumping red lights, no lights at night and not wearing hi vis clothing etc

 

[Acker79]

Is there a law on how fast cyclists should travel in a cycle lane in a busy street of pedestrians?

Also if a pedestrian walks in the cycle lane who is to blame if a bike hits him?

Legally, pedestrians always have the right of way. On pavements, in roads (if you're driving along and a pedestrian starts to cross the road, you are legally obliged to give way to them), in cycle lanes, they have the right of way on any public path.

If it is reasonable for a cyclist to be able to avoid hitting them (I've seen people step into the cycle lane without looking, and without showing any signs that they intended to, making it impossible for the cyclist to avoid them), then it is legally the cyclist's fault.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

I disagree - I cycle and I think car drivers are much more considerate to cyclists than say 20 years ago. I do see more cyclists breaking the law than you used to. Riding the wrong way down one way streets, riding two abreast in narrow streets. Jumping red lights, no lights at night and not wearing hi vis clothing etc

And add to that cycling on pavements. Every day I am forced to dodge with my two small lads add I take them to school along Seaside Road Eastbourne. I have sympathy for cyclists as it's a horrible road to bike down but I've been forced to pull my younger son from the path of a cyclist and also watched a young man run into an old lady. Totally out of order imho.

 

[catfish]

This calls for Bicycle Repair Man.

 

[Garage_Doors]

How would you know they gave you the correct details?

Fair question,never entered my head someone would give false detail, but that the type of person i am.
In all cases would have the police involved, easiest way to do this is report that one party has been injured, then they have to attend.
(assuming said cyclist has not run of by then !)

 

[Weststander]

I disagree - I cycle and I think car drivers are much more considerate to cyclists than say 20 years ago. I do see more cyclists breaking the law than you used to. Riding the wrong way down one way streets, riding two abreast in narrow streets. Jumping red lights, no lights at night and not wearing hi vis clothing etc

Some drivers have improved, as cycling's taken off post Boardman 1992.

But some incredibly aggressive and speedy car drivers in Brighton, especially away from main jams.

Forgot about it until this thread, but in last 2 days, places like Wilbury Villas over the railway, Wilbury Ave, Shirley Drive, Redhill Drive. Seem some awful driving that would take out others.

 

[Garage_Doors]

Irresponsible cyclists are a danger to the road, just as irresponsible motorists are.



It doesn't matter what you call it, you are implying it funds the roads. It does not.

Its a tax for using the road, irrespective of what its used for.
Therefore its discrimination that all road users are not subject to the same tax.

 

[LadySeagull]

I don't know if 'parking in a cycle lane' is a contravention, but I'm sure parking on double yellows is, and I believe there are double yellows in the bike lane at that point.

A common misconception, there are plenty of exemptions for parking on double yellows, e.g. loading/unloading, letting a passenger in/out, assisting a disabled passenger, etc. and if you have a blue badge you can park for 3 hours on a DYL.

Isn't causing an obstruction also a contravention? (The bit I'm thinking of, at the bottom of Elm Grove is just past the lights and often causes trouble for buses, who also have to navigate the crossing island, and some times the queue of traffic on the other side of the road because of the parked cars).

Yep fair enough if the Police are treating certain bad parking as 'obstruction' they can, but it's not a contravention in its own right and Council Traffic Wardens can't do anything about cycle lane parking.

 

[vegster]

I used to have some sympathy for cyclists but that has been eroded by the huge number who feel that traffic laws do not apply to them. Because they have no registration plate it's almost impossible to report them, also,there is no points system in place that could ban them for repeated offences. They cycle with inpunity in defiance of normal rules and unless they come in to conflagration with Hove Born and Bred or a car bonnet,that will continue.

 

[Acker79]

Its a tax for using the road, irrespective of what its used for.
Therefore its discrimination that all road users are not subject to the same tax.

It's a tax for licencing your vehicle.

You are free to use the road in other ways because your council tax funds the roads.

 

[vegster]

This calls for Bicycle Repair Man.

The subtitle of this thread is " Bicycle Despair, Man ".. get with the programme

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Its a tax for using the road, irrespective of what its used for.
Therefore its discrimination that all road users are not subject to the same tax.

No its a tax that gives you the right to run a vehicle on a designated public right of way. These rights of way existed for centuries before the arrival of the combustion engine though national and local bylaws can stipulate who can or cannot use a particular stretch of road. Also local road networks are looked after by local councils so in effect you could argue that cyclists part fund it through their council tax.

 

[Acker79]

A common misconception, there are plenty of exemptions for parking on double yellows, e.g. loading/unloading, letting a passenger in/out, assisting a disabled passenger, etc. and if you have a blue badge you can park for 3 hours on a DYL.

As I understand it (my father has a blue badge), even people with blue badges are limited on double yellows if it causes an obstruction (corners, by traffic lights etc).

The cars parked there are parked on double yellows by a crossing, cause an obstruction, and when considered part of the elm grove junction are on a bend. There are clearly occasional loading and unloading, but the majority of cars are not dropping off/picking up, are not assisting disabled, are not loading/unloading. They are lazy, inconsiderate drivers causing an obstruction so they don't have to park too far away from the shop.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

I blame the councils who use transport as a means to tax people. They close off streets to supposedly stop the rat runs which then clogs up the main roads then they say there are too many cars on the road. All it does is create loads of pollution and wastes fuel so they can say we shouldn't be driving look at all the pollution and congestion cars create!

They stuff about to make traffic worst too. Take sackville road to snakey hill - five years ago it was never as congested as it is now. They closed off the roads to ols shoreham road then added a roundabout by the coop and now made it single lane and left turn only to old shoreham road. Consequently the traffic piles up both ways at peak hours and it's worse during school terms- even the buses can't get through. What good can this do for anyone.

Why don't they just be honest ban private car use in areas while they redesign the whole road and pavements so that everyone can use it with a limit of 20mph.

It's buses and trams that should have their own set routes and be split out from the other traffic.

 

[Garage_Doors]

No its a tax that gives you the right to run a vehicle on a designated public right of way. These rights of way existed for centuries before the arrival of the combustion engine though national and local bylaws can stipulate who can or cannot use a particular stretch of road. Also local road networks are looked after by local councils so in effect you could argue that cyclists part fund it through their council tax.

You are suggesting that a cycle is not a vehicle ?
definition of a vehicle :A device or structure for transporting persons or things.
Therefore its discrimination that all road users are not subject to the same tax.

 

[catfish]

The subtitle of this thread is " Bicycle Despair, Man ".. get with the programme

Good job our West Ham supporting friend isn't reading this thread...

 

[Theatre of Trees]

You are suggesting that a cycle is not a vehicle ?
definition of a vehicle :A device or structure for transporting persons or things.
Therefore its discrimination that all road users are not subject to the same tax.

A vehicle with an engine. I believe it applies to those two wheeled standing up things, motorised kiddies scooters and upwards. So should people who walk on roads, horse riders, horse drawn vehicles, herds of cattle and sheep who all have a right to use certain designated rights of way be taxed too? Because that is the legal minefield you walk into when you start talking about road tax and these rights date back 800-900 years.

 

[LadySeagull]

As I understand it (my father has a blue badge), even people with blue badges are limited on double yellows if it causes an obstruction (corners, by traffic lights etc).

The cars parked there are parked on double yellows by a crossing, cause an obstruction, and when considered part of the elm grove junction are on a bend. There are clearly occasional loading and unloading, but the majority of cars are not dropping off/picking up, are not assisting disabled, are not loading/unloading. They are lazy, inconsiderate drivers causing an obstruction so they don't have to park too far away from the shop.

Fair enough, agree with you then. I hate inconsiderate and dangerous parking as much as the next woman (and yes, I can reverse park my car better than my OH can...).